DORADO AT 56.9 POUNDS WINS WESTERN OUTDOOR NEWS FISHING CONTEST

April 16, 2005, Dennis Spike, Coastal Kayak Fishing, East Cape, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

I'm at Rancho Leonero on a real vacation with my brother and father. It's been the trip of a lifetime. Gary Spike had his first marlin, a 150 pound striper released fresh. Dad, Jerry Spike, took his first pargo.

Gary, from Simi Valley won the Saturday Western Outdoor News (W.O.N.) Fiesta de Pesca event with a 56.9 pound bull dorado taken on a live mackerel. East Cape fishing area water is warming significantly with temperatures into the mid 70s. The striped marlin bite is holding strong with most boats scoring daily. East Cape near shore fishing has been producing a scratchy bite with all the usual suspects, pargo, jack crevalle, sierra and roosterfish in the count.

Today, a 12-pound cabrilla was landed in fishing just in front of the hotel. The Sea of Cortez is coming to life. The fish are all full of squid. Tuna and porpoise are cruising offshore and the fishing at East Cape is improving daily. No kayak fishing this trip, one of the best of my life. I return to East Cape May 2nd and again in August, Sept. and October for guided kayak fishing trips.