DORADO, TUNA, AND MARLIN HOOKED IN FIVE
DAYS OF CHARTER FISHING OFF CABO SAN LUCAS

Nov. 22, 2004, John Plozizka, Cabo San Lucas Fishing, Baja California Sur, Mexico Trip Report:

John Plozizka of Litchfield, IL, and Gary McMurray, Mike McMurray and Jeff Solem of Phoenix, AZ fished five days in Cabo San Lucas Nov 15-19.

Boats: Monday, The Joanna; Tuesday, Marisol III; Wednesday, Dorado III; Thursday, Dorado III; Friday 11-19, Edith IV.

Monday we caught 11 dorado north of the Cabo San Lucas lighthouse on the pacific side, less than a mile from shore. They ranged from chicken size to 20+ pounders. they all hit trolled lures.

Tuesday we caught about 20 yellowfin tuna and about a dozen bonita and skipjack. The yellowfin ranged from football size to close to 30 pounds. We went out south of Cabo San Lucas well away from shore. They hit trolled lures mostly. We caught all of them in a couple hours in the morning, and had no other action after 10:30AM.

Wednesday we went south again, saw a lot of jumping tuna and porpoise and birds, but had no strikes or hook ups. The captain said a lot of bait had moved into the area and the fish were pretty picky. Flying fish and lobsters were in the area. A flying fish even landed in the boat.

Thursday we had two catch and release striped marlin. Not very big ones. Again we fished well off shore south of the cape and a little bit up the sea of cortez side.

Friday John Plozizka caught a 40-pound wahoo early in the day that hit one of the marlin lures. We were trolling south of the cape. We saw a marlin tail later that morning, but it wouldn't take a tossed mackerel.

The waters were pretty flat and we headed close to the beach near the lighthouse and drift fished with weight and live bait, but no luck. The East Cape Smokehouse has an operation near the hacienda docks. I traded some fresh for smoke yellowfin, wahoo and mahi. They do a good job, and I would recommend them.

Cabo San Lucas weather was great. The mildest I can remember. We stayed at the Hacienda as usual. We usually come early November, and it always seems hotter.

American Airlines charged me an extra $50 for my rod case. One of my buddies was charged $100 for an extra case and being overweight (the bag, not him) by Alaska. I know in the past they have let me take 3 checked bags including the rod case without the extra charge. I've heard they are looking for extra sources of income, but the ill will created by hijacking unsuspecting fishermen once a year for an extra $50 will hurt them in the long run. I've been toying with the idea of driving down one of these years, and this may be all I need to start doing it.