Fish Report Roundup

MARCH 24^TH TO 30^TH, 2012

Overall Catch Success Rate 92%

BILLFISH: It is finally a pleasure to write the fish report; we have fish! It’s funny how seasons change, normally if you would ask us when is a good time to fish for marlin, we would answer “not March, it’s windy and the fish aren’t hungry”. Looks like we may have to change our minds; instead of March doldrums we have had fantastic fishing this week at Punta Gorda (literally fat point) on the Cortez side and also at the 11.50 spot. A whopping eighty one percent of our boats caught striped marlin this week with catches ranging from one to seven fish in a day. Top boat was “Great Escape Jr”, skippered by Ricardo Agundez, a very savvy fisherman though understated in demeanor – they produced seven releases of marlin all on live bait for Robert Owen, Dan Line and Ben Canella from Zophyk Cove, Nevada on March 27^th. This same day “Rebecca” had four releases for fish in the 100 to 140 lb class, in the same area on live caballito for Rick & Brendan Boutillier from Lake Barrington, Illinois. Not wanting to be left out of the news “Tracy Ann” released four marlin also, same day, same place for Mark Farber from Coral Gables, Florida whom they had released three marlin for the previous day. March 28^th, saw “Adriana” release four marlin between 100 and 150 lbs for Mark Schreiber from Sandy, Oregon. Other anglers caught one to three fish with the odd boat here and there drawing a blank, seeing fish, but not getting the desired hook up. Pisces anglers caught a total of 66 striped marlin this week; all but one released.

OTHER SPECIES:  Nearly all the boats concentrated on marlin this week, so not much smaller game was caught. Just a few dorado such as the three up to 30 lbs caught aboard “Ruthless” below Punta Gorda on black and red lures by John Steinert from Portland, Oregon and a few yellow fin tuna at Golden Gate aboard “Valerie” for Arturo Kassel from San Diego. Inshore just a few roosterfish, yellow tail and skipjacks from the pangas that we sent out.

WEATHER CONDITIONS: It warmed up a bit this week, though we continued to have windy weather on the Pacific and nights are still cool, Cortez side was much calmer.

LOCATION: Punta Gorda, 11.50.

AVERAGE WATER TEMP: As low as 63 F on the Pacific and up to 72 F on the Cortez side.

BEST LURES: Live bait.

Based on the catches of Pisces by Tracy Ehrenberg