YEAR'S FIRST BLUE MARLIN SHOWS UP IN
A GENERALLY SLUGGISH CABO FISHING WEEK

April 8-14, 2005, Benjamin Ortega, Solmar Fleet, Cabo San Lucas sport fishing, Baja California, Mexico:

The first blue marlin of the spring highlighted an otherwise modest catch rate during the past week during fishing at Cabo San Lucas, due to a slight drop in water temperature.

That big blue weighed 322 pounds and was caught by Daniel Bigo of Houston, TX who nailed it while fishing from the Cabo San Lucas charter fishing boat El Torito in waters west of the Old Lighthouse.

It wasn't a blue marlin, but the 170-pound striped marlin and four giant squid, ranging weights from 30 to 56 pounds, kept Eugene, OR angler Dennis Sanders busy at the rail of the Cabo San Lucas fishing boat Solmar IV fighting those rugged creatures.

A 35-pound Cabo San Lucas dorado and 110-pound striper more than satisfied Laine Tsinj wants. The Seattle angler fished the Solmar VII at the Pozo Cota.

A similar sized striper fell for the live mackerel and 40-pound test line that Terry Gleman, Jr. caught while fishing the San Lucas VI east of the Gordo Bank.

Arturo Carrasco of Monterey, MX fished the Solmar VII off Cabo San Lucas' Faro Viejo Bank and was rewarded with four giant squid and a 28-pound dorado.

John Smith of Houston, TX was another who was kept busy whacking giant squid at the Faro. He caught eight, topped by a 58-pounder, while fishing from the Solmar.

Keenan Fears of Woodland Hills, CA, on his first outing in Cabo San Lucas sportfishing waters, bagged a 45-pound dorado while fishing west of the Old Lighthouse aboard the San Lucas IV.

Best catch honors for the week went to Antonio Romero, skipper of the El Torito. In four outings his passengers caught three striped marlin, 16 yellowfin tuna, three dorado and 11 giant squid.

Total catch for the week by the Solmar fishing fleet, including releases, was 11 striped marlin, nine dorado, 23 yellowfin tuna and 38 giant squid.