Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Capt. Tracy Ehrenberg
December 19, 2003
Cabo San Lucas - Saltwater Fishing Report

PISCES WEEKLY FISH REPORT DECEMBER 12TH TO 18TH, 2003

BILLFISH: The official results of the World Billfish Series Grand Championship were finally released this week. Once again a tournament involving the Bisbee name was plagued by controversy – however this time it appeared that the issue was created by an angler, the winner of last year’s tournament. This tournament was strictly catch and release, with circle hooks mandatory and official observers aboard each vessel. More points were awarded for each fish caught on dead bait than on live bait. Scott Rickert from Bradenton, Florida, was crowned world champion, after releasing six striped marlin, during the three day contest, aboard “Ni Modo” – the crew were key part to Scott’s success, Captain Jobe Villavicencio and Tony Nungaray, (also a captain but working the deck during the competition). Second place went to Scott Bowers aboard Baja Raiders and third place was taken by John Harper aboard “Seamint”. On the regular fishing front, there were not many anglers in town this past week, as most people are waiting until closer to Christmas to make the journey to Cabo. An overview of the fishing this week, reminds us more of November than December, with more dorado than anything else being caught at the moment. However, thirty-nine percent of boats did catch billfish, with the majority being striped marlin, in the 100 to 150 lb class. There are still quite a few blue marlin around too, though we haven’t seen any really big fish, the majority being in the 180 to 250 lb class. A lot of boats had mixed catches of a striped marlin, dorado and occasionally tuna. Teddy Baier on this last day aboard “Valerie” released three striped marlin and boated a couple of dorado. Another triple marlin day was had by Justin and Robert Shanks from Beaverton, Oregon, aboard “Tracy Ann” on December 18th . We have to mention the Sea Tech Fishing team, who enjoyed their Cabo trip, aboard Ruthless and La Brisa. The team from the colder climes of Osborn Island, N.J (Rocky Bruno, Ed Lieb, Bill Hardifer & Ron McDermet), were thrilled to release a striped marlin and boat six dorado and six yellowfin tuna. Boats fished the area from Land’s End up to Golden Gate, with the lighthouse area being the most productive. Our overall catch success rate for all species combined was ninety-one percent. Pisces anglers released twenty-three striped marlin and one blue marlin.

OTHER SPECIES: Dorado was number one this week (not that I caught any on the day I got to go out), but sixty-three percent of boats were lucky with catches between one and seven fish in the 18 to 30 lb range. Taking both lures and bait, at various locations. Tuna catches were slower with just seventeen percent of charters landing fish in the 20 to 30 lb category, with catches between three and fifteen fish. Inshore there is some sierra and pargo but not in huge amounts.

WEATHER CONDITIONS: Like a dream – clear sunny skies, calm seas, blue water, ideal.

AVERAGE WATER TEMP: 73 F

BEST LURES: Live bait.

Based on the catches of Pisces Fleet by Tracy Ehrenberg

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