AN INCREDIBLY HOT STRIPED MARLIN BITE JUST OFF LA RIBERA

April 9, 2005, John Ireland, Rancho Leonero, East Cape, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

East Cape had pleasant spring fishing weather, with cool mornings in the 60's and afternoon highs near 80, with mostly clear, sunny days, some early morning low clouds, burning off by midmorning, and calm mornings with afternoon breezes. We had one day of strong north wind on Wednesday, settling back down for the rest of the week.

East Cape sportfishing area water temperatures are holding steady at 69-71 degrees. There is lots of good bait in the area. A single word describes this week's fishing, marlin.

An incredibly hot bite on striped marlin has developed about 3-4 miles off La Ribera, with hungry schools of marlin boiling everywhere. Limits for all, with many East Cape fishing boats reporting double and even triple hookups. One boat released 8 striped marlin before noon, with fish taking exclusively live mackerel, either slow-trolled or cast on tailing fish.

Tuna are a long boat ride, about 40 miles straight out, with fish to 50 pounds taking mostly live bait. The is no fishing pressure as most anglers concentrating on the wide-open marlin bite.

Inside, roosterfish continue to bite aggressively, with some jacks mixed in, from La Ribera south to the lighthouse, with fish averaging 10 pounds taking mostly live mackerel. Pargo and jacks are on the reefs off La Ribera.