STRIPED MARLIN BITES CONTINUES CLOSE TO
CABO SAN LUCAS AT SAN CRISTOBAL AND THE GOLDEN GATE BANK

Nov. 28-Dec. 4, 2005, George Landrum, Fly Hooker Sportfishing, Cabo San Lucas fishing, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

The Cabo San Lucas fishing area had daytime highs in the low 80's with night time lows in the high 50's, a bit of cloud cover but no rain.

Fishing water has been as little bit choppy on the Pacific side, but not bad. The water has been smooth enough to allow you to go wherever you want. On the Cortez side of Cabo San Lucas, the surface conditions have been great up until you try and get past the Los Frailes area, then the winds kick in and it becomes victory at sea.

The area between Gorda Banks, the 1150 and the 95 Spot has been in the 76-degree range. Farther up the coast it drops to about 70 degrees.

Bait was pretty much Mackerel this week, and very few Caballito were in the bait boats tanks. The price was the usual $2 each. A lot of Cabo San Lucas sportfishing boats are still making their own bait at the Golden Gate before venturing up the hill to the Finger Banks. At $2 per bait, filling with 30 or 40 baits gets expensive!

Last week I heard of no Blues having been caught, this week I heard of three.

Other action on the Cortez side consisted of a few scattered Striped Marlin and Sailfish, with most of that bite happening fairly close to the Punta Gorda area.

On the Pacific of Cabo San Lucas, the continued bite for striped marlin is still going on close to shore around the Punta San Cristobal and at the Golden Gate Bank, and for those willing to put up the money required for extra fuel, the Finger Bank continues to be the place to go for the Striped Marlin. Results can vary. I had friends go up there early in the week and they came back with 4 Stripers released. I had another friend go up there on Saturday and they released 26 Stripers.

There was consistent action on Yellowfin this week with football size fish being caught everyday just off the beach on the Cortez side. This was a Sardine fishery, you had to find the fish on the depth sounder then chum them up. Most mornings there were 30 boats working the area. On the Pacific side there was some great action on Friday just to the north and inside of the Golden Gate banks, with fish to 80 pounds being caught within sight of the fleet soaking bait for Marlin.

Dorado were scattered fish. There was decent Dorado action up around the Finger Bank, but there was little pressure on them as the main focus was Striped Marlin.

The inshore Sierra bite continues to improve and they are being caught from the beach as well. There are still some Roosterfish in the area, the Jack Crevalle are still around and just off the beach is where you will find a fairly consistent Dorado Bite and football Yellowfin. I have not heard much more about the Yellowtail, but a few friends have told me they are still getting an occasional fish.