As Marlin Action Slows Moderately, Pisces Crews Make the Best of It
Overall Catch Success Rate, All Species Combined 78%
Billfish Catch Success Rate 38%, Tuna 17%, Dorado 38%, Other Species 25%
Throughout the last week of February and into early March, our weather here in Cabo has remained pleasant, unlike the stormy, cold weather encountered recently in the U.S.
As February ended, the excellent striped marlin bite we enjoyed throughout the end of January slowed. Since the end of the month, the marlin seemed to have taken a hiatus, whether due to the cooler weather, the off-color water, or the recent lack of bait on the surface. The marlin just hasn’t been seen recently!
However, our 31 ft Bertram “Rebecca,” with Captain Jose Ramon Alucano at the helm, and Cesar Alucano, seemed to be in the right place at the right time with a pretty spectacular day scoring 3 released striped marlin. A few other rock stars each released a striper at Punta Gordo. The 31 f. Bertram, “Ruthless” released 2 after enticing them with live mackerel.
Off Chileno, our 45 ft Viking, “My Way,” with Captain Arturo Silva and Daniel Sandez, found one striper that gobbled up a ballyhoo for Lynda Howell and Madison Cyr. It seems they tagged teamed a striped marlin before releasing it.
Then, adding to their husband’s day, Reese Howell and Madison Cyr fought and landed a 20-plus pound dorado that couldn’t resist a well-placed ballyhoo.
On the 31 ft Bertram, “Tracy Ann,” Captain Julio Castro and Raul Leal found a hungry striped marlin that bit a mackerel at Fuera del Cerro, which they released.
Other Species
Sierra from 3 to 6 pounds, taken on live bait, eighty-pound mako shark on live bait. Roosterfish from 10 to 15 pounds, usually found close to shore on bait, lures, and flies.
Grouper, red snapper from 2 to 5 pounds while chumming at Migrino.
Skipjack, 15 pounds on bait and feathers, at La Laguna, and triggerfish, ladyfish, and needlefish.
This is the first of my Friday Afternoon Reports (weekly) for the Ehrenberg Pisces Sportfishing fleet, and I have a few observations I would like to share. Although we have been friends for several decades, we also have worked on various projects together, ranging from sportfishing, conservation, satellite tagging billfish, and tournaments to charities.
I have always admired their amazing attention to detail. Recently, I’ve had the opportunity to review a fraction of the catch records their fleet has produced, with the most sportfishers out fishing in Cabo daily. The detailed catch reports submitted by their crews are amazing. Their attention to detail provides an extraordinary amount of valuable information important to the casual angler and the scientists and biologists who decide how to preserve and protect one of Baja’s most valuable resources on “sportfishing” for many years to come.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Mostly calm with 2-3 feet waves and 6 to 14 kt. of wind, mainly in the afternoon.
AVERAGE WATER TEMP: 69-71 F
BEST LURES: Mackerel, ballyhoo, larger trolling lures, cedar plugs.
Based on the catches of Pisces, by Gary Graham
FOR DAILY UPDATES FROM THE DOCK, FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK!