Photo courtesy Kelly Catian, El Capitan Sportfishing, San Quintin, Mexico.

BLACK SEA BASS SPEARED AT ISLA SAN MARTIN

May 13, 2004, Kelly Catian, El Capitan Sportfishing, San Quintin fishing, Baja California, Mexico:

Took my kids, Oscar 18, George 14, and Christian 13, out to San Martin Island near San Quintin for some spearfishing (free diving) and we got two black sea bass 209 and 150 pounds. The fish were in about 70 feet on the outskirts of the kelp beds. It was fun watching the kids get towed around by the giant black bass.

We saw at least 8 other fish where we were anchored. There were more blacks than calicos!!!

After teaching my three sons Oscar 18, George 14, and Christian 13 how to fish and run the boats, how to surf and dive in the ocean, it was time to teach them to spearfish. They learn quick!!!

We dove the deeper backside of San Martin Island. We spotted the first black seabass cruising down deep just outside the kelp stringers. I took a long but sure shot and hit the 209-pound seabass on his right shoulder. The giant fish exploded off through the 70-foot kelp stringers dragging me behind it like a rag doll.

The kids were right there the whole time helping me from getting tangled in the float-line and being drowned. As we fought the fish we spotted many other blacks in the area . The great fish ended up getting tangled in the kelp at about 50 feet so we had to take turns diving to untangle the fish. One diver rides shotgun on the surface while the other works the fish out without himself getting wound up by the thrashing fish. After about an hour we had the fish in the boat! The kids learned from the first fish and the next was subdued in one-half the time. These kids are the future skippers of San Quintin and are already accomplished watermen. Now if they could just get better grades in school!

(See "Mexico Fishing News" online for current fishing reports, photos, weather, and water temperatures from San Quintin and other major Mexican sportfishing areas. Vacation travel articles, fishing maps and seasonal calendars, and fishing related information for San Quintin may be found at Mexfish.com's main San Quintin page.