THREE DAYS OF FISHING ON THE CABO CHARTER
BOATS LA BRISA, REBECCA, AND RUTHLESS

May 27, 2005, Merle Erickson, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

I fished three days out of Cabo San Lucas with my 78-year-old father Palmer, all fishing days with Pisces Fleet.

May 24: Fishing on La Brisa off Destiladeras, we released one striped marlin and saw perhaps 12 others that weren't hungry. About 30-50 percent of boats get skunked today. Strong winds out of the northwest were pushing cold green water into the Sea of Cortez.

May 25: Fishing on Rebecca, again off Destiladeras, in the Sea of Cortez, we released one striped marlin that we hooked on a sardine bait ball. Lots of marlin seen today, and numerous bait schools were in a small area with many Cabo San Lucas fishing boats running and gunning trying to hook up. It was tough fishing again, with strong west winds and cool water in the Sea of Cortez. One-third of the Cabo San Lucas charter fishing boats were skunked today.

May 26: Fishing on Ruthless with Capt. Julio Castro and mate Edgar Renteria, we released 4 striped marlin off Destiladeras. We had warmer weather, less wind and better sea conditions. Lots of marlin were sighted and hooked around us for a period of about 2 hours between 10:30 a.m and 12:30. Great day.

I had a major hassle leaving the Cabo San Lucas airport. I had to take the line off by reels.

I've heard various things about this, but generally that it is no problem to take reels on the plane when they are spooled with line.

I said I would not check them, so let's take the line off, six reels. The Mexican security guys said their position was based on a "new directive from the U.S. government," and no line on reels was allowed on the plane.

When it became clear I'd miss my flight if I took the line off all six reels, they said, "you'd better check them." I said, "No way am I checking $2K worth of reels."

The Mexican security and an American Airlines employee said I could insure them for $2 and it would be no problem. I decided I'd better check them to get home, and when I went to the American Airlines ticket counter to check them, they said, "We don't insure things. This is Mexico."

I said, "WHAT?" They did some digging and charged me $40 to insure my reels and taped them up in a box.

So, I took the line off two reels, then paid $40 to insure those two and rest to get them home.

I asked the TSA people at O'Hare International Airport about this and they said that there is no "directive of the US government" regarding line on reels.

Also, on the way into Cabo San Lucas, I was carrying two bazooka-style rod cases and the guy at Immigration asked me how many rods I had in the cases. I told him "six," which was true. He said, "Oh, you are only allowed four rods sir." Again, I was stunned. He let me go, but warned me not to bring more than four rods next time. I've never heard this.

I go to Cabo San Lucas frequently and never have had a problem carrying my reels, full of line, onto the plane.