Cass Tours Report - April 20, 2014

East Cape-Rancho Leonero
Water - Watertemps have stabilized with inshore at 72 degrees; outside 75 degrees.

Air - Warm days and cool evenings

The Environment: Beautiful! In the past few years, the days surrounding Easter have tended to be windy, but not this year. The water has been generally flat as a tortilla. We've had warm days and cool evenings.

The Bottom Line: A solid Leonero 8.5 on a '1-10' scale!

Marlin – Stripers rule! One boat got 5 fish for the day; another hooked 6 and boated 3. Most fish are hitting rigged ballyhoo. One boat counted over 40 jumpers … many nearly close enough to grab over the gunwale. Not that we’d suggest that! These fish were only three miles in front of Leonero.

Dorado – A continued strong bite in the bay at Rincon, just past the Lighthouse. Most fish are being taken on fly-lined ballyhoo. There are toothy needlefish mixed in with the dorado, so it’s a good idea to double up on the bait … you’ll need it.

Pompano – Rancho Leonero continue to pick up good sized pompano as well as barred pargo. You’ll find ‘em by going deep at 60- to 150-feet. Best areas are directly in front of Leonero, in front of Scott Glen's house and at the Lighthouse.

Roosterfish and more Everything seemed to go quiet on the beach with not much action for our cadre of fly-fishers. This should change as spring normally brings a lot of activity accompanying the arrival of baitfish schools.

Gordo Banks - San Jose del Cabo
Easter Week is attracting local families to all of the accessible beaches, as this is the traditional time to spend time with family and friends on the shoreline. Practically the whole city shuts down this weekend, as no one wants to miss out on any of the action. This is also transition time for the weather patterns, days are steadily warming, though there has been a mix of cloud cover and cooler Pacific breezes sweeping through actually the ideal climate now, with high temperatures into the 80s.

Many locals always say that the fish go on vacation as well over the holiday, with the recent full moon passing and choppy ocean conditions for a few days, we did see the water clarity become blotchy and the all around fishing action was more scattered. Striped marlin with some dorado mixed in has been the main deal offshore, varying from day to day, at times fish were found within several miles, other days out to 20 miles. There were reports of offshore porpoise activity, but no yellowfin tuna were associated. Anglers were trolling open water with lures and using either rigged ballyhoo or live caballito for bait. The live bait found inside the marina dock area did become scarcer during the moon as well.

Panga fleets looking for the best chances at action for a variety of more preferred good eating species were concentrating on the San Luis Bank. The Eastern Pacific bonito was the most prevalent catch, striking best on yo-yo jigs, though there was also a mix of snapper, cabrilla, amberjack and even an occasional yellowtail, though no real numbers of any of these species, except for the bonito, limits were standard for them. Though there was the ever increasing situation of problematic sea lions hanging around these same grounds, being aggressive and opportunistic of stealing angler’s catches, fifteen of these mammals were counted one day on these same banks, making it nearly impossible to actually reel a fish all the way to the boat.

Not as many wahoo stories being told in recent days, but with water temperatures of 75 degrees, these species are staying in the area. There were reports of increased activity of schooling flying fish offshore, this is usually a favorable sign of spring time and should attract more gamefish into the local waters. Thrasher sharks were also reported from the same billfish grounds.

Inshore action was spotty for sierra, roosterfish and jack crevalle. Quite a few sierra seen, but without sardinas it has not been easy to entice them, a few charters that somehow obtained some frozen sardinas, did well on these sierra. Some days the juvenile sized roosterfish were found just north of the Puerto Los Cabos Marina Jetty’s, these smaller fish were having trouble swallowing the larger sized live baits. Other days the roosters vanished, hard to predict these jacks, sometimes bite best early, other days late, tide can come in to play as when these fish become more active.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 73 charters for this past week, with anglers accounting for a fish count of: 1 thrasher shark, 1 sailfish, 29 striped marlin, 2 wahoo, 6 yellowtail, 8 amberjack, 25 huachinago, 15 jack crevalle, 12 sierra, 36 dorado, 380 bonito and 16 roosterfish.

Gaviota Fleet - Cabo San Lucas
The striper action continues for the Cabo anglers and while the town is full of tourists, it's primarily the non-fishing Easter Week groups that enjoy the land based activities.  Really good for the town, just not for the boats.  High billfish boat for the week was the "Fish Cabo", reflecting 4 stripers released and 1 dinner dorado for a single fishing day, followed by the "Gaviota II", reflecting 5 stripers for 6 days fished.  The overall fish counts for a combined total of 17 days fished reflected 15 stripers, (14 released) 1 dorado and 2 skipjack tuna.  The better fishing remains on the eastern side of Cabo and toward the Sea of Cortez, in the warmer waters.  The full moon of April 15th had a slight impact on the overall fishing but for the most part, all boats had billfish opportunities through the week for their anglers.

Cabo Climate:  Partly cloudy but warm days with scattered sunshine.  Temps varied from 64 nights to 92 daytime highs.

Sea Conditions:  Variable surface breezes from the south to the east and ranging from calm to 16 mph, (The afternoons, starting at about 1pm have been a little breezy but otherwise, pretty calm overall).  Pacific side has a distinct temp break running north to south just inside the Golden Gate Bank, with 71 degrees pushing down across the Jaime Bank and inshore where the temps increase to 74-75.  Cabo Falso and around the corner of Cabo San Lucas to Las Frailes and into the Sea of Cortez, temps are stable at 76-77 degrees.

Best Fishing Area(s):  The 1150 Fathom Spot continues to be the best producing area for the billfish, albeit, we had a report of a striper taken at Pozo De Cota, up on the Pacific side of Cabo with others taken off Cabo Falso and the Santa Maria Bay area.

Best Bait/Lures:  Live bait was best but the ballyhoo baits were also working well, too.

Live Bait supply:  The caballitos were readily available from the bait vendors at the $3.00 per bait rate.  Also, some of the bait vendors had the ballyhoo baits available, also at the $3.00 per bait rate.

East Cape Guides April Report 2014

This is definitely looking like an early season, tuna in April, wahoo staying over on the Gordo Banks, kinda crazy, but we will take it. Good early season fishing can be had with very little crowds. We have only been seeing a few cruisers and pangas heading out every day on calm seas. Weather has been great, mid to high 80s with a little bit of chill in the mornings just to remind you it's Springtime. The water temps are hanging around 74-76 and the Terrafin reports are showing the warmer water that invaded the East Cape over the last few weeks has moved offshore and dissipated. Fishing has been better South for us on the dorado and tuna. Marlin are spread out in front of La Ribera taking trolled and pitchbait ballyhoo. Bait is all about the large horse ballyhoo and small juvenile ballyhoo on the dorado. Tuna are being taken on blue/silver hoochies on light line and fluorocarbon leader. This is not a wide open, "put the cedar plugs out and they all go off," tuna fishing. So, you want to make those hookups count. Great fishing with Steve, Eddie, Jimbo, Chuy, Pancho and Marcos. We did have one marlin expire on us. Everyone knows I am a huge proponent of C&R and fishery preservation efforts. We rarely have a billfish mortally wounded during a fight, but it does happen. My client opted to have a Japanese gyotaku print made by Lyle Brunson. I did have the opportunity to assist Lyle in two marlin prints. See the photos of the print making process below.

You can see more of Lyle's work by following this link: http://eastcapeguides.com/fishprints.html

Buena pesca,

Mark

TUNA IN APRIL ANYONE?

Well, first day out we run into some yellowfin...the first tuna of the year. We pulled a hook at color on a estimated 45# fish and then landed a few smaller units. No big numbers but not bad for April. We had loads of sushi and sashimi at the Hotel Palmas De Cortez pool. Jealous much? Anyway, there is a big pocket of warm water right off the East Cape fueling the bite. The fish are spread out from Punta Arena and North. We landed and release two very nice striped marlin today. The bait situation is all about the ballyhoo, both large and small. Air temps are perfect with little to no wind on the water. Just great Spring time weather. See photos of Steve, Eddie and Jimbo, Chuy, Pancho and Marcos.

Buena pesca,

Mark

Cass Tours Fishing Report - April 7, 2014

Rancho Leonero - East Cape
Once again a pretty solid week of fishing. Being early season pressure is still light. Beautiful weather with days in the mid 80's and water temps holding around 75. We had a breezy day yesterday but boats still went out.

The Dorado are still around in numbers. A lot of small schools with the bigger fish in the 25lb range. The best bite has been right out in front of the ranch within a mile. Ballyhoo still working well.

Mixed in with the Dorado anglers have been picking up real good quality African Pompano. Go to our web page and check out the photos. These were taken on whole ballyhoo dropped to the bottom.

Striped marlin are spread all over the East Cape. The La Ribera banks proving the most productive. These are big robust stripers and commonly give a good fight.

Rooster fish action is beginning to heat up again in the region of the light house. It has been a little slow around the Ranch this week.

Sierra and Jacks were prowling around the entrance to the marina. Pargo and Cabrilla are available on the bottom for those willing to give it a try.

San Jose del Cabo - Gordo Banks
Spring break tourist activity seemed to have slowed some, even though the actual local Easter Holiday week does not begin until mid month. Weather has been nearly perfect, highs in the low 80s, there has been scattered cloud cover, burning off as the days progressed. Winds were moderate, mostly from the east and switching from the south, ocean temperature now averaged in the 70 to 75 degree range, a slight drop from last week, but still warmer than normal for early April. Quite a few whale sightings continue, despite this now being late season for these mammals, the majority have already began their northern migration.

Offshore , anglers found hit or miss action for the billfish, spread out, no concentrations of baitfish to attract any big numbers of striped marlin, fish were found further offshore some days and then as close as two miles to shore on others, clarity of water varied with the flowing currents. Dorado were found every day, though only in small groups, more of these fish were within several miles of shore, this is where half beak schools (ballyhoo) have been schooling. Weights averaged 10 to 15 pounds.

No yellowfin tuna to speak of, except an odd fish up to 30 pounds, being hooked into while working high spots with yo-yo jigs, from Iman to San Luis Bank. The most common catch were the Eastern Pacific bonito, striking readily on the iron jigs, ranging 3 to 10 lb. There was more porpoise activity now being seen offshore, though not many yellowfin were being reported. Early morning proved to be the best time for fishing over the rock piles, mixed in with the feisty bonito, were a handful of quality snapper, amberjack and cabrilla. Yellowtail action has been very spotty, most of the fish we have seen were nice 25 to 35 lb. A couple of these hogs were even hooked into while drifting live baits just outside of the Marina Jetty entrance.

This whole year has been abnormal, with warmer winter weather and ocean water temperature, enough so, where tropical pelagic species such as wahoo and dorado have remained in local waters throughout the winter and into the spring. Everyday there have been reports of wahoo being either hooked into, seen free swimming, or actually landed, most of this wahoo action was found from Punta Gorda and north along the ledges, towards Vinormama. A couple of fifty pound plus wahoo were accounted for, most of the ‘hoo landed were in the 20 to 30 pound class.

Close to shore there were lots of powerful jack crevalle moving in, also some juvenile sized roosterfish and sierra. This action could be wide open with sardinas, but none of these smaller baitfish have been available in recent months, with the main bait source now being either live caballito or rigged ballyhoo. We did see one 12 pound snook caught right off of the panga dock area, this fish hit on a live bait.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 84 charters for this past week, with anglers accounting for a fish count of: 6 striped marlin, 9 wahoo, 6 yellowfin tuna, 8 yellowtail, 17 amberjack, 80 dorado, 28 jack crevalle, 48 sierra, 22 roosterfish, 580 bonito, 15 cabrilla and 32 misc. pargo.

Cabo San Lucas - Gaviota Fleet
This was one of those "Have & Have Not" weeks for fishing from Cabo San Lucas.  Fishing the same area, one boat could have several billfish for the day while the other caught nothing.  It just happens that way and I have personally skippered boats from Cabo San Lucas and seen both sides of that issue.  Frustrating is a civil word for that type of a day and occasionally, it can stretch into several days.  It's enough to make a skipper shiver watching other boats catch fish for their anglers and no matter what you do or try, change lures, trolling distances, trolling speeds, change hooks and line sizes, slow troll live bait, skip rigged baits, it all winds up as a blank.  It just goes with the territory of sport fishing.  The "Gaviota VIII" was high boat for the week and one of the "Have" boats, landing/releasing 6 stripers for 2 days fished at the 1150 Fathom Spot.  The total overall fish counts for 20 days reflected 18 stripers, (17 releases) 3 dorado, 3 roosterfish, 2 red snappers, 5 skipjack and 11 Sierras.

 Cabo Climate:  Partly cloudy but warm, toasty days with intermittent sunshine and temps that ranged from 61 nights to 87 daytime highs.

Sea Conditions:  The Pacific side temps were 73-74 from the shoreline to 8 miles out & pushing up against cooler water at 71.  Warmer waters, 74-75, extended from the inner-edge of the Jaime Bank, passing by Cabo San Lucas and extending on into the Sea of Cortez, up and beyond Los Frailes.  Surface breezes flowing from the easterly directions to 16 mph.

Best Fishing Area:  The 1150 Fathom Spot was by far the best with most boats having a couple of opportunities with fish that just didn't want to bite.

Best Bait/Lure:  Live bait, (caballitos) and slow trolled rigged ballyhoo were by far the best bet for the billfish.

Live Bait Supply:  Live bait supply remains very good for the caballitos at $3.00 each.  Availability of the frozen ballyhoo also available from the bait vendors at $3.00 each.

Cass Tours Fishing Report - March 17, 2014

San Jose del Cabo
Gordo Banks
Another wave of Spring Break vacationers are arriving in Los Cabos and everyone is enjoying perfect weather conditions, lows in the 60, highs in the low 80s, clear sunny skies, moderate swells and warming ocean temperatures, what else could a person ask for? Past weekend there was a heavy south blow, pushed in cooler waters from the Pacific, but these conditions quickly rebound as winds subsided and average ocean temperatures are now in the 70/72 degree range on the Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas and in the direction of San Jose del Cabo we are seeing warmer 74/76 degree currents.

This big southern blow last Sunday contributed to the large concentrations of striped marlin moving from the Pacific grounds to area just outside the Gordo Banks. Previously the billfish action had been very scattered in this area, but all of sudden the bite broke wide open, fleets from all local ports were congregating on these grounds. Striped marlin were found in big numbers, many charters having more than a half dozen strikes per trip, Multiple marlin per boat was common. The stripers were readily striking trolled lures, ballyhoo, others were seen tailing on the surface and would take live caballito, also anglers did well drift fishing deeper baits. Quite a few thrasher sharks in this area, many were hooked while drifting baits, most of these were lost, very powerful fish, they head straight down and use their extended long tail to their advantage.

Dorado numbers were limited, though some of these gamefish are being encountered each day, at times very close to shore, sizes range 5 to 20 lb. No particular hot spot to find these fish now. Wahoo were sighted free swimming on the popular local grounds, though only a handful were actually hooked into. One wahoo in the 80 lb. class was landed, hooked into on the same grounds as were the striped marlin. Yellowfin tuna were seen breezing at times near Iman to San Luis Banks, but only a few of these 15 to 25 pound tuna were hooked into, either on live caballito or on yo-yo jigs while jigging off of the rocky structure, where the main catch has been for Eastern Pacific Bonito.

The much talked about red snapper bite that occurred last red, as a result of the red crab bloom, this action dissipated quickly as the red crustaceans no longer were found drifting to the surface in masses, as during the previous week. So snapper catches were spotty, an occasional amberjack, cabrilla, grouper or yellowtail were accounted for off the various rocky high spots. The San Luis Banks, as well as times on the Gordo Banks, produced great action for the local good eating variety of bonito, ranging 4 to 10 pounds, these toothy speedsters are fun sport on light tackle.

Along the inshore beach stretches, sierra, jack crevalle were found in certain areas. Good numbers of roosterfish, up to about 12 pounds, were being found the first couple of miles towards the north of Puerto Los Cabos Marina jetty entrance. Sierra were more scattered, still no sardinas being found locally, caballito has been the steady bait source recently.

Getting to be late season now, though there are still lots of a whales being sighted in larger sized pods, these mammals are going to be starting their northerly migration soon. Sea lions are becoming more of a nuisance on the local snapper grounds, wanting to catch their share of the tasty red snapper, always easier grab hold of when the fish is trapped on a fishing line.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 104 charters for this past week, with anglers accounting for a fish count of: 2 thrasher shark, 82 striped marlin, 4 wahoo, 6 yellowfin tuna, 4 yellowtail, 26 amberjack, 480 bonito, 14 jack crevalle, 12 sierra, 26 dorado, 110 roosterfish, 14 cabrilla, 72 red snapper (huachinango) and misc. pargo..

Cabo San Lucas - Gaviota Fleet
The striper action rebounded considerably this past week and while a few fish were being caught at the Golden Gate Bank on the Pacific side, the better bite came from the 1150 Fathom spot on the Sea of Cortez side. High billfish count for the week came from the "Gaviota X", with a total of 6 releases for 2 fishing days, followed by the "Fish Cabo", reflecting 9 stripers released for 4 fishing days. There are still good numbers of fish being seen at the Golden Gate but the fish were not cooperating. It appears that the bulk of the billfish are finally starting to move into the Sea of Cortez side but given the good water temps and continued feed biomass at the Golden Gate, it will probably be awhile before the fish vacate that area. The overall fish counts for a combined total of 27 days fished reflected 32 stripers, (28 releases) 24 skipjack and 2 dorado.

Cabo Climate: Mostly sunny & warm days with an occasional cloud here & there during the week. Temps ranged from 58 nights to 88 daytime highs. Near perfect weather conditions.

Sea Conditions: Surface breezes to 13 mph, mostly from the easterly directions. Pacific side, from Golden Gate Bank, down across the Jaime Bank, temps were 73-74, pushing up to 75-76 temps from Cabo Falso and into the Sea of Cortez. Warmest waters ranged from just outside the 95 fathom spot to the 1150 fathom spot and ranged from 78-81 degrees.

Best Fishing Area: While the billfish were still at the Golden Gate Bank, they slowed up on biting and the new hot spot was the 1150 Fathom Spot, entering the Sea of Cortez side of Cabo. It's definitely the time of year when the fish typically move into the Sea of Cortez but the move has been unusually slow this year.

Best Bait/Lure: Live caballitos and slow trolled rigged ballyhoo have been the most effective method and the ballyhoo has actually been better than the live bait. The stripers are coughing up squid at the 1150, according to Captain Roberto Marquez, reflecting the main attraction for the presence of the billfish in that area.

Bait Supply: The supply of live caballitos is excellent at the $3.00 per bait rate. Also, the bait vendors are selling the ballyhoo at the same rate, which is rapidly sharing equal footings with the live bait. The new, slow trolling of weighted ballyhoo that stay about a foot under the water have rapidly become very popular and reminds me of many years gone bye when we used to fish that area with flying fish and rigged lisas, (mullet) for billfish, circa the late 60s or so.