Fishing Forum

[font "Times New Roman"][center]Capt George Landrum[/center] [center]Fly Hooker Sportfishing[/center] [center]gmlandrum@hotmail.com[/center] [center]www.flyhooker.com[/center] [left][/left][/font][font "Times New Roman"][size 2] [center] [/center] [center] [/center][/size][/font][font "Times New Roman"] [left]CABO SAN LUCAS FISH REPORT FOR DECEMBER 28-JANUARY 3, 2003/04[/left] [left][/left] [left] [/left] [left] [/left] [left]WEATHER: Our weather this week remained as we had last week with the night time lows in the mid to high 50’s and day time highs in the mid to high 80’s. Our humidity level rose during the middle of the week as fairly solid cloud cover moved in on us, lasting through the week end. We did have a couple of very light showers early in the morning on Saturday and Sunday, just enough to spot up the car windows.[/left] [left][/left] [left]WATER: West of the Golden Gate and the San Jaime banks on the Pacific side the water temperatures remained in the 75 degree range while on top of the banks and to the shore the temps were up a bit, 76 t0 77 degrees. To the south of the Cape there was still a finger of warmer water, up to 79 degrees in spots. On the Cortez side from the south east of the Cape to up just south of the Gorda Banks the water remained cooler at 73-74 degrees and farther to the west, out around the 1150 spot and north we were recording cold water in the 71 degree area. Surface conditions were good early in the week but deteriorated when the cloud cover first moved in, and then on Sunday as the wind kicked up during the night. Many boats returned a little early and a few came in very early, unloaded the sick ones, then returned. The area from inside the 95 spot to the Red Hill was probably the smoothest water this week.[/left] [left][/left] [left]BAIT: This week we were able to get Caballito and on occasion Mackerel as well, though toward the end of the week the supply started to shrink a bit. The normal price of $2 per bait and there were no bait boats selling Sardina that I heard about..[/left] [left][/left] [left]FISHING[/left] [left][/left] [left]BILLFISH: As was the case week before this last, the Marlin bite was sporadic. There were a couple of Blue Marlin caught, both in the mid 300’s, and a scattering of Striped Marlin as well. Many boats were able to find fish, but there were not a lot of them and many of them were unwilling to bite. Any boat with really good luck this week was one that was able to get one to the side of the boat, but there were a few boats that must have had anglers with good luck charms aboard, as several were able to fly two Marlin flags on their return. Live bait seemed to be the favorite as most of the fish were reported to have been caught on live Caballito and Mackerel tossed at them while tailing, while deep dropping live baits on the Banks and Ledges received very little effort due to the lack of bait fish holding on them. Some fish were caught on lures, the two Blues I know about were, and dark colors worked on both Blue and Striped Marlin. Some of the better colors this week were black/purple, black/red and black/green. The fish were scattered with few to be found in concentrations. Two areas that had slightly better success than others were the area to the south east of the San Jaime Banks and the area right around the 95 spot. The bite was best just after the tide change.[/left] [left][/left] [left]YELLOWFIN TUNA: The beginning and middle of the week had the Yellowfin scarce and distant, but by the end of the week they had moved a bit closer. Early they were found to the south of the San Jaime and around the Golden Gate bank, as the week ended there were plenty of porpoise around the 95 area and they were holding fish. Most of the fish found this week were in the 15-25 pound class but there were a few that were school fish, in the 50 pound range. Best colors were darker ones and for the first boat on the scene, size did not really matter. As the fish became worked over, down sizing lures helped keep the action happening.[/left] [left][/left] [left]DORADO: Last week the Dorado were the fish of the week and this week they have to share the honor with the Yellowfin. Of course the reason is that the bite on Tuna got a bit better and the Dorado bite fell a bit. Not that they were not being caught because they were, it was just that the numbers fell. Most boats were able to get at least one fish tot he boat and quite a few had luck with several, but very few boats were flying more than two Dorado flags at the end of the day. For the more successful fishermen, live bait slow trolled or drifted was the key. If there was debris in the water no one had worked yet, it was a gift, as there were sure to be fish under it. Most of the fish found by boats with no (lots of them get away) or just one flag were caught on lures, and lighter colors did seem to fare just a little better in the attraction area. Most of the action was concentrated on the inside of the Golden Gate banks and in the warm water due south.[/left] [left][/left] [left]WAHOO: Scattered fish were found this week and they were normally incidental catch found while fishing for Tuna or Marlin. No real concentration of Wahoo was found, but the chances were better if you were working the known drops on the banks and ledges. Perhaps because the boats catching them were looking for Tuna and Marlin, it seemed that most of the fish found were caught on dark colored lures as well.[/left] [left][/left] [left]IN SHORE: According to some of the Panga Captains and their clients, inshore fishing has improved a little from the week before last. The Sierra bite is getting stronger, but it is still an early morning thing and the fish are averaging 4-5 pounds. Small Roosterfish have been caught on slow trolled live Caballito. Not a lot of them, and all around 5-8 pounds. Slow trolling small Mackerel most often resulted in getting bit in half by Sierra. The chances of getting bit by a decent bottom fish apparently went up as several anglers reported good action on Amberjack, Snapper and Grouper while fishing in depths ranging from 50 to 150 feet. Small live baits go the nod for best results.[/left] [left][/left]

NOTES: Happy new year to everyone out there! I hope this is a prosperous and healthy one for you and yours. The town is getting busy again as vacationers arrive to escape the cold up north. There have been several cruise ships a day dropping anchor out in the bay. There are Whales showing up and in greater numbers, Humpbacks, Grays, some Pygmy and some Pilot as well. This weeks report was written to the music of "The Dorados" on their 2000 release on Flying Fish Records, "Papa Was A Fishin’ Man". Until next week, Tight Lines![/font]
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