SPOTTY FISHING FOR CABO BOATS AT THE TIP OF BAJA

July 20, 2006, Tracy Ehrenberg, Pisces Fleet, Baja California Sur sportfishing, Mexico:

Cabo San Lucas had more of an average week this period rather than great fishing, with an overall catch success rate for all species combined of 79 percent.

We need fishing to turn more consistent. Right now we can have a good day with everybody averaging a marlin plus a dorado or yellowfin tuna, the next day half the boats can draw a blank.

This is frustrating. Nevertheless it is more good than bad and 56 percent of our Cabo San Lucas anglers did manage to catch one or more billfish.

Practically all fishing was on the Cortez side all week, with the exception of one day at San Jaime on the Pacific. It was a shame to see so many small striped marlin coming back to the dock in the 80 to 100 pound range.

Pisces anglers caught a total of 32 striped marlin, 7 blue marlin and 6 sailfish, and 44 fish were released.

William and Susan Bozeman from Mansfield, Georgia, were pleased with two sailfish released and a 36 pound dorado, taken aboard "Andrea".

Mark Sydow of San Francisco, fishing with his family, was thrilled to release a blue marlin, two striped marlin and a yellowfin tuna just off of Santa Maria on July 18th, aboard charter boat "Valerie".

Randy Cohen and his family of Houston enjoyed 3 great sportfishing days aboard the Cabo charter boat "Yahoo". They were fortunate to catch one blue marlin, lose another really big blue after a multi-hour tug of war and boat three yellowfin tuna and a huge dorado estimated at 75 pounds.

Another family that did really well was the Bradberry's from Creek Spring, Texas. Chris and Anthony, both under 8 years old, helped dad Michael reel in two striped marlin and a sailfish 12 miles off of Chileno, aboard "Rebecca" on the July 19th.

After marlin dorado was the fish most likely to be caught by Cabo San Lucas sport fishing boats this week. These were single fish, generally picked up whilst trolling for marlin. Weights were from 20 to 36 pounds, with the one exception the large fish caught aboard "Yahoo".

Twenty percent of Pisces Fleet charters found dorado.

Yellowfin tuna catches were a little slower when averaged by boat, with just 11 percent catching fish in the 20 to 70 pound class. However, when yellowfin tuna were found boats could catch up to ten fish.

Inshore fishing was slow with many Cabo pangas getting "skunked".

Cabo San Lucas weather was hot and hazy, with seas mostly calm. The best fishing was on the Cortez side at Punta Ballena, Chileno and Destiladeras. The average water temperature was 85 degrees.

(See "Mexico Fishing News" online for current fishing reports, photos, weather, and water temperatures from Cabo San Lucas and other major Mexican sportfishing areas. Vacation travel articles, fishing maps and seasonal calendars, and fishing related information for Cabo San Lucas may be found at Mexfish.com's main Cabo San Lucas page.