Waiting for the ice Cabo style

[Mike P]

This past week, waiting for some ice has had a little different meaning to me.








Cabo San Lucas Mexico. Arrived Dec 4 with my family meeting up with West Coast family Dad, Mom, 2 Sister's, Brother- in - laws, niece's and nephew's for a week of family bonding and some fun in the sun


After doing a fair bit of research on Cabo, fishing would have to fill in some time. Reading many report's and looking thru some seasonal fish calendar's I was going to be there during the slow season for fishing and during a full moon to make chances even less. Two fish I've wanted most was a Rooster and any Bill fish. The first full day there I was off to the Cabo Marina to rent a boat. I've done the bigger charter's down south at other destinations many time before and not once has a rod ever fired off, always seemed like an expensive boat ride to me. I would be by myself and just wanted a smaller boat to stay 2-3 miles offshore and drift bait instead of trolling and split the day casting shorelines for Roosters.


Brokered a panga for the next day along with an English speaking boat guide. { Mexico does not allow non-resident's to rent boat's with-out a resident guide} Bought my license for the next day and showed up there for the following morning at 6am to meet my guide Felipe and head out fishing for the day. The broker does show up and I meet my guide Felipe, a good sign in Mexico although I quickly realize my English speaking guide speaks as much English as I do Spanish! lol No big deal fishing will be our language. I explain to him I do not want to troll but want to drift bait a few miles from shore then cast shorelines.


We proceed out of the marina along with 1oo's of other fishing boat's stopping at the bait boat, literally a boat with water in the bottom and bait swimming in it. There I buy some Caballito, Blue Runner's and Spanish Mackerel in the 8-18 inch range.


Out of the Marina we head out to the underwater San Lucas Canyon off the Lighthouse about 3 miles out. Tied up 8 ounce weights to 6ft lead with a circle hook and sent bait down to 80ft in 300 FOW on a hump. Seen lots of ocean life around including whales, dolphins and other boat's in the area catching marlin trolling. We continued drifting over the hump and every hour we would start the engine driving to the start to begin our drift again.


About half an hour before we would have to head in the rod I'm holding starts peeling out line. Within seconds this fish is clearly water and is definitely a bill fish, and for the first time in my life I have a bill fish on. Felipe starts the boat and we give chase as the marlin clears water countless times. Arms burning 40 minutes later my first bill fish is lifted into the boat. A striped marlin about 100-110lbs and caught on the drift. Another species off the list.

















We now decide to try for some Roaster's heading to Divorce Beach across from Lover's Beach. Fishing 30ft from shore I cast and a second later I see the fin of a Rooster. One of the best fighting fish ever, these things are filled with power and after a fantastic fight I have my first rooster on board and another species off the list.








Two days later, my Dad, myself and Felipe head out to the same area to try fishing the same way again. Within an hour my Dad loses a marlin close to the boat after a 30 minute battle. Hour after that I fight about a 90lb striped marlin for 30 min doing a leader release at the side of the boat. Hour after that my Dad fought about a 200lbs sailfish for 40 minutes before losing it just shy of the boat. For our last hour we fish Rooster's until our arms could take no more and Dad who fishes salmon and halibut saying the same about the Rooster's, pound for pound probably the strongest fish he's ever caught also.









































Dad and Felipe





If this is what fishing is like in Cabo during the slow season, I'm already planning a trip back for the better bite.

Edited December 16, 2014 by Mike Pl

[Old Ironmaker]

I was going to say I hope you got a sunburn. But all I can say is way to go. You sure hammered them. I'm just jealous. That place has sure changed in 40 years since I was first there, We used to go to Puerto Escondido, no one but the locals were there then. That boat you chartered would have been a yacht compared to some of the scows I rented in the 70's .I had an Uncle from California that retired there and lived like a king on a small pension. Good going sir those are some nice fish. The guides that we did hire for deep water wouldn't let us release anything when we headed out to deep for the big fish. Never got a bill fish and we were able to go out by ourselves without a guide then and kept fish to eat and give to the locals.

 

That's a great trip and great report, thanks..

[davey buoy]

Could only imagine the fights with those two kinds of fish. Agreed,wonder what the good time of year will yield!! WTG!!!

[Cookslav]

Nice...love the warm weather reports

 

You meant rooster fish though right?

Spell check issue?

[Freshtrax]

Nice. I have been out a bunch for billfish . Yet to get one in the boat. Congrats.

Edited December 15, 2014 by Freshtrax

[BillM]

Looks like some time well spent with your dad! What did those daily charter runs you? (approx)

[Mike P]

Looks like some time well spent with your dad! What did those daily charter runs you? (approx)

 

I paid $180 plus bait $30 plus licence $15

Second trip I paid $150 plus bait, licence was included the second time!

[fishingwithbob]

Nice that you didn’t have to travel far from lands end.

 

Cabo got hit hard this year, good to see people getting back there and enjoying what a special place it truly is.

 

I’ll be heading back twice this season, maybe I’ll actually try to get out fishing one of these times.

[BillM]

 

I paid $180 plus bait $30 plus licence $15

Second trip I paid $150 plus bait, licence was included the second time!

 

That's pretty cheap!

[Moosebunk]

Geeeeeeeeznus Mikey!!! You're gettin' ripped dood! Keeping in good shape to fight the bigguns I see.

 

Gotta say, really impressed by this. I know Cabo has always been one of the better Pacific hotspots but what makes this cool is the style you put into it. You're always mixing it up, (even around home) and your experimenting often pays off. I'll drive us to the airport next time your going. lol.

 

Congrats on those new species. Couple of goodies to knock off the list for sure.

[Bondar]

Awesome!! Rooster fish is on my list to catch

[Jds63]

great report , Rooster fish looks amazing .... have to be careful to avoid that bill on the marlin eh ?

[Fishwilly]

Wow ,I'm Jonesing. Hopefully that'll be me come end of February when we go to Akumal. I plan on doing the same as you and going with a panga as opposed to washing lures with a big charter. Been there done that.

 

Cheers

[mepps]

Nice, that s serious rooster fest!