Cortez Yacht Charters Weekly Mexico Fishing Report

Week ended 11/15/18

THE CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORT FOR THE GAVIOTA SPORT FISHING FLEET AND FISH CABO FLEET

The WON (Western Outdoors News) Tournament filled Cabo with a full fleet of teams so it was a busy week. Congratulations to team Cloud 9 and their winning Yellowfin of 272 lbs and also to team Hooray who cleaned up on the daily doubles pot.

The Striped Marlin fishing continues to improve with overall Pacific side fishing continuing to be productive along with some unusually seasonal catches of Sailfish, Blue Marlin, and a few Blacks showing up.  The Yellowfin were cooperative this past week mostly showing in the 20-25 mile range out toward the San Jamie with most averaging in the 25-30lb. The Dorado fishing stayed solid with mostly mid size fish showing.  Wahoo were running mostly in the 15-20 lb range on fast trolled Rapalas.

Inshore fishing has continued to produce nice catches of smaller Dorado and schools of Skipjacks with the Sierras starting to show as well. Roosters showed nicely this past week.

Cabo Climate:  The 2^nd week of the month started with very pleasant weather and mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies with average daytime temps in the upper mid 80’s and evenings in the low 70s’. The 2 week outlook is for more of the same with daytime temps in the low 80’s and evenings in the low 70’s to mid 60’s.  The good news is there is no rain forecast through the end of the month with only a 20% chance of any precipitation the last few days of the month. Winds are expected in the gentle 6-7 mph range through the end of the month.  Humidity is expected to run in the mid 50’s to 60’s range toward the end of November.

Sea Conditions:  Seas have been relatively calm in the mornings throughout the area with some swells showing up in the afternoons.  Forecast is for more of the same with winds in the 6-7 mph range out of the West and WNW.  Sea temps are running from 78-81 (Pacific) to 80- 83 around the inside corner to the Gordas. There are reports of a plume of warmer water running from the Golden Gate down to the San Jamie and this has been very productive.

Best Fishing Areas:  The hot spots seem to be shifting to the west and north.  Good counts of Marlin are showing up around Cabo Falso and the Lighthouse and out to the San Jamie and Golden Gate banks.  Sailfish and Striped Marlin counts are good in the Migrino, Cabeza de Ballera and Punta Gorda areas and the quality Dorado seem to have moved north on the Pacific side along Migrino as well.  The Yellowfin are being found 15-25 miles out from the Herradura west to the San Jamie Bank.  For those willing to make the longer runs, the Finger Bank has started producing multiple Striped Marlin counts with a few boats reporting over 20 fish per day. Traffic is light up there competing for increasing numbers of migrating Striped Marlin.

Best Bait & Lures:  Feathers and cedar plugs were the favorite for the Tuna with trolled smoke trail lures the favorite for the Blue and Black Marlin.  Live bait tossed to tailing Stripers was also successful. Soaking live baits around the Finger Bank produced successful multiple Striper counts.

Bait Supply: Live bait is available at the $3.00 per bait upon exit from the harbor. With recent tournament action and an increase in seasonal traffic quality live bait has become scarce at times.

Our local reporters: Captain Roberto Marquez-Castro of the Fish Cabo Fleet and Gaviota Fleet Dock Manager Carlos Pena-Mirales. 

THE MAZATLAN FISHING REPORT FOR THE ARIES SPORT FISHING FLEET – MARINA EL CID AND CID MEGA RESORT, PACIFIC

The Mazatlan weather has been stellar in early November and fishing has steadily improved with nice counts of Sailfish showing regularly. This past week was a bit slow on the tourist count but very productive on water.

The offshore boats fished a total of 10 trips releasing 6 Sailfish, 1 Stripped Marlin and 1 Blue Marlin. The inshore boats fished at total of 5 days reporting 125 Snappers, 52 Sea Bass, and 2 Roosters.

Mazatlan Climate: The Mazatlan climate was very pleasant in early November and outlook is favorable – mid 80’s daytime with mid 60’s in the evenings.  Forecast is for mostly partly cloudy skies with winds in the 7-9 mph range primarily out of the West and WNW. Humidity will be in the 50’s going into the end of the month for very pleasant fishing conditions. There are a 10-20% of possible showers near the end of the month.

Sea Conditions: The water is seasonally cooling and now in the 81-82 degree range resulting in a larger showing of the Striped Marlin.  They enjoyed mostly calm seas this past week with some afternoon swells. The future outlook is for relatively calm seas with mild breezes predominately from the West and WNW

Best Fishing Area: The offshore bite for the billfish is starting about 10-12 miles out with best results to the west and southwest of the Marina El Cid. In shore, the Super Pangas are finding success all along the coast especially around the rocks.

Best Bait & Lures:  Freshly caught rigged trolling baits and smoke trail lures produced best results for the billfish.

Bait Supply: Freshly caught baits are readily available from the bait boats

Our Local Reporter: Ms. Kitcia Berenice Ceja-Diaz, the Aries Fleet and Marina El Cid Office Manager and fishing reporter

THE IXTAPA-ZIHUATANEJO FISHING REPORT FOR THE INDEPENDENT SPORT FISHING FLEET

The fleet reports continuation of improved offshore fishing as they enter their winter period and exit the rainy season.  Great warm blue water extends almost all the way to the shore and the fleet is reporting some really solid fishing both offshore in inshore.  Fly-fishing and spin casting for big Roosterfish and Jacks inshore is providing plenty of quality action.

The sailfish action has picked up with fish showing as close as the 10-12 mile mark.   Capt. Temo reports quality size Sailfish with many surpassing the 100 lb range along with a really solid Blue Marlin bite out around the 20 mile mark.  Many boats were reporting 3-5 Sailfish per day. This past week Dorado’s were plentiful in the mix with most of the pelagic fishing taking place just 10-12 miles out of the marina.  The Yellowfin have been a little harder to find lately and when found, are 30-35 miles out but, when found, are quality fish up to 150 lbs. The Roosterfish and Jacks were very cooperative this past week by Ixtapa island where there were lots of sardinas drawing in the fish.  Rangers were the lure of choice for the Jacks and Roosters.

IZ Climate:  November moves to their winter climate and a mix of mostly sunny to partly cloudy days. Daily temps are in the mid to upper 80’s and night time temps in the mid 70’s with humidity running in the mid 60’s. The outlook heading into the end of the month is for more of the same. They are approaching the dry season and there is no precipitation projected through the end of the month. Winds are expected to be mild in the 6-7 mph range from the West and WSW. 

Sea Conditions: The offshore water temperature is beginning to cool and is now in the 83-84 degrees range from the 5-6 mile mark at the 100 fathom line all the way out to the 1,000 fathom line at 25-30 miles.  Inshore temperatures are running in the same range to a bit cooler.  The offshore water at the 1000 fathom mark is clear blue all the way in the shore.  With breezes in mid single digits, the seas are very calm particularly in the mornings.

Best Baits & Lures:  Rigged trolling baits and smoke trail lures continue to produce for the Billfish and Dorado with most boats preferring a mix of rigged baits for the Billfish and smaller lures and feathers for the Dorado.  The. Inshore top water poppers are the favorite for the Roosterfish and Jacks.

Bait Supply: The bait supply remains good and freshly caught baits are provided gratis with most charters. Live baits are readily available at this time and are $5.00/dozen paid directly to the bait vendors.

Our Local Reporter: Captain Temo Verboonen – owner/operator of the Secuestro de Amor and Macho Banana.

CANCUN/PUERTO MORELOS FISHING REPORT FOR THE EL CID MARINA

Our friends at the El Cid Marina reported another very productive week for their guests. Although his area is past its prime Sailfish season they had a great billfish week. The close-in fishing available at Puerto Morelos continues to produce great action both offshore and inshore for our clients, many fishing for the first time on half day or 6 hour trips.

The El Cid fleet fished a total 30 trips the past week of fishing.  The offshore targeted boats produced a total of 8 Sailfish, 34 giant Atlantic Barracuda, 59 Bonito, 10 King Mackerel, 9 Mahi-Mahi, 6 Black fin tuna, a hammerhead, and 2 Wahoo. The targeted shallow reef fishing boats tallied 135 Chack-Chi, 12 Black Grouper, 16 Mutton Snapper, and 3 Queen Triggerfish.  A total of 294 fish boated for an average of almost 10 fish per trip– many happy first time fishermen many on ½ day or 6 hour trips. The Aries VIII was high boat with 5 trips producing 7 Sailfish, 3 Giant Barracuda, 1 King Mackerel plus numerous reef fish for their guests.

PM/Cancun Climate:  Occasional brief scattered thunderstorms continue with the seasonal weather pattern.  The 2 week forecast calls for 2 weeks of mostly sunny skies to partly cloudy skies with a 30-40% chance of scattered thunderstorms on almost a daily basis through the Thanksgiving holiday then turning sunny through the end of November.  Daytime temperatures are predicted in the low to mid 80’s and evenings now in the mid 70’s.  Humidity is expected to be in the mid 70’s. Gentle breezes in the 6-10 mph range out of the ENE and NNE are expected to continue through the end of November. Humidity is expected in the mid 70’s range.

Sea Conditions:  Water temperatures in the Cancun-Puerto Morelos-Cozumel area is now running in the 81-82 degree range. Seas are running from calm to a bit choppy depending on the weather conditions.   The prevailing winds have lowered a bit and are out of the ENE at 6-10 MPH and are expected to continue as such through the end of the month.

Best Bait & Lures:  Rigged Ballyhoo, small smoke trail lures were working well for the billfish with feathers also working for the Mahi-Mahi and Giant Barracuda.  Cut bait is the preferred fare for the reef fishing.

Bait Supply:  The bait supply of locally caught Ballyhoo remains good and are provided gratis with most charters.

Our Local Reporter:  Iris Gonzalez at the Hotel El Cid Spa & Beach Resort and Marina