STRIPED MARLIN ACTION IS GOOD BUT FISHING
AT BAJA'S LAND'S END SLOW FOR SMALL GAME

Jan. 20-26, 2006, Tracy Ehrenberg, Pisces Fleet, Cabo San Lucas sportfishing, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

Small game fishing at Cabo San Lucas was pretty slow with 11 percent of Pisces charters catching dorado, 15- 25 pounds, and just 3 percent finding tuna. Dorado catches were one per boat when found. Inshore fishing produced lots of sierra, a few skipjack, and fewer roosters.

Our overall catch success rate this week was 89 percent for all species combined. Pisces anglers caught a total of 122 striped marlin of which 120 were released.

Striped marlin continue to dominate sportfishing action here at Baja's Land's End at Cabo with 80 percent of Cabo San Lucas charters hooking up to striped marlin. Despite these excellent numbers the fishing was not consistent every day. We had days when boats would get 3 to 6 marlin each, followed by a day or two when they would get "skunked." Overall though, Cabo San Lucas striped marlin numbers were very good, as long as you weren't in the 11 percent of boats that got "skunked."

Fishing remains good at the Golden Gate, with conditions changeable, one day smooth seas, the next bumpy. Live bait was the ticket for striped marlin, with most fish taking mackerel, but there were quite a few that hit on trolled lures. Most Cabo San Lucas charter boats averaged one striped marlin though there were many exceptions.

"Blue Thunder" had eight striped marlin released for David, Doug and Dan Hardy from Chicago. During their two day trip they released a total of 12 fish, in what they described as "the most intense fishing experience" of their lives.

"Ni Modo" caught eight striped marlin on January 20th, for Zuanda Collins from Greenville, S.C, fishing with Kerry Murphy and Abigail Lamb. Way to go girls!

"Rebecca" released six striped marlin on the 23rd for Sid Gold, Jim Foy and John Kovalsky, from New Jersey, despite a late start to the day.

"Yahoo" had five striped marlin on the 25th for a group from Nolesvile, Ind.

Warren Pescud and friends from Hong Kong were very pleased with five Cabo San Lucas striped marlin released aboard "Tracy Ann".