Angler Struggles with Swordfish off Cabo San Lucas
Capt. Tracy Ehrenberg
March 11, 2008
Cabo San Lucas - Saltwater Fishing Report
PISCES FISH REPORT
MARCH 1st to 7th, 2008
Overall Catch Success Rate 80%
BILLFISH: We have good news and bad news this week. Marlin catches dropped to just twelve percent, this is not to say that they are not around, just that they are not hungry. Boats are seeing striped marlin on a daily basis, throwing bait, again and again but the fish are simply not interested. Captains report beautiful blue water, albeit a bit cold and believe that the marlin are stuffing themselves with squid, so prevalent in the area right now, meaning that they turned their noses up at the bait offered. Seeing as there are a lot of squid in the area, it attracted one of the most prized and elusive billfish, the broadbill swordfish. On March 6th, after a day out fishing, "Valerie" was trolling back to Cabo, three dorado and four yellowfin tuna in her fish box, when Captain Roberto Sandez spotted a large fish on the surface 22 miles south of the Old Lighthouse. Roberto, got excited as he realized it was big swordfish, not wanting to leave anything to chance he jumped down from the bridge and cast a live caballito to the fish who appeared to be hungry, it circled the bait and then lost interest. Roberto reeled in the bait, switched it for a fresh one and again cast it to the broadbill, which quickly gobbled it up. The rod was handed to Bill Santiemmo from Chicago, who was surprised at the strength of the fish. Bill worked the swordie until the point of exhaustion before handing the rod to brother Nick who continued to struggle with the fish on 40 lb test, until well after sunset. Just before it got dark the fish jumped clear out of the water giving everybody a good look at the real size. Roberto who caught a 350 lb swordfish, 15 years ago, told me the fish was over 400 lbs, "bigger than 400 lbs" he told me. If you knew Roberto, you would know it is not in him to exaggerate, which means the fish was between 450 and 500 lbs. We have not seen a swordfish of that size in two decades. All the staff stood by into the early evening, ready to rush down to the dock to receive the victorious anglers, but it was not to be. At ten to eight, the fish jumped again and came off. They were able to recover all of their tackle, the circle hook had held, the leader was intact, so perhaps the fish's mouth ripped; swordfish are notorious for having soft mouths. Next day out our crews were abuzz with swordfish fever and headed out to the same area. "La Brisa" was the fortunate boat this time, managing to hook up a swordfish on a live mackerel, for Craig Burns from Tampa, Florida, this one was probably the great grandson of the other though, as it weighed 150 lbs. The other notable catch of the week was also this same day for Brian Tom, Derek, and Jack Johnson, from Phoenix, Arizona, who fished aboard " C Rod" and did something very right, to be able to catch and release four striped marlin and boat eight tuna, 30 miles out from Los Arcos. Pisces anglers caught a total of 10 striped marlin this week and the swordfish mentioned above.
OTHER SPECIES: We were not let down by the tuna this week and fifty eight percent of boats caught fish from 15 to 30 lbs, with catches ranging from one to over forty fish per boat, with many of the smaller fish released. Four hundred and thirty two tuna was our final count for the week. Dorado catches were up this week with twenty six percent of boats catching fish from 15 to 30 lbs. "Bandito" was the top dorado boat with ten caught, as well as ten tuna, 38 miles out at the 210 spot for Thomas and Anni McPhee from Park City, Utah. "Spartacus" had the only wahoo of the week, average in size at 50 lbs. Inshore there were plenty of sierra and bonita, which is surprisingly good as sushi, along with good numbers of skipjack and some yellowtail to 20 lbs.
LOCATION: Most of the fishing took place on the Pacific but boats did extend into the Sea of Cortez as far up as Chileno. Boats fished these areas starting at San Jaime, but for most of the week they fished far offshore at 22 to 40 miles.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Clear, sunny skies, week started out windy with 4 to 6 ft seas, now calm with 2 to 3 ft seas.
AVERAGE WATER TEMP: 68 F
BEST LURES: Live bait, cedar plugs, feathers, blue/white, green/white.
Based on the catches of Pisces by Tracy Ehrenberg
More Fishing Reports:
