A FIRST-EVER SOLO STRIPED MARLIN IS CAUGHT
ABOARD THE EAST CAPE FISHING BOAT FAT CAT

June 26, 2005, Bill Burkett, Fat Cat, East Cape, Baja California Sur, Mexico fishing:

I started the week's fishing on the Fat Cat with a personal goal to catch a marlin while fishing solo. Although I'd fished alone before, I'd never managed to actually release a marlin.

But, on Monday June 20, I not only caught my first solo striped marlin, I ended the day with three releases! I also had a fourth fish on that came unbuttoned. So, now that I've got that goal achieved, I'll try to do the same with blue marlin when they arrive later this season.

I again fished solo on Thursday 6/23 and released a nice striper from three hookups. Both days I fished about 5 miles north of Punta Colorada. Interestingly, the water temperature had dropped nearly 2 degrees on Thursday, from 77.5 to 75.7 over the three days.

To finish out my solo marlin adventure, I fished in the same area again on Friday 6/24. When I arrived in the area, I found the water had warmed back up to near 78 degrees. In fact, I found water temperatures as high as 80.5 degrees while trolling back home later in the day. Unfortunately, my luck failed me on this day and I came home skunked. I felt somewhat better because everyone in East Cape was having a slow day. It may have been due to the flat calm conditions, but who knows! I had only one marlin strike all day!