MARLIN FISHING WITH SOLMAR FLEET'S CAPT. JAVIER ABAROA

Aug. 11-17, 2005, Benjamin Ortega, Solmar Fleet, Cabo San Lucas marlin fishing, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

When it comes to catching marlin of any species at Cabo San Lucas, few charter boat fishing captains match Javier Abaroa of the Solmar. A good example of Abaroa's fishing prowess is seen in this past week's catch made by his passengers that included 14 striped marlin, three blue marlin, one black marlin, 28 yellowfin tuna and 12 dorado in five outings.

Among his happy Cabo San Lucas anglers was Adam Guinn of Lake Charles, LA. Guinn caught and released two blues, one black and 19 yellowfin tuna taken on a mixture of live mackerel and a yellow and orange lure worked off the Gordo Banks.

And then there's Jimmy Coulter of Chicago, IL, who fished the Cabo San Lucas charter sportfishing boat San Lucas VI off Punta Gorda where he caught and released four striped marlin and four dorado, all taken on live mackerel.

The same bait produced a 235-pound blue marlin along with a 113-pound striper for Steve Sparseioti fishing from the Solmar IV off Punta Palmilla.

Belgrade, Mont., angler Patrick Isaacson settled for a single striped marlin and three dorado while fishing off San Jose del Cabo on the Solmar III.

Fourteen-year-old Jaylin Adams of Monrovia, CA, fishing from the Cabo San Lucas boat Solmar IX, added his name to the first billfish list in taking an 80-pound sail on a green and black lure off the Pacific Ocean side of Cabo San Lucas.

Big fish honors for the week went to Tom Armstrong of Carson City, NV, who fished off Cerro Colorada where he took a 550-pound black marlin, four yellowfin tuna and two dorado, all on live mackerel aboard the Solmar I.

Nelson Martin of Reno, NV, collared a pair of blues 14 miles off San Jose del Cabo while fishing aboard the San Lucas IV. Both fish, estimated at 200 and 210 pounds, were caught on live bait and released.

Skipper of the week honors, of course, went to Javier Abaroa mentioned above. Total catch, included releases, for this period by the Solmar fishing fleet in 54 outings was seven blue marlin, four black marlin, 32 striped marlin, 34 dorado, 39 yellowfin tuna and one sailfish.