SOLMAR FLEET'S WEEKLY CABO SAN LUCAS SPORTFISHING REPORT

Feb. 24-March 2, 2005, Benjamin Ortega, Solmar Fleet, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico Fishing:

Striped marlin, topped by a 163-pounder this past week, continue to lead the piscatorial parade in Cabo San Lucas fishing waters.

While marlin are held in high esteem by the majority of tourist-anglers who come to Cabo San Lucas from all over the world, many prefer fishing for the smaller but spectacular dorado and wahoo and roosterfish.

Currently all three species are providing some fine fishing at Cabo San Lucas.

Among those who caught one or more striped marlin this past week were Scott Davis of Minot, ME, and Martin Burby of Dover, N.H. Davis was particularly pleased with that 163-pound striper he caught. It was his first marlin, and a good sized one to boot. He caught it on a live mackerel at the Pozo Cota fishing from the Cabo San Lucas charter boat Solmar III. Burby's striper, also taken on a live mackerel, weighed 143 pounds. It was caught at the 95 spot from the Solmar IV.

Big dorado also had their week in the Cabo San Lucas sportfishing limelight, topped by three weighing between 32 and 51 pounds. They were taken by Sinnick Jay of Phoenix, AZ from the Solmar VII on the Pacific side of the cape.

Robert Moberlan of Shoshoni, WY boated four good-sized dorado and seven yellowfin tuna while fishing northeast of the Gordo Bank while fishing from the San Lucas VI.

Judith Schmid of Redding, CA targeted dorado (five) and sierra (four) last week, after catching marlin and sailfish on her previous outing. She trolled an orange and pink lure in taking the dorado and sierra off Los Arcos.

The Gordo Banks provided five yellowfin, three dorado and one bonito for Claude (no last name provided) of Cheyenne, WY - all of them on an orange and yellow lure while fishing the El Triton.

Keith Johns of Portland, OR took three sierra and one wahoo on a green and black lure trolled from the San Lucas IV at the Faro Viejo.

Captain of the week honors went to Adalberto Agundez of the San Lucas VI, who in seven outings responded with nine striped marlin, three yellowfin, 16 dorado, 12 sierra, one wahoo and one roosterfish.

Total catch by the Solmar fleet during the past week, including releases, was 63 striped marlin, 73 dorado, 49 yellowfin, 46 sierra, 18 jacks, one roosterfish and five wahoo.