STRIPED MARLIN TAKE A POWDER AS WATER
TEMPERATURES DROP SHARPLY AT CABO SAN LUCAS

June 2-8, 2005, Benjamin Ortega, Solmar Fleet, Cabo San Lucas fishing, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

A sudden unexplained drop in water temperature in Cabo San Lucas fishing waters last week spread a temporary cold blanket on the striped marlin catch, with only eight taken and most of them released.

While cool water might freeze the marlin bite, it seemed to stimulate yellowfin tuna to take both lure and bait, resulting in the best catch of the season on those scrappy fish.

However, there were a few noteworthy exceptions to impact on the marlin bite, including a released striper and two dorado taken by Charlotte, N.C. angler Michelle Winter off Pozo Cota.

She said all three fish were taken on live mackerel from the Solmar I. It was her first trip to Cabo San Lucas and her first marlin. The fact that she released that striped marlin, rather than kill it in order to have her photographed with the fish, was well received by the crew of the Solmar I and by catch-and-release advocates.

Another who chose to release his striped marlin was Ed McDevitt of Portland, OR, who fished the Cabo San Lucas charter sportfishing boat Solmar III. As with Winter, he used live mackerel to entice the marlin to strike his offering, along with a pair of jacks.

Rick Weston of Woodland, CA, worked a black and red lure off the San Jose Bank to boat a 148-pound striper while fishing from the San Lucas IV.

An example how good the tuna bite can be was seen in the 20 yellowfin taken by Dan Brekke of Minnesota off Pozo Cota--all on a black and purple jig--while fishing from the Solmar VII.

Wind and a 6-foot swell failed to inhibit the yellowfin bite, as noted by Los Angeles angler Charles Skouras. He caught 16 of the tuna on live mackerel while fishing off Cerro Colorado on the Solmar IV.

A similar catch of 14 tuna was made by another Minnesotan, Mr. McBosh (no last name provided) of St. Paul, who fished the El Torito off the Pacific Ocean side of Cabo San Lucas.

Captain of the week honors went to Federico Marron of the Solmar I, who in five outings responded in taking four striped marlin, 42 yellowfin tuna, 2 dorado, and eight jacks.

Total catch, including releases, for the week by the Solmar fleet was eight striped marlin, 120 yellowfin tuna, 6 dorado and 12 jacks.