Overall Catch Success Rate, All Species Combined 98.33%
Billfish Catch Success Rate 83.33%, Tuna 25.00% Dorado 51.67% Other Species 11.67%
Friday began with a little more breeze of 8 to 10 knots that settled down as the week progressed, along with ideal 73 to 74-degree sea temps. Dorado and striped marlin were the primary targets on the various banks on both sides of the peninsula in the Pacific and the Sea of Cortez.
On the Sea of Cortez side, aboard the “ANDREA,” a 28-ft. Uniflite, Captain Fernando Noyola, and Mate Marcelo opted for the Chawita Bank just a few miles offshore on the Sea of Cortez side and had a noteworthy day packed full of action for clients David and Linda Tennant and Wayne and Candy Johnsen, who caught and released five Striped Marlin (estimated to weigh 80 to 100 pounds) plus two Dorado that were all caught on live bait.
“REBECCA,” a 31-ft. Bertram, with Captain Jose Ramon Alucano and Mate Cesar Alucano, fishing the same area, scored three Striped Marlin on live bait (approximately 80 to 100 pounds), which their guests released, plus one Dorado and two Skipjack in the 8 to 10-pound range for the Justin Gully, Kayle Jagow, Shawn Thompson, and Zachary Bruce group.
The 35-ft. Cabo Flybridge “RIPPER,” with Captain Abel at the helm and Mate Nico overseeing the cockpit, Amy Jeanes, Evan Jeanes, George Dorsey, Lauren Dorsey, and Paul Dorsey released four Striped Marlin ranging from 40-100-120 pounds, and four Dorado from 10 to 12 pounds at Margaritas Bank.
“KARINA,” a 30-ft. Bertram, Captain Orlando Murillo, and Mate Chava took Greg Sielinsky and Jeremy Stachowski from Roundup, Montana, to Migraino Bank, where they caught five Dorado from 10-16 pounds, one Sheepshead, eight Ladyfish, and four Skipjack in the six to seven-pound range.
“ADRIANA” 28ft Uniflite Captain Frank/Mate Velez fished in several different areas including Caballito Arco, Cabeza de Ballena three miles from Arco. That produced three Striped Marlin (weighing approximately 50 to 100 pounds) caught on live bait and all released by Douglas Felske and Wilema Nichols from Houston Texas.
“TRACY ANN,” a31-ft. Bertram, with Captain Julio Castro at the helm, and Mate Raul Leal running the cockpit for guests Leo Gee, Mark Doleski, Michael DiFabio, and Travis Newton, had an exciting trip on the Los Arcos, Margarito, Cerros de Arena areas. There, they caught and released three Striped Marlin (from 90 to 100 pounds) plus four Dorado (from 10 to 12 pounds) and three Sierra (from 3 to 4 pounds) on live bait and lures.
“BILL COLLECTOR II,” a 35-ft. Cabo Flybridge, Captain Lopez /Mate Martinez had their clients, Dean Plan and Meaghan Gronlie, from Denver, Colorado, catch and release two Striped Marlin (from (100 to 140 pounds), five Dorado (15-20 pounds), from Morros Prietos/Hard Rock.
“BBII,” a 37-ft. Viking Billfish 2018, run byCaptain Osiel and Mate, had guests Joel Bob Richardson, Christian Samoan, James McIntosh, John Taylor, Matthew McIntosh, and Sam Bouchard from Indianapolis, Indiana, on board. They caught and released five Striped Marlin (estimated to weigh 80 to 120 pounds), from the Bombas-Arcos area, one Dorado (15 pounds) from the Arcos area.
“SEA SEÃNORA,” a 42-ft. Post Sport Fisher, with Captain Carmel at the helm and Mate Omar running the cockpit for a group from Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, which included Darren Joseph Bryson, Jeff Musialek, Jeffrey Earl Lovett, and Sean Francis Rodrigues, caught and released two Striped Marlin (est. to weigh 90-100 pounds), and three Dorado (15-20-pounds) all on live bait at the Arcos Bank.
“VALERIE,” a 35-ft. Bertram, run by Captain Roberto Sandez and Mate Salvador Flores, released one Striped Marlin (estimated to weigh 100 pounds) at the Arcos Bank. And the “Drum Roll,” 25 YELLOWFIN TUNA weighing 12 to 20 pounds on plumas, cedar plugs, and bait at the San Jamie Bank by Craig, Amy Smith, and Mike McCoy, all from Iowa.
“RUTHLESS,”a 31-ft. Bertram, Captain Beto Lira with Mate Jesús Romer caught two Striped Marlin (weighing 90-110 pounds) on bait and released them at the Arcos Bank by Allan and Diane Kodet from Paynesville, Minnesota.
“Panga Anamar II,” a 24-ft. Captain Jose
One Striped Marlin (estimated 100 to 120 pounds) was caught and released. It bit a live bait by the Jacob Wagmeister and James Dever group from San Clemente, California.
The week ended on a high note with the reappearance of the yellowfin tuna. Hopefully, more will show in the upcoming weeks to add to our growing species list, which is remarkable for February.
LOCATION:Los Arcos, Santa María, Chawita, Punta Gorda, La Playita, and Cero Colorado,
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Overall calm seas, moderate winds on some days tapering off by midday – between 10 and 15 kts.
AVERAGE WATER TEMP: 71-76
BEST LURES: Mackerel, Ballyhoo and Cosinero, Cedar Plugs. and marlin lures
