STRIPED MARLIN ACTION A LITTLE BETTER IN MOSTLY SLOW FISHING

March 25, 2005, Larry Edwards, Cortez Yacht Charters, Cabo San Lucas fishing, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

Striped marlin fishing in the Cabo San Lucas fishing vacation area picked up a little as the warmer water moved back into the area, out along the 1,000 fathom curve. However, the billfish ratio at Cabo San Lucas is still low at about 1 for every third boat. Also, Cabo dorado counts were on the rise, with the fish mostly in the 10-15 lb. ranges with a few larger critters in the catches, and the yellowfin tuna were still active but not quite as good as the past week.

Overall catches for Cabo San Lucas' Gaviota Fleet, reporting for 37 fishing days, reflected 12 stripers, (7 released) 1 wahoo, 42 dorado, 5 skipjack tuna and 68 yellowfin tuna. The "Fish Cabo", reporting for 3 Cabo San Lucas fishing days reflected 3 stripers released, 5 dorado and 1 yellowfin tuna and the "Juanita VIII", reporting for 5 fishing days, reflected 1 striper released, 14 yellowfin tuna and 2 wahoo.

Cabo San Lucas climate was warming up a little, with partly cloudy days, temperatures from 60 nights to 83 daytime highs.

Warmer waters moved back in along the 1000 fathom curve off Cabo San Lucas, providing fishable conditions in 72-73 degree water. Inshore fishing water temperatures were still cool at 68-69 degrees that extended out to the Jaime Bank and to the north.

Most of the better fishing areas at Cabo San Lucas have been out at the 20 mile mark and ranged from south of Cabo Falso to the 95 and 1150 and in the Sea of Cortez outside of Cerro Blanco and Cerro Colorado.

Live bait was very important for the billfish, the tuna, and dorado and highly recommended at Cabo San Lucas this week. The live bait supply was very good, mostly mackerel with some smaller caballito mixed in.