CABALLITO LIVE BAITS PLENTIFUL FOR
CABO SAN LUCAS SPORTFISHING FLEET

Oct. 10-16, 2005, George Landrum, Fly Hooker Sportfishing, Cabo San Lucas fishing, Mexico:

The Cabo San Lucas fishing area had daytime highs in the mid 90s. Surface conditions on both the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific were great this week. The Sea of Cortez was an almost uniform 85-86 degrees on the surface with a few spots to 88 around the 95 and 1150 spots. On the Pacific there was a very defined temperature break. On the warm side it was 85 degrees and the cool north side was 79-80 degrees just a mile away.

There were plenty of caballito baits available at Cabo San Lucas this week, at the usual $2 per bait. Sardinas were available up at Palmilla at $20 per scoop.

There did not seem to be any one fishing area at Cabo San Lucas that held Billfish this week, as the results of the Los Cabos Billfish Tournament showed. Most of the boats worked either the temperature break around the San Jaime or the area of Punta Gorda and the Cabrilla Seamount, and fish were found at all these places.

Only three qualifying fish were caught in the Marlin category with the largest being a 465 pound Blue Marlin, the second was a #408 Blue and the third a #406 Black. There were plenty of Striped Marlin released and also a fair number of smaller, non-qualifying Blue and Black Marlin. The day after the tournament, Marlin fishing slowed down, instead, most sportfishing boats found Tuna and Dorado.

Most Cabo San Lucas charter fishing boats were able to get into the Tuna this week and there were some quality fish. Spotted, Spinner and White bellied Dolphin held fish. Schools were found on the Pacific side between San Cristobal and the San Jaime Banks, on the Golden Gate Banks and to the north of it, on the Sea of Cortez 19 miles to the east of the arch and up around the Iman Bank area. Most of the fish were in the 30-60 pound class but a few slobs were brought in. One of the boats in the Tournament brought in a #160 on day one of the competition and a #277 on the second day. Cedar plugs worked for the smaller fish and live bait was the choice for the larger ones.

There was little change in the location or sizes of the Dorado caught this week at Cabo San Lucas. Most of the fish were found either close to the beach, often only 200 yards off, or out in the open ocean under drifting debris. While not in enormous quantity, they were there to be caught and most Cabo San Lucas boats had little difficulty in getting a few for dinner.

Most of the Cabo San Lucas inshore Pangas have been trying to get into Tuna this week, and they have been having some success with fish close to the beach. Dorado were also a target and everyone was getting fish to take home. The usual inshore species were a bit slow on the bite but there were still a few decent Roosterfish reported as well as Amberjack and Pargo.