STRIPED MARLIN BITING FOR SOLMAR FLEET CHARTER BOATS

Dec. 9-15, 2004, Benjamin Ortega, Solmar Fleet, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

Both blue and striped marlin hit in midseason form in all areas of Cabo San Lucas fishing waters, on baits about equally divided between artificials and live mackerel, Solmar fleet captains report.

Bob Tchegus and Deb Berry of Ontario, Canada, made the top of the scoreboard by taking a pair of blue marlin on lures while fishing from the Cabo San Lucas charter fishing boat Solmar IX off the Faro Viejo.

Las Vegans, Julie and Jamie Berrier, found catching marlin was a better bet than the crap tables of world's gambling mecca. They fished the Solmar VII to take a pair of Cabo San Lucas striped marlin and a single yellowfin tuna on live mackerel off the Migrino.

The San Jose Banks was another lucrative spot for stripers during the week. It was there that Richard Wilson of Fugervile, Tex., caught and released two of these billfishes, both on live mackerel. He fished the Cabo San Lucas boat, San Lucas IV.

Joe Koczak of Tacoma, Wa., also earned points by catching and releasing two stripers, both taken on a green-and-white Kona head feather while fishing aboard the San Lucas IV.

Two Washington area anglers, Tim Michalek of Battle Ground, and Roy Michalek of Vancouver, scored on single stripers - Roy's on an orange-and-yellow lure at the Gordo Banks, and Tim's on live mackerel in front of the Cabo San Lucas Lighthouse.

The same orange-and-yellow lure that worked well for Roy Michalek performed equally well for Rob Myers in bagging a 120-pound striper aboard the Solmar II. He fished off San Jose.

Top captain of the week honors went to Albarado Agundez of the San Lucas VI whose passengers in four outings caught 13 striped marlin, 15 dorado from 30 to 58 pounds, and 23 yellowfin tuna.

Total Cabo San Lucas charter fishing catch for the week by the Solmar fleet included 62 striped marlin, two blue marlin, 36 yellowfin tuna, 68 dorado, 16 jacks and four wahoo.