TOO MANY BARRACUDA SOUTH AT SOCORRO

Oct. 11, 2004, Capt. Kelly Catian, K&M Offshore Sportfishing, San Quintin, Baja California, Mexico:

Some bad weather arrived in early October. Good friend Juan Cote and I went out of San Quintin through rough seas to try fishing the 240 with no luck on the 4th. Ended up down south of San Quintin at Socorro (seabass spot). Got one 30 lb seabass and some calico bass and sandbass. Too many barracuda also.

On the 5th I had Mark and Jimmy Chi. Went for bottom fish and got lots of lings. San Quintin fishing weather was still a bit snotty.

Friday 8th we went on sort of a San Quintin fishing scouting mission. Checked all the spots except Soccoro. Water was cold, weather a bit worse. Got a few lings and went in early.

9th- Chambers brothers- Tim, Bob and Kevin on the Offshore II. We went south of San Quintin to look for seabass. LOTS barracuda, no seabass. Went fishing in for halibut inside the bay and got a 40 + black seabass on 25 lb test in about 20 feet of water (caught by Bob Chambers). Chris Peirce, Eric Tomas and friends Paul and Chris (on the Offshore III) kept at the seabass for longer and C Peirce finally got one after about a million cudas and 10 lost jigs.

10th: Big swell, no wind. 240 and Ben's Rock breaking BIG. Failed fishing attempt at flatties on the leeward side of the island. Told Chris on the Offshore III to try fishing the 6 fathom spot. Paul got a yellowtail after a few bonita. A big knotthead seal tried to take it and they finally got it away from him by cranking hard on the 50 pound (25 pound yellow was more or less intact). Seal took some nice fish away, but they did ended up with some good lings and the one yellow. I went to fish the 15 fathom spot on the Offshore II and had more or less the same results (one yellow and some lings all on live bait).

11th: Fished south from San Quintin, fishing under clear skies and big swell. Tried fishing for whites with George and Roger Sanchez and friends Abel and Joe the the Offshore II. Scratched up one yellowtail and a bunch of nice lings and rockcod.

(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.