Latest Fish Report - IGFA Tournament

May 7th to 13th, 2011


Overall Catch Success Rate 69.87 % for All Species Combined

BILLFISH: We had a big tournament this week, the IGFA World Offshore Championship; there were fifty nine teams from all over the world – Spain, Italy, Brazil, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Angola, Croatia, USA, Mexico and many more. All billfish are released, circle hooks must be used to increase the survival of the fish and certified 30 lb test line must be used. Smaller game fish such as tuna, dorado and wahoo can be boated during the event. Anglers do not get to choose which boat they fish on; a draw is done amongst local charter boats and the anglers rotate to different boats each day. To be invited to enter you have to win a qualifying event anywhere in the world. Fishing was fantastic, compared to last year, this was actually the first time there was even swordfish in the area. This year hook up ratio for the event was of 83.43% with a total of 292 billfish released - 282 striped marlin, 6 sailfish, 2 blue marlin and 2 swordfish. As to the smaller game there was 6 dorado, 3 yellow fin tuna and 1 wahoo which they have to be more than 30 lbs to qualify. Two swordfish were caught during the event, which is a feat on 30 lb test and we are proud that our very own “Tracy Ann” caught one of these two broabills. Another first this year was a tie for first place.


1st Place Team, Islamorada Fish Club Captain's Cup Sailfish Tourn from Florida with 17 marlin released.



1st Place Team - last year, IGFA Offshore World Champions 2010 with 17 marlin released.



2nd Place Team, again with only 1 billfish less- for IGFA Offshore World Championship2010-2nd Place from Bahamas with 16 marlin released



3rd Place Team , IGFA Offshore World Champions 2008 from USA with 12 marlin released.


The top dorado weighed in was caught by Carl Cavossa from Falmouth, MA representing the Falmouth Offshore Grand Prix was 39.10 lbs.

The top tuna weighed in was caught by Flavio campos from a team from Brazil and weighed 226.20 caught on a spinning rod!

The top wahoo weighed in was caught by Jury Kozlov from Russia, representing the 60th Ernest Hemingway International Billfish Tourn and was 43.50 lbs.

Back to regular news, marlin is still the top catch of this week with fifty four percent of our Pisces boats catch billfish. “Tracy Ann” did a very good job on the tournament being one of the boats that had a swordfish (YES, two swordfish in 10 days!) for the Senagal team, which gave them 500 points. Julio Castro was the top 6th captain in the tournament. “Tracy Ann” was the top billfish boat this week with eight striped marlin and one swordfish released. One of the best days was on the 12th with three striped marlin released for a group from USA, two of them were released by Palmilla and one out of the 11:50 spot. On the 10th they released one swordfish and one striped marlin for the Senegal team at the 11:50 spot; the fish took ballyhoos. “Great Escape Jr” did very good as well on this tourney with nine striped marlin released; Captain Ricardo Agundez was the 10th top captain. They had two triple marlin day, one on the 9th with three striped marlin released for a group from Brazil at the 11:50 spot; the fish took a mix of pink lures and mullet. On the 12th, last day they released three more stripers for a group from Florida and also boated three yellow fin tuna in the 30 lbs test range.”C-Rod” had a triple marlin day too, for the Papua New Guinea team on the 11th. Pisces anglers had at total of fifty eight billfish all released.

OTHER SPECIES: Looks like the dorado bite it’s starting to pick up, as we had more than couple this week. “Cabolero” ended on 3rd place for the heaviest dorado on the tournament with a 34.5 dorado for one of the groups from Italy. On the 13th, Dan Growny and friends from Albuquerque, NM caught a BIG dorado which probably would won the heaviest dorado category, approximately weighed 50 lbs aboard “Great Escape”. Finally, the yellow fin tuna are back as twenty one percent of our boats caught caught between one to nine tuna in the 15 – 40 lbs range. One of the best day was on the 13th for Craig & Lindsey Klement and friends from Georgia with nine yellow fin tuna between 20 to 30 lbs aboard “La Brisa; the fish took cedar plugs and feathers at the Herradura spot. They also boated one 25 lbs dorado and had plenty of fillets to take back home. On the 11th, “Bandito” scored with nine tuna for a group from Los Angeles, CA at the same spot. We had a total of 43 yellow fin tuna. On the 9th, Michael & Kristen Peck and friends from Connecticut boated a 30 lbs wahoo aboard “Bandito” and they also reeled in a 30 lbs dorado; the fish took a mix of lures.

As to other species, we had wahoo and rooster fish.

WEATHER CONDITIONS: Clear, sunny skies with warmer weather, some windy days at the end of the week

LOCATION: Pacific Side – Herradura, Ventanas

Sea of Cortez – 11:50 Spot, Palmilla, Punta Gorda, Chileno, Barco Varado,

AVERAGE WATER TEMP. 75.5 F


BEST LURES: Green/yellow, green/black, tigrillo, petrolero, cedar plugs, feathers, squid, guacamayo, purple, pink,



Live bait: caballito, ballyhood and mullet



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

Craig & Lindsey Klement and friends from Valdosta, GA had plenty fillets to take back home

Fishing Update First Week

Overall Catch Success Rate 86.85 % for All Species Combined


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.

Mixed Bag Aboard Valerie

Not everybody is up for marlin, in fact many of our anglers request "eating fish" and thankfully at this time of year we can usually oblige. Pictured here are Don Richardson & Dwight Thaker from Bellavista, Arkansas. They had a couple of nice seabass, a sizeable yellowtail and triggerfish. Whatever they caught you can tell they had a great time.

Mixed Bag for Valerie today, including this seabass. These guys will have enough fish to feed a lot of people.

Recession What Recession?

When we showed up for work the other day it looked like we had a new neighbor, but they were on the large side and blocked the view from our office.  We checked it out and Attessa belongs to Dennis R. Washington (born 1934)  a Montana-based industrialist and philanthropist who owns, or co-owns controlling interest in, a large consortium of privately held companies collectively known as the Washington Companies and, in Canada, another collection of companies known as the Washington Marine Group. With an estimated current net worth of around $4.2 billion, he is ranked by Forbes as the 58th-richest person in America. The overall length of Attessa is 225 feet and   she is a Feadship launched in 1998 and acclaimed as one of the finest Feadships ever, Aviva (former name) suffered a fire in the Red Sea in May 2000. Despite this happening in the middle of the night, Aviva’s crew succeeded in putting out the fire and saving the vessel. After Aviva had returned to Holland, De Voogt Yacht Services facilitated the surveys required to assess damage levels. Once insurance issues were resolved, the yacht was sold to Dennis Washington in April 2003 who then did a total refit and improved the now newly named Attessa. Cabo is still the one of the best places to hang out and totally safe, or people like this guy would not be here.

Swordfish On Tracy Ann



Tracy Ann with Swordfish from left to right mate Julio Castro Jr., Captain Julio Castro, Deckhand Martin Gonzalez, anglers Rick Morris & Bruce Kesler from Braselton, Georgia USA



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. Nevetherless, Chic didn't have too much to complain about, he ended up releasing five striped marlin that day.

Fantastic Time Aboard Valerie

Troy and Brittany Geis from Shawnee,  Kansas, were out with friends on April 19th, aboard our 35 ft Bertram Valerie and had a fabulous time. Then ended up releasing this beautiful striped marlin, who was released unhurt and swimming stongly after giving them a workout. We just loved the look of pure joy on their faces....something we all need to do from time to time de-stress and take a vacation.

Here is what they sent us:
"Here is a pic of 4 of the 6 of us on Valerie with our Marlin.  It was 91 inches.   Thanks for another great trip.  Hope to be back next year (or maybe later this year, who knows) Roberto & Rosendo rock!".

Latest Fish Report

April 23th to 30th, 2011


Overall Catch Success Rate 86.05 % for All Species Combined

BILLFISH: We are thrilled to see the marlin catches climb this week - as the waters warm up so does the marlin action. We did have a few skunks, but even then those that did not catch marlin did at least see them, but they were picky and not willing to eat. Despite this SIXTY EIGHT percent of our charters caught striped marlin. “Rebecca” was the top marlin boat this week as they came back with marlin flags every day they went out fishing. Best day was on the 25th for David Kertzman and sons, Andrew and Michael from Seattle, WA with a total of five striped marlin released between 110 to 150 lbs approximately; the fish took live bait caballito and ballyhoos at the 11:50 spot. On the 23rd, “Rebecca” scored big this time with four stripers released for Gerald Richmond from Islamorada, FL; the marlin were released at the same spot on the Sea of Cortez. Next day out Courtney Murphy and Sandy Edmonstone from Calgary, Canada also released four striped marlin between 120 to 150 lbs aboard “La Brisa”; they took a mix of caballito and ballyhoo. We had different boats that had triple marlin days, like “Andrea” on the 25th with three released for a group of guys from Canada and “Adriana” for Ken Ranger, Glenn Brown, Joe Kennedy and Rob Bernard from California and Canada; they released their marlin at the 11:50 spot after hooking them with a mix of green lures and bait. “Tracy Ann” had two triple marlin days, on the 24th for Ron Evenhaim and friends from Los Angeles twenty nine miles from the 11.50 spot. The day before they fished with David Billion and his seven year old son, Max, from Sioux Falls, SD who did well to release their fish in the same area. On the 23rd “Shambala” had a great day for the Canavati family from Monterrey, Mexico with three marlin that took live caballito. We had single and double marlin days too, too numerous to mention them all. Pisces anglers caught a total of 59 striped marlin all released except one.

OTHER SPECIES: Dorado catches are still very quiet, with just a couple on the 23rd aboard “C-Rod” for the Leon de la Barra family from Mexico City; they were also very lucky to release two striped marlin at the hot spot of the week, the 11.50 spot. Yellow tail fishing is the second best bite of the week with twelve percent of our boats catching this tasty fish. On the 28th the Kertzman´s opted to go for the smaller game, after already having five marlin on their score sheet, they went to the Pacific side by the Molino and boated four yellow tail from 10 to 30 lbs as well as releasing a rooster fish; they used rapalas and mullet for the rooster fish. The next day, “C-Rod” had fun on a half day trip for Scott & Blake Lazarus and friends from Long Beach, CA as they reeled in three 20 lb yellowtail and released an impressive50 lbs rooster fish; they took rapalas in front of the desal plant on the Pacific side. On the 28th “Falcon” boated a 30 lb wahoo for Phillip and Anthony Zollars from Scottsdale, AZ which they picked up on the way back to the dock about six miles from Cerro Blanco; earlier in the day they had released a striped marlin at the 11.50 spot; the wahoo took a petrolero lure.

As to other species, we had Spanish mackerel, bonitas, skipjack, needle fish and rooster fish.

WEATHER CONDITIONS: Clear, sunny skies with warmer weather at the end of the week. Some windy afternoons.

LOCATION: Pacific Side – Old Lighthouse, Bombas, Cerro de Arena, Cerro Blanco, Molinos

Sea of Cortez – 11:50 Spot

AVERAGE WATER TEMP. 76 F

BEST LURES Rapalas, guacamayo, hoochis, green/yellow, green, petrolero, chiliwili, cedar plugs, purple

Live bait: caballito, mullet, ballyhood

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

The Kertzman´s boated four yellow tail from 10 to 30 lbs as well as releasing a rooster fish aboard "Valerie" with captain Roberto Sandez and deckhand Ernesto.

Swordfish & Marlin - Latest Update

APRIL 17th to 22nd, 2011


OVERALL CATCH SUCCESS RATE FOR ALL SPECIES COMBINED 87%

BILLFISH: We were very much encouraged to see a climb on marlin catches this week, in fact forty-seven percent of our charters caught striped marlin, this is right on schedule with what scientists told us months ago, that fishing would pick up as the La Niña current comes to an end in the latter part of April. Nevertheless before we even talk about marlin catches, we need to report something even more of a prized catch, the broadbill swordfish. What does a state governor do when he leaves office? Why, he goes fishing and this is exactly what now ex-governor  of Baja California Sur,Narciso Agundez did with his sons last week-end. He was aboard the locally famous “Fisherman” fishing an area between San Jose and the East Cape known as Vinoramas, his group didn’t have a particular plan so they started off close to shore and caught nine groupers up to about 15 lbs, they then hooked and fought a striped marlin to the boat, later in the day around 3.30 pm they spotted a swordfish on the surface, which appeared to be sunbathing. This was a bit odd as it is of common opinion that they like colder, greener water and they were in an area of 74.9 degree water. They cast dead bait to the fish; it ate half then lost interest. They had no bait left but a boat passing by on its way home, handing them some small mackerel; they quickly cast this to the swordfish, who teased them for over 15 minutes, mouthing it, letting it go, mouthing it again until finally it decided to eat it. This resulted in a solid hook-up and an hour later they had a 250 lb swordfish on board. One of this fishing teams usual partners was not on board this day, feeling a bit miffed, Daniel Fisher, headed out to the same area the next day in search of a swordfish too, as he was not about to be outdone. Well, Daniel is a legendary fisherman here, and he also found a swordfish late in the day at almost 6.00 pm, this one was bigger though and it took him two and half hours, with the sun beyond the horizon, before he could get his on board; this one weighed 348 lbs. There are fishermen who fish their entire lives without getting a swordfish, so this is quite an amazing feat. In marlin news we have starting single double and triple marlin days for some boats, on the 17th Matt Rainwater from Fort Worth Texas, released three close to Punta Gorda aboard “Bill Collector” – Matt actually ended up with seven striped marlin for his four days fishing, which was low for him. I’m afraid we have spoilt him in the past with phenomenal bill fishing so this was considered a slow week for him, not there was anything we could do. He had been reading the reports, knew the conditions and took a risk any way. He’s over it now and sent us some truly amazing photos. Another boat with a triple marlin day was “Adriana” on April 20th with Gerardo & Alicia Cruz from Thousand Oaks aboard, who along with friends Xochitl & Antonio Catellan did well to fight these three fish around the 140 lb mark, caught with both ballyhoo and caballito at the 11.50 spot. “C-Rod” rounded out the week with three marlin for Howard & Jennifer Harris, Tammy & Brice Brolles from South Lake, Texas - all released. Pisces anglers caught a total of 25 striped marlin this week, all released except two.

OTHER SPECIES: Small game catches have certainly sustained our reputation as a fishing destination over the last couple of months. With absentee marlin catches, the slack has been taken up with great yellow-tail fishing, this week no exception for fish up to 30 lbs. We also had good catches on sierra close to shore, plenty of skipjack, some pompano, triggerfish, amberjack and cocinero jacks.

WEATHER CONDITIONS: It’s like we have two distinct climates right now, the Pacific and the Sea of Cortez. The Pacific has been cold and windy early morning and in the evenings. The Sea of Cortez on the other hand has been relatively calm with some ground swell the last few days.

LOCATION: Sea of Cortez 95 spot, Palmilla, Punta Gorda, Destiladeres. Boats on half days opted for the area near the Old Lighthouse up to Margaritas on the Pacific.

AVERAGE WATER TEMP. 74 F

BEST LURES: Live bait or dead ballyhoo for marlin, though some took lures also, inshore hoochis, rapalas and strip bait.

Based on the catches of Pisces by Tracy Ehrenberg

In This Photo Ex-Governor Narciso Agundez right, Sons Christian & Narciso Jr. Left

shown with their 250 lb sworfish

This photos shows Daniel Fisher with his 348 lb Swordfish

This Magnificent Shot was taken by Matt Rainwater aboard Bill Collector

Shark Whisperer?

Below you will find a video that we thought was very cool, so we want to share it with you.

We especially like the music (always Tracy’s favorite with the Mariachi bands) and if you understand Spanish you will know why the producer chose this particular song.

It starts off by saying “What beautiful eyes you have below those brows, they want to look at me, but you won’t allow them even to blink (in the video this refers to the unblinking eyes of the sharks)”. It then goes on to talk about a girl from Malaga, Spain, who is a beautiful enchantress who is bewitching; which is what the girl in the video does to the shark- puts it in a trance.

Just watch to see what she does. This is very well filmed and as stated above the music suits it perfectly.

Enjoy

The Tracy Ann Gets This Anglers Vote

Larry Dunsmoor had a great time on Tracy Ann  recently. He sent us this brief note along with some great pictures, which give you a better idea of how his day went. Not only did he have great fishing but he got to see a large school of dolphins, often an added attraction on Cabo fishing trips. It is amazing to see these fast swimming creatures in their natural environment.

"We spent a day on the Tracy Ann in March, great boat, great crew. I promised Captain Julio some pictures of the marlin he got for us. They are attached. Thanks for your hospitality, and for showing us the wonder and beauty of Baja and its oceans. Please feel free to use any of these pictures on your web site.
Thanks again!"

Larry Dunsmoor
Senior Aquatics Biologist
Klamath Tribes