Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Capt. Tracy Ehrenberg
October 24, 2001
Cabo San Lucas - Saltwater Fishing Report

Pisces Fish Report Oct 16th to 23rd

PISCES WEEKLY FISH REPORT OCT. 17TH TO 23RD, 2001

BILLFISH: Cabo is at the peak of it’s tournament season right now. This week alone we had three that overlapped this past week and the Bisbee Black and Blue has just started today. First tournament up was the Los Cabos Billfish, which consisted of three days fishing, Oct 17th, 18th & 19th in which 57 teams participated. This was a fun enjoyable tournament, with cash prizes for releasing fish as well as small game catches. First day up Finish Line, a 40 ft Luhrs was the only boat to weight a qualifying fish – 350 lbs. This fish was caught by Tom Sheba, an importer or fruits, vegetable and breeding stock, who lives in Mission Texas. Tom’s fish was caught 5 miles off of the Old Lighthouse on a purple lure and took him a little over an hour to land on 80 lb test. Boat was skippered by well know local captain Francisco Arballo Amador, also known as “Panchon”. Lots of striped marlin were released this day, as well as several blues. Next day, the biggest fish of the day was a striped marlin – which was unusually large at 202 lbs, caught aboard Yayo by Sam Casas. These ended up being the only two qualifying fish of the tournament – the weight limit on blue and black marlin was set at 300 lbs and on striped at 175 lbs. Dozens of striped marlin were released, as were a few sailfish, which didn’t count. The jackpots were rolled over, seeing as there weren’t any other fish weighed in. Prizes were as follows: 1st Finish Line – Tom Sheba 350 lb blue marlin total winnings: $ 258,278.13 2nd Yayo – Sam Casas 202 lb striped marlin, total winnings: $ 46,9021.85

Overall release division – Solmar I (8 releases), total winnings: $ 14,437.50 Day one top release boat - Guerita (3 releases) total winnings: $ 6,166.67 Day two & three top release boat – Hot Pursuit (6 releases) $ 12,333.33 Wahoo division top boat Ruthless, John Mason 45 lbs $ 9,100.00 Dorado division, Summertime, Darren Antons 60.6 lbs $ 9,100.00 Tuna division, Chupacabra, Mike Mullin 134 lbs $ 9,100.00

The overall feeling was that this was a well-run event, fun, and that people will return next year, the only thing that was lacking was a few more fish in the 300 lb plus range. The next day after the tournament we had a 420 lb blue marlin aboard, “Andrea”, a day too late! We also heard of a 570 lb blue marlin but don’t have the specifics. The Pete’s Sake charity tournament was first cancelled and then reinstated for October 19th and 20th. Those anglers fishing in the Los Cabos Billfish were also allowed to participate in the Pete’s Sake, which was a strictly release tournament. Seeing as I couldn’t be at two awards dinners at once, it’s been hard to get information. However to the best of my knowledge, Crazy Horse took first place, second and third, went to Salsa, with captain Randy Rozell (70 ft Hatteras). The Bisbee Alumni, which is a pre-fish for the big tournament, took place on the 20th and 21st, only two qualifying fish weighed in. First place went to Natural Stone for a 413 lb blue marlin and second place to Retriever for a 332 lb blue. Details of prizes have not yet been released. Bisbee Black and Blue has 146 teams entered this year and gets underway Oct. 24th, details will be brought to you as they happen. In regular fishing news top angler this week was Gene Layne, for the 420 lb blue previously mentioned, caught aboard Andrea. The Adriana also released a 400 lb plus blue marlin on Oct. 18th, caught by Harold Peck from Portland, Oregon. Pisces anglers caught four blue marlin of which three were released, twenty striped marlin with sixteen released, those brought in averaged 130 lbs; we also released one sailfish. Our overall catch success rate this week was eighty five percent. OTHER SPECIES: Dorado catches were a lot lower than expected this week, as they are not schooling, but rather found spread out. Most boats only got one or two and on the small side at 15- 25 lbs, though occasionally, some did get up close to 60 lbs. Yellowfin tuna catches were fair with most being around 10 to 25 lbs, but again, some were larger up to 90 lbs. Ruthless had wahoo three days this week, (one was a winning fish in the tournament), but weights were only fair at 50 lbs maximum. Some nice roosterfish up to 35 lbs inshore. LOCATION: Mostly the Pacific from Golden Gate to Chileno, with some boats venturing up to Gordo Banks. WEATHER CONDITIONS: Clear sunny skies, summer is at last leaving us, giving us some fresher evenings. Seas are now blue and temperatures are rising after Juliette, with water as warm as 84 F in some areas. AVERAGE WATER TEMP. 78 to 82 F BEST LURES; Live bait, purple and take your pick. Based on the catches of Pisces Fleet by Tracy Ehrenberg

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