Giant blue marlin is caught off Cabo San Lucas

Julio Gonzalez, captain of the Bill Collector, at first thought the giant billfish he saw feeding in the distance might be a whale. But when he guided the yacht closer, he realized it was a blue marlin, one of the largest he'd ever seen. It was eating a 20-pound dorado and oblivious to the approaching boat.

Anglers aboard the 32-foot sportfisher, which operates from Pisces Sportfishing in Cabo San Lucas and was fishing Monday near the Golden Gate north of the resort city, still had their lures in the water as they began to circle the great fish.

That's when the marlin opened its mouth wide and consumed one of the lures in an attack seeming to occur, Gonzalez said, in slow motion. With Florida angler Martha Chisholm in the fighting chair, the angler and crew anticipated an epic struggle. But after two leaps and a deep dive, the marlin became increasingly inactive and then stopped moving altogether.

It was hoisted to the surface and wrestled on board. At the Cabo San Lucas dock scale, it weighed 865 pounds, making it one of the largest blue marlin caught off Baja California -- certainly one of the largest in years.

It's a shame, though, because the anglers aboard the Bill Collector had decided to release the fish. Gonzalez, one of the area's top captains, presumed it suffered a heart attack during the brief struggle.

So although it was a monumental catch, it was not celebrated. In fact, Gonzalez did not even alert Pisces that he was bringing the beast in.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Julio Gonzalez, who is 5-foot-7, stands along side a blue marlin that weighed 865 pounds on the Cabo San Lucas dock scale. Credit: Pisces Sportfishing

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Rare albino sailfish caught off Cabo San Lucas

*Updated with photo

Outposts received an interesting fishing report this morning from Pisces Sportfishing in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, regarding a charter group that caught and released an albino sailfish. Here's the description from fleet general manager Tracy Ehrenberg:

"This Saturday, November 28th, I received a phone call from our dockmaster, Mario, around 8 a.m. to tell me that our 54-foot Bertram 'Get Over It' was hooked up to a very weird fish and they asked, 'What should we do?' I immediately got on the phone with the captain Jobe Villavicencio to see what was going on. Jobe was very excited saying they were hooked up to a sailfish that was completely white.

"Incredulous I got on the internet and found that a couple of 'albino' sailfish had been caught before, one aboard a commercial boat in Manzanillo, Mexico and another in Guatemala. The captain wanted to know if he should boat the fish or release it. This put us in a bit of a dilemma; knowing how rare this fish was, we knew that it would be very valuable to local scientists, however we had paying clients on board and the decision had to be theirs, when you charter a boat from Pisces you get to call the shots, it is  your boat for the day. 

Boat catches fire, sinks during Bisbee's Cabo San Lucas marlin tournament

*Updated with photos and a quote from tournament director Wayne Bisbee

The 50-foot Bottom Line caught fire and sank today off the Palmilla Hotel during the first day of the Bisbee's Black & Blue Marlin Tournament off Cabo San Lucas.

The anglers and crew were rescued by neighboring anglers. No injuries were reported.

“It was miraculous no one was seriously injured,” said tournament director Wayne Bisbee, as he and the rescued anglers watched the burning vessel slowly dip below the surface aboard the committee boat. “It was a tragic and a very humbling experience.”

The annual tournament, which is  the world's richest billfish competition, began a day later than scheduled because of a tropical storm. Anglers aboard 94 boats--make that 93--are competing for $2 million in prize money.  The tournament will conclude Saturday.

-- Pete Thomas

Photos: Bottom Line on fire and sinking soon after the start of the Bisbee's Black and Blue Jackpot Tournament off Cabo San Lucas. Credit: Bisbee's

Cabo San Lucas bids farewell to Tropical Storm Rick, which caused minimal damage

Tourists and residents in Cabo San Lucas are enjoying sunny skies and breathing a sigh of relief now that Tropical Storm Rick has passed the Baja California peninsula and is diminishing in strength as it approaches Mazatlan. 

The storm did not cause widespread flooding or destruction in the Cabo San Lucas area but large surf generated by the storm was responsible for the death of a 16-year-old boy and for eroding portions of Medano Beach.

The port remains closed but will reopen Thursday, which will mark the beginning of the Bisbee's Black & Blue Marlin Tournament, which will run through Saturday. The event is the world's richest billfish tournament;  anglers will compete for $3 million in prize money.

As a lasting memory, the remnants of Rick left a beautiful sunset on Tuesday night. Outposts would like to thank Tracy Ehrenberg, general manager of Pisces Sportfishing, for her reports and photos before, during and after the storm.

Now if only the marlin will cooperate!

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: A setting sun illuminates the sky above and beyond the Old Lighthouse landmark. Credit: Tracy Ehrenberg

Tropical Storm Rick alters course, may spare Cabo San Lucas area major damage

A tropical storm warning remains in effect in Cabo San Lucas and parts of Baja California Sur. But Tropical Storm Rick, now with maximum sustained winds of only 65 mph, has altered course considerably and its center is expected to pass well to the south of the peninsula.

This has Cabo San Lucas residents breathing a sigh of relief, but there is sad news: Authorities confirmed that a 16-year-old boy was killed Monday in the pounding surf at Medano Beach, which faces the famous arches at Land's End.

Huge waves continue to pound the beach and the storm surge has reached many of its hotel patios. The  Los Cabos International Airport remains open but travelers are advised to check with their carriers regarding possible delays or cancellations.

Tracy Ehrenberg, general manager of Pisces Sportfishing, says it has been raining steadily but lightly since Monday night, and there is little wind. The annual Bisbee's Black & Blue Marlin Tournament, which is the world's richest billfish competition, was scheduled to run Wednesday through Friday but probably will run as a two-day competition Thursday and Friday, as the port will remain closed through at least Wednesday.

Eric Brictson, owner of Gordo Banks Pangas, said today via e-mail: "The storm has really weakened, but it is still raining lightly at this time and we are out of work during a very busy time. We do assume we will be able to start operations back up on Thursday morning."

At 8 a.m. Tuesday the storm was located 200 miles south-southwest of Cabo San Lucas and traveling in a northeasterly direction. According to the National Hurricane Center its center is expected to pass Cabo San Lucas tonight or early Wednesday on a course toward mainland Mexico.

Rainfall will be heavy and flooding is possible in some areas.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Storm watchers run from the deck at a hotel on Medano Beach as a large wave overtakes their perch. Credit: Paul J. Richards / AFP / Getty Images

Hurricane Rick weakens further as it approaches Baja California Sur

 

*Updated with sharper image

Hurricane Rick continues to weaken as it approaches the Cabo San Lucas area at the tip of Baja California. The National Hurricane Center at 2 p.m. Monday issued an advisory stating that maximum sustained winds are down to about 100 mph and that Rick is now a Category 2 hurricane.

The storm is located 325 miles south-southwest of Cabo San Lucas and its predicted course has changed since the morning forecast. The center of the storm is now expected to merely skirt Cabo San Lucas, perhaps sparing the region major damage, as it travels toward the northeast in the direction of mainland Mexico. It will pass Cabo San Lucas as a tropical storm late Tuesday or early Wednesday.

The accompanying photo was taken during the lunch hour from the Cabo San Lucas marina, where many boats have been transported to land. Tracy Ehrenberg, general manager of Pisces Sportfishing, e-mailed the photo to Outposts and said the weather, while gloomy, is eerily calm and that the size of the surf has actually dropped.

That's a cruise ship in the distance. There had been two moored outside the marina this morning, but one has left. It remains unclear whether the ship in the photo, apparently with passengers still aboard, is going to ride out the storm at anchor.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo courtesy of Pisces Sportfishing

Hurricane Rick, still 'a major storm,' already being felt in Cabo San Lucas area

Hurricane Rick is tracking toward southern Baja California and although it continues to weaken, the National Hurricane Center still refers to it as "a major storm," and residents and tourists throughout the region are bracing for the worst.

Rick, which on Saturday packed 180-mph winds and was the second strongest eastern North Pacific hurricane on record, is now a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph. At 8 a.m. Monday its center was located 375 miles south-southwest of Cabo San Lucas. It's expected to make landfall in that area, still as a hurricane, late Tuesday or early Wednesday.

One man reportedly was killed Sunday after being swept into the water and jetty rocks in San Jose del Cabo.

Flooding and high winds are expected. Airline travel probably will be disrupted. Plans are being made to relocate residents in vulnerable areas to shelters. Fishing fleet operators and private boat owners are still working to remove vessels from marinas or at least into sheltered areas within marinas.

In Cabo San Lucas, this includes more than 100 wealthy yacht owners entered in the Bisbee's Black & Blue Marlin Tournament, which was scheduled to begin Wednesday. Some have already fled toward Southern California. The three-day tournament, which offers about $3 million in prize money, might become a one-day affair on Friday -- if the storm passes quickly enough.

"Please keep your fingers crossed that Hurricane Rick does not hurt us too bad," Capt. George Landrum of Fly Hooker Sportfishing implored in a fishing report issued Monday morning. "We just had one huge noisy squall come, part of the feeder bands. Cats and dogs [are] hiding everywhere."

Tracy Ehrenberg, general manager of Pisces Sportfishing, wrote Monday on the fleet's blog: "Heavy rain fell for a while and wind picked up to about 25 mph, with some thunder and more lightning. We all thought, 'Wow, it's here already,' but this was just an isolated outer thunderstorm."

Hurricane Rick 'extremely dangerous' and tracking toward Baja California

Hurricane Rick, which as of 8 p.m. Saturday was located 295 miles southwest of Manzanillo on the Mexican mainland, is packing 180-mph winds and is predicted to make landfall on the southern Baja California peninsula at midweek.

It's the second-strongest North Pacific hurricane on record, next to Linda in 1997, and residents in the state of Baja California Sur are cautioned to closely monitor its progress. The National Hurricane Center is referring to Rick as "an extremely dangerous" Category 5 storm. 

Satellite images show that Rick has continued to strengthen as it travels toward the west-northwest at 14 mph. It's expected to turn gradually toward the north Monday. It's ultimate track, if the prediction is accurate, will place it over southern Baja sometime Wednesday.

Hopefully its course will alter and spare residents and tourists a direct hit. Tourists with plans to fly to the Los Cabos and La Paz areas next week should consult their airlines about possible cancellations or delays.

The forecast does not look good for the annual Bisbee's Black & Blue Marlin Tournament in Cabo San Lucas, scheduled to begin Tuesday.

-- Pete Thomas 

Map is courtesy of National Hurricane Center

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Cabo San Lucas port closed due to Tropical Storm Patricia

Tropical Storm Patricia, at 11 this morning, was centered about 100 miles southeast of the tip of Baja California, and a tropical storm warning remained in effect for Cabo San Lucas and the southern portion of the peninsula.

An advisory issued by the National Hurricane Center stated that the storm was becoming less organized as it traveled to the north-northeast at about 7 mph but still had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph. Patricia is expected to veer to the northwest later today and start  tracking to the west by Thursday.

It will make its closest approach to Baja, southwest of Cabo San Lucas, tonight and Wednesday.

Tracy Ehrenberg, general manager of Pisces Sportfishing in Cabo San Lucas, said the port is closed today despite reasonably calm seas and a mixture of clouds and sunshine. It rained earlier, and the National Hurricane Center predicted 1 to 3 inches would fall in the region.

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament is scheduled to start Wednesday.

-- Pete Thomas

Image: National Hurricane Center

Tropical Storm Patricia takes aim on Cabo San Lucas area

Tropical storm Patricia is not expected to become a hurricane, but its center is expected to brush the tip of the Baja California peninsula near Cabo San Lucas on Tuesday afternoon. It then is expected to track to the west and weaken.

Patricia, which at 11 a.m. Monday was 245 miles south of Cabo San Lucas, will deliver heavy rain and wind gusts to about 60 knots. The Mexican government has issued a Tropical Storm watch extending north just past La Paz.

The storm will briefly interrupt fishing off Cabo, where marlin, tuna and dorado have been cooperative for anglers during the past week, according to Capt. George Landrum of Fly Hooker Sportfishing.

The annual Bisbee's Black and Blue Marlin Tournament -- the world's richest billfish competition -- is Oct. 20-24 off Cabo San Lucas.

-- Pete Thomas

Image showing predicted five-day track of Tropical Storm Patricia was issued at 11 a.m. Monday by the National Hurricane Center

La Paz fishing report: Winds hamper effort but anglers scratch for tuna, dorado

Tailhunter International today recaps a stormy, rainy week of fishing in the Sea of Cortez in the La Paz region of Baja California.

In essence the effort was hampered by nasty weather and fishing was slow, but  improved later in the week.

"It was so rough we had some folks actually get seasick on us, which is a rarity because it’s normally so calm especially this time of the year," Jonathan Roldan said via e-mail. "As well, the winds didn’t do us any favors as far as the bite was concerned."

The wind diminished these past couple of days and fishing for tuna and dorado improved slightly. "The tuna bite outside of Muertos Bay and Las Arenas came back on the chew with fish running between 15 and 30 pounds and schools of smaller dorado ripping through the chum," Roldan reported.

"For our La Paz boats, the winds started coming from the north and that really made it difficult.  It was just unseasonably windy for October, but then again, this whole year has been a paradox."

His La Paz fleet traveled extensively but found schools of dorado at various locations, and the catch average was three to six fish per boat. Most of the dorado were small.

Outposts always appreciates an honest report.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Bruce Dodge from La Canada displays yellowfin tuna caught off Las Arenas on live bait while fishing with Tailhunter International's Las Arenas fleet. Credit: Jonathan Roldan

Large tuna, bull dorado on tap for anglers at Baja California's East Cape

Louisiana angler Todd Winkler (pictured) is 6 feet, 4 inches tall, and the dorado he caught Sunday in the Sea of Cortez comes up to his nose.

The bull weighed struck a black-and-purple marlin lure and took about 20 minutes to land aboard Vista Sea Sport's Jen Wren in the East Cape region of Baja California.

"We went tuna fishing but the wind blew and they were hard to find so we had to settle for this dorado along with a smaller one and a sailfish," said Mark Rayor, owner of the fishing/diving business.

Fishing in the remote region halfway between Cabo San Lucas and La Paz has been productive, and gorilla-size tuna have been the primary draw.

"Hundred-pound tuna are coming to the beach daily," reports John Ireland, owner of Rancho Leonero Resort. "The 100-pound fish are very powerful; two hours to land on 80-pound test."

A report on Friday from the Van Wormer Resorts reads: "We did see over 400 yellowfin tuna landed this week ranging in size from 15-80 pounds.  Most of the tuna are still to the south near Cabo Pulmo and Los Frailes."

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Todd Winkler displays bull dorado caught Monday aboard the Jen Wren in the Sea of Cortez. Credit: Mark Rayor