Mark Rayor, who owns Jen Wren Sportfishing in the East Cape region of Baja California Sur, said Friday night that it was a bit too early to worry about Hurricane Blanca.
During the day, his fleet embarked in search of tuna, and one angler landed the 200-pounder shown in the accompanying image. The tuna was caught by Kevin Cuevas of Littleton, Colo., after a 4-hour battle.
“A boat near us bagged one 180lbs,” Rayor said via email. “It has been mostly dinks but once in a while a bruiser shows.”
Rayor was contacted to gauge the mood as Hurricane Blanca approaches the Los Cabos region.
“Lots of gun-shy people running around like the sky is falling,” he stated.
It’s understandable, Rayor acknowledged, given the terrifying and destructive power unleashed by a very unpredictable Hurricane Odile last September.
That was the strongest storm ever to strike Los Cabos, and many businesses are still trying to recover.
Rayor assured that he and others in the East Cape, which is about 70 miles north of Cabo San Lucas on the Sea of Cortez, are watching Blanca closely.
The storm strengthened Friday afternoon, as it churned toward slowly toward the northwest about 480 miles south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas. It boasted maximum sustained winds of 100 mph.
The storm is not supposed to enter the Sea of Cortez. Rather, it’s supposed to pass Cabo San Lucas in the Pacific between Sunday and Monday, as it weakens, and make landfill far to the north of the resort areas.
That is the hope. However, computer models are not always accurate, and are sometimes wildly inaccurate.
Stated Tracy Ehrenberg, who owns Pisces Sportfishing in Cabo San Lucas: “So far it’s totally calm, but we are going to pull our boats out [on Saturday] anyway.
“The docks still have damage from Odile so better safe than sorry. It's a huge hassle but I want our guys to be able to sleep safely and stay with their families.”
Ehrenberg, a longtime resident of Cabo San Lucas, does not trust weather reports.
“The water temp in the Sea of Cortez is high, so matter what they say, the hurricane could get sucked in there,” she said. “The water temp on the Pacific is in the high 70's and they talk about dry air, but the air is not dry, there is a dampness that has lingered for days.”
Rayor said the water temperature in the Sea of Cortez at the East Cape had been 80 degrees–very warm for this time of year–until dropping three degrees Friday because of “a nervous sea.”
Hurricanes gain strength in warm water, and weaken in cool water. Varying water conditions can alter the course of a powerful storm, so wariness among those near storm paths is understandable.
On Friday, though, it was business as usual for many in this big-game fishing paradise. Ehrenberg said boats were allowed in and out of the Cabo San Lucas marina on Friday, but that the port closed at 3 p.m., and will remain closed through Monday or Tuesday.
Rayor didn’t say whether his boats will fish Saturday. It'll depend on the weather, of course, and on the updated forecast.
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