GAVIOTA CHARTER FISHING BOAT RELEASES A BLUE MARLIN AT 600 POUNDS

Sept. 29, 2006, Larry Edwards, Cortez Yacht Charters, Cabo San Lucas, Baja, Mexico:

Following a limit catch on dorado near the beach area on the Pacific coast of Cabo San Lucas that fronts the Golden Gate Bank, the skipper of the charter boat Gaviota IX headed off for the bank, dragging a Zuker Mean Joe Green lure in the wake.

Just before the Golden Gate Bank was reached, the artificial lure took off on a zing that nearly stripped the Shimano TLD 30, bracketed-up to a Seeker Trolling rod.

The angler, Art Coleman, Temecula, Calif., was 10 minutes into the fight before anyone knew what was at the end of the line as the fish was "dogging it" and holding to the depths.

The Gaviota IX was in high-speed reverse, catching up on stripped line, when the near 600 pound blue marlin monster broke water for the first of only 2 jumps during the fight.

Some 2 hours later, following a hard battle, as billfish that don't jump can be the toughest to land, the fish was at the leader and the angler saw the fish was in good shape and decided to release the trophy catch of his lifetime. This would probably have been a million dollar fish had it been caught during the upcoming Bisbee's Tournament.

Overall catches for 29 Gaviota Fleet Cabo San Lucas fishing days reflected 4 blue marlin, 2 released, 1 sailfish released, 1 striper released, 2 wahoo, 38 yellowfin tuna, and 94 dorado. The charter fishing boats Fish Cabo and Fish Cabo I, reported for 7 days and reflected 2 stripers released, 1 sailfish released, 4 yellowfin tuna and 47 dorado.

Cabo San Lucas weather was partly sunny with cloudy days with temperatures that ranged from 76 degree nights to 95 degree daytime highs.

Cabo sea conditions were just excellent. Water temperatures were from 85 degrees at the Golden Gate Bank on the Pacific to 88 degrees at the Gorda Banks toward the Sea of Cortez.

Billfish were scattered and being taken on both sides of the Baja peninsula. Dorado are just all over with much of the fish being taken within a few miles of the shoreline. Artificial lures were best for the billfish and the Zuker Mean Joe Green and also the Bleeding Mackerel colors were doing well for the blue marlin. The live bait supply was good.

(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.