If sight-seeing excursions for looking at many, many marlin, Cabo San Lucas would have surely been the world's hot spot and center of attraction. However, adding that tiny element of trying to catch a marlin definitely created a different scenario this past week. The reports reflect all boats were seeing terrific numbers of billfish in the offshore waters on the Sea of Cortez side of Cabo, with the 1150 Fathom Spot being the center of attraction and outbound in most any direction from there. According to Fish Cabo Fleet Owner, Roberto Marquez, the skipper's were seeing and baiting groups of sleepers with as many as 10 in the party and showing nothing in return for the effort. When you can see 10 billfish on the surface, there will be many more under the pack, (some 35 years ago, a tuna boat pilot, spotting for tuna in the Sea of Cortez, used to put me on spots of billfish and give me the numbers in the group that sometimes were staggering. Once we got within binocular range of the fish, you might see 2-3-4 or more on the surface, but he may have reported as many as 30-45 fish just below the surface and part of the same group that were not being seen from the boat). When you toss a fresh live bait into the midst of that melee and not get a single bite, it kinda humbles you and makes you wonder if you had any idea what you were even doing. It was the ultimate of frustration and disappointment and it happens every single year. The only thing that keeps you going is the opportunity and the occasional bite that does take place due to the "law of averages". I can well remember baiting more than a hundred billfish in a single day and not having a single bite.

Now, the overall fish report for the fleet actually reflected a fair bite for the 16 days fished and resulted in a combined report of 11 stripers released with "Fish Cabo" reporting 3 stripers released for tree fishing days, 2 roosterfish, 3 dorado, 2 mako sharks and 5 skipjack tuna for their efforts and most of the fish being seen in the wide area of the 1150 Fathom Spot and in all directions from there.

Cabo Climate: Partly cloudy days with the jet streams running over the top of Cabo and holding temps in the 64 nighttime ranges to 91 daytime high ranges.

Sea Conditions: Cooler waters on the Pacific side of the peninsula at 66-67 degrees and rising to 74 degrees at Cabo San Lucas and increasing from there to 77-78 degrees from Palmilla Point and out to the 1150 Fathom Spot and northerly from there, all with excellent clarity on the Sea of Cortez side.

Best Fishing Area: While the billfish were mostly non-cooperative, the bulk of the fish were being seen in the area of the 1150 Fathom Spot.

Best Lure/Bait: Live bait was best by far, but only because of the numbers of sleepers being baited and the "law of averages" that an occasional bite came from the sheer numbers of baits being tossed.

Live Bait Supply: The supply was very good throughout the week with caballitos and some greenback mackerel, too.