STRIPED MARLIN DOMINATE BILLFISH COUNTS AT TIP OF BAJA

Nov. 3-9, 2006, Tracy Ehrenberg, Pisces Fleet, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

The overall catch success rate for Pisces Fleet this week for all fish species combined was 86 percent.

Things have calmed down a bit at Cabo San Lucas, with the end of the fishing tournament season, but we are already seeing crowds of people escaping colder temperatures to our north; Cabo daytime air temperatures continue to be between 84 and 90 degrees.

We are starting to see an increase on striped marlin and we expect fishing to be wide open for this species within the next two to four weeks. Nearly all of the marlin catches have been on the Pacific side of Cabo between the lighthouse and Golden Gate Bank, with some of the marlin very close.

We sent a panga out the other day for a few hours and they were able to release two striped marlin close to shore for Ed Van Hook. Maybe the name's got something to do with it.

This week, 55 percent of Pisces Fleet charters found either striped marlin or sailfish and "Cabolero" released a blue marlin a little over 200 pounds at the 1150 spot.

"Tracy Ann" had two quadruple-marlin release days, on the 5th for a group from Kenai, Alaska, and on the 6th this same group not only released another four marlin, they were also able to boat two groupers around 25 pounds.

Pisces Fleet had several boats with three marlin in day including "Valerie" and "Yahoo".

We are also starting to see large Humboldt squid up to 40 pounds. These things attack the lures just like marlin.

Pisces Fleet anglers caught a total of 79 billfish this week, consisting of 73 striped marlin, 5 sailfish and 1 blue marlin. All but one striped marlin were released.

Dorado were the next most plentiful game fish caught after marlin, with 45 percent of boats catching fish in the 15 to 35 pound class. Catches were between one and seven fish per boat, but there were exceptions such as "Reel Heaven" that had 13 in one day at Las Margaritas.

Yellowfin tuna catches were slow at 10 percent, but then again, not many Cabo San Lucas fishing boats were actively pursuing them, instead deciding to concentrate on closer marlin and dorado.

The best fishing location was from Old Lighthouse to Golden Gate. Cabo weather was beautiful, clear, sunny skies, seas calm, average water temperature 82 degrees. Live bait was best for marlin, and lures and bait for the dorado.

(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.