STRIPED MARLIN FISHING SLOW ON THE FINGER BANK

Dec. 9, 2006, Mike Connolly, boat Falcon, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

After the epic fishing at the Finger Bank last year, this year has been a disappointment. Many Cabo San Lucas fishing boats have returned recently with no marlin at all and few of any other species.

It's a long run, 52 miles, for that.

Fishing conditions seem okay up there, but the fish are just not there in any numbers. It may develop into something; it just has not so far.

The Golden Gate Bank catch per boat fell off during the full moon phase.

Late afternoons saw some striped marlin feeders but not many and not for long. Two fish was very good for a full day of soaking bait.

There were some sportfishing boats out of Cabo San Lucas with 5 marlin from the Golden Gate Bank, but these were definitely among the chosen few.

There were a few dorado mixed in. Yellowfin tuna seemed to be getting larger, to 30-plus pounds, and could be found most days by looking a bit offshore. Early arrivals scored well on tuna but have had to make the most of their opportunity before the fleet arrived and knocked down the action.

Very large yellowfin tuna have been seen blowing out of the water but I have not heard of any being taken. The fishing can go from wide-open to nada in moments when the boat count grows.

Cabo San Lucas fishing water is in the mid 70s to low 80s. Sea conditions have been 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.