SLOPPY SEAS BUT MARLIN STILL PRESENT ON BAJA'S PACIFIC SIDE

Feb. 2, 2007, Cortez Yacht Charters, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico, Larry Edwards:

Cabo San Lucas fishing weather was partly cloudy during early week, and sunny and warm by the weekend with temperatures from 56 degree nights to 79 degree daytime highs.

Cabo seas had some rougher, choppy conditions persisting on the Pacific side of Baja, but for the most part, it was fishable. Calmer conditions were found closer to Cabo San Lucas and up Mexico's Sea of Cortez side to the Gorda Banks area.

The billfish bonanza continues at Cabo San Lucas, despite some choppy fishing conditions on the Pacific side of the Baja peninsula.

The charter sportfishing boat "Fish Cabo", reporting in for 3 offshore fishing days and 1 inshore fishing day, had a catch of 14 striped marlin released, 1 Mako shark, 2 dorado, 1 pargo and 17 sierra.

The charter boat "Fish Cabo I", reporting for 1 offshore day and 2 inshore days, had 2 stripers released, 5 dorado, and 14 pargo.

Cabo San Lucas' Gaviota Sportfishing Fleet had another good catch week for a total of 28 fishing days that produced 55 striped marlin, 47 released, 21 dorado, and 1 wahoo.

The "Gaviota IX" was high boat for Gaviota Fleet, with 13 billfish for 5 fishing days. It was followed by the boat "Gaviota XI", with 12 billfish for 4 fishing days.

Live bait was by far the best, but fair numbers of marlin strikes and catches were being made on mackerel colored artificial lures.

The live bait supply at Cabo this week was mostly mackerel, and there were good opportunities to replenish the bait supply at the fishing grounds.

Water temperatures were from 71 to 72 degrees at Golden Gate Bank and Jaime Bank off Baja's Pacific coast, rising to 73 degree at the Gorda Banks. Inshore fishing water was cooler from Cristobal to San Jose at 68 to 70 degrees.

The Golden Gate Bank was still the preferred offshore fishing spot for Cabo San Lucas sportfishing boats when the weather conditions were okay, but there was also plenty of action from the Golden Gate to Cabo San Lucas itself, with marlin tailers popping-up everywhere.