Thursday delivered one of the most well-rounded days we have seen this week out of Puerto Los Cabos Marina. Iman Bank loaded up with yellowfin tuna, dorado came in to fill out the spread and the striped marlin bite continued as the spring window keeps producing. May 21 is exactly the kind of mixed-bag day Los Cabos is known for when everything lines up.
Today's Conditions
Calm morning conditions gave us the window we needed to push north to Iman Bank without losing time. Once we got there the bait was thick and the tuna were already working it. The southerly breeze filled in around midday as expected, but by then we had locked into the bite.
The Strategy
Today's plan was built around the tuna concentration at Iman Bank, with a flexible spread on the way out and back to capitalize on dorado and any marlin we crossed paths with.
Iman Bank for Tuna
Heavy yellowfin tuna action at Iman Bank. We worked cedar plugs, feathers and a live bait drop on the bird schools and broken water. When tuna get picky a live sardine or strip of squid makes the difference between a follow and a hookup.
Dorado on Edges, Marlin in the Spread
Trolling on the run to and from Iman produced solid dorado on color changes and current breaks. The striped marlin bite is still on, with shots coming on rigged ballyhoo and skirted heads in the spread. Pitch baits stayed ready for any fish that came up to investigate.
Iman Bank, Gordo Banks, La Fortuna and the edge north of the marina all continue to produce. Right now Iman is the standout for tuna, and the dorado are spread along the offshore current lines once the water cleans up after sunrise.
Push Offshore Early While the Tuna Bite Is On
When yellowfin tuna stack at Iman Bank like they did today, the move is simple: leave the marina at 6:10 am, run hard offshore and put baits in the water as soon as you see birds or broken surface. The bite window is best in the calm morning hours. Once the breeze fills in, the tuna get a little tougher but the dorado and marlin work the troll on the way home. Bring extra hands to fight tuna because when it is on, it stays on.
Tackle and Gear
What We Ran Today
- Tuna setup: 50 to 80 lb test, cedar plugs and feathers for trolling, live sardines and strips of squid when fish are picky, jigs for vertical work on schools holding deep
- Marlin setup: 80 to 130 lb test rods, 200 to 400 lb leaders, rigged ballyhoo and skirted trolling heads
- Dorado setup: 30 to 50 lb test, 40 to 60 lb leaders, small skirted lures and pink heads have been producing strikes
- Live bait: caballito and sardine on the pitch rod, ready to drop in front of any marlin that shows
- On every boat: a clean tuna feather, a teaser pulled tight in the wash and a rigged bait ready to drop back
When Iman Bank loads up with tuna, mixed in with dorado on the troll and an active marlin bite, Los Cabos shows you why it is one of the top sportfishing destinations in the world. Days like today are why we run early and stay focused.
From the Day on the Water
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