FLY HOOKER SPORTFISHING
Captain George Landrum
gmlandrum@hotmail.com
www.flyhooker.com
Cabo Fish Report
April 27-May 3, 2009
Notes: This week I decided to start with the notes instead of ending with them. I thought that giving an overview at the start of the report would allow you to decide what sections you would like to check out. I did not fish this past week and there were very few boats going out due to the Swine Flu scare. We have had no cases in Baja California, none, zero, zip, and nada. Even with that knowledge, the media has hyped up this flu so much that almost every charter we and other companies have had on the books has cancelled their trips. We still have a couple this month, but overall it looks like a good month for us to take a vacation. Since there is no Swine Flu here, maybe we will go up to the East Cape, don't want to go to California or Texas, they have cases there and we might get sick, lol!! Given the fact that there were few boats out this week, the information I have is based on just a few trips, not the normal numbers.
WEATHER: We had a couple of partly cloudy days this week but most of the time it was clear and blue. We started the week with some clouds on Sunday and had a mostly cloudy day this last Saturday. Nighttime temperatures have been in the low 70's and daytime highs have been in the low 90's. We had a bit of wind on the Pacific side Thursday and Friday that cooled things off a bit over there, but there was almost no wind on the Cortez side this week.
WATER: Surface conditions on the Pacific side were great with swells at 3-5 feet and only a few days of wind at the end of the week putting some decent chop on the water. The Cortez side of the Cape showed us great conditions with small swells of 1-2 feet and only light winds. Water temperatures remained constant as there was very little change in the direction or speed of the currents. On the Cortez side the water was a very consistent 75-76 degrees with it warming slightly up toward the Punta Gorda area. On the Pacific side the cold water remained 64-66 degrees along the beach and extending in a plume to the south. Outside the 1,000-fathom line it warmed back up to 72-73 degrees. The cool water was slightly more green that the warm water.
BAIT: Bait availability was very good with so few boats going out, at least at the beginning of the week. At the end of the week even the bait boats were taking nights off because of the low number of boats going out. Mackerel and Caballito were the normal $3 per bait and Sardinas were hard to come by.
FISHING:
BILLFISH: There were fish seen and a few fish caught up around the 1,000-fathom line on the Pacific side as well as quite a few seen and a few caught around the 95 spot. These were Striped Marlin that averaged 120 pounds. Catches averaged on release per boat with a couple of boats releasing three fish. Live bait tossed in front of tailing fish was the best technique but a few were caught on lures.
YELLOWFIN TUNA: There were still quite a few of the football 10-15 pound Yellowfin found around the area of the San Jaime Bank this week and the boats that got into them had a great time because of the lack of pressure. There were reports of some larger fish being found at the Cabrilla Seamount, supposedly fish to 50 pounds. All the Tuna found this week were with porpoise and feathers in dark colors were the best bet for the football fish while live bait dropped into the middle of the porpoise were reported to get the larger fish at the Seamount.
DORADO: Almost every boat that fished the Cortez side this week caught at least one Dorado, and some of the fish were really nice sized, to 50 pounds. Finding the feeding Frigate birds really helped zero in on an area, then slow trolling live bait got the fish to bite. Multiple fish were caught by leaving the first one in the water and dropping back a chunk of cut bait; getting any fish following to bite.
WAHOO: I did not hear of any Wahoo this week.
INSHORE: Inshore fishing was the most prevalent type done this week. Due to economic reasons most likely as the Pangas cost a lot less than cruisers. Whatever the reason, the inshore fishery is still a happening thing with every Panga getting Sierra and having a good shot at Yellowtail to 20 pounds. Toss in the possibility of Dorado, Amberjack, Pargo and Grouper and almost every boat came in with a nice mixed bag of fish. Action was scattered along both sides of the Cape.
P.S.: My gardening is coming along great, I have gotten a chance to catch up on my reading and hopefully get some time on the driving range. Until next week, tight lines!