FLY FISHING FOR DORADO AND MARLIN WITH BAJA ANGLERS

Feb. 4, 2007, Grant Hartman, Baja Anglers, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

Cabo San Lucas fishing water temperatures are anywhere from 68 degrees in the Pacific to 73 degrees in Mexico's Sea of Cortez. The weather has been sunny and warm with daytime highs in the mid-70s.

Sixty-eight-year-old Donn Roberts of Seattle, Wash., fished with me last week at Cabo San Lucas. We caught 3 dorado on fly fishing tackle, but we couldn't seem to get a striped marlin to the teasers.

In the last half hour of his Cabo fishing trip a beautiful 120 pound striped marlin crashed the teasers. Donn cast his fly. The moment it hit the water, the fish exploded on it. Donn, who has missed a few hook sets in the past, didn't make that mistake this time. He did everything right. Let the fish eat, let it turn, and then hit it hard. The striped marlin went ballistic! This was a strong fish that took Donn an hour and 45 minutes to land. After a few photos, we released the fish unharmed.

Our first mate was Nazario Martinez. The catch was on January 28th aboard the Flying Fish IV. Donn used a G. Loomis 12WT fly rod, Tibor Gulf-Stream reel, and IGFA 20-pound tippet.

The whales have been here at Cabo San Lucas for the last few weeks. Both Gray Whales and Humpback Whales migrate to Cabo to give birth to their young. The migration starts in late December and lasts until the end of March.

Many Cabo San Lucas vacationers decide to fly up to Magdalena Bay to watch the whales for the day. The whales go to the bay to give birth to their calves. Many times you can actually touch the whales and their young.

Offshore fishing for striped marlin has been good at Cabo San Lucas, but the wide-open striped marlin bites of the past month have slowed down some.

Cabo Dorado fishing has been steady, anywhere from 1 to 4 Dorado a day on the fly tackle or light tackle.

A yellowfin tuna bite is going on the Gordo Banks. The tuna are mostly footballs and you can catch a few a day on live sardines.

Sierra mackerel are what we are catching the most on the fly fishing tackle, nice sized about 4 to 8 pounds and great fighters. Sierra mackerel can make explosive takes that take you into your backing in seconds. They are also the best fish to make ceviche out of at the end of the day.

The Roosterfish are here. Sunny days are best. Roosterfish are generally tough to catch on the fly. That's what makes them so much fun. Most of the roosters are under 15 pounds.

The Jack Crevalle are schooling on the Cabo San Lucas Pacific beaches. These fish are all nice sized anywhere form 15 to 25 pounds.