After a Lull, Marlin Fishing Picks Up off Cabo San Lucas
Just when it appeared that things were returning to normal off Cabo San Lucas, the marlin began sticking their noses into everyone’s business again.
In the past few weeks, anglers have had some of the best marlin fishing in years at the Golden Gate Bank, 24 miles up the coast on the Pacific side of the Baja California peninsula. Boats were averaging four or five marlin a day and some were doubling that figure. In 11 days, Dave Bishop and Mike Bocinsky of Chicago caught and released 69 marlin.
Then came Sunday, when the top boats were flying only a few flags, indicating minimal catches. Some fishermen were even skunked, hardly the case in the previous weeks.
“Sunday, for the first time in two weeks, we had two boats that didn’t catch anything,” said Tracy Ehrenberg of the Pisces Fleet.
But Monday, the scrappy stripers proved that they had not had enough after all.
Anglers aboard the Ruthless caught seven marlin, and other vessels had similar results. “It kicked back up and every boat in the fleet had fish,” Ehrenberg said. “(Tuesday) one guy came in early who lost a big blue marlin, but he still released two stripers.”
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As if such an abundance of striped marlin weren’t enough to spoil anglers. . .
Ehrenberg said giant yellowfin tuna have moved into an area near the Jaime Bank about six miles from the marina.
“When the fish is lost, it’s always bigger, but we had one client who says he lost a 200-pound-plus tuna Monday,” Ehrenberg said. “But they’ve been catching several between 50 and 130 pounds. Some people are so intent on catching the marlin that they drive right over the tuna on their way up the coast.”
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The poisonous snakes, spiders and lizards didn’t get Stephen Earl Cook, but the law did.
Cook, 45, of Garden Grove, was caught in an Arizona Game and Fish Department sting operation and indicted late last week by a Maricopa County Grand Jury on a stolen property charge.
It was the red rattlesnakes he had--and which he tried to sell to undercover officers--that resulted in the felony charge (most wildlife violations are misdemeanors). Red rattlesnakes are unique to California and parts of Baja California and were considered stolen from California.
But Cook’s problems did not end with the rattlesnakes. Wildlife officers also found 215 red-legged tarantulas, three alligators and two Gila monsters in his possession. The tarantulas are a federally protected species, so that portion of the case is being handled by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
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Curt Johanson of San Pedro was surprised when he pulled up his lobster trap recently off San Clemente Island. Stuffed inside was a 58-pound octopus.
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro considers the giant Pacific octopus, prevalent north of Monterey but unusual in Southland waters, quite a bargain.
Johanson sold the eight-armed critter to San Pedro Fish Market, which donated it to the aquarium.
The octopus, with a tentacle span of more than 12 feet, is taking squid and mackerel from her keeper’s hand between temper tantrums, when it turns bright orange and raises its horns, fleshy protrusions that rise from its head-like mantle. The huge mollusk was reportedly on its best behavior when it went on display Tuesday.
Briefly
SALTWATER--Locally, there is no reliable alternative to bottom-fishing for rockfish, but filling the freezer has never been so easy, as rock cod, red snapper and assorted other species are easy pickings. L.A. Harbor-based boats are doing well at times fishing for calico bass off San Clemente Island. San Diego’s long-range fleet is still waiting for the giant yellowfin tuna and wahoo at the Revillagigedo Islands to bust loose. All but Mark Nakahama, who while fishing aboard the Polaris Supreme on its most recent trip, had two front teeth knocked out when a giant tuna bit suddenly, yanking his pole from his hands and nearly sending him overboard. The Polaris Supreme returned Thursday with 190 tuna (81 released) and 86 wahoo. The American Angler out of Point Loma Sportfishing returned Saturday with 166 tuna--the largest a 301-pounder by Greg Trompas of San Diego--but only 46 wahoo.
Cabo San Lucas: Aside from the marlin and tuna, there is a slight increase in wahoo catches offshore, and inshore anglers are finding an abundance of roosterfish and needlefish cruising the sandy shores. San Jose Del Cabo: Those casting live sardines at Destiladeras and San Luis Banks usually end up with a tuna or dorado on the hook. Average catch is about 10 fish a day when conditions are right. The Gordo Banks are also producing.
FRESHWATER--New to the Fred Hall Western Fishing Tackle & Boat Show, March 2-6 at the Long Beach Convention Center, will be fly-fishing schools conducted by some of the Southland’s most notable experts. Participants should register in advance by calling (310) 697-8870. . . . Charlie Weyer of Studio City and George Szabo of Whittier won the American Bass Lake Castaic Open at Castaic Lake last Saturday, landing six bass totaling 18.32 pounds and netting $2,790 in prize money.
CONSERVATION--State wildlife officials announced a plan to improve anadromous fisheries--those with species that migrate to the ocean after birth and return to streams as adults to spawn--in the Central Valley. “Restoring Central Valley Streams: a Plan of Action” is part of the Department of Fish and Game’s mandated effort to double populations of anadromous fish in California by the year 2000. The plan identifies action to be taken on 27 streams to improve habitat and fishing potential, primarily for salmon, steelhead and striped bass. Chief among priorities is to restore habitat of the endangered Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon. Habitat improvement projects are already under way on the Sacramento River from Redding to Anderson and on some tributaries. Funding is on the state and federal level.
