Cabo Bite Report Capt. George Landrum "Fly Hooker" Sportfishing [email protected] www.flyhooker.com CABO FISH REPORT FOR DECEMBER 7 TO DECEMBER 14, 2003 WEATHER: Winter time is here as the nights have been getting down into the high 50’s and the daytime highs have been in the mid to low 80’s. Guess that may be warm to those of you up north, but we are wearing sweaters and coats at night. Makes me wish we had a fireplace at home! The skies have been mostly clear, no clouds to hold the heat in. No rain, but there has been a lot of wind. WATER: The water has cooled right down and for the most part we are seeing temperatures in the 74-75 range both on the Pacific and the Sea of Cortez. There is a finger of slightly warmer water out to the southeast, but it is only up to 76 degrees. The wind we have been having has made the surface conditions pretty rough and uncomfortable, but still fishable. Swells at 3-6 feet with lots of chop on top around mid morning. BAIT: Mackerel at the normal $2 each and Sardinas at $20 a bucket were available all week long. FISHING: BILLFISH: The concentration of fish that were on the lighthouse moved up the Pacific side this week and are now around the Los Arcos area. They are scattered but are now striking lures as well as live bait. There are still a few Blue and Black Marlin around. There is at least one Blue Marlin being caught every day (but consider that this is for the entire fleet) and I know that a few boats have hooked up to #600 plus Blues and Blacks this week as well. Lures are the way to go on the big fish, but they are few and far between. YELLOWFIN TUNA: Seems like this week the Tuna just disappeared. It could be that they are still there, but just so far out that no one wants to get pounded to pieces getting to them. DORADO: Same area as the Striped Marlin this week, up the Pacific off of Los Arcos. Scattered fish to 30 pounds, biting best on slow trolled live bait or bait tossed under Frigate birds. WAHOO: Only a few Wahoo were reported this week, and they came from the Gorda Banks area. Dark colored lures. INSHORE: Slow inshore action due to the sea conditions. There was the annual Sierra tournament held this week in the San Lucas Bay, but everyone I talked to said they lost fish, no one I know actually got one in the boat! NOTES: You may have noticed that the report this week is really brief. I have been up in California this week and all the information I have is based on what Mary and a few friends told me last night. Take it for what it is! Until next week, Tight Lines! Fly Hooker Daily Catch Reprots Capt. George Landrum "Fly Hooker" Sportfishing [email protected] www.flyhooker.com WEEKLY FISH COUNT “FLY HOOKER” FISH REPORT FOR DECEMBER 7, 2003 Steve and Joann Coutrakis fished last on November 26 and had a blast with Tuna, but Steve really wanted a Marlin. We had arranged for a three hour trip for yesterday afternoon, working the ledge at the lighthouse during the tide change but the wind started to blow in the afternoon so we postponed until this morning. Juan and I were on the spot with live baits in the water at 7 am. One mackerel was set at the bottom, one halfway down, both on 12 oz torpedo sinkers with long leaders. The third line had three oz weight and was set at 50 feet. From the time we arrived until 9am there was no action. We checked and changed baits, changed position, but no fish. At 9 I told Steve that even though it was not working, I still thought that it was his best chance to get a Marlin in the short time he had available. If he wanted to stay out another hour that was fine with me, he was the client and should make the decision. Steve conferred with Joann for a minute and said that they would give it another hour. Five minutes later there was a pick up on the deepest line. I let the fish run a bit, then the line stopped, I waited, it started to take off and I tried to set the hook. I could feel the bait come loose from the hook! As I reeled in that line to replace the bait, Juan let the second line down to where the first one had been. Almost as soon as it got there, the fish bit again. This time it was a good hook set and a few minutes later the Marlin started jumping! It was a very nice Striped Marlin of about #160, and 15 minutes later Steve had it by the side of the boat. I grabbed the leader and worked the fish close, and then the hook pulled loose! Shoot, a legal catch and release though, and now we knew we were in the right spot, and the tide change was happening. Back we went and out went the baits. It only took 10 minutes before we were bit again and this time the fish jumped all over the place! It was a smaller Marlin but had more fight in it, Steve had to work the fish for almost 25 minutes before it came to the side of the boat. We took the fish and were on our way in a few minutes later. Four hours, two Striped Marlin! A good mornings effort and happy clients! Thanks guys, we look forward to seeing you again in February!