Cortez Yacht Charters Weekly Mexico Fishing Report

Week ended 12/05/18

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

This past week has been a fantastic week for both the fishermen and the boats.  Why?  Because the fishermen enjoyed exceptional fishing and, for the boats, the action was mostly close in meaning less fuel and shorter days. Many boats reported daily limits of quality Dorado for their fishermen and were back in before noon.

The Striped Marlin fishing continues to improve overall on the Pacific side with fishing continuing to be productive from the Finger Bank down to Los Arcos.  The fleets reported exceptional counts of Striped Marlin. The Yellowfin were spotty this past week mostly showing in the 15-20 mile range to the south and southwest – the key is to find the pods of Porpoise and you will find the Tuna with most averaging in the 25-30lb range. There were reports of 150-250 lb cows coming off the Gordos but the Tuna fishing to the east was otherwise spotty. The Dorado fishing really picked up with many boats reporting limits of quality fish to the 40 lb range!  Wahoo are coming into their peak season and were running mostly in the 15-40 lb range on fast trolled Rapalas and skirted lead heads on the interior but are also now showing in the 30-40 lb range on the Finger Bank.

Inshore fishing has continued to produce nice catches of smaller Dorado and schools of Skipjacks with the Sierras showing in very good numbers from Solmar to El Arco. Roosters are showing in the surf from Solmar around the point at the Lighthouse and also in the Palmilla area.

Cabo Climate:  The end of the month started with very pleasant weather and mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies with the 10 day outlook for average daytime temps in the upper 70’s and evenings in the mid 60’s. The good news is the forecast for mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies with little rain forecast except 3 days of 40-50% probability the middle of December. Winds are expected in the gentle 6-8 mph range through mid December.  Humidity is expected to run in the mid 60’s to low 70’s range into mid December.

Sea Conditions:  Seas have been relatively calm in the mornings throughout the area with some swells and chop showing up in the afternoons.  Forecast is for more of the same with winds in the 6-8 mph range from the WNW and NW.  Sea temps are running from 77-80 (Pacific) with cooling into the 77-79 range on the inside around the Gordos. 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 have clearly shifted to the west and north.  Good counts of Striped Marlin are showing up around Cabo Falso and the Lighthouse and up north toward Migrino.  A few Sailfish continue to show from the Lighthouse north along Migrino. The big news of the week was the quality and quantity of Dorado found from El Arco around the corner on the Pacific side along Migrino.  The Yellowfin are being found 15-20 miles out from the Herradura west to the San Jamie Bank.  For those willing to make the longer 50 mile run, the Finger Bank has continued producing double digit Striped Marlin counts with a few boats reporting over 20 fish per day. Traffic is light up there competing for the large 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 Marlin.  Live bait tossed to tailing Stripers was also successful. Soaking live baits around the Finger Bank produced successful multiple Striper counts. Everything seemed to work for the Dorado from trolled lures to drifted baits.

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 end of November and early December brought more fine fishing weather and a continued showing of the Striped Marlin to go with Sailfish counts for the El Cid fleet in Mazatlan. Inshore fishing continued to be productive.

The offshore boats reported a nice mix of quality Sailfish with most over 40-50 kgs and Striped Marlin. The Dorado count was up nicely with most boats returning to port with some nice table fare for their anglers.  No significant tuna action was reported. The inshore boats reported good action on snappers, sea bass and Triggerfish whether on 4 hour or 6 hour trips.

Mazatlan Climate: The Mazatlan climate has been very pleasant in early December and the outlook into mid December is also favorable – low 80’s daytime and low 60’s in the evenings.  Forecast into mid December is for mostly sunny and partly cloudy skies with winds in the 7-9 mph range primarily out of the WNW and NW. Humidity will be in the 60’s going into mid December for very pleasant fishing conditions. There is little precipitation forecast except for a couple of days in the 20-30% probability range in the middle of December.

Sea Conditions: The water is seasonally cooling and now in the 78-79 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 WNW and NW

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. The Dorado are showing in good numbers a bit closer to shore. 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. The Dorado seem to be favoring feathers and smaller trolling lures like Doorknobs.

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 reported a pick-up in action to what has been a great start to the season – assumed that with the start of a new moon the billfish activity picked up significantly.  Great warm blue water extends almost all the way to the shore and the fleet is still reporting some really solid fishing both offshore in inshore.  Fly-fishing and spin casting for Jacks and Bonitos inshore has continued to be steady. Rooster action this past week slowed as tinged water invaded the inshore.

The sailfish action picked up with fish showing at the 10-15 mile mark.   Capt. Temo reports quality size Sailfish with many surpassing the 100 lb range. This past week the boats were reporting multiple Sailfish hookups per day. This past week quality Dorado’s to the 20 kg range were plentiful in the mix with most of the pelagic fishing taking place just 10-15 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 Jacks continued to be cooperative this past week. The Roosterfish slowed as chlorophyll concentrations created some green water inshore.

IZ Climate:  December has kicked off with their typical 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 to low 70’s with humidity expected to run in the mid 60’s to low 70’s. The outlook heading into the middle of December is for more of the same. They are approaching the dry season and there is almost no precipitation projected into the middle of December with only a couple of days in the 10% probability range. Winds are expected to be very mild in the 4-6 mph range from the West and WSW. 

Sea Conditions: The offshore water temperature is beginning to cool a bit and is now in the 82-84 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 now clear blue all the way in the 5-6 mile mark from shore.  The inshore water has turned a bit green from the chlorophyll and has plumes of cooler water. 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.   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 solid week of fishing when the boats could get out. Their fishing week was interrupted by seasonal thunderstorms which, although not severe, created suspension of fishing due to proximity of lighting. 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 only fished a total 17 trips the past week compared to their normal 45-50 or more.  The offshore targeted boats produced a total of 4 Sailfish, 7 giant Atlantic Barracuda, 32 Bonito, 2 King Mackerel, 4 Mahi-Mahi, 1 Black fin tuna, and 1 Wahoo. Due to the weather more fishermen opted for shorter ½ day trip inshore. The targeted shallow reef fishing boats tallied 63 Chack-Chi, 1Black Grouper, and 4 Mutton Snappers.  Still, a total of 118 fish boated for an average of almost 7 fish per trip– many happy first time fishermen many on ½ day trips.

PM/Cancun Climate:  Occasional brief scattered thunderstorms continue with the seasonal weather pattern.  The 10 day forecast calls for a mix of sunny to mostly partly cloudy skies with a 10-20% chance of scattered thunderstorms on almost an every other day daily basis through the middle of December.  Daytime temperatures are predicted in the low to mid 80’s and evenings now in the low 70’s.  Humidity is expected to be in the upper 60’s to mid 70’s. Winds in the 8-12 mph range out of the East and NE are expected to continue through mid December.

Sea Conditions:  Water temperatures in the Cancun-Puerto Morelos-Cozumel area are cooling and are now running in the 78-79 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 East and NE at 8-12 MPH and are expected to continue as such through mid December.

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