BAJA BILLFISH ACTION SPLIT BETWEEN PACIFIC AND CORTEZ SIDES

Feb. 16-22, 2007, Pisces Fleet, Tracy Ehrenberg, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

Sportfishing in Cabo San Lucas is right about as it should be for this time of year, as a transition is starting from winter to spring.

Cabo fishing boats did see a bit of a slow down on striped marlin this week. Fifty-eight percent of Pisces Fleet charters caught an average of 1 or 2 striped marlin each. Some fishing days were excellent this week, whilst others were so-so.

Pisces Fleet anglers caught a total of 58 striped marlin and 3 sailfish this week, and all but one marlin were released.

Pisces Fleet boats fished in diverse locations and there wasn't one exact spot where you could be guaranteed a billfish. Most boats went to the Sea of Cortez to the 1150 spot and 95 spot. However, fishing would be good one day, then slow the next, so boats would go up to San Jose del Cabo and surrounding areas.

However, after a day or two, the fishing would be good again at the 95 and 1150 spots.

On some days it was the Pacific Ocean side of Cabo that produced the best. The fishing at Cabo San Lucas is really spread out and not consistent at any one location. The fish are there, but it's a matter of guessing of where they are on any given day.

The charter boat "Falcon" had four striped marlin released for Noel Maltman, from Cabo San Lucas on February 16th at the 1150 spot.

"Ni Modo" released three stripers and a sailfish 6 miles off of Punta Palmilla for the Clark family of Ashland, Kentucky.

"C Rod,", on February 22nd, caught a big striper, estimated at 160 pounds, 14 yellowfin tuna, and 8 sierra for Leonard Bellavia and party from Long Island, New York. This boat fished the Pacific side, getting the marlin at Los Arcos, the tuna at San Jaime, and the sierra inshore. Now that's a captain that worked!

It shouldn't be too long before we start seeing some schools of yellowfin tuna move into the Cabo San Lucas area. This week just 8 percent of Pisces boats found tuna, usually of no more than 5 fish of school size, 15 to 25 pounds.

Dorado catches at Cabo San Lucas were at 13 percent. All the dorado were fished picked up whilst trolling for marlin. Catches were rarely more than one fish.

Inshore sierra fishing was good on most days. They are fun on light tackle and delicious to eat.

There were a few skipjacks and squid to 40 pounds also caught.

Cabo San Lucas vacation area weather at the tip of Mexico's Baja peninsula was beautiful, sunny, and clear, with seas mostly calm. The average fishing water temperature was 70 to 71 degrees.