Pisces Fish Report

September 17th to September 25th, 2010


Overall Catch Success Rate 97.3%

BILLFISH: Tropical Storm Georgette was a barely noticed visitor to our shores this past week, producing much needed rain, but zero wind and just a few swells on the Cortez side. The Port captain decided to close the Port one day as a precaution and the next day everybody was ready to go out and fish! One of the best days was on the 25th for Greg Cooper and friends from Arizona, who released four striped marlin aboard “Attitude Adjustment”, our 46 ft Bertram at the Herradura; they also boated twelve dorado between 20-25 lbs... way to go guys! This same day, Barry Satterfield from Franklin, TN released two striped marlin aboard “El Gallo” they took live bait at the 190 Spot; they also caught two dorado between 30-35 lbs. On the 24th “Valerie” released one striped marlin and one sailfish for the Tony Berkowitz group, the striper took a blue & white lure and the sailfish live bait.

“Valerie” had a double marlin day on the 22nd for Robert Thompson from Placitas, NM; both were released he then went on to catch two nice dorado at 40 and 50 lbs respectively, 10 miles from the Old Lighthouse. The only blue marlin caught during the week was for Cindy and Jason Kinnie from San Francisco, CA it weighted 300 lbs; they also released one striped marlin at the 160 Spot and kept one dorado for dinner. Billfish catches decreased somewhat perhaps due to full moon mid-week, but which is a ripe time for really big fish also. Forty five percent of our charters caught billfish with a total of 15 striped marlin, 1 blue marlin and 5 sailfish this week all but one released.

OTHER SPECIES: We had tons of Dorado this week with seventy eight percent of our boats catching from one to twenty four fish, with global total of 202 overall. Weights varied from 15 lbs to nice 50 lb fish. After the rains left by Tropical Storm Georgette, dorado could be found all over the place. The top day was the 23rd, when Robert Thompson from Placitas, NM was fishing alone and caught twenty four dorado aboard Tracy Ann, he was so tired that he came back early; his arms just wouldn’t work anymore (majority of his fish were released). This same day Angela Lacy and Kim Hubbard from Dallas, TX caught eighteen dorado, some released and the others between 15 to 25 lbs aboard Andrea with captain Orlando Murillo and deckhand Abraham; the fish took live bait and green/yellow lures at La Margaritas on the Pacific side. Adam Berke and friends from Texas had a great day aboard “Shambala” with captain TJ, with fifteen dorado between 20 to 30 lbs, one 40 lbs wahoo and one sailfish released at Gaspareño. The same day, Marco Ehrenberg and friends caught fourteen dorado and two yellowfin tuna aboard “Andale” they took all kinds of lures at Golden Gate. On the 22nd Nicholas and Rebecca Hicox from Vancouver, WA caught sixteen dorado aboard “Andrea” with some released they still had plenty to take home. Tuna catches were steady with thirty four percent of our boats catching this species. On the 18th, Scott Shulze and friends from California fought a large tuna for one hour and 45 minutes on 60 lbs test line, resulting in the successful catch of a 150 lbs yellow fin tuna at Golden Gate aboard “Rebecca”. It took blue/white lure. Bill &Patty Rose along with friends, Debbie & Mike Cledenning caught seven yellow fin tuna, football size, and let a striped marlin go, as well as boating three dorado aboard the “Tracy Ann”. On the 20th, Nancy and Art Clairmont from Orlando, FL caught six 20 lbs yellow fin tuna and two dorado between 40-45 lbs aboard “Andrea” out by San Jaime. We were told of a 330 lb tuna caught out of San Jose by Daniel Fisher, a well known local guy who has a lot of amazing catches to his credit. Daniel was part of the team that broke all records last year at the Tuna Tournament with their 383 lb fish. We are looking for photos and will post if we can get one and verify the catch. Wahoo catches were pretty good this week, with September 23rd being particularly productive: first up was Barry Satterfield and friends aboard “El Gallo”, with both a 40 and 50 lb fish, twelve miles out from the Old Lighthouse. Next were Sam & Athea Lijoi from Cleveland, OH for catching a 40 lb’er plus two 35 lbs dorado aboard “Great Escape Jr” all on guacamayo and petrolero lures. Then was the Jordan family from Westerville, Oh who caught another 40 lb wahoo and still had a lot of action with eleven dorado and one yellow fin tuna to boot.. We had a total of 37 yellow fin tuna and 6 wahoo this week..

WEATHER CONDITIONS: One rainy day due the tropical storm, cloudy days and sunny days at the end of the week

LOCATION: Sea of Cortez: 95 spot, Cerro Blanco, Herradura, 180 Spot, Cerro Colorado

Pacific Side: Golden Gate, Jaime Banks, Lighthouse, Margaritas, Pozo Cota, Los Arcos, Migriño, Gaspareño

AVERAGE WATER TEMP. 84 F

BEST LURES; Cedar plugs, blue, tigrillo, petrolero, green, purple, green/blue, blue/white, black/green, green/yellow, red/green, guacamayo,, all colors, rapala

For live bait was caballito and ballyhoo

Based on the catches of Pisces by Ale Almada & Tracy Ehrenberg.



780 lb Blue Marlin Aboard Shambala

Captain T.J Dobson, has done it again aboard "Shambala"....another huge fish, this time just shy of 800 lbs. Yesterday a group of Texans were aboard fishing with T.J and were having a great time; they had already released a striped marlin  and a sailfish, when T.J spotted a huge marlin in the Destiladeras area where they were fishing, attracted by a teaser tied to the back of the boat. Captain T.J was quick thinking and told his deckand to toss a sierra, he had on board back to the fish. The fish leapt on it, grabbing the bait, but then jumped and spat it out. He must have been hungry because he turned with a vengence and enhaled a lure still in the water, known as a "Gay Bob", which is blue, white and pink. The fish was solidly hooked and Ed Shatte from Houston, Texas was on the other end of the line. Ed pumped and heaved the fish on 80 lb line for three hours, when they realized that it had died.....it takes a while to haul up 780 lbs of dead weight and then drag it onto the deck through the transom door, but they did it.

"Shambala" the 60 ft Hatteras didn't make it back to port until well after dark where it took nine men to hoist it up on to the scale, which showed the fish weighed 780 lbs.  Great job guys....and well done T.J for his third fish over 600 lbs in under two months......

Thank you letter from Bill Rose and friends

A quick note to all there at Pisces. Thank you so much for an incredible two days of fishing. All four of us (Bill & Patty Rose of Houston, TX and Mike & Debi Clendening, of New Port Richey, FL) couldn't have been happier with the results of our two days fishing, the professionalism of the entire group at Pisces from you, Alejandra, and Oscar, to the crew of the Tracey Ann, Pisces made the trip a very memorable one.

We fish enough to know that the "catching" is a bonus, however with the way that the "Tracey Ann's" crew, (Captain Julio, Martin and Julio Jr) worked to find and then get us to the fish, was nothing short of magic. Mike made the observation that Capt. Julio is not a follower, he is a leader, and he proved that during the two days we fished with them, and the results - 2 marlin released, 3 more sighted, 1 sailfish released and 2 others sighted, 12 tuna caught and 3 dorado.

I appreciate the special attention to my request for "light drags" and a spinning rig, and it worked out great. Most importantly Mike (an avid inshore fisherman) had never caught a bill fish, and on this trip, he caught and released two Striped Marlin. I even managed to catch and release a sailfish. We both brought home over 35 lbs of tuna and dorado filet's, but more importantly many great memories that will have us coming back again and we will certainly be using the Pisces fleet and the Tracey Ann with Capt Julio.

I am sending pics of Mike and Debi, with one of his Marlin that was released, his other Marlin at the boat, and one of Patty and I with the sailfish that we released.

Please share with Capt Julio and his crew.

Thanks again

Bill and Patty Rose  from Houston, TX  and Mike and Debi Clendening from New Port Richey, FL

Georgette Where Are You?

Today we were supposed to have a tropical storm, named Georgette pass directly over Cabo San Lucas...but it never happened....Last night we had some rain and awoke this morning to some much needed fairly heavy rain which continued off and on for about four hours. We had zero wind and seas overall were on the calm side, though on the Sea of Cortez there were some big waves.  The Port was closed today on Port Captain's orders and as of right now we don't know if it will be open tomorrow. All Calm on the Cabo front.

This Is Not A True Offer, Sorry Ken......

We got an e-mail from our good friend and client Ken Eberle from Texas, which really made us laugh...so we thought we would share it with you:
 "Tracy I heard the mega yacht "A" was the replacement for the vessel Andrea. You were just adding out-riggers and running it on a cut rate of $695.00 per day thru October only....."
Very funny Ken and a great way to start the week with a smile.....

Lots on The Strange Mega Yacht "A"

The yacht's three pools include a high-powered jet pool for laps that can be switched from salt to fresh water.

At the top of a spiral staircase lined with scalloped, silver-leaf walls (the banister cost $60,000) is a door accessible by a fingerprint security system. It opens to an all-white, 2,583-square-foot master suite wrapped in bomb-proof, 44-milimeter glass. There, a king-sized bed sits on a giant platter that rotates with the press of a silver button. Another set of buttons rotates the bed itself. The combination of the rotating bed and the rotating platter allows limitless angles for watching the sunset, sunrise or the 60-inch plasma TV, which retracts from the ceiling.

Designed by Philippe Starck, the "A" has quickly become the most loved and loathed ship on the sea. WSJ's Robert Frank takes an exclusive tour of Andrey Melnichenko's 394-foot mega-yacht.

In the battle among Russia's billionaires for yacht supremacy, Roman Abramovich's upcoming 540-foot Eclipse may soon become the biggest, but Andrey Melnichenko's 394-foot "A" has become the most talked-about yacht on the seas.

With its radical shape—more sleek submarine than boxy pleasure boat—and reams of custom parts and finishes (including bath knobs costing $40,000 apiece), "A" is a conspicuous marker of an ocean-going plutocracy that's largely been untouched by the recession. The boat, designed by Philippe Starck and completed in mid-2008 for more than $300 million, has spawned a flotilla of copycats emulating its low-slung hull and design scheme. Numerous companies involved in its construction went bankrupt, done in by the novelty of the project and the level of customization required.

For all its fame, "A" remains a bit mysterious. Its owner, a 38-year-old banking, steel and fertilizer czar, is intensely private and requires all his construction crew and staff to sign strict confidentiality agreements . He and his wife only rarely entertain on board, and few public images of the boat's interior exist.

Dirk Kloosterman, "A"'s project manager and a veteran of the world's largest yachts, recently provided an exclusive tour of the boat's 23,600 square feet of living space.
The boat's interior departs dramatically from most conventions of yacht design. Instead of the usual overstuffed couches and mahogany walls, there are Baccarat-crystal tables, shiny white finishes and polished silver, a kind of Manhattan-loft-meets-Vegas aesthetic. Many of the rooms have floor-to-ceiling mirrors, which Mr. Starck says have a built-in "mathematical beauty" that also refer to the "mathematical genius" of Mr. Melnichenko.

..The walls of one room are covered in white sting-ray hides, while another is covered in hand-stitched calf's leather. The main deck features two Michel Haillard chairs made from alligator hides and Kudo horns. Known for his mischievous streak, Mr. Starck outfitted "A" with risqué touches like the suite dubbed the "nookie room" by the crew, with its white circular bed with padded walls and a ceiling-mounted TV.

Mr. Starck says that while most megayachts are "vulgar" statements of wealth and power, "A" was designed to be in harmony with the sea and nature. "This boat has elegance and intelligence, it is not trying to show the money," he adds.

As with many Russian-owned yachts, "A" is highly secure. Its rounded exterior and knife-like hull make it difficult for intruders to board. It has 44 security cameras and more than a dozen exterior cameras fitted with motion-detection systems and a night-vision infrared system.

It is also designed to outrun threats: Twin, high-speed diesel engines deliver 24,000 horsepower and push the 5,959-gross-ton ship to 24 knots, roughly a third faster than most boats its size. The boat, which is stabilized by fiber-optic gyroscopes and four giant motorized flaps, is rumored to also be equipped with a pod-like escape system, but the staff declined to comment.

A transom door in the rear of the boat, which swings with open to become a swim deck, is fitted with so many hydraulics, locking pins, rotating stairs and electronics that it cost around $25 million to build. The company that made it eventually went bankrupt, along with the company that made the bomb-proof wrap-around glass encasing the master suite and the company that built the hydraulic gangways. The ship's two main landing boats are mini-yachts themselves, stretching to 36 feet, boasting plush interiors and costing more than $1 million each.

There's little sign that the billionaire boat boom is ending. The recession has certainly hit the "middle-class" yacht market, as banks cut back on boat loans and mere millionaires struggle to rebuild their fortunes. Orders for boats of more than 80 feet fell to 753 last year from 992 in 2008, according to Showboats International magazine. Yet orders for superyachts, or those more than 250 feet, were actually up more than 20% in 2009, according to Showboats.

'A' has an unusual, swoopy design, a low-slung hull and twin engines that deliver 24,000 horsepower.

."A" has a crew of between 35 to 37 people, including stewards and stewardesses, mechanical engineers, security staff, housekeepers, deck hands, galley crew and chefs. The crew also has specialists for surfing, jet skiing, water skiing and cycling. All of the crew wear Starck-designed uniforms—crisp white dress shirts and white pants for daytime, and tight, black T-shirts and slacks for evening. The boat costs over $20 million a year to maintain; Filling the gas tank costs more than $500,000.

There are many discussion groups and forums about "A" online, with titles like "The Ugliest Yacht in the World" and "Should Philippe Starck Design Boats?" Debates can get heated: On the "Insider's Guide to St. Bart's"—a Web site frequented by vacationers on the upscale Caribbean island—dozens of "A" spotters tracked the boat's daily movements.

Do We Live In A Beautiful Place or What?

Early morning, sun coming up, boats ready to go......shown here 28 ft Andrea.

We Said There Were a Lot of Black Marlin.....but this one was big.....

We just received this e-mail from a group that fished a few days ago on the 37 ft Bertram "Falcon"....here are the photos to prove it....we couldn't put them all as we would run out of space!

"On behalf of myself, Steven Thomas, Tim Ross and Mark Colerick, I would to tell you how much we appreciated and how pleased we were with Pisces Sportfishing, the day, the boat 'Falcon' with the crew of Capt. Manuel and his assistant Jesus and the pleasure we experienced during the day and with your organization September 13th. Capt Manuel and Jesus working their tails off and was much appreciated. Their professionalism and experience sure paid off with a wonderful day and catch. Attached are some pictures of our eventful day and feel free to use for your blog.
The tally amounted to two (2) Striped Marlin at 130+ pounds each, a Sailfish weighing in at 140 pounds (all released) a Dorado,at 60 lbs, two other momentarily hooked but lost Striped Marlin, and a 900 pound Black Marlin fought for 5 hours but  that eventually broke line and was lost. I believe this should  be considered a catch, seeing the leader twice, with a touch of the leader once. I understand this catch may have also been the record for the 'Falcon' and crew and might possibly be a record for Pisces. Please confirm and verify the weight of the catches with the Falcon crew if you like but these weights are what we thought was conveyed to us from the Captain and Jesus. We began fishing in 5500'-6000' of water and caught the first Marlin 1 1/2 hours after boarding and leaving port.

My appreciation also to Oscar Banagas with his picture of the 'Falcon' and all on board back in port.

I would also like 'Falcon' and Pisces T-shirts when available, please contact when you have more in stock. I also have a video of the Black Marlin I can send you if you like.

Thanks again for a great experience, a Great day and a lasting memory. We will definately be recommending your organization to others and hopefully be chartering a return visit in the future.

Thanks, Bill Thomas, Kingwood, Texas"

What Happens to Fish That Are Killed

Pisces is very much conservation minded and we ask anglers to release all billfish that they do not intend to eat, in fact our release rate is 98.6%, we believe this to be one of the highest release rates in Mexico. It was not always so and over the years we have educated our crews and clients to see how releasing favors the long term health of sportfishing. Unless a fish is injured beyond the ability to survive or the angler wants a skin mount or wants to take the fillets home, pretty much all are released. Locally and culturaly marlin is considered a good source of protein, especially in these hard economic times - one marlin can feed a lot of families. This year has been one of the best we have seen in a decade for blue and black marlin with a lot of large fish caught or nearly caught. We were sent the pictures below by Mario Bañaga of a fish caught out of San Jose  by local Juan Carlos Castro aboard a private boat. It is a black marlin that weighed 480 lbs...he caught on 100 lb test line whilst trolling an 18 lb tuna as bait aboard the boat "Fisherman" with captain "Perico" Sanchez ...this is a boat to watch they place pretty much in every tournament they enter. Sounds like they were practising for the October tournament season. The photos show the fish and then how it is filleted to distribute to local families.

La Paz Gold Cup Fishing Tournament

Cabo is not the only place to hold fishing tournaments, each summer there is a great tournament in La Paz too, the payouts are not as large and are in pesos, but 1st place took over one million pesos this year.This is a fun tournament but we would like to see a 300 lb weight minimum in place to preserve the blue marlin population. Seventy Four boats entered this event that took place last week-end and the results were as follows:

Victor Manuel Diaz  with a  400 lb Black Marlin aboard  Asturon


Esaul Valdez with a 251 Lb  Blue Marlin aboard Dottie B lI

Daniel Fisher  Jr. for a 249 Lb Blue Marlin aboard Fisherman (last year's winning boat in the Tuna Tournament).

Angel Rafael Agundez  with a 235 lb Blue Marlin aboard Condor.

Photos show the happy anglers receiving their prizes and the winning fish. Photos by Mario Bañaga Jr.