WEATHER: It
has been pretty nice, but really hot. That is to be expected, though this time
of year, over the last month we have been pretty lucky as it has been pretty
calm down south with really no storms forming. We are in the middle of the
summer and still have another month and a half to go, to get out of the woods,
as far as hurricanes and storms. Highs are pushing a 100 degrees in the daytime
when the sun is shining but we have seen a few days of overcast and a few drops
of rain a couple days
WATER: Just
like it was last week, and hasn’t changed much in over a week the warm water is
here to stay awhile and it feels like a bathtub if you spend time in it. The
temps I noticed on the Tempbreak map was 85 to 90 degrees, which is pretty warm
all over. Typical mid summer weather right now and that means pretty intense
heat that doesn’t let up much so this will keep that water temperature way up
there.
BILLFISH:
Well with the warm weather and water comes the Blue Marlin and this past week
we have seen lots with one tipping the scales at 650lbs. All week other fleets
also reported Blue Marlin hookup so we know it is happening. The 1150 area to
Ssan Jamie Banks is the areas producing the Big Blues and that makes like 2
weeks in a row we have been seeing some good Blue Marlin action. The Striped Marlin
fishing has been good also but in tight to the beach, and no more than 3 to 4
miles off the beach. If you use ballywhoo, live bait or lures that is whats
catching the Strippers. Please remember to release all your BILLFISH for the
next generation to catch and release. Most all the fish being caught is landed
on live bait and lures.
DORADO: A
few small Dorados are being caught, but nothing major really.
SWORDFISH:
Well there showing up in good numbers with all this warm water we have here in
place. So along with the great Blue and Striped Marlin bite we also have
Sailfish action. Really what a time to be in Cabo when all the Billfish Species
are here and biting.
WAHOO: Well,
there has been a few Wahoo caught this past week. Most are in the 40lb to 50lb pound
range. Jet heads are what is catching fish. More than usual for this time of
year.
TUNA: It has
been really good for some large Tuna this past week. We have had quite a few
large fish caught and lots of football size Tuna also. Some of the bigger ones
caught this past week were from 145lbs to 250lbs in weight. Lots of Sushi!! The
thing is to get to the Tuna you will have to run 18 to 30 miles offshore and
hope you run in to them. It’s a gamble but if you find a school you have good
chances of coming home with a boat full of Tuna. We have been doing well using
the Kites and live bait. Really you have to have the mind frame of running a long
way to catch a big fish and not on the numbers of fish.
INSHORE: Off
course it's mostly all Roosters inshore but, it seems that inshore has been good
for striped marlin this past week also. So, if you hired a Panga you might run
into some good Marlin action, cause the fish are tight to the beach and close
to shore, within 3 to 4 miles. Lots of Triggerfish also inshore, the kids will
love that action. Well the inshore action is about the same as last week with
quite a few Roosters and Skip Jack being caught close to shore.
Rooster Fish
Information!
Roosterfish,
Nematistius pectoralis
The
Roosterfish, Nematistius pectoralis, is one of the true exotics of the world,
with a common Spanish name is papagallo and known locally as pez gallo, is a
species in the family Nematistiidae, the Roosterfish, known as papagallos in
Mexico. Globally, there is only this species in the genus Nematistius, and it
is only found in Mexican waters of the Pacific.
The
Roosterfish have elongated compressed bodies that are bluish gray in color with
silvery reflections. They have four dark bars, one between their eyes, one
across the rear part of their head, two obliquely curved black bands on their
sides, one of which extends down the center of the caudal base. Their head is
pointed and features simple teeth. Their first dorsal fin has seven spines the
last six of which are very elongated; the second dorsal fin has one spine and
25 rays. Their anal fin base is much shorter than their dorsal fin base. Their
caudal fin is deeply forked; they have long and curved pectoral fins that are
longer than their pelvic fins.
The
Roosterfish are a schooling species found along sandy shores at depths up to 60
feet. They can reach up to 1.91 meters (6 feet 3 inches) in length and 52 kg
(114 pounds) in weight with the current I.G.F.A. world record being taken in
waters off La Paz in 1960. A Roosterfish Weight from Length Conversion Table
has been included in this website to allow the accurate determination of a fish
weight and a return to the ocean unharmed.
They are
voracious ambush predators feeding on small fish. They prey on a variety of
long slender fish (ladyfish, mullets, halfbeaks, and herrings) and have been
known to swallow a 51 cm (20 inch) ladyfish whole. They are found in all
Mexican waters of the Pacific with the exception that they are absent from the
extreme northern portion of the Sea of Cortez.
The
Roosterfish is an easy fish to identify due to its unique “rooster comb” and
thus cannot be confused with any other species.
The
Roosterfish are a targeted species of recreational anglers as they are
exceedingly strong and can make long runs. They can be caught via trolling live
bait within a quarter mile of the beach or on live bait, or Ranger Plugs and
Klassen Poppers off the beach. They are a seasonal species that follow mullet
and are found in the greater Los Cabos area primarily during the months of May,
June, and July. The Roosterfish is not a favorite of local fishermen. They do
not focus on them but if caught as an incidental catch the smaller ones will be
retained. Overall they are a poor food fish but are on occasion sold fresh in
local markets to the uninformed.
Mexican
Fishing Limits and Laws?
For those of
you going to Cabo or any mexican destination, it may behoove you to know what
exactly the limit is for varieties of gamefish that you may catch. You would
hope, and should expect, the captain of your boat to inform you what that may
be. But don’t count on it, as I’ve seen a few catches posted here that are so
far beyond what is allowed, it is almost shocking. Catch and release don’t
count, only what you keep and kill do. I’ll start with the low limit ones.
You can only
keep: A single marlin, shark, sailfish, or swordfish per licensed angler.
Only 2
dorado or roosterfish per licensed angler. No more than 5 of a single species,
and no more than 10 overall constitute a limit, however, the the limits posted
above count as 5. So 2 dorado and 1 kept swordfish and you’re done for the day.
Pescas
interpretation:
BAG AND
POSSESSION LIMITS: In ocean
waters and estuaries the limit is a total of ten fish per day, with no more
than 5 catches of a single specie, except of the species of Marlin, Sailfish,
Swordfish and Shark, of which only one specimen of either is allowed, and which
counts a five toward the overall 10 fish limit, or Dorado, Roosterfish, Shad,
or Tarpon, of which only two samples of each specie are allowed, and which count
a five toward the overall 10 fish limit.**
[*** Note:
As explained by the Department of Fisheries office in San Diego, this means
that if you catch 1 marlin (5 points) and 1 dorado (5 points), you have reached
your limit for the day.
Other
examples of full Mexican limits would be: 2 dorado; 1 dorado plus 5
miscellaneous species; or, 1 roosterfish plus 1 dorado.– B.A.R.]
Limit on
inland bodies of water (rivers, lakes, dams, etc.) is five fish per day,
whether of a single specie or in combination.
Underwater
fishing is limited to five fish per day, using rubber band or spring type
harpoons, and only while skin-diving.
There is no
limit to the practice of “catch and release,” as long as the fish that exceed
the bag limit be returned to their environment in good survival condition.
Where
sport-fishing is conducted from boats out at sea for longer than three days,
the bag limit will be the equivalent of three times the amounts mentioned
above.
VIOLATIONS
— It is
illegal to capture and maintain alive any fish or ornamental purposes.
— It is
prohibited to receive any financial gain from the product obtained through
sportfishing.
— It is
prohibited to dump trash, litter or substances that harm the aquatic flora or
fauna, whether on lakes, river banks, shores, or oceanic waters.
— It is
prohibited to collect shells, corals, sea anenomes and snails, or to disturb
the original ecosystem environment.
— It is
prohibited to practice sportfishing 250 meters or less from swimmers.
— It is
prohibited to use artificial lighting to attract large quantities of fish.
— It is
prohibited to discharge firearms in Mexican waters.
— Fish
caught under a sportfishing license may not be filleted aboard the vessel from
which it was caught.
— It is
requested that all unusual activities, occurrences or record catches be
reported to the nearest office of the Oficina de Pesca, or to its
representation in San Diego, CA, in order to ensure the preservation of the
natural resources for the continued enjoyment of all fishermen.