STRIPED MARLIN CONCENTRATIONS FOUND
WHILE FISHING 15 MILES OFF CABO PULMO

July 5, 2005, Chuck Meredith, East Cape, Baja California Sur, Mexico Fishing:

I found the striped marlin concentration yesterday, July 4th. They were 15 miles due east of Cabo Pulmo, 41 miles from my anchor GPS.

There is NO live bait at East Cape. Only dead ballyhoo available at all the hotel bait sellers; 10 dollars gets you 5 of them. You troll slow and watch for tailers to come up. You drop back on the first bill whack, watch for the flash swirl, freespool for a 3 count and hookup. I farmed two marlin at first. The next 2 striped marlin caught on the 3 second drop-back. One was a huge one and weighed out at 230 pounds at the cleaning table.

In that spot, the water temperature was 80 degrees. We started trolling at 9 a.m. There were at least 20 boats all doing what I was. Some trolled, as they had no bait. Some fish were hooked on lures. I expect every boat at that spot got fish, 100 percent. Every boat that I saw later, that I recognized as being there, had a marlin flag up. The Miss Petunia, fishing for the Playa Del Sol Hotel, captained by "Cookies" Martin Olachea caught 4.

I broke my Braid stand up harness nylon strap. A standup harness is mandatory for striped marlin in a super panga. I use Dennis Braid equipment, but things do deteriorate and break apart. Gonna need another harness soon, as I have just about worn this one out. I will soon have a scar to prove it.

Broken line on one fish setting the hook, and "bing", silent line breakage. Tested the rest of the spool on the reel. Brand new 40# ANDE line from Squidco. the line was shiny new on the reel spool and tested BAD thru 3/4 of the full spool on the 440 Newell. Just bad shiny new line. So, emptied the rest and re-spooled with 65# spectra Power Pro while on the "MrChuck" super panga.. End of problem. The other lost due to dropped bait during the swirl and flee by the striper.