SPORTFISHING CATCH RATES LOWER THAN
NORMAL FOR THE SEASON AT CABO SAN LUCAS

Oct. 8-14, 2004, Tracy Ehrenberg, Pisces Fleet, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur fishing, Mexico:

Fishing is not exactly as it should be for this time at Cabo San Lucas, which is noted in our lower than average catch rates. It seems that the weather is way cooler than it should be and we had gusty winds most of the week, making it difficult to fish the Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas, however captains persevered, as they believed that fish were there.

Once again, boats headed into the Pacific for better odds on striped marlin and sailfish, while those after blues, tended to head to the Cortez side, on fishing trips that often proved fruitless.

Despite this our overall Cabo San Lucas fishing catch success rate for all species combined was pretty respectable at eighty-seven percent, however only forty-two percent of charters got billfish.

As we write this report the Los Cabos Billfish Tournament is underway, with 68 teams battling it our for the big one, so far the largest fish weighed in was a 375 lb blue aboard "Big Brother".

It really was a matter of luck this week and some anglers had more than others; on October 8th, "Rebecca" had a great day for Tony Chavez from San Diego, Ca., releasing two striped marlin and a sailfish and boating two dorados.

This same day Dave Smith from Texas, out on Ruthless, released an approximate 250 lb blue marlin, 20 miles out from the lighthouse and also boated two dorado.

A couple of days later "Ruthless" was the big scorer, with three striped marlin, and one blue marlin released, two dorado, two tuna and a wahoo, again on "Ruthless". Hunter Lewis and Matt Gumbel, from Colorado, were not left out either, fishing aboard "Rebecca' they released three striped marlin and a sailfish and also got one dorado.

"La Brisa" was the hot Cabo San Lucas fishing boat on two consecutive days; on the 11th they released two blue marlin and boated three dorado and ten yellowfin for Albert Herrera and Jeff Young from California. Next day out they again had a blue marlin released by Sheila Gilberry from Florida, at the Golden Gate - they also got two dorados and a tuna.

Brian VanDerslike from North Carolina was extremely fortunate to release a black marlin, a little over 200 lbs, aboard "Adriana" on October 12th, 12 miles out from shipwreck beach, after it took a blue and white lure.

Pisces anglers caught a total of 26 striped marlin, (one was a little over 200 lbs), six sailfish, nine blue marlin and one black marlin, all but three fish were released.

Dorado was still the top fish in Cabo San Lucas this week, but there were not as many as in the past couple of weeks. Weights ranged in size from 20 to 60 lbs, with the average catch one or two per boat and occasionally up to six. Found over a widespread area, but more caught on the Pacific - fifty one percent of charters caught this species.

Tuna catches were a bit slower at thirty four percent, but when found catches tended to be good at around ten fish per boat. Weights were average to small at 20 to 40 lbs. Still quite a few wahoo around, small at 20 to 45 lbs. Inshore, skipjacks, a few snapper and amberjack.

Cabo San Lucas fishing weather has cooled down considerably, (a.c season is over), seas rough on the Pacific with lots of whitecaps, Cortez side pretty smooth, until late afternoon. Skies clear.

LOCATION: 20 miles off of Faro Viejo, Punta Gorda, Chileno, Golden Gate, Jaime Bank, 11.50 spot, off of Palmilla.

BEST LURES: live bait, blue/white, cedar plugs, guacamaya.