Yellowfin Tuna and Yellowtail Swarm off of Cabo

Capt. Tracy Ehrenberg
March 25, 2008
Cabo San Lucas - Saltwater Fishing Report

MARCH 14th t0 21st, 2008

OVERALL CATCH SUCCESS RATE 86%

BILLFISH: It's kind of embarrassing to write this section, this week as there was hardly any marlin, in fact just four! The boats fortunate enough to catch striped marlin in the 110 to 150 lb class were "Valerie" with one on March 14th and one on March 15th, the fish on the 14th was caught by Mike Walsh from DeKalb, Illinois and the one the 15th by Joseph Smolarz from Houston. "Bandito" also had one for Robert Roninebeck from Lakeville, Mn, who along with his group caught three tuna and a dorado. "Eureka" had one on the 14th, plus eight tuna and a dorado for Sam and Thomas Silverman from Jupiter Florida. However, we are not at all worried about these low numbers as boat caught lots of other fish, mostly tuna and this is what we expect at this time of year. Local captains say it is breeding time for the marlin, plus the water temperatures vary and there are many different currents. Close to Cabo the water was 67-68 F but further out pockets of 70 to 72 degree water could be found, and this is what the marlin prefer. Added to this are a few other factors such as full moon and lots of squid in the area, which the marlin are feeding on, meaning that they are not being found as often on the surface. However as we close this report, "Fearless" reported five marlin caught and released on March 22nd, so all indicators are that fishing for marlin will pick up very soon.
OTHER SPECIES: Tuna is king in Cabo right now. Fifty two percent of charters reeled in anywhere from one to forty fish in the football class of 10 to 30 lbs, resulting in a total catch of 483 fish for us this week. Top boat was "Mucho Bueno" with a forty fish day, (not all were kept) for Harry Holmes and friends from Scottsdale, Arizona. They fished 28 miles out at the 210 spot. The tuna were found over quite a widespread area mostly around Land's end between the Old Lighthouse and the 210 spot, form 15 to 30 miles out. Yellowtail fishing is the best it has been in years……close to Cabo, in calm water, fun for the kids to catch and plenty of them. Along with these squid have been abundant with boats catching up to 35 in a day, up to 35 lbs. There are also skipjack, bonita, sierra and amberjack being caught in lesser numbers.

WEATHER CONDITIONS: Some extremely windy days, which made some anglers turn back seasick. Very cold and windy early in the week, but now beautiful with calm seas.
LOCATION: 15 to 35 miles out from the Old Lighthouse and the 210 spot, San Jaime, close to Cabo for smaller game.

AVERAGE WATER TEMP: 69 F

BEST LURES: Cedar plugs, hoochis, iron for yellowtail, blue and white feathers, rapalas, live bait for marlin.
Based on the catches of Pisces by Tracy Ehrenberg

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