San Jose del Cabo Fishing Log — September 21–27, 2026
Hurricane Polo Closes Puerto Los Cabos, While Yellowfin Tuna and Bottom Fishing Offer Limited Opportunities
Fishing around San Jose del Cabo during September 21–27, 2026, was significantly affected by deteriorating marine conditions associated with Hurricane Polo.
Only a limited number of fishing outings took place between Monday and Thursday before authorities officially closed the port on Thursday evening, September 24.
Before the closure, yellowfin tuna continued to be reported around Inner and Outer Gordo, including one fish weighing 190 pounds.
Meanwhile, bottom fishing around Iman Bank provided some of the more consistent opportunities, with dogtooth snapper and grouper weighing approximately 30–50 pounds.
Weather and Ocean Conditions
Hurricane Polo was the dominant factor affecting fishing activity during the week.
The first part of the reporting period allowed a limited number of fishing outings, although conditions were already challenging.
Moderate winds and strong currents affected the fishing grounds, making it difficult to maintain productive fishing presentations in some areas.
By Thursday evening, September 24, Puerto Los Cabos had officially closed due to the marine conditions associated with Hurricane Polo.
The primary concern was the presence of large swells and waves.
Despite the approaching hurricane, San Jose del Cabo had experienced relatively little rainfall by September 27, with mainly light showers and scattered clouds reported across the region.
However, hazardous ocean conditions were sufficient to prevent normal fishing departures.
As of September 27, there was no confirmed reopening date.
Another developing Pacific storm was also being monitored for the beginning of October, creating additional uncertainty for fishing activity.
Yellowfin Tuna — Spotty Action at Vinorama
Yellowfin tuna remained one of the primary fishing targets during the limited days when boats could operate.
Vinorama continued to produce occasional hookups, although the bite was inconsistent.
Some regional fishing outings were fortunate to hook only one or two yellowfin tuna during a morning trip.
Sharks remained a persistent problem, interfering with fishing and reducing the chances of successfully landing hooked tuna.
These conditions made yellowfin fishing difficult even before Hurricane Polo forced the port to close.
The September 27 report did not provide specific weights for the tuna caught at Vinorama during this period.
As a result, no size range is assigned to those fish in this Fishing Log.
Inner and Outer Gordo — Yellowfin Tuna Up to 190 Pounds
Despite the difficult conditions, Inner and Outer Gordo continued to produce reports of large yellowfin tuna.
A handful of regional fishing outings reported successful catches from these offshore banks during the available fishing days.
The largest yellowfin tuna reported for the week weighed 188 pounds.
Several additional tuna were documented in the 90–150-pound range.
These fish demonstrated that larger yellowfin continued to be present around the Gordo Banks, even as the overall fishing activity declined because of weather concerns.
The successful techniques involved using live baitfish, particularly:
Small skipjack
Bulito
Chiwili
Although these catches were encouraging, they represented isolated opportunities rather than a consistent offshore bite.
Weather conditions, strong currents and reduced fishing time limited the number of outings that could explore these grounds.
Bottom Fishing — Dogtooth Snapper and Grouper at Iman Bank
Bottom fishing around Iman Bank provided some of the most consistent regional results during the week.
With yellowfin tuna fishing remaining unpredictable, several fishing outings focused on rocky bottom structures.
Large chunks of skipjack were used to target bottom-dwelling species.
The principal catches included dogtooth snapper and grouper.
Some of these fish weighed approximately 30–50 pounds, providing encouraging results despite the difficult marine conditions.
However, moderate winds and strong currents made bottom fishing challenging.
Maintaining bait close to the desired structure required careful fishing techniques, and not every outing produced successful catches.
These reports demonstrated that bottom fishing could provide an alternative when yellowfin tuna activity was limited.
Shark Activity — Continued Interference at Vinorama
Sharks remained a major challenge for yellowfin tuna fishing around Vinorama.
The September 27 regional report continued to describe shark interference during tuna fishing.
Some hooked yellowfin were vulnerable to sharks before anglers could successfully bring them to the boat.
Combined with the already inconsistent feeding activity, this reduced the reliability of the tuna bite.
The problem had persisted throughout much of September and continued during the limited fishing days of September 21–24.
As a result, finding and hooking yellowfin tuna did not necessarily translate into successful landings.
Hurricane Polo — Port Closure on September 24
The most significant development of the week was the official port closure on Thursday evening, September 24.
Hurricane Polo generated dangerous swell and wave conditions along the coast.
Although the region had avoided significant rainfall by September 27, the ocean conditions were considered unsafe for normal fishing activity.
Regional fishing operations were therefore suspended once the port closure took effect.
The September 27 report indicated that authorities were monitoring conditions before determining when the port could safely reopen.
At the time, another Pacific storm was forecast to approach the region around October 1–2.
These were forecasts rather than confirmed future events, and the timing of any port reopening remained uncertain.
The disruption highlighted the importance of following official maritime safety guidance during the Pacific hurricane season.
Fishing Conditions Summary
Fishing activity: Limited outings from Monday, September 21, through Thursday, September 24.
Port status: Officially closed Thursday evening, September 24, due to Hurricane Polo.
Vinorama: Spotty yellowfin tuna activity, with some outings reporting only one or two hookups.
Shark activity: Continued interference with yellowfin tuna fishing.
Inner and Outer Gordo: Large yellowfin tuna reported, including a fish weighing 188 pounds.
Additional large tuna: Several reported fish in the 90–145-pound range.
Tuna bait: Small skipjack, bulito and chiwili.
Iman Bank: More consistent bottom-fishing opportunities for dogtooth snapper and grouper.
Bottom-fishing catches: Some snapper and grouper weighing approximately 40–60 pounds.
Marine conditions: Moderate winds, strong currents and increasing swell.
Weather: Hurricane Polo brought hazardous ocean conditions, although rainfall remained relatively limited through September 27.
Fishing restrictions: No normal fishing departures while the official port closure remained in effect.
Fishing Outlook
As September 2026 approached its final days, the immediate fishing outlook remained uncertain.
Yellowfin tuna continued to be present around Vinorama and the Gordo Banks, while bottom fishing around Iman Bank had produced encouraging results during the limited available fishing days.
However, future fishing opportunities depended primarily on improving marine conditions and the reopening of Puerto Los Cabos.
As of September 27, forecasters were also monitoring another developing Pacific storm that could affect the region during the first days of October.
The timing and intensity of that system were still uncertain.
Anglers planning a fishing trip needed to follow official port announcements and updated marine forecasts rather than relying on previously reported fishing conditions.
Safety remained the priority until fishing departures could resume.
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All fishing departures depend on favorable marine conditions and official authorization for the port to operate.
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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.
