WINDY FISHING NEAR SHORE FOR SIERRA AND PARGO

Jan. 21, 2007, Russ Fritz, La Ribera, East Cape, Baja Sur, Mexico:

The cold north wind, and drizzling rain in no big news on the East Cape any more. But, the sunshine is. The sun finally broke through the last of the clouds yesterday, and none too soon, as people were starting to pray for global warming.

Be careful what you pray for, August is coming again.

Fishing on the East Cape in Baja's southern Sea of Cortez has been limited to a few days, between windy, choppy, rainy weather since the beginning of December.

Sierra have been biting early in the morning, but few fishermen are able to launch through the rough surf.

Punta Arena always affords some protection this time of year, and most of the local East Cape fishing boats are there for catches of big sierra, and pargo are common, but it's a bumpy wet ride back to the launch spot.

In desperation for calmer waters, we chartered Capt. Tony, with the super panga "Hooker" out of the Palmilla cove, and fished for tuna on the Gordo Banks off San Jose del Cabo.

My brother, Marshall Fritz, from Fresno, California, landed a 70 pound yellowfin tuna after a 1 hour 20 minute fight.

My son Dan Fritz, of La Ribera, Baja California, Mexico, landed a 45 pound tuna, and my nephew Gene Fritz from Fresno, California, fed a sea lion his 40 pound tuna, not willingly of course, and the air around me was a little blue for a few moments.