MEXICO FISHING REPORT BY SOLMAR FLEET

Jan. 7, 2005, Benjamin Ortega, Solmar Fleet, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

On Dec. 30, 2004, Jose Luis Sanchez fished with his 15-year-old godson, Andrew Samuels of Temecula, with Capt. Javier Abaroa on Solmar Fleet's 33-foot cruiser, Solmar II, and they got lucky and caught and released three striped marlin, all taken on live bait, while fishing about 25 miles off Cabo San Lucas. Sanchez and Samuels also got lucky when they managed to land both marlin from a double hookup. Although not uncommon to hook two marlin at one time, doubles are very difficult to get to the boat.

In other Solmar Fleet sportfishing action out of Cabo San Lucas, wind and rough seas slowed the striped marlin bite in Cabo waters this past week, but dorado and yellowfin tuna seemed to relish the sloppy weather.

Whereas two and sometimes three marlin were taken by Cabo San Lucas anglers in a single outing the past month, anglers were lucky to settle for a single striper in recent outings. Solmar fleet skippers noted during the New Year week, the San Jaime Bank being the lone the hot spot for all fish.

Among those who did make the Cabo San Lucas marlin scoreboard included Renato Cesaretti of Wy., Garrett Hart of Sugar Land Tex., and Stanley Cotton of Woodstock, Il. Live mackerel was the bait of choice, be it for tuna, dorado or marlin.

Cesaretti took a 140-pound striper fishing the San Jaime Bank aboard the Cabo San Lucas fishing cruiser, San Lucas VI. Hart's 125-pound marlin was taken at the Faro Viejo where he fished aboard the El Torito. Cotton's fish, which was not weighed, came from the San Jose Bank. He fished the Solmar IX.

Keith Shatava of Gilbert, N.M., put a good dent in the dorado (mahi-mahi) population, taking 10 the colorful small game fishes while fishing the Solmar IV off the Jaime Bank north of Cabo San Lucas.

John and Jen Courtney, along with Adam Kovanis - all from Atlanta Ga.. - shared in boating 10 dorado at the Faro Viejo.

The Jaime Bank rewarded Brad and Cindy Lampton of Wichita, Kan., with a pair of Cabo San Lucas yellowfin tuna and a couple of dorado. They fished the San Lucas IV.

Aiken, S.C. angler Ron Albertelli had similar luck at the Jaime, where he caught one dorado and two yellowfin from the San Lucas V.

Captain of the week honors went to Adalberto Agundez of the San Lucas VI, who in six Cabo San Lucas sportfishing outings delivered seven striped marlin, 18 yellowfin tuna and 17 dorado for his customers.

The Solmar Fleet's total Cabo San Lucas fishing catch for the week, including releases, was 36 striped marlin, 65 dorado, 47 yellowfin tuna and 16 bonito.