BILLFISH: Its marlin, marlin and marlin this week, making them the number one catch in Cabo on this report. We also need to make a special mention, as we had a great catch this week of the most valuable billfish, swordfish. Rick Morris & Bruce Kesler from Braselton Georgia did not know what they were in for when they boarded "Tracy Ann" on May 1st. Sure they had expectations of marlin, Cabo is famous for marlin...the weather was beautiful as they left the dock. They made a stop on the way out to pick up some live bait, caballito or horse-jack was the only type available, so they dropped ten into the bait well and were on their way to the 11.50 spot, which had produced some fish the previous day. It wasn't long before they spotted a striped marlin, cast a live bait to it and soon had a hook up. They fought the fish to the boat and estimated it at 170 lbs before successfully releasing it. They then proceeded to troll again as did other boats from our fleet fishing the same area. Valerie and Tracy Ann spotted the swordfish sunning itself on the surface at the same time. The guys on Valerie cast a bait but the fish did not take it, they were circling back to offer another bait, when Tracy Ann swooped in right behind them, cast a bait, which landed right on the bill of the fish and it bit; probably more from annoyance than hunger....but who cares, they were hooked up. They struggled with this very strong fish for over six hours before finally landing it, making it back just before dark.
The crew was thrilled; swordfish are such a prized catch. This one was estimated at 270 lbs. Chic McsSherry however, the angler on the Valerie was not thrilled. Chic is from Scotland and a long-time friend and regular angler, he whined to me "That was my fish, I saw it first, it was my fish". This is one of the few billfish he has not caught and this would have been a crowning achievement for him, but that's the way it goes sometimes first-timers get them. Nevertheless, Chic didn't have too much to complain about; he ended up releasing five striped marlin that day. Back to marlin news, SEVENTY FOUR percent of our boats caught billfish this week. Top marlin boat was the “Valerie” and their best day was on May 1st for Chic McSherry from Scotland, as we mentioned before he released five striped marlin at the 11.50 spot; the fish took a combination of ballyhoo and caballito. On the 5th, they also did very good for Mike & Shannon Giles from West Jordan, UT releasing three striped marlin between 120 - 150 lbs at out for the 11.50 spot by the Sea of Cortez. This same day, “Tracy Ann” did well too for the Heitmann family from Clarkston, WA as everyone had a chance to release one striped marlin, with a total of four stripers back to the water. On the 4th “La Brisa” had a triple marlin day for Kasey and Nikola Peisley and friends from Eagle Mountain, UT; they came on one of the numerous cruise ships that visit us and had a wonderful time fishing. A day before, Dan and Jeff Sopczak from Indiana also had three striped marlin released aboard “Tracy Ann”; fish took live bait caballito and ballyhoos. Pisces anglers caught a total of 50 striped marlin all released and one swordfish (270 lbs approximately)
OTHER SPECIES: As the marlin fishing is picking up, many of the anglers are forgetting about smaller game and they are trying to go for the trophy fish. Nevertheless, we had a couple of dorado as well this week, thought they are not here yet in any real numbers. On the 2nd “Great Escape Jr” boated a 20 lb dorado for Scott and Holly Huebner from Houston, TX; the fish took a live bait at the 11.50 spot. They were also lucky to released one striped marlin. On the opposite side, our good client “Butch” and wife Kristy Bustamante from Huntington Beach, CA went to San Jaime spot on the Pacific side and caught their lunch - a 30 lbs mahi and one football size yellow fin tuna aboard “Andrea”. On the 3rd, “Valerie” went bottom fishing with Don Richardson & Dwight Thaker from Arkansas and had fun reeling in three trigger fish, one yellow tail and two sea bass – one was a nice 25 lb’er; they hooked the fish with yoyos and some chunk bait. The same day, Chic McSherry tried in shore fishing aboard “Sirius” panga and caught four sierras, good size about 12 lbs and released one rooster fish at the Old Lighthouse.
As to other species, we had Spanish mackerel, rooster fish, sea bass, mojarras, trigger fish.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Clear, sunny skies with warmer weather.
LOCATION: Pacific Side – Old Lighthouse, San Jaime, Margaritas, Golden Gate, Pedregalito
Sea of Cortez – 11:50 Spot
AVERAGE WATER TEMP. 76 F
BEST LURES: Green/yellow, green/black, tigrillo, yoyos
Live bait: caballito and ballyhood.
Based on the catches of Pisces by Ale Almada & Tracy Ehrenberg.
