Cortez Yacht Charters Weekly Mexico Fishing Report

Week ended 02/07/19

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

The fleets reported another solid week for Striped Marlin fishing in the Cabo area.  Many boats were still reporting multiple fish days and the overall daily success was still exceptional for anglers chasing that dream fish. The Marlin were starting to spread out as they follow the schools of bait. The Dorado counts were down substantially this past week however.  The Yellowfin Tuna counts continued to be good for the third week in a row although the fish are now a bit more scattered.

The Striped Marlin fishing continues to produce positive results overall on the Pacific side with fishing continuing to concentrate around the Lighthouse and out to the Golden Gate and San Jamie Banks.  It appears the seasonal migration has begun to turn the corner following schools of bait into the Sea of Cortez. Stripers were reported off Palmilla and around the Gordos. The fleets reported solid counts of Striped Marlin with most boats averaging 1-2 fish per day. The Yellowfin were again showing in the 25-30 mile range to the south and southwest and also off the Golden Gate and Gordo banks – the key is to find the pods of Porpoise and you will find the Tuna with most averaging in the 30-100 lb range this past week with some up to 150 lbs.  

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

Cabo Climate:  Early February has been  very pleasant weather with a mix of mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies with the future outlook for more of the same with average daytime temps in the upper 70’s and evenings in the low to mid  60’s. More good news is in the forecast is for mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies with zero chance of rain forecast through the 3^rd week of February. Winds are expected in the gentle 8-11 mph range through late February mostly out of the WSW and WNW.  Humidity is expected to run in the mid 60’s into late February.

Sea Conditions:  Seas have been relatively calm in the mornings throughout the area with some swells and chop showing up in the afternoons as breezes increase.  Forecast is for more of the same with winds in the 8-11 mph range from the WSW and WNW.  Sea temps have cooled but stabilized and are running from 73-76 on the Pacific side and a bit cooler in the 72-74 range on the inside around the Gordos.

Best Fishing Areas:  The Marlin hot spots have remained primarily to the west and north but good action was reported on the inside for the first time this year.  The Lighthouse area was a major hot spot again this past week.  Most of the fish are being found 1-8 miles out from shore.  Large numbers of Stripers are also showing in the Golden gate and San Jamie areas. Success was also reported soaking live baits off Palmilla and the Gordos. The Yellowfin are being found 25-30 miles out to the South and SW near the Herradura, 110, 120,180 and 200 Spots.  Good counts of quality Yellowfin were also coming off the Golden Gate area and some Yellowfin up to the 100 lb mark were reported around the Gordos.  For those willing to make the longer 50 mile run, the Finger Bank has continued producing double digit Striped Marlin counts. Traffic is lighter up there recently as the fish counts closer to home increase. 

Favorite Baits: Trolled blue/green smoke trail lures along with live Mackerel or live Cabillitos were the favorite for the Marlin. Soaking live baits around the Finger Bank and off the Lighthouse area produced successful multiple Striper counts. Trolled feathers and cedar plugs were the ticket for the Yellowfin. Hoochies were by far the preferred and most productive lures for the Sierras. Poppers near the surf were the most successful bait for the Roosters.

Bait Supply: Live bait is available at the $3.00 per bait upon exit from the harbor. Mackerel, when available, are popular with the captains.

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 El CID MEGA RESORT, PACIFIC

The Yellowfin showed up offshore again this past week and the Striped Marlin fishing continues to improve with the seasonal migration. Their inshore fishing continued to produce strong results. Tourist activity has been a bit down compared to historical averages but those anglers that went out were generally rewarded with good action.

The offshore boats reported a nice mix of Striped Marlin and Yellowfin.  As the water has cooled, the Sailfish have become harder to find the past couple of weeks. The Dorado were also hard to come by this past week.  Quality Yellowfin in 25-50 lb range were a welcome addition this past week. The inshore boats reported great action on the Snappers and continued success on the Sea Bass and Queen Triggers whether on 4 hour or 6 hour trips.

The El Cid fleet only fished a total of 14 offshore days and 11 Super Panga inshore trips.  They reported 9 Striped Marlin and 22 good quality Yellowfin Tuna from offshore. Inshore, they reported 161 snappers, 44 sea bass, and 53 Queen Triggerfish.

Mazatlan Climate: The start of February was very pleasant and the outlook into the end of February is also favorable with low 80’s daytime and low 60’s in the evenings. The forecast through the end February is for mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies with breezes in the 6-9 mph range primarily out of the West trending toward the WSW toward month end. Humidity is predicted to be in the upper 60’s going into late February for very pleasant fishing conditions. There is no precipitation forecast through the end of the month.

Sea Conditions: The water is seasonally cooling and now in the 72-74 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 WSW in the 6-9 mph range. A bit of afternoon chop is expected with the slightly higher breezes.

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 schools of Tuna are showing up in the 12-15 mile range. In shore, the Super Pangas are finding success all along the coast especially around the rocks. The water is very clear from the shore out to the offshore breaks.

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 independent fleet reported improved Sailfish action this week on the new moon.  The Dorado action was slow but there was a good bite on the Blue Marlin further out. Great warm blue water extends almost all the way to the shore.  Fly-fishing and spinning rigs for Jacks and Bonitos inshore has continued to be steady. Rooster action this past week was good as there was a bit of cooler green water very near the shore and the Roosters were cruising the breaklines. Good catches of Groupers were again reported off the rocks.

The sailfish action picked up nicely with fish showing as close as the 8 mile mark.   Capt. Temo reports quality size Sailfish with many surpassing the 100 lb range. This time of year they see a lot of European tourist who like to challenge the Sailfish with fly fishing which lowers the overall catch rate but most of the boats were raising 6-8 fish per day and boating 3- 4 or more on conventional tackle.  The Yellowfin have been a little harder to find lately and when found, are 30-35 miles out at the 1000 fathom mark but, when found, are quality fish up to 150 lbs. The Blue Marlin are being found near the 1000 fathom mark 25-30 miles out. Inshore the Bonito and Skipjacks were a bit harder to find this past week but the Jacks continued to be cooperative. The Roosters made a strong showing cruising the breaklines along a bit of off colored green water very near the shoreline which is a change from the very clear water of January.  There has been a big inflow from the Rio Balsas to the north and that has lead to the cooler greener water close to shore. The White Rocks were a hot spot this past week for the big Jacks. Rooster counts to the south toward Vicente Guerrero were very good although typically not large fish.

IZ Climate:  Early February has reflected 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 through end of February. The outlook heading into the end of February is for more of the same. They are now in their dry season and there is no precipitation projected into late February. Winds are expected to be mild in the 6-9 mph range from the West and WSW. 

Sea Conditions: The offshore water temperature has cooled a bit and is stabilized in the 82 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 at 81.  The offshore water at the 1000 fathom mark is now clear blue almost all the way into 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.   Inshore top water poppers are the favorite for the Roosterfish, Bonito and Jacks. Cedar plugs and feathers are working best on the Yellowfin when found.

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 a great week of fishing with overall good weather sandwiched in between a few scattered early morning and late afternoon thunder showers and solid tourist traffic. With tourist traffic still brisk, the boats were quite busy with many clients opting for ½ day fishing at the very productive shallow reefs. 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 63 trips the past week with many clients opting for ½ day trips to work around the scattered thunderstorms.  Although still a bit early of their seasonal migration, the Sailfish showed up this past week for the offshore boats.  In addition to 4 Sailfish and 5 Wahoo, they reported solid counts of 62 giant Atlantic Barracuda, 14 King Mackerel, 7 Mahi-Mahi and 57 Bonito. Many first time fishermen opted for shorter ½ day or 6 hour trips mixed between offshore and inshore. The targeted inshore and shallow reef fishing boats tallied 11 Black Grouper, 23 Mutton Snappers, 472 Chack Chi, 3 Jack Crevalle and 16 Queen Triggerfish.  A total of 673 fish boated for an average of over 10 1/2 fish per trip– there were many happy first time fishermen on ½ day trips.

PM/Cancun Climate:  Occasional brief scattered early morning or late afternoon thunderstorms continue with the seasonal weather pattern.  The extended forecast calls for a mix of sunny to mostly partly cloudy skies to scattered thunderstorms with a 20-30% chance of scattered thunderstorms on almost daily basis through the end of February.  Daytime temperatures are predicted in the low 80’s and evenings now in the low 70’s.  Humidity is expected to be in the mid to upper 70’s. Winds are expected in the 9-13 mph range primarily out of the ESE.

Sea Conditions:  Water temperatures in the Cancun-Puerto Morelos-Cozumel area are at their seasonal coolest and are now running in the 78-80 degree range. Seas are running from calm to a bit choppy depending on the weather conditions.   The prevailing winds have shifted toward their spring pattern and are predicted to be out of the ESE at 9-13 MPH through the end of February.

Best Bait & Lures:  Rigged Ballyhoo, small smoke trail lures were working well for the billfish with feathers also working for the Mahi-Mahi, King Mackerel 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:  Mayte Delgadillo at the Hotel El Cid Spa & Beach Resort and Marina