Catch success rate 93.50%
All species combined comprise 30.89% Billfish, 33% Dorado 7.32%, Tuna 66.67%, and Other 31.57%
Pisces Fleet Weekly update from January 3 – 9 2025
800-Pound Fish Winner in New Year’s Battle!
The Santana Family from Sonoma County, California, had no idea what they were in for when they booked a half-day aboard Pisces 66-Ft. Viking, Friday Bank for January 3rd. Pretty much the whole family came along, from teenagers to grandpa. They headed 16 miles from the Old Lighthouse, found a school of tuna, and picked up three fish in the 5 to 15-pound class. Captain Alex Collins was scanning the horizon with his binoculars, spotted birds diving on another school of tuna about three miles away, and trolled toward the school. It was 9.15 am when they reached the school. One of the rods on the left side went off, and the line began peeling off the spool! Then they saw a massive marlin jump!
First up on the rod was June, a fit 26-year-old who struggled for 2.5 hours reeling and couldn’t make a dent in the fish. She handed the rod off to Boomer, who lasted an hour. Then, it went to Willie, followed by Alfredo, and even Juanito, the Chef, who fought it for two hours. And then Grandpa James, in his 70s, had a go. Alfredo got back on the rod; by now, it was almost 6:30 pm – this half-day trip had turned into an Old Man and the Sea Odyssey!
The fish had taken a green-and-yellow dorado type lure with the hook firmly lodged deep in the mouth; the 500-pound fluorocarbon leader and 100-pound line that had been spooled onto a Shimano Tiagra 50 had been perfect for the fish they had targeted – tuna but was no match for this beast! The fish jumped and twisted, still fresh, just as it had been when they first hooked it! The sun had already set when, finally, the fish was boatside, with the leader in reach. However, the fish was still deep and not in perfect gaff position. Then, zing-pow! The leader broke, and she was gone! Despite a skilled captain and crew and a whole family fighting this beauty, the fish proved stronger and lived to fight another day – she disappeared into the night, still strong. We showed videos and photos to different Cabo captains, and the consensus was that the fish weighed 700 to 800 pounds; we went with 800 pounds. As a fisherman, which of those two numbers would you choose? #fishing #marlinfishing #piscessportfishing #cabo #theonethatgotaway
The “BILL COLLECTOR,” a 32-foot Cabo Express, with Captain Nico and Mate Erick, Jr., took their group, Andrea Brower, Brice Vanness, Isabel Allaway, Kelly Brower, Kyle Brower, and Scott Pitsch from Detroit, Michigan, to the San Jaime Bank where they caught and released One 100-pound Striped Marlin on bait, Fourteen Yellowfin Tuna 10 to 20 pounds on Palo, and One 30-pound Wahoo on curry. The weather and the amiable Pisces captain and mate created a comfortable and relaxing platform for the anglers to fish. They enjoyed the day on the Sea of Cortez.
Captain Orlando M. and Mate Mario, running the “LA BRISA,” a 31-foot Bertram, left the dock and headed for the Golden Gate Bank with their passengers from California, Curtis Fessler, Helen Fessler, Lucas Fessler, Ryan Fessler, and Zachary Fessler where they caught Sixteen 4-pound Sierra on bait and One 15-pound Grouper on mackerel. The happy anglers knew it wasn’t just coming home with lots of fish that proved they had a successful day on the water. It was the fact that they came home relaxed, with smiles on their faces.
Captain Juan Lopez and Mate JC Martinez ran the “BILL COLLECTOR II,” a 35-foot Cabo Flybridge, for their charter group, Alex Volz, Andrew Pifer, Donald Bent, and Sara Kremer took them 30 miles to the 220 Spot, where the four of them caught Eleven 10 to 35-pound Yellowfin Tuna and One Bonito 15 miles to the 210 Spot, all on various bait. Catching lots of Yellowfin Tuna kept fishing interesting.
Alisa Dube, Carolyn Wolff, Jeff Dube, and Stephen Wolff from Nottingham, Pennsylvania, chartered the “RUTHLESS,” a 31-foot Bertram run by Captain Beto Lira and Mate Jesus R. Their day was filled with excitement and a sense of accomplishment as they caught Twenty-two Yellowfin Tuna from 8 to 20 pounds on bait and feathers and Two 4-pound Skipjack on bait. The feeling of hitting the jackpot with their successful catch was a high point of their fishing experience.
A group from Sutter, California, chartered the “LA CHINGONA 2,” a 64-foot Viking, with Captain Tony and Mates Luis and Tony, Jr. Anglers Dolores Pack, Julia Reynosa, Rod Pack, and Sal Reynosa caught and released One 90-pound Striped Marlin on bait and Five 3-pound Bonito on bait at the Los Arcos. They caught Twenty-two 2 to 4-pound Yellowfin Tuna and Five 3-pound Bonito 17 miles to the 220 Spot also on bait. They enjoyed catching so many fish which underscored their day on the water was a success.
Alexis Hageman, Alvin Ekic, Aymee Heidaragha, Casey Quinlen, Derek Arness, Kaden Steiner, Lucas Albers, and Sheyenne Johnson from North Dakota, hit the jackpot on the “YAHOO,” a 42-foot Bertram, with Captain Ricardo Escamilla, and Mate Yahoo Jose Escamilla Yahoo. The anglers caught and released Five 90 to 110-pound Striped Marlin and Two 10-pound Yellowfin Tuna on bait at the Golden Gate. They left the boat thinking a day spent on the water catching fish is hard to beat!
“BBII,” a 37-foot Viking Billfish 2018, with Captain Osiel and Mate Joel, traveled 15 miles to the 210 Spot where Jessi Leimkuhl, Landon Leimkuhl, Layne Leimkuhl, and Logan Leimkuhl from Minnesota caught Twelve 5-pound Yellowfin Tuna on bait. Captain Osiel and Mate Joel created a relaxing and memorable fishing trip for the anglers from Minnesota.
Captain Roberto Sandez and Mate Salvador Flores traveled outside the 210 on the “VALERIE,” a 35-foot Bertram, where Colin Ogden, Elizabeth Carlson, Eric Ogden, Jacqueline Ogden, Sharon Ogden, and Timothy Carlson, from California, caught Nine 3 to 6-pound Yellowfin Tuna on feathers. They observed it had been a busy day’s fishing.
“TRACY ANN,” a 31-foot Bertram, Captain Julio Castro, and Mate TracyAnn Raul Leal took their group from Lumberton, North Carolina, to the Golden Gate where Deddie West, Ed West, Kayleigh Kinlow, and Zachary Kinlaw caught and released Three 130-pound Striped Marlin on caballito. The adrenaline rush of catching the marlin made the experience even more rewarding.
Ana Anderson, from California, chartered the “CHASIN TAIL,” a 62-foot Viking, with Captain Pepe and Mates Ulises and Ramon took her to the San Jaime Bank, where she caught a 248-pound Yellowfin Tuna, one of the largest of the season. It took her three and a half hours to catch the enormous beast on a mackerel. She also caught One 120-pound Thresher Shark on a skipjack at the same location. Seventy-five-degree weather greeted her in Cabo, making it a pleasant fishing day. Congratulations on that fish, Ana Anderson! That’s quite a feat!
“KARINA,” a 30-foot Bertram run by Captain Bruce and Mate Jorge Velez took a group from McQuillen City, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Edward Smith, Jackson McQuillen, Lance McQuillen, Mark McQuillen, Vaughn McQuillen. They ran 30 miles to the 250 Spot, where they caught Eight Yellowfin Tuna weighing up to 10 pounds on bait. What a great time they had. Bruce and Jorge were a fun crew to fish with, so they enjoyed their day of fishing.
“RIPPER,” a 35-foot Cabo Flybridge, with Captain Abel and Mate Ninja, took Solo Angler Mark Chiavetta from California, where he
caught Two prize Yellowfin Tuna, One weighing 150 pounds and the other weighing 200 pounds, on a kite and bait at the San Jaime.
He also got One 50-pound Wahoo at the San Jaime. What a day! What a catch! Mr. Chiavetta. Was it luck or skill?
From Lumberton, North Carolina, Solo Angler Zachary Kinlaw fished on the “REBECCA,” a 31-foot Bertram, with Captain Jose Ramon Alucano and Mate Jose. To his amazement, Zachary caught and released Six 100 to 120-pound Striped Marlin on live bait at the Golden Gate. He was grateful to his Captain and mate and appreciated his excellent time with them throughout the day as he fought his fish.
Captain Arthur, Mates Daniel, and Josue took Blake and Mark Low out fishing on the “MY WAY,” a 48-foot Viking. They wanted to see what the Sea of Cortez offered, so the crew took them to the Golden Bank, where they had a very successful day catching and releasing Three Striped Marlin from 80 to 100 pounds on mackerel and Four 40-pound Hammerhead Shark on mackerel at the Golden Bank and San Jaime Bank. They were delighted with their Captain and mate.
Brian Roberts and Ms. Cheryl Brown from Ellensburg, Washington, fished with Captain Jose on the 24-foot Panga Anamar II. They caught and released One 15-pound Roosterfish and One 15-pound Jack Crevalle at the Lighthouse. Sometimes, an authentic fisherman knows that bringing home a lot of fish isn’t necessarily the goal, but bringing home a couple of unusual fish is even more rewarding. They felt their day on the water was a success.
Tags: cabo, pisces sportfishing, roosterfish, wahoo