As Forrest Gump would say, you never know what you’re going to get.Not too many things get me more excited than
prospect of hooking and landing big fish. The mere thought of setting hook on a 300 pound marlin, hearing scream of drag as fish pulls off line and watching acrobatic leaps that follow really gets my heart pumping. Fortunately for me, a two and a half hour flight and a 30-minute drive is all it takes to find myself in “billfish capital of world”. What more can a sport fisherman ask for?
Well, for starters, variety. Just like biting into a randomly selected piece of chocolate, when you set out trolling lures here in Los Cabos in search of next big one, you just don’t know what it will be. Different seasons bring different possibilities as does different sides of Baja peninsula. The diversity of game fish here never ceases to amaze me and even a slow day on water offers opportunity to see some of oceans greatest creatures. Whales, porpoise, sea turtles and bat rays that often school by hundreds and perform what almost appears to be a choreographed routine of synchronized jumps. On a spring trip to Cabo in late march of this year, my partner Dolores Peralta and I had another opportunity to experience diversity of life in these nutrient rich waters.
Jacqueline “Jacquie” Lee, owner of Guerita II, set us up for two days of fishing with Captain Efren Beron Zamora and crewman Jesus Alfredo Espinoza. Efren has a lifetime of experience as an angler, guide and captain and has a love of ocean that rubs off on crew and passenger alike. The Guerita II is a tournament rigged 34-foot Crystaliner equipped with everything avid angler could need or ask for _ Shimano Tiagra 50 wide LRS & Penn International reels, Shimano Black Steel IGFA rods and an outstanding selection of lures, this wide-beamed fishing machine boasts top-of-the-line electronics to help get you on bite fast.
We arrived at docks at 6:30 in morning, a little late for Captain Efren’s liking as he planned on running out about 30-40 miles in search of warm, blue water where he hoped to put us on striped marlin and tuna. While waiting on our arrival Efren had already loaded up on live bait from pangeros that supply fleets and with no delay, we were on our way. Winds this time of year can be unpredictable and on this day, winds helped build a fairly large swell. We motored our way out to sea on a bumpy but dry ride to fishing grounds. Once he found water conditions that best provided chance for large billfish, he switched driving positions to tall tuna tower while Alfredo began to set out our spread of lures. Purple and orange Zukers set out at fifth wake behind boat, trolling feathers in pink and white and Mexican flag patterns on third wake and a dark colored Marauder set close to boat.
A few hours passed as we crisscrossed areas where colder water met warmer, Efren’s eyes trained on surface scanning for signs that fish were near – circling and diving birds, tail of a marlin cruising for its next meal, a pod of porpoise balling bait. None of usual signs appeared until Efren’s eagle eyes spotted a feeder, a marlin actively working ocean surface. A quick turn of boat and a punch of throttle controls placed us in perfect position to present our spread of lures to fish. The marlin took notice and struck one of lures back at fifth wake. The jigstrike started our adrenalin flowing and we scrambled to deck to ready for a battle. The marlin let loose lure just as Alfredo cast a live bait back to entice a bite. After a few tense moments, marlin took bait, reel left in free spool in order to give it time to fully take bait. Flipping reel into locked position followed by three to four strong and sharp lifts of rod tip set hook on a good sized striped marlin.
Dolores took her position in one of two fighting chairs mounted on stern and within seconds marlin was giving us a show. Several vertical leaps and violent shakes of its broad head and fight began. The key to landing marlin is hook set. Everything depends on whether or not hook was in right position when hook set is made. Many times, marlin takes bait only partially and hook never pierces mouth fully when set is made. Unfortunately, this was one of those times. Shortly after first series of jumps was made, a second series began and on this series hook was thrown and fish was lost. Spooked by encounter, marlin sounded and was soon nowhere to be found.
We continued on in search of another marlin, my turn in chair coming next. A short while later, a starboard reel started to scream. Nothing was visible on surface so likelihood of it being a marlin was slim. From strong pull and speed of fish, we thought it would be a tuna and sure enough it was. The fight lasted only 5-10 minutes and soon we had a twenty-pound yellowfin on deck.
The trolling continued and for several hours and we had nothing to do but occasionally switch out lures and scan horizon for signs of life. Efren spotted a true prize in form of a swordfish. While these great eating game fish can be found here most of year, they prefer colder water so spring is generally best time of year for this sought after species. Although sword made a turn towards our spread and a live bait was cast directly in front of it, this fish was apparently well fed and no matter how appealing presentation, it would not take bait or strike a lure. As they say, that’s why they call it fishing and not catching. The balance of day produced only suntans and relaxation.
On our second day on Guerita II, we arrived at 5:30, determined to beat Efren and Alfredo to boat. Once again, Efren had made it to boat well before us and once again, he had already baited up. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he must have slept on boat just to make sure we wouldn’t arrive before him! We headed out, stopping off to check in with port authorities to present our manifest and fishing licenses. A recent change in fiscal policies keeps revenues from fishing licenses within state where activity is taking place. This restructuring has apparently heightened diligence of officials responsible for ensuring that everyone on a boat possesses a valid license, even those not fishing. Makes sense that if you get to keep money, you’re more likely to make sure everyone is playing by rules and buying their licenses. Those that did not have licenses in hand were sent back to docks to get them or there would be no fishing that day.
