April 7th to 13th, 2012
Overall Catch Success Rate 78%
BILLFISH: The week started out on the slow side, but as the moon began to decrease in size the marlin catches started to come back. Starting out the report was “Tracy Ann” with two striped marlin released for Riley and Drew Walker from Lakeville, Minnesota, at the 11.50 spot on live jurelito, aboard “Tracy Ann”. Boats went back the next day to this same place and drew a blank with the exception of “Andrea” who released a solitary marlin for Steve Ruthenberger from East Greenville, Pennsylvania. Then we started seeing the majority of boats getting at least one. The best day of the week though was Friday, the 13th which was decidedly lucky for several of our anglers. Andy Banbury and friends from Surrey, in B.C Canada had a fabulous day on “Rebecca” catching and releasing three striped marlin on ballyhoo at the 11.50 spot. “Valerie” also had Canadians on board, Darcy Burton & Kyle Schuarte from Calgary; they released three marlin too on live bait in the same area. Catch of the week however, has to go to “El Gallo” a beautiful 61 ft Viking. Jess and Stacy Richards from Sugarland, Texas were on board and released two marlin on ballyhoo at the 11.50 spot, when legendary local captain Nayo Winkler, spotted what he thought was another marlin, it submerged and turned purple at which he shouted “swordfish”. They lost sight of the few and crew and anglers scanned the sea trying to find it. Nayo brought out his binoculars and found the fish, again. In the meantime the deckhand brought out his special rig, ready for an opportunity like this. It is a two speed Shimano 30, with 50 lb test line, a number ten hook and double leader consisting of 400 and 150 lb fluorocarbon. They cast live bait to the fish and hooked up, putting angler Jess in the chair, who had it to the boat one hour and ninety minutes later. When they were confident they could get it on board, the fish got a second wind and went nuts, striking the boat so hard with its bill, thrashing constantly that it broke its bill. They managed to get it on board and back to the dock, where it was taped out at 350 lbs. One other notable catch was a 190 lb striped marlin, released at Punta Gorda by Shawn Hall form Arlington, Washington aboard “Andrea”. Fifty three percent of our anglers caught marlin this week giving us a total of 29 striped marlin and one swordfish.
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| The bill had to be taped on for the photo. Anglers Jess and Stacy Richards shown Left with Legendary Captain Nayo Winkler shown standing behind them, deckhands on right. |
OTHER SPECIES: Most boats concentrated on billfish this week, so not a lot happened on smaller game. Boats had to decide either to try for marlin, or skip it altogether on big moon day and try for stuff inshore, along the windy Pacific, making it tough to get hooked up. There were just a few dorado caught, mostly when looking for marlin on trolled lures. Inshore sierra, skipjacks, a few yellowtail and jack crevalle were caught as well as the odd mako and hammerhead shark.
LOCATION: 11.50 spot, Punta Gorda, Cerro Colorado, Desal plant.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Sunny, calm on Cortez, rough on Pacific, windy on Pacific.
AVERAGE WATER TEMP: 71 F
BEST LURES: Live caballito or jurelito, dead ballyhoo.
Based on the catches of Pisces by Tracy Ehrenberg
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