MARLIN AND SAILFISH PUT ON A BRAVE SHOWING FOR
SPORTFISHING BOATS AS HURRICANE PASSES 300 MILES OFF CABO

Sept. 2-8, 2004, Benjamin Ortega, Solmar Fleet, Cabo San Lucas, Baja Calfornia Sur, Mexico:

Fishermen are a crazy lot. Sometimes not even a hurricane will discourage them from pursuing their sport. And so it was last week as Hurricane Howard swept by about 300 miles off Cabo San Lucas, leaving in its wake high seas, rain and 12-knot winds. Many of those who braved the elements were well rewarded, as blue and striped marlin, along with sailfish, put on a fair bite.

There is an old saying in Cabo San Lucas fishing waters, that blue marlin seem to go on a biting spree a few days before and after a hurricane.

One of those who would agree was Fred Clark of Moreno Valley, Calif. He bagged a blue marlin, five yellowfin tuna and one dorado while fishing the Faro Viejo Bank from the Solmar VI.

Local angler Carlos Adame of La Paz worked the Gordo Bank, where he caught and released a striped marlin, along with one yellowfin and a skipjack aboard the San Lucas V. Another California angler, Gary Bradbury, fished the Solmar IV off the Old Lighthouse, right around the corner from the Cabo marina, and scored on a single striper of about 140 pounds on live mackerel.

Two Cabo San Lucas sailfish -- one by a Mr. Jones of Massachusetts and a second by Judd Bradbury of California -- were taken on live mackerel. Jones caught is fishing the El Torito off the San Jose Bank, and Bradbury got his on a live mackerel off the Faro Viejo Bank while fishing the Solmar IV.

The Jaime Bank produced a trio of tuna to Nicolas Kaleilas. Kaleilas, who hails from Texas, got all of his yellowfin on live mackerel on the San Lucas IV. Heavy rain failed to dampen Dan Larson's day fishing the Faro Viejo, where he took two dorado and two skipjack on the San Lucas IV.

Cabo San Lucas fishing captain of the week honors went to Mario Aballo of the Solmar IV who in four outings produced three striped marlin, nine dorado and six yellowfin tuna.

Total Cabo San Lucas fishing catch for the week in 41 outings by Solmar boats included 12 striped marlin, 30 yellowfin tuna, 23 dorado, 23 skipjack, nine sailfish, two released and four blue marlin, one released.