August 13-19, 2007

WEATHER: Our week started our as a normal summer week and weekend up with a taste of our Hurricane season weather, only without the wind.  Monday and the rest of the weekdays were just great with sunny skies and temperatures in the high 90’s during the daytime and in the low 80’s at night.

On Saturday and Sunday we had the edge of a storm system come across us as the system came across from the mainland and turned up the Sea of Cortez.  This system brought us cloudy skies and a scattering of rain on Saturday with a fairly decent rain on Saturday night.  The wind shifted around from the northeast and the daytime temperature dropped to the high 80;s and nighttime lows went to the mid 70;s.

WATER:  On the Sea of Cortez we had water temperatures in the high 80’s over most of the area.  >From San Jose and to the south there was almost a wall where the temperature changed from 85 to 83 degrees.  This warm water pushed across the Cape toward the Pacific side on a small plume that extended 5 miles offshore and 5 miles into the Pacific.  On the Pacific side the water was 80-82 degrees.  Both sides of the cape had excellent surface conditions early in the week but over the weekend the Cortez side saw considerable chop and building swells due to the northeastern winds.

BAIT:  There was no problem getting bait this week with plenty of Mackerel, Caballito, Mullet and Sardinas.  The bigger baits were the normal $2 per bait while the Sardinas were $25 per scoop.

FISHING:

BILLFISH:  We are still seeing large numbers of Striped Marlin out on the water, very strange for this time of year, but at least they are there and they are biting.  The major mass of fish has moved to the Pacific side of the Cape, just off the beach between the Lighthouse and the Golden Gate Bank.  The bite has been an even mix between lures and live bait with most of the bait caught fish coming into the lure pattern and eating drop-backs.  An average catch has been two Striped Marlin per day with a few boats scoring five or six.  Also, there are finally some nice sized Blue and Black Marlin showing up.  Most of these fish have been in the area of the various Banks and fairly evenly scattered.

YELLOWFIN TUNA:  Once again the Tuna bite dropped off, our great showing of football-sized fish came to a screeching halt with the change in the weather.  There are still some fish out there, but not tin the numbers we were seeing last week.  A few scattered schools of larger fish have been found on the Pacific side of the Cape outside the San Jaime Banks, but it has been a 40+ mile run with not a great chance of success in finding them.  If you did find them, larger cedar plugs and Striped Marlin sized lures in dark colors worked best.

DORADO:  As the water warms up the Dorado action is one thing you can count on, and the water is just about perfect right now.  Every boat I have seen come into the Marina has had at least one yellow flag flying, and a few that were in the right spot at the right time had both outriggers loaded with them.  Most of the action on Dorado has been on the Pacific side of the Cape and close to shore.  Fish in the 20-40 pound class have been eating bright colored lures, and the occasional larger fish has bitten on live bait dropped back after seeing Frigate birds working an area.

WAHOO:  There were a few nice fish caught this week and hopefully next month things will improve.  The fish I saw were in the 40-60 pound class and were found at the edge of the Pacific side banks, caught by boats working the edges for Marlin.

INSHORE:  Just like last week.  Good to excellent Roosterfish were available on the Pacific side between the arch and the lighthouse on fish between 5 and 25 pounds.  The baitfish moved in close to the beach and brought the Roosters with them.  Other inshore action was spotty as most of the Pangas were concentration on the “close to shore” pelagic fish.

NOTES:  Keep an eye on the weather; this is the time of year when things can turn quickly.  I love fishing in August and September, there are some of the biggest fish of the year here now and there is not as much pressure on them as there is in October.  Until next week, tight lines!  P.S., if you get a chance to listen to music by Miguel de Hoyos, take advantage of the opportunity, you won’t regret it!

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