Overall Catch Success Rate All Species Combined 58%
BILLFISH: So we are in March, we know what that means, traditionally slow marlin catches – I like to call this the “March Doldrums”. Marlin are present and are seen often, but getting them to bite is a completely different issue. On one day last week one of our boats reported seeing eight marlin at Punta Gorda but couldn’t get any interested in bait, they referred to them as “window shoppers”, this boat however (Adriana) did manage to hook a swordfish, which they battled for two and a half hours before it broke off. The fish was estimated to be 250 lbs and was played by Richard Tootle from El Reno, Oklahoma. “Tracy Ann” also spotted a swordfish this same day 40 miles out from the 180 spot but had not luck in enticing it. These weren’t the only swordfish in Cabo this week, we also heard of another boat, “Go Deep” that landed a 300 lb. swordfish. The only people excited about marlin this week are the scientists, they think the behavior they are exhibiting could mean that they are mating and the researchers will be out with their equipment, trying to capture larva. We know that this is just a temporary situation and very common at this time of year. The good thing is though, that there is quite a bit of action inshore for delicious yellowtail, sierra and other small game. Despite this some boats did get lucky with marlin; “Tracy Ann” was the hot boat this week with two marlin released on the same day at Destiladeres by Tom & Dawn Oliphant, David Taylor & Larry Walters from Houston. Both fish were around 150 lbs and took live caballito. “Attitude Adjustment” caught a marlin this same day but in a completely different location, 22 miles out from the Old Lighthouse. This one was also around 150 lbs and was released by Bruno Sasson from San Diego. “C-Rod” was the other boat that caught a striped marlin at Punta Gorda for Jim Carey & Jim Croce….sounds like a famous duo…but these guys are from St. Louis MO and in fact it was John Croce, John Carey also and Ale Corey. Ten percent of boats caught marlin this week out total was four fish. The la niña current, present on the Pacific is a continuing factor in slower catches, but this will be ending soon.
OTHER SPECIES: Yellowfin tuna catches were fair this week with a little over twenty percent of boats landing between one and fifteen fish. “Ruthless” was the top tuna boat with fifteen caught off of San Jose by Josen and Jim Carmock from Newport Beach, California – all took cedar plugs and were up to eighteen pounds. Top tuna day ended up being the 23rd, when the word went out that San Jaime was the hot spot. Boats zipped up the Pacific and then out from San Jaime between twenty and twenty five miles. “Rebecca” did best this day with eight fish from fifteen to a nice fifty pounder for the Power family from Klamouth Falls, Oregon. A very enviable catch this week was aboard “Bill Collector” a double header on wahoo accomplished by Timothy Reedy from New York & Ray Majesty from Glenview, Illinois. The fish took green colored lures just three miles out from Chileno and weighed 45 and 65 lbs respectively. Great catch! Inshore there were yellowtail up to 30 lbs, sierra, roosterfish and other bottom fish. Small game catches accounted for thirty four percent of the catches this week.
WEATHER: Some partly cloudy days, Sea of Cortez calm, Pacific with whitecaps some days, mix of hot days and cooler nights.
LOCATION: Punta Gorda, Destiladeres, San Jaime, Old Lighthouse,
Migriño.
AVERAGE WATER TEMP: 72 F
BEST LURES: Live caballito, cedar plugs, green.
Based on the catches of Pisces by Tracy Ehrenberg
We had two hook-ups on elusive Broadbill Swordfish, this week; generally considered the most prized of all billfish catches. In most places in the world they are caught at night. Here in Cabo we catch them during the daytime. They are occaisionaly found dozing on ther surface and if a bait is presently exactly correctly you may get a hook up if they are very hungry. Captains often say they try to smack them on the bill with the bait, to cause an automatic reaction to get them to bite. They have very soft mouths and the hook often rips out.
