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Subscriber-Written Fishing Trip Report
Bob Verde fishing trip to Baja Anglers
in Mexico Cabo San Lucas
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| DATE AND PLACE OF FISHING TRIP
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| Report
ID: |
3084 |
How
Trip Was Conducted: |
Guided |
| Date
of Trip: |
November 20, 2003 to November 30, 2003 |
| Place
of Trip: |
Mexico Cabo San Lucas - Water: Pacific. |
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| OUTFITTER, GUIDE AND BOOKING AGENT DETAILS
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| Outfitter
(or lodge): |
Baja Anglers. Marina 8-6. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Tel. 011-52-624-143-4995, 800-588-3446. Fax 624-143-7591. E-mail: info@baja-anglers.com, Web: www.baja-anglers.com |
| Personal
Guide (if any): |
Grant Hartman |
| Booking
Agent (if any): |
Frontiers Travel International. PO Box 959. Wexford, PA, 15090-0959. Tel. 800-245-1950, 724-935-1577. Fax 724-935-5388. E-mail: info@frontierstravel.com, Web: www.frontierstravel.com |
Trip
Arrangements
(if self-guided): |
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| Local
Fly Shop(s): |
N/A
N/A |
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| DESCRIPTION OF FISHING
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| Species
Sought/Availability: |
Marlin, Striped - Availability: Scarce |
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Roosterfish - Availability: Scarce |
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| Description
of Catch Made: |
Combined efforts of two fisherman six days of fishing. Day 1: 1 baitfish (green tuna?, two pounds) No marlin seen. Day 2: No marlin seen. Eight shots at baby roosterfish on fly no hookups. Day 3: Stayed inshore since marlin were scarce landed one dorado (five pounds) and lost one dorado on conventional. Day 4: Raised hooked and ate one dorado on fly. Day 5: Fished landed one tuna (15 pounds), one dorado (20 pounds) lost at gaff, one 50 pound sailfish boated all on conventional. One shot at a striped marlin on live bait (never hooked up) Day 6: One striped marlin (died at the boat) boated on conventional. On our last day of fishing we finally began to see a few striped marlin on the surface. The problem was that as soon as a marlin would show itself (usually be diving birds) at least 10 boats would frantically race to the spot to get the first shot at that scarce fish. |
| Type
of Fishing: |
Set out to catch a striped marlin on fly but switched to conventional due to the scarcity of fish. |
| Equipment
Used: |
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| Flies
Used: |
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| Description
of Hatches: |
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| Water/Weather
Conditions: |
Weather was generally very good. Fish were scarce for us. |
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| SERVICE RATINGS (excellent, good, fair or poor)
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| Condition
of Equipment: |
Fair |
Knowledge
of Water: |
Fair |
| Quality
of Accommodation: |
Fair |
General
Fishing Knowledge: |
Fair |
| Quality
of Food: |
Fair |
Ability
to Communicate: |
Excellent |
| Overall
Service: |
Good |
Overall
Personality: |
Good |
| Name
of Airline: |
Continental |
Airline
Service (1 to 10): |
10 |
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| SUMMARY REMARKS
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| Problems
on the Trip: |
We set out as two relatively experienced fly fisherman looking to catch a striped marlin on the fly. We both have experience-catching sailfish on the fly. Frontiers recommended Grant Hartmans Baja Anglers. We booked months in advance for what seemed to be right in the middle of the high season for striped marlin
a no brainier (Grants website states that fishing is excellent all year round and Frontiers confirmed that November/December was high season for striped marlin). We each took our wives along for the 10-day trip, which was to include six days of fishing with Grant. We stayed at the Hotel Finisterra (Palapa Beach Junior suites), which was a wonderful hotel at the rate of $238 per night. The hotel was an easy walk to the central marina where all of the Cabo nightlife could be enjoyed. Meals were on our own. The beach, as are most of the local beaches, was unswimmable due to the raging currents and undertow. Fishing cost $483 per day for the 26-foot Ocean Bay catamaran plus an extra $100 per day charge to have Grant Hartman guide us, plus tips. After the third day Grant suggested that we need not have him on board due to the scarcity of fish and we obliged. The girls did their thing daily (shopping, diving, snorkeling, lounging on the beach etc.) After fishing we all met and walked the dock each night enjoying the wonderful sights, restaurants and activities that Cabo has to offer. All in all Cabo is a wonderful place to visit. Due to the scarcity of fish I cannot comment on the fishery. Grant Hartman is a nice guy and claims to know and be able to teach the art of catching striped marlin on the fly, however we did not have the chance to utilize his expertise. We do not fault Baja Anglers since NO ONE can predict when fish will be present. But the timing of the striped marlin season at Cabo San Lucas may need some rethinking. I would like to return to Cabo and fish with Grant but I would only do so at the last minute with careful attention to the fishing reports. |
| Highlights
of the Trip: |
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| Cost of the
Trip: |
$3,000 |
| Would You
Recommend This Trip to a Friend? |
Yes |
| Are
There Non-Fishing Activities? |
Yes |
| If
So, What Are They? |
Shopping, diving, snorkeling, lounging on the beach. |
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| SUBSCRIBER INFORMATION
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Name: |
Bob Verde |
| Contact
Information: |
Tel. 718-442-0943 - 110 Wadsworth Rd., Staten Island, NY 10305 - E-mail: scope1@aol.com |
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| ADDITIONAL COMMENTS AND/OR OUTFITTER/BOOKING AGENT REBUTTAL
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