BILLFISH CATCHES AVERAGING ABOUT 1 PER DAY
FOR CABO SAN LUCAS SPORTFISHING BOATS

Sept. 2, 2005, Larry Edwards, Cortez Yacht Charters, Cabo San Lucas sport fishing, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

Billfish counts in the Cabo San Lucas sportfishing area were back up to a billfish per boat day fished this week that included a mixed billfish bag of stripers, black marlin, blue marlin, and sailfish.

What puzzles me is the lack of dorado in Cabo San Lucas catches, as fishing water temperatures have been favorable now for the last couple of weeks. Overall catches for the Gaviota Fleet for 24 days fished at Cabo San Lucas reflected 1 black marlin released, 4 blue marlin, (1 released) 12 stripers, (11 released) and 23 yellowfin tuna. The black and 3 blue marlin were all in the 200-300 lb. ranges.

The high fleet boat this week was the "Gaviota III", with 3 sailfish and 3 stripers for 2 Cabo San Lucas fishing days.

The "Fish Cabo", reporting for 2 Cabo San Lucas fishing days reflected 1 striper and 1 sailfish released, along with 2 dorado, and the "Fish Cabo I", fishing 3 days, reported 1 sailfish and 2 striper released.

Cabo San Lucas climate had 75 degree nights to 99 daytime highs, partly cloudy. Sea conditions were good, temps from 82 at the Golden Gate and warming as you go toward the Gorda Banks to 86.

Billfish are still scattered about, from close to far, with reports of billfish from the 1150 to the 95 and around to the Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas from Falso to the Golden Gate, but no concentrations. Live bait has been critical for the billfish. Live bait remains plentiful for the caballitos.