SLOW FISHING ACTION AT CABO SAN
LUCAS MOSTLY FOR STRIPED MARLIN

April 11-17, 2005, George Landrum, Fly Hooker Sportfishing, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

Once again it was a mostly "miss" kind of week for the fishing at Cabo San Lucas. Thank goodness that the marlin showed at the end of the week or there would have been nothing to write about!

Strange to say, I have to pick Striped Marlin as the Cabo San Lucas fish of the week. There was little action early in the week unless you were very lucky. The fishing did not turn on until Friday, but then you did not have to travel far to find the fish. Most of the fishing action was within 7 miles of the shore on the Cortez side of the Cape from Gray Rock to Gorda Banks. Almost every Cabo San Lucas charter fishing boat came in flying at least one Marlin flag and those that were not flying one had plain bad luck.

The wind died early in the week at Cabo San Lucas and our weather started to improve right away. At the end of the week the wind was blowing just a little at night and that kept the bugs down. Our daytime highs were in the mid to high 80s.

On the Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas the fishing water continued to remain a little on the cool side with temperatures in the high 60s. The warmer water was on the Sea of Cortez with water staying in the low 70s.

Bait at Cabo San Lucas was mostly Caballito this week with a few Mackerel at the normal $2 per bait.

Very few yellowfin tuna were to be found and those that were found were football size mixed in with Porpoise, and most of the action was either to the south or close to shore on the Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas.

The few Dorado found off Cabo San Lucas this week were almost all associated with floating debris or small kelp fronds. The fish ranged from 10 pounds (and a few even smaller) to 25-30 pounds, but they were scarce. My guesstimate is there may have been one Dorado caught for every 15 boats.

There were a few wahoo caught, but with all the boats that were working for Marlin close to shore that was no surprise. The fish were in the 30-40 pound range.

The Sierra fishing action moved back to the Pacific side of the Cape this week but it was not easy. Most Cabo San Lucas sportfishing Pangas were scratching to get a half dozen of the good eating fish in the boat. There was action on Jack Crevalle and small Roosterfish as well as some decent Pargo, but no wide open.