STRIPED MARLIN LEAD SPORTFISHING COUNTS

April 18-24, 2005, George Landrum, Fly Hooker Sportfishing, Cabo San Lucas marlin fishing, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

Once again Striped Marlin fishing took first place at Cabo San Lucas. We had a large group of marlin move into the Cabo San Lucas sportfishing area. The main concentration of striped marlin was up around the Gorda Banks and Punta Gorda, from just off the beach to 6 miles out. There has been a lot of squid in the area so lures in the petrolero color were particularly effective, as was fishing with dead bait. As the fishing week progressed at Cabo, the main concentration of striped marlin was found a bit farther north and then the action went almost wide open. Most of the boats going the distance returned with up to six flags flying and almost everyone was able to catch and release two or three.

I fished off of the 1150 last Sunday, just before this reporting period and went 4 for 5 on Striped Marlin while on a Tuna hunt. I went again on Wednesday and brought up over 2 dozen fish, with 15 of them into the lures while working 4 miles to the southeast of the Outer Gorda. Great fishing this week!

It is the time of year when Cabo San Lucas has varied winds. The majority of the time it was from the north or west so there was always nice water on the Sea of Cortez side. Cabo San Lucas daytime highs were in the low 90. Evening lows were in the mid 60s.

Cabo San Lucas fishing area water temperatures on the Pacific side were varied. We had cool water up around the Jaime and Golden Gate Banks, mostly in the 67-68 degree range and a finger of cool water directly to the south of Cabo San Lucas as well. The warmer fishing water was on the Cortez side of Cabo San Lucas with water ranging from 72 to 78 degrees.

Water conditions were good at Cabo San Lucas almost all week long but it was just a bit uncomfortable on the Pacific side early in the week.

Caballito bait was available at the normal $2 per bait, and if you went up toward San Jose early in the morning there was a chance of getting Sardinas at $20 per bucket.

At the end of the week there were some football Tuna found by Cabo San Lucas charter fishing boats, after a long absence. Most of the fish were to the south of the Cape, and around the area to the south of the San Jaime. Spotting the Porpoise was the key, as usual, and the catch ranged from one to 8 fish per boat, with the fish mostly in the 10-20 pound class.

Some Dorado were found this week by Cabo San Lucas fishing boats, but strangely enough, they were found mixed in with the football Tuna. Almost every boat that returned with a Tuna flag had Dorado as well, and the fish were between 10 and 15 pounds.

I didn't see a Wahoo this week but did see a few flags flying.

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