Cabo San Lucas Fishing Report

[searich]

Here's a recent fish report from my friends down in Cabo.

FISHING REPORT FOR OCTOBER 1ST - 17TH
Fishing has been good after the passing of Tropical Storm Patricia and smaller Olaf which brought some bumpy seas and rain to Cabo San Lucas in the early part of the month. The storms forced the closure of the port for a few days and the cancellation of the first day of fishing in the Los Cabos Billfish Tournament. Still, the fish came back onto the bite quickly with a few big Black Marlin taken during the Los Cabos Billfish Tournament including two Black Marlin of well over 400 pounds taken aboard Bandit, one of the boats in the Bad Company Fishing Team fleet. Other notable catches included Tuna to 130.8 pounds, a few 30-40 pound Wahoo, Dorado to 52 pounds and a decent count on Striped Marlin released including 5 Striped Marlin aboard Wildcatter.

Water temperatures are in the 77-80 degree range on the Pacific side of the cape with temps running from 79-86 degrees in the Sea of Cortez. Significant temperature breaks could be found at the outer Gordo Banks as well as the Cabrilla Seamount further out to sea. Warm water hugs the coast to just around the tip of the penninsula into the Pacific side and with it, Striped Marlin and Sailfish are being found and feeding very close to shore, often less than a mile off the beach. Dorado seem to prefer the Pacific side for now with many 25-40 pounders hitting the deck but a few reports of fish to 70 pounds are circulating through the marina. Limits are easy to get right now. Wahoo are making themselves available to anglers as well with a decent bite on 30 pound class fish and an occasional 50+ pound toothy critter meeting with gaffs. Football sized Tuna are also in the mix close to shore with an occasional 60 pound Tuna being found close in – most associated with porpoise and caught on live bait. For bigger Tuna, a run of 20-30 miles due south has been the norm where Tuna over 100 pounds are not too uncommon. Some big Tuna are out there, it's just a matter of being in the right place at the right time.

FISHING FORECAST FOR THE REST OF OCTOBER
Just when we thought we could call this hurricane season over, here comes a nasty storm named Rick. As of Sunday, October 18th, weather forecasters report that Hurricane Rick has built into a Category 5 storm and it did so fast – turning from a Cat 1 to 5 in just 24 hours. Current storm tracks take it on a northwest path with a good probability that it will turn eastward on Tuesday. If the projected path is correct, Cabo San Lucas could be looking at a Cat 2 hurricane making landfall just north of us on the Pacific coast. Late season storms are very unpredictable and Rick could just as easily stay on a westward track resulting in a glancing blow by the outer bands of the storm. Either way, expect mixed up seas and some pretty ugly conditions to last until Friday, October 23rd. We hope for the best.

Once Hurricane Rick does its thing, we should be looking at clear blue skies and calm seas within a few days. Anglers can also expect that the storm will carry debris out of the arroyos and into the sea. Storm debris like fallen trees end up being FAD's ( fish attracting devices) and once the baitfish find them and look to hide underneath, Dorado and other predators will show up as well. From an historic viewpoint, post-storm fishing can be epic so keep us in mind for the latter part of October into December for what we anticipate to be great late year fishing here in Cabo San Lucas.

To celebrate the launch of our new charter website, we're offering some ridiculously low prices on multi-day charters.... as low as $400 a day!

CHECKMATE SPORTFISHING CHARTERS

[Captain Fred Archer]

Searich,

Hooeee! Love dat Checkmate Bert! Thanks for giving me yet another look at her. Her original captain and owner, Captain Bobby Dobson was one of my best friends when I lived and operated my charterboat down there. I fished her many times, as Bobby did my boat. In fact, we were partners in our own little fleet of hard cores. She's a purty and sweet machine, that's for sure. Some boats just seem to have that special, fish-raising magic and Checkmate sure does.

Only thing is, they're giving her away! Understandable when just starting out, I suppose, but once the various troubles, storms and the situation with the U.S. economy settles down (I hope), her famous name and long, great reputation as a fish raiser and catcher will make her a hard date to get if you don't have your reservations. Folks need to get it while they can!

"Checkmate, Checkmate, you on this side, Bobby?" "Roger, Fred, but we're busy at the moment, ya know?" Roger, Bobby, back 'er down and catch 'em up!"

And something else. Bobby was one of the first Cabo captains to use SuperBars on a daily basis. Good to see that you're still using them. They are another good reason to hook up with Checkmate. Heck, I wouldn't even think of fishing Cabo without them aboard...and that ain't 'cause we make them!

Buenas Suerte, Amigos y tamale caliente, mi amiga Checkmate.