THE OUTDOORS : Outdoor Notes / Pete Thomas : Marlin Fishing Good Off Cabo San Lucas
Striped marlin fishing in the waters off Cabo San Lucas is better than might be expected for this time of year, but, because Aeromexico filed for bankruptcy in mid-April, getting there has become somewhat of a problem.
“There is some of the best (striped marlin) fishing in years,” said John Doughty of Bisbee’s Tackle Shop in Newport Beach. “I’ve had reports of 2 to 5 marlin being caught per boat per day.” Doughty said most of the marlin, which are averaging 110 to 140 pounds, are being tagged and released.
The water is clear, with temperatures hovering near 77 degrees, and an occasional blue marlin is being hooked at the outer banks and along the deeper drop-offs. Closer to shore a consistent roosterfish bite--with fish averaging 30 to 40 pounds--is in progress.
But the absence of Aeromexico’s service has apparently made for long lines and hassles with the few airlines and charters currently making the trip from the United States, which in turn has had harmful effects in the Cabo San Lucas marlin fishing business.
“It has affected us,” said Mark Parr, general manager of the Hacienda Hotel in Cabo San Lucas. “Occupancy is down substantially and we’ve had to cut staff and things like that.”
“We had a bad April and May,” added Luis Bulnes, owner of the Solmar Hotel.
Said Doughty: “It has just devastated the private boats down there. Their (private boat owners’) guests have cancelled and because of it the majority of private boats have had to leave the area.”
The situation is expected to improve in the near future, however, as Continental Airlines is scheduled to begin service there July 1 and Mexicana Airlines is adding three flights a week to its current schedule of seven. Currently, Resort Airlines has seven flights a week to Cabo San Lucas from San Diego or Orange County airports. “Many of the flights have been sold out well in advance,” said one reservations clerk. “It depends on when you want to go.”
San Diego’s long-range fishing fleet has had no trouble getting into southern waters, and has been enjoying unencumbered success catching large numbers of big fish.
The Royal Polaris, skippered by its owner Frank LoPreste, recently returned from a 23-day trip to Clipperton Island, roughly 900 miles south of Cabo San Lucas, where 28 fishermen brought back 628 yellowfin tuna--averaging more than 100 pounds--298 wahoo, 150 grouper, 89 pargo, 4 amberjack and 11 rainbow runner.
The largest tuna, caught by Los Angeles resident Butch Green, tipped the scale at 275.6 pounds and many others topped the 200-pound mark.
The Qualifier, meanwhile, returned from a 6-day outing to the Gordo Banks along the southern Baja Peninsula, where 41 anglers brought back 180 yellowtail, 128 yellowfin tuna, 7 grouper and 1 amberjack. The largest fish on that excursion was a 134.2-pound yellowfin tuna caught by Glendale’s Dick Smith.
Trout Unlimited, the world’s largest and most active cold water conservation organization, is attempting to negotiate an agreement with the People’s Republic of China which would call for the parties involved to act as “coordinators in the exchange of information” on cold water rivers and lakes, fish species and water quality.
Thomas W. Earnhardt, Vice Chairman of the International Committee of Trout Unlimited, will be representing Trout Unlimited in China through June 18, where he will meet with forestry, fisheries and tourism officials.
“The major goal of this trip of this agreement is to establish as good working relationship with Chinese officials and agencies which dealmost directly with the cold water resources,” Earnhardt said. “The Chinese seem most enthusiastic about granting scientists and fishermen access to the areas of China that are home to some unique species of trout and other cold water fish.”
After negotiations, Earnhardt will embark on a 100-mile, week long float fishing trip down the Zhang River, said to contain “taimen” or “huchen,” the largest species of trout in the world.
Briefly
Grunion season, which has been closed since March 22, will reopen Thursday and run through August 17. . . . Marriot’s Fly Fishing Center in Fullerton announced it is offering beginning fly fishing and fly tying classes during the month of June, and two comprehensive classes--limited to 4-6 students each--to be conducted on a premier trout stream in the high Sierra.