WESTERN OUTDOOR NEWS TUNA JACKPOT TOURNAMENT TAKES PLACE IN CABO

Oct. 28-Nov. 1, 2005, Tracy Ehrenberg, Pisces Fleet, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico Fishing Report:

There was huge improvement on marlin catches this week in the Cabo San Lucas sport fishing area, as striped marlin migrating from the north begin to reach our shores.

We also had several late season blue marlin and a couple of sailfish caught at Cabo. Most of the striped marlin catches were on the Pacific, with Golden Gate the most productive fishing area.

Our overall catch success rate was 88 percent with 61 percent of our Cabo San Lucas charters catching marlin. This means there was the odd unfortunate boat here and there that didn't catch anything, but those not catching marlin usually got a token dorado or two.

This weekend saw the 5th Western Outdoor News Tuna Jackpot Tournament take place at Cabo San Lucas. The first day of the Western Outdoor News tournament the largest fish of the event was caught a 199 pound yellowfin caught aboard "El Loco II", however this vessel was not entered in the jackpots, so a fish weighing approximately a quarter of the size took the large cash prize on day one.

The tournament experienced added drama when one of the teams, broke down at sea as dark fell, leaving them bobbing helpless, drifting with the current for 36 hours, when they were eventually spotted by a cruise ship, 140 miles south east of Cabo and rescued in time to make it back for the awards dinner.

Tuna catches generally were only at 15 percent this week, with most fish averaging 20 to 45 pound found over a wide location.

Dorado catches were good with 42 percent of charters catching fish from 15 to 40 pounds, catches of two to six fish, with the majority caught on the Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas. There were no wahoo for us this week, though there were several mako sharks, some groupers, skipjacks and roosterfish inshore.

Cabo San Lucas had clear, sunny skies, weather warmer than normal for November, seas calm on the Cortez, whitecaps on the Pacific after midmorning, water temperature 80 degrees.