SOLMAR FISHING TOPPED BY 400-POUND CLASS BLUE MARLIN

Sept. 1-7, 2005, Benjamin Ortega, Solmar Fleet, Cabo San Lucas fishing, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

A 400-pound blue marlin caught while fishing at Cabo San Lucas by Matt Patrick of Houston, TX, topped the Solmar billfish catch this past week, during which 18 of these spectacular billfish were taken despite a cool water current that saw sea temperatures drop to 66 degrees in some areas.

Patrick nailed that big blue on a green and yellow lure while fishing off the Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas aboard the Solmar. He also bagged three dorado and 10 yellowfin tuna.

Another blue of 289 pounds was caught by Alejandro y Abel Silva of Alice, TX, who fished the Cabo San Lucas charter fishing boat San Lucas VI off Punta Palmilla. The marlin was taken on a red and black lure, Silva noted.

A similar lure produced a sailfish and a striped marlin for Lebanon, N.J. angler John Lally. He fished the Solmar I off Pozo Cota. Both fish were released.

Colorado Springs, CO buddies, Gordon Scott and Gordon Brown took turns in catching a 50-pound yellowfin tuna and 150-pound striped marlin off Punta Gorda. They fished the El Torito. Both fish were taken on a green and purple lure.

Two Fairfax, VA anglers, Matt Steigelman and Doug Richmond, shared in catching and releasing a single sailfish on live mackerel while fishing off Punta Palmilla from the Solmar.

A live mackerel also produced a 50-pound bull dorado for Cabo San Lucas angler David Lara of Sylmar, CA, who fished off the Old Lighthouse aboard the Solmar VII. It was one of the largest of these colorful small game fish caught in Cabo waters this season.

Solmar's Cabo San Lucas captain of the week honors went to Mario Arballo of the Solmar IV, whose passengers in five sportfishing outings caught seven striped marlin, five blue marlin, four sailfish, 29 yellowfin tuna, and 12 dorado.

Total catch for the period by Solmar's Cabo San Lucas fishing fleet boats included 29 striped marlin, of which 17 were released, 18 blue marlin, 13 sailfish, 35 yellowfin tuna and 32 dorado.