KINDA ROUGH--An East Cape cruiser was temporarily disabled on the beach last week after its anchor cable tangled the prop in rough conditions. Photo courtesy Joe Canale.

EAST CAPE FISHING BOAT DISABLED DURING GOOD TUNA FISHING SESSION

Oct. 29, 2004, Joe Canale, East Cape, Palmas de Cortez fishing, Baja Sur, Mexico:

Just back from Palmas de Cortez. We fished on Sat., Sun. and Monday the 23 thru the 24th.

Saturday was a rough overcast day at East Cape, with 30 yellowfin tuna, 5 wahoo, and 1 blue marlin for our group of 13.

Sunday was clouds and sunshine warm and smooth waters. As a group we caught a combined 80 tuna, 15 wahoo, 2 sailfish, and the guys baited and lost 3 marlin.

Monday started out with just a light chop and a lot of lightning out to the northeast. We were fishing from Frailes down to Vinorama canyon down south. We caught 8 tuna after trolling down from Cabo Pulmo to below Frailes.

About 1 o'clock the storm blew in and what a ride we had going home. After 2 1/2 hours we were back at Palmas with 6 foot waves hitting the beach.

They tried to unload us off our cruiser at the dock. Six foot waves hit the transom of the boat and filled the cockpit to the top. We started to list to port and finally at about 70 percent over I was able to scramble to the other side of the boat. The skipper then cleared the cockpit of water and we were heading back for another try when the engine quit. Yup you guessed it. The anchor line got wrapped around the prop shaft on our first try at the dock.

With the prop shaft now frozen, we were at the mercy of a rescue from another boat or be beached from the waves.

By the way as we headed back up from tuna fishing I was trolling 2 Mauraders I got bit on the Tony the Tiger striped one this year.

EAST CAPE FOOTBALL--Mike Rhoades an East Cape yellowfin tuna caught out of Hotel Palmas de Cortez. Photo courtesy Joe Canale.