YELLOWFIN TUNA TOP FISH COUNTS

March 14-20, 2005, George Landrum, Fly Hooker Sportfishing, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur fishing, Mexico:

Once again yellowfin tuna was the fish of the week at Cabo San Lucas. There still have not been a lot of big ones caught. The larger fish are pushing 40 pounds while the averages are around 10-15 pounds. They have been found while fishing with Porpoise and without Porpoise. We metered good fish almost every day when we found the Porpoise, but they have been shy and have been staying 150 feet down. Dropping live bait on them worked if you were able to get the line of travel guessed correctly.

The Marlin continue to be shy at Cabo San Lucas. There were a few caught in this week's fishing, but I would have to say that the success rate was around 20-25 percent. Most of the fishing action was due south or on the Cortez side of the Cape.

In dorado fishing, the thing that changed so much from last week was the appearance of scattered clumps of kelp brought to Cabo San Lucas on the currents from northern Baja. Anything larger than a single strand seemed to hold fish and the first boats to the kelp really loaded up. Live bait worked well and after the fish became scattered, tossing chunks out brought them together again. The fish ranged from 6-20 pounds.

There were a few Wahoo caught this week by Cabo San Lucas sportfishing boats, and they were associated with the kelp as well. Most of the fish were 20-25 pounds and there were not very many of.

Cabo San Lucas inshore fishing continues to be a bit confusing. There are still plenty of Sierra around but the schools have been moving around a lot. The Yellowtail bite that we expected to have started by now just hasn't happened yet. With the calming of the seas the chance to bottom fish has improved and that has shown in the inshore catches as more Pargo and Grouper, as well as Amberjack and Jack Crevalle were landed.

The winds that started the week at Cabo San Lucas disappeared and now the weather is great, with no clouds to speak of, daytime high in the 70s and no rain this week

There are still some decent swells on the Pacific side, and occasionally a wind line, but there is almost pool table like conditions on the Cortez side of Cabo San Lucas.

Green fishing water is close to shore and extending out 15 miles in places on the Pacific side, almost to the San Jaime and Golden Gate Banks, in the 66-67 degree range, warmer at the end of the week. Once past the cool green water the temperature rose to hit 72 degrees and the water became blue. The cool water wrapped around the Cape in a band that extended north up the Sea of Cortez almost all the way up the East Cape.

Bait at Cabo San Lucas was the normal $2 each for the bait of the month, Pacific Mackerel, and there were some small Caballito in the mix. The bait guys were saying that it has been hard to get any good bait this week.

The Whales are beginning to move back north and Cabo San Lucas is seeing fewer every trip. It is spring break and the Cabo San Lucas beaches are filled with students.