The striped marlin did move in much closer, but they were still hard to get to bite. Many of the pangas were trying for them as a change of pace from sierra and yellowtail, but after a day or so of frustration, they went back to fishing for the inshore fish. At a distance of only five miles off the arch, you were able to spend a lot of time working the fish, and if you had the right bait and the good luck, you were able to release a few fish each trip. For the most part, the fish were very closed-mouthed and would just roll, look at you, then swim away.

There were a few small yellowfin tuna found with an average weight of only 12 pounds. A few larger fish were caught, but not on a steady basis or in any numbers. Most of the larger fish were found around the Gorda Banks area while drifting live sardina after chumming heavily.

With the change in the weather and the sea conditions, there was a lot more pressure on the Pacific side. The yellowtail bite was good up around the Marguerite area with fish ranging in size from 12 to 20 pounds. Using iron was the way to go, and you got your arms very tired reeling these up as fast as you could! Sierra were still biting off the Solmar area and farther to the north, the bite on the Cortez side dropped off a bit. There were a few grouper and snapper caught as well, most of them on live sardina....George and Mary Landrum