MARLIN FISHING AT CABO CONTINUES ON THE SLOW SIDE

March 18-30, 2005, Benjamin Ortega, Solmar Fleet, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico Fishing:

Marlin fishing at Cabo San Lucas continues on the slow side, as the big billfish apparently are suffering a periodic case of lockjaw when it comes to taking anything with a hook in it.

Three of the luckier anglers taking striped marlin during this 12-day period were Alex Day of Los Angeles and two anglers from Kansas City, John and Jeff Leford, and Brian Gillis of Lacona, N.H. Day caught his striper, a 110-pounder, and a single dorado on a live mackerel while fishing off the Faro Viejo Bank aboard the Cabo San Lucas charter fishing boat Solmar III.

The Lefords picked up their striper and four yellowfin tuna, on live mullet while working the Jaime Bank aboard the Solmar IV.

Gillis fished the San Lucas IV off the Viejo, where he boated a single striper and one dorado. Both fish were taken on live mackerel.

The Jaime Bank dished up some exciting fishing for yellowfin tuna. It was there that New Jersey angler Walt Sclauch caught 11 of the tunas, all on live mackerel in only a half-day fishing from the San Lucas IV.

Chris and Lara Channell of Mesa, AZ also tapped the Jaime for a half-dozen yellowfin,all on live mackerel. They also fished the San Lucas IV.

Despite a stiff breeze and 6-foot sea swell, Californian Claudia Hegberg said she was quite pleased with the three dorado and one wahoo she caught while fishing the Solmar IX at the Faro Viejo.

Rocky Brown, who hails from Eagle River, AK, didn't score on marlin, but the two dorado he caught were certainly trophies of note. Those big bulls, taken at the Jaime on live mullet, weighed 50 and 80 pounds. He fished the Solmar III .

Captain of the week honors went to Javier Abaroa, whose customers landed 13 yellowfin tuna, two striped marlin and four dorado in four Cabo San Lucas outings.

Total Cabo San Lucas sportfishing catch in 58 outings by the Solmar fishing fleet included 11 striped marlin, 82 yellowfin tuna, three wahoo, 13 dorado, 13 Sierra, two jacks and 11 giant squid.