San Jose del Cabo Fishing Log — September 14–20, 2026
Spotty Yellowfin Tuna at Vinorama, Big Dogtooth Snapper and Productive Bottom Fishing at Iman Bank
Fishing around San Jose del Cabo during September 14–20, 2026, continued to produce mixed results, with yellowfin tuna remaining difficult to catch consistently around Vinorama.
Although several yellowfin tuna were reported early in the week, the bite became less productive as the days progressed. Persistent shark activity and increasingly limited live sardine supplies added to the challenge.
Meanwhile, bottom fishing at Iman Bank provided some of the week's most encouraging opportunities, with dogtooth snapper, mullet snapper, barred snapper and sizeable grouper reported.
A particularly large yellowfin tuna was also landed at Vinorama during the week, highlighting the presence of bigger fish despite the inconsistent bite.
Weather and Ocean Conditions
The week began with difficult weather conditions around San Jose del Cabo.
On Monday, September 14, heavy rainfall and strong winds affected the region.
However, conditions improved afterward, with relatively calm weather reported for the remainder of the week.
By Sunday, September 20, attention was turning toward a developing Pacific storm system forecast to approach the region around September 25–26.
At that time, the projected storm path remained uncertain and was changing frequently.
These were forecasts for the following week, not confirmed storm impacts during September 14–20.
The regional report did not provide a verified water-temperature measurement or indicate an official port closure during this particular week.
Yellowfin Tuna — Inconsistent Fishing at Vinorama
Vinorama remained the primary fishing area for anglers targeting yellowfin tuna.
The bite continued to fluctuate considerably.
On Tuesday, September 15, many regional fishing outings managed to land several yellowfin tuna.
However, fishing became noticeably slower during the remainder of the week, with some outings fortunate to land only one or two fish.
Most reported yellowfin tuna weighed approximately 20–80 pounds, although larger fish were also present.
The most productive fishing generally occurred early in the morning, before large schools of skipjack moved into the area.
Once these baitfish became more concentrated, targeting feeding yellowfin tuna became increasingly difficult.
Despite the inconsistent bite, Vinorama continued to offer opportunities for anglers willing to adapt to changing conditions.
Big Yellowfin Tuna — A 279-Pound Catch at Vinorama
One of the most notable catches reported during the week occurred on Tuesday, September 15.
A local commercial fishing outing landed a 279-pound yellowfin tuna at Vinorama using a live caballito.
The fish was reportedly caught on 50-pound test line after a fight lasting less than two hours.
This exceptional regional catch highlighted the presence of much larger yellowfin tuna alongside the more commonly encountered 20–80-pound fish.
However, encounters with fish of this size remained uncommon and could not be considered typical fishing results.
Shark interference also affected larger tuna.
That same Tuesday, a group of sharks attacked a hooked yellowfin estimated at approximately 140 pounds, preventing the fish from being landed.
These events demonstrated both the potential and the challenges associated with targeting large yellowfin tuna around Vinorama.
Shark Activity — Persistent Problems at Vinorama and San Luis
Sharks continued to affect fishing results at Vinorama and San Luis throughout the reporting period.
Some hooked yellowfin tuna attracted sharks before anglers could successfully bring them to the boat.
This interference was particularly frustrating when larger fish were involved.
Even during periods of active tuna feeding, the number of successful landings could remain limited.
The persistent shark presence made it increasingly important to distinguish between hooking tuna and actually landing them.
These conditions contributed to the unpredictable fishing results reported throughout the week.
Live Bait Availability — A Challenging Week
Live sardine availability became another important factor during September 14–20.
Supplies were limited early in the reporting period and became increasingly scarce toward the weekend.
By the end of the week, the regional report indicated that live sardines were no longer available through the usual supply.
As a result, anglers relied more heavily on alternative baits.
Dead sardines and frozen squid were both used successfully while targeting yellowfin tuna.
The use of alternative bait helped maintain fishing opportunities despite the shortage of live sardines.
This adjustment was particularly important around Vinorama, where live-bait fishing had been a principal technique throughout the summer.
Bottom Fishing — Dogtooth Snapper at Iman Bank
Bottom fishing provided the most consistent regional opportunities during the week.
Iman Bank was particularly productive, with anglers targeting rocky bottom structures using large chunks of skipjack.
Several impressive dogtooth snapper were reported, including fish weighing approximately 30–60 pounds.
These catches represented some of the better bottom-fishing results documented during the period.
In addition to dogtooth snapper, anglers reported:
Mullet snapper
Barred snapper
The variety of snapper species provided encouraging alternatives to the inconsistent yellowfin tuna bite.
While offshore tuna fishing remained unpredictable, bottom structures around Iman offered more dependable opportunities during portions of the week.
Grouper — Fish Reaching 65 Pounds
Grouper were another highlight of the bottom-fishing activity.
Regional reports described several medium-sized and large grouper caught around the same rocky structures targeted for snapper.
Most of the larger reported grouper weighed approximately 35–70 pounds.
These catches contributed to the strong bottom-fishing results around Iman Bank.
Large chunks of skipjack continued to be among the preferred baits for fishing these deeper structures.
Although bottom fishing was more productive than tuna fishing in some areas, individual results still depended on current, bait presentation and fish activity.
Inner and Outer Gordo — Limited Fishing Activity
Inner and Outer Gordo received comparatively little fishing attention during September 14–20.
Most regional fishing outings continued to concentrate on Vinorama for yellowfin tuna and Iman Bank for bottom fishing.
Consequently, the available report documented relatively few catches from the Gordo Banks during the week.
However, one outing reported seeing large yellowfin tuna feeding at Inner Gordo during the weekend of September 19–20.
This observation suggested that larger tuna remained present around the offshore banks.
No corresponding successful catch was documented for that sighting.
The report indicated that additional fishing activity was expected in the area during the following week, depending on weather conditions.
Fishing Conditions Summary
Vinorama: Yellowfin tuna fishing remained inconsistent, with most reported fish weighing approximately 20–70 pounds.
Large yellowfin tuna: A 279-pound fish was landed by an independent commercial fishing outing on September 15.
Shark activity: Continued interference at Vinorama and San Luis, including a large tuna lost to sharks.
Best tuna fishing period: Early mornings, before large schools of skipjack became dominant.
Live bait: Sardine supplies declined substantially, requiring the use of dead sardines and frozen squid.
Iman Bank: More consistent bottom fishing around rocky structures.
Dogtooth snapper: Several fish weighing approximately 35–60 pounds.
Grouper: Reported fish weighing approximately 35–70 pounds.
Other bottom species: Mullet snapper and barred snapper.
Inner Gordo: Large yellowfin tuna observed feeding during the weekend, without a documented landing.
Weather: Heavy rain and wind on September 14, followed by relatively calm conditions.
Fishing Outlook
The September 14–20 fishing reports showed that yellowfin tuna continued to be present around San Jose del Cabo, although consistent fishing opportunities remained difficult to find.
Vinorama offered intermittent tuna activity, with occasional encounters involving much larger fish.
However, shark interference and declining live sardine supplies continued to complicate fishing.
Bottom fishing around Iman Bank provided the stronger regional opportunities, particularly for dogtooth snapper and grouper.
The reported sighting of large yellowfin tuna at Inner Gordo also suggested that offshore fishing could remain an option when conditions permitted.
With a developing Pacific storm being monitored for the following week, anglers needed to remain attentive to marine forecasts and official port information before planning future departures.
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This Fishing Log summarizes historical regional fishing observations. Not all reported catches are attributable to Exotic Fish Cabo. Fishing conditions vary, and catches are never guaranteed.
