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Alice's Restaurant
I just got back from spending 5 days in Cabo San Lucas fishing the Western Outdoor News Tuna Tournament. I take my hat off to Pat McDonald and the crew at WON for doing an outstanding job and putting on a well organized and fun event.

As always the tournament was a huge success with more than 120 entries and a 372 lb beast taking honors. Many more tuna over 100 pounds and a few over 200 were also brought to the scale where Jonathan Roldan was Weigh Master.

Cabo San Lucas is a unique and interesting place. The arch at lands end rivals any place on our planet for beauty and with first sight the attraction to Cabo becomes obvious. My first visit was in 1973 when Cabo was a sleepy little village similar to Buena Vista where I live now.

The place has grown to a large bustling city with tens of thousands of residents and more tourists. Cruise ships visit daily and drop off thousands for the day. The coast line is dotted with high-rise after high-rise resorts packed with tourists.

Walking down the boardwalk near the marina where Jen Wren III was tied up reminded me of a scene from Beverly Hills Cop. Eddie Murphy was cruising down Rodeo Drive in his Old Chevy II watching the freak show. As I walked a huge smile came on my face and in my head I could hear Murphy's laugh. I was watching a similar freak show that goes on 24-7 near the wharf. Sex drugs and rock & roll are all available and there are street vendors, time share sales people and ladies all out hocking their wares. You can get anything you want. Although most are pleasant, some of these folks are as agressive as a deckhand pitching a bait to a tailing marlin. I'm pretty sure the vendors see the tails the same as the deckhands and never miss the opportunity to pitch a bait.

The party atmosphere also reminds me a bit of New Orleans. I remember walking down Bourbon Street and being approached by a young boy. He said Mr. " I'll bets you 5 bucks I knows where you gots those shoes". OK, I'm from LA and there is no way the kid could possible know where I bought my shoes. I'll bite 5 bucks I told the kid. "You gots em on your feet!" he replied. That was a quick five. As we came and went the kid would hit me up with another scam but I wasn't going to take the bait again. The following day I saw him again and he said "I'll bets 5 bucks I can tell you how many letters are in your last name". I thought a moment and said you are on! The kid said 12 and my reply was you are wrong, hand over the 5! No, no said the kid. Count the letters your (4) last (4) name (4) totals 12. The kid got me again.

Bottom line is Cabo is a very fun place to visit. Just 65 miles from the East Cape but a world away. I look forward to going back but am glad it is not my steady diet.

Meanwhile since being back home the wind has been relentless. It is supposed to back off tomorrow and we are going fishing. Reports indicate marlin and dorado fishing has been very good off La Ribera and Punta Pescadero both.

Lands end

Shot gun start

The bite was a slow pick but we finally got bit.

We are having fun now! With jungle rules we were able to pass the rod. Fighting big tuna puts a man to the test.

Waiting our turn at the weigh station.

It is always exciting to weigh a fish

One of our team members was named Gump. Believe it or not his wifes name is Jenny. You can get anything in Cabo. Gump even found his favorate beer, tall Miller lites.

The wild life in Cabo is very aggressive.

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Different strokes
Northerly winds are starting to prevail and our East Cape fishing season is rapidly coming to a close. The resorts are having fewer departures as it winds down.

Tomorrow we are moving Jen Wren III from Palmas Bay to the Cabo marina to compete in the WON tuna tournament. The odd cow to 300 pounds has been showing at Gorda Banks so it should be an exciting event.

More than 21 years ago I pulled the plug on my Los Angeles based real estate brokerage and move to Buena Vista. It all looked good on paper but the truth be known when it actually came time to kill the golden goose that had provided so well for my family, and start packing personal belongings to move to a foreign country my palms got really sweaty.

Moving to a tropical place where most folks save up all year to visit on their vacation was my dream. Why visit a place you love for just a week or so? Why not live and enjoy that paradise all the time? That was my dream and what I did. I have never looked back. No more freeways, no more stress of the big city. Just look out my front window onto the Sea of Cortez and see a parade of magnificent marine life. One doesn't have to look hard to see roosters busting the shoreline, ospreys hunting, manta rays jumping, whales breeching, the stars shining at night and breath taking sunrises over the Sea of Cortez everyday.

Family and friends all thought I had lost my mind. At that time in 1991 there was only one phone in Buena Vista. The nearest shopping for groceries was 40 miles away on a poorly paved road with pot holes and other obstacles. This was an adventure for me after living in a concrete jungle my whole life. My answer to those that asked what I was going to do down there, was I'm going to try and get bored.

Shortly after our move my wife Jennifer wrote a song for me titled "Help me lord I'm just trying to get bored". She used to play her guitar a lot in those days. In 1997 Michael and Kim Fowlkes were at the VanWormers Palmas de Cortez filming an Inside Sportfishing episode. We had them over for dinner and just by chance Jen got out her guitar and started strumming the song. Michael was taken aback and returned the next afternoon with his camera to record Jen singing the song written for me. Back in his studio he made the TV production "The Sea of Dreams". Other producers told him he was off his rocker opening a fishing show with Jennifer singing "Help me lord" but they were proved wrong when Michael won his first Telly award with the production.

I have always maintained that one has to have little different stroke to go off stream and move to a foreign country. Some of the ex-pats that live here take exception and are offended by my statement. I believe the statement to be true. I'm here.

It was fun going through some of my archived photos this week looking for some with a little different stroke.

I ask myself everyday, what did I do to deserve this?

My granddaughter Maya tells me what she thinks about fishing.

This stroke was not my best form

Cassandra marches to her own beat

My grandson Nicholas stroking his first marlin with help from his brother Jake

Now here is a different stroke

Call me off beat. I'm living where others come to have fun

My good buddy Del Marsh always heard his own tune. He had a way of lighting up everyones life that he met. He has been gone over 3 years now and I miss him everyday.

Chuck Feller holds the record as our oldest angler weighing in at 96 years old. In this photo he is battling his first tuna ever.

Love watching kids learning to stroke

Chuy, you are in trouble! Look behind you.

What can I say?

Kelly spent months practicing her stroke for this trip

Grandfather, grandson bonding. Call me off my rocker, it doesn't get any better!

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Walking the beach near my home in Buena Vista I encountered Noe Ariza harvesting turtle eggs from a nest he had just found. He patrols the beach every morning from north of Palmas de Cortez, Playa del Sol and Los Barriles to south of Hotel Rancho Leonero toward La Ribera. He told me that to date this season they have harvested more than 34,000 yes, thirty-four thousand turtle eggs from more than 320 nests and transferred them to a nursery in Buenos Aires. At the Nursery the eggs are safe until they hatch and then the baby turtles are released into the Sea of Cortez.

Many of us believe our government doesn't do a lot of things right but I have to say the efforts to save the endangered sea turtles has been an incredible success. Several years ago there was a huge campaign with notices posted, television ads and radio spots run with the message "take a turtle and go to jail". The Feds have been very serious and vigilant. I think a pedophile would have a less severe penalty then a turtle poacher from what I have seen.

Now sea turtles are alive, well and abundant in the Sea of Cortez. It is not an unusual sight several in a day while we are out fishing.

Speaking of fishing. Our season is winding down to a close. The north wind that haunts us all winter has already reared its ugly head. Wind surfers and kite boarders have stood on the side lines waiting and are getting a taste of conditions favorable for their sport. Fishermen are starting to get their teeth rattled from E ticket boat rides and are picking their days more carefully now since they can't count on calm seas.

The changing season has made the bite very unpredictable. Some days game fish will play ball but some days it is hard ball. Even when the bite is tough being on the water beats fighting freeways or listening to the phone ring. The magnificent Sea of Cortez is rich with life and when rods are not bent we are sighting an array of bird life, whales, porpoise, turtles and other creatures of the sea that keep it interesting.

New born turtles ready for adventure

Noe Ariza hard at work protecting sea turtles

The East Cape sea turtle nursery

Sea turtle sightings are common

Don't point that thing at me! Wiring sailfish can be dicey

Don't point that thing at me!! Doña Cha Cha with a gun in her hand got my attention. Even if it was a flare gun to start the Tuna Shoot Out.

Still a few blue marlin around. Robert Jordan's buddies snapped this quick photo before the release.

Below is a little sailfish porn I captured this week.

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Classic
Lynn Rose has been promoting the most popular best attended charity tournament based out of the East Cape for the last 23 years. Proceeds raised have always gone to help the children in Los Barriles and Buena Vista. "The Lynn Rose Classic" held at Palmas de Cortez would draw more than 70 boats in its hay day. Now, times are a little tougher but last week the tournament still drew more than 30 entrys.

For many years Accurate has been a major sponsor of Lynn's tournament. The Jen Wren boats are proud to be a member of team Accurate who in my estimation produces the finest fishing reels made. Lucky Accurate Jack Nilsen always attends and fishes with us. This year his luck ran out on the last day when we lost our first place lead. It was all in good fun and good fun it was.

The event is loads of fun and for a good cause. Below I have posted a few photos shot from Jen Wren III during the event

Lynn Rose with her grandaughter watching the shot gun start

Wayne is bit

First striper

Scott is bit

Mark wires and reases this one

Jack is bit

It is a dandy

Here I am having a cold one on our deck with Accurate Jack disscusing the days fun

The tournament is over and now we are back to business

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Wind blows calimari shows
On our return one day after enjoying more than a week of perfect weather and great fishing I leaned over and told Diego this is not going to last forever. I knew the great conditions would change but had no idea how soon that change would come. No sooner were the words out of my mouth and the following day our first blow from the North came with vengeance.

We experienced a two day blow from the North which shut the bite down. One day we were on top of the world and the next had to work hard in miserable conditions to scratch out a bite. Then Hurricane Paul started to form below us in the Pacific. North winds subsided and it started to rain.

This is one of the strangest weather situations I have ever seen. All at the same time we had our first winter type conditions with wind from the North. At the same time a summer time hurricane was coming our way from the South. Naturally the force of the chubasco prevailed. We dodged another bullet as Paul is skirting by us in the Pacific but not without dumping several inches of rain.

As luck would have it this hard weather showed up just in time to greet the "Tuna Shoot Out" tournament where only one tuna was brought to the scale for 60 boats.

Thursday the Lynn Rose charity tournament begins. I have an ace that gives me confidence the weather will clear and the fish will bite. "Mr Lucky" Accurate Jack is coming to town for the event.

While all this weird weather phenomena is happening giant humbolt squid that have been absent for 2 years have reappeared. Go figure?

I have posted some pretty cool photos captured earlier this week

Sailfish went balistic

Love those happy faces

It is always a treat to have Kevin Rerden. He is about as fun as they come

Kevin McLane made the best of hard weather and his sons did catch some fish. They also sighted a whale shark, breaching humpback whales and several sea turtles.

A wahoo sliced this bait in two with it's razor sharp teeth

Boats gather in the moring just off Buena Vista to catch giant squid

Catching squid has become easy

Well, not that easy for some. If the handle won't turn use both hands. What ever works!

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Mr Lucky
It has been an outstanding week on the East Cape. Seiners have backed off and tuna have come on strong. The fish have been a considerable distance to the South but biting well. No huge fish but 15 to 25 pounders have been getting anglers attention and a limit of filets fills a cooler nicely.
Closer to home off the high spot at La Ribera striped marlin, sailfish and dorado have been very consistent. Most boats targeting billfish have been releasing multiple fish. The bite has been the strongest early in the morning and late in the afternoon with it going a little flat mid day.
Bait has been available and easy to find. Sardines have been for sale daily as have caballitos.

I have taken note that some fishing groups have incredible luck. When these certain guys show up it doesn't matter if fishing has been good or not and my crew knows we are in for some killer fishing. George Gavallos, Bill Potter, Bill Heim, Mike McClane and Wayne Shimabuka are just a few that come to mind. These guys don't pay attention to moon phase or have some secret formula to success. They just come to have a good time with the attitude catching a few would be a bonus. That attitude works and the fishermen that have it catch the most.

Without a doubt the luckiest of them all is Accurate Jack Nilsen. We were fortunate to have him again this week and as always when he is here there is lots of action. With Mr Lucky we never leave the dock early. The standard routine is for Jack to get on the boat with his guests around 8-ish. He then sets up his camera gear and retires to the couch in the salon for a little snooze until we have motored to the fishing grounds. This man always has a grin on his face like the cat that just ate the canary. He will relax and wait for the chaos to begin and it always seems to happen for Jack. I have never seen anything like it.

Accurate Fish Products reminds me of Apple computers. They have the best products and always seem to be ahead of the curve with something new. We are lucky to get a peak at these new Accurate innovations when Jack brings them for field testing.

Stay tuned. A new Jen Wren Sportfishing You tube video is in the works. I will post the link on our Facebook page when it is released.

We were slowing the boat down to troll live bait when this Bomboy lure got bit on the sink

Bomboy's do get bit

Hard to get good help. Jack fights the fish tests a new reel and films it at the same time

Lots of action

Come to papa

A little rainy weather didn't slow us down

Ryan Kelly and his brother Pete battled a double sailfish hook up in the rain

Mr Lucky with Pete Kelly

Constant action when Mr Lucky is here

There is the grin I described

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It's the wiggle
We experienced good fishing all week on the East Cape. There was a little stormy weather with tropical storm Kristy passing by in the Pacific which brought more welcomed rain. It didn't stop Marlin, sailfish, dorado and tuna from giving anglers lots of action. Most boats did very well all week.

A few years ago while Ben Secrest was here fishing with us on Jen Wren he handed me a couple of Halco Laser Pro lures. He seemed to be pretty excited about the Aussie made lures and asked me to give them a try. Looking at them I thought to myself hey Benny, we live in Jurassic Park. These things look like something I would fish for striped bass on Lake Mead.

The Laser Pros sat on our boat for some time still in the package. One day while fishing tuna the bite was slow so I decided to give one a try. That was when I discovered how well they work. The Laser pro was the first bait to get the bite every time we passed through the porpoise. I was amazed that this flimsy looking little bait with a plastic bill and lighter wire hooks than I like could catch fish after fish. Unlike other baits it always swims straight and never has to be tuned. I can't tell you how many baits we have thrown away because they just can't be tuned. The Halco people have figured it out.

My crew has come to have so much confidence in this bait we almost always have one in our pattern while trolling. They are the most effective artificial bait I have ever used for tuna, wahoo and dorado. Once in a while a striped marlin or sailfish will come up and whack one also.

The Laser Pros are the best 12 to 14 bucks I have ever spent on a stick bait. A lot of fisherman have asked me what model or color works best. This is where I have a problem. The Halco people make so many sizes and color patterns it is impossible to keep track. Looking at what is available to order makes my head spin and is very confusing. I can tell you the 160's and 190's work best for me. Color makes no difference it is the wiggle in my opinion. After a few fish the lure is so beat up most of the color has been knocked off but they will still swim straight and still out catch other baits.

Just one more observation. Listening to the VHF on the East Cape one would think everyone is trolling Rapalas. Here is the deal. It is like Kleenex. How many people ask for a tissue? The local skippers call every deep diver a Rapala. Even Mauader type lures are refered to as a Rapala. Those in the know understand it may very well be a different type of lure than you think.

Fish candy! Two at a time

Almost can't tell what color pattern this was but we trolled it today and caught fish. This is a 160

Tuna candy

Dorado eat them also

This fish went over 100 pounds. This is a 190

This tuna went a hundred and a half and destroyed the lure but we got the fish

George Gavallos hangs one on a Laser Pro

Fish after fish

Skippies 2 at a time

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GOOD NEWS BAD NEWS
Some good news is the drought that southern Baja and the East Cape have been experiencing is over. During the past month we have received several inches of rain. The desert is green and looks like a lush tropical jungle.

Bad news is all the rain made fishing uncomfortable for a few days. It is not all bad as the precipitation has not hurt the bite for those willing to brave the conditions.

Good news is live bait has become available. Sardines have reappeared and available for purchase everyday. Cavillitos and boca dulce (spanish mackerel) have been easy to find.

Bad news is several tuna seiners have been working East Cape waters. They drive the porpoise and tuna down and make tuna fishing very difficult for sport boats. The good news is they don't take them all and experience tells me that as soon as they leave the tuna will pop back up.

Good news is dorado and billfish have really filled the gap for the hard to catch tuna.

Posted are a few photos I captured over the Labor Day holiday.

Bomboy lures do catch fish

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FOR THE BIRDS!
Yellowfin tuna, dorado, marlin and sailfish provided constant action on the East Cape this week.

We had a little different gig for a few days though. Four years ago I was asked to take a group of bird watchers out on Jen Wren to sight marine birds. To be honest I kind of thought it was joke and planned to take them over to the moorings where they could watch pelicans make a mess on fishing boat bimini tops. That thought couldn't have been further from reality and my crew and myself got a heck of an education from the birders.

On this exploration four years ago birders known to be authorities on the subject of marine birds came from as far away as Europe. I quickly found out southern Baja has been little explored and not much is known about what marine birds habitat or migrate through here. We sighted several different species not know to frequent these parts. The trip was a huge success and word spread rapidly through bird-nerd circles.

Since that time we have had requests to do bird watching trips every year. Each trip birders have agreed that the Sea of Cortez is rich with life and has an excellent bird habitat. It was interesting to sight and learn about the pink footed shearwater bird. They are only known to nest in Chili. I thought that was a long journey for a bird until sighting the south polar skua that came all the way from the Antarctic coast.

The most incredible sight we experienced this week was watching a south polar skua bird take down a boobie bird. Not seeing it with my own eyes I would not have believed it. I would like to thank John Shemilt for sharing some of the images he captured of this event while on Jen Wren III.

We witnessed this south polar skua come out of nowhere and knock a boobie bird out of the sky

The skua pounced on the boobie when it landed in the water

The boobie bird was in distress

Trying to fight back

The skua would have no part of it

The skua bird pecked unmercifully

The boobie tried to escape

The skua bird was just too powerful

What a battle!

In the end we drifted too close which distracted the skua. The boobie flew away and all agreed our presence saved it's life.

Walking the beach in front of Rancho Buena Vista one morning I sighted this Yellow Bellied sea snake. Never a dull moment in Baja!

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SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO NOW?
Early this week we experienced some rain. Then we got more rain. I was beginning to think it would never stop but after 3 days it finally did. This weather brought low pressure that not only made boat rides uncomfortable it also shut the great fishing we were experiencing right down.

Then the rain stopped and the tuna popped. The bite has been a little different every day but boats willing to go the distance and take the time have been rewarded with limits. The fish have been from 20 to 35 miles off shore. Sometimes we are finding them with spotted dolphin and sometimes they are just breezing.

Most mornings, using our gyro binoculars, we have been able to spot working birds in the distance which is always where the tuna are feeding. Finding the fish doesn't mean they are going to bite right way though. Yesterday first thing in the morning the tuna charged the boat and bit everything in the water. The day before they were foaming around the boat but we couldn't buy a bite. It was a matter of just working hard, having patience and waiting until the fish decided to cooperate.

I had a little difficulty with a group this week that didn't have the faith or patience and made me leave the scene before making the score. It was very frustrating to go the distance, find the fish and have to leave them. I learned many years ago you don't leave fish to go find fish.

It has been a little inconsistent for boats targeting Marlin, Dorado and roosterfish. Sometimes they will go but it is the tuna that has been pure action.

Below I have posted a few random photos from this week of smiling anglers.

Great Sea of Cortez sunrise

We have been knee deep in tuna scoring limits every day

Halco Laser Pro 160's and 190's have been our secret weapon for tuna and dorado

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WEATHER OR NOT!
After enjoying several days of outstanding weather and a great bite The wind started blowing and turned everything around. Yesterday about 11AM we experienced quite a thunder storm with lightening cracking and a down pour of rain. Our arroyos were running and we were getting some much needed rain. I'm sure our local farmers, ranchers and live stock all have big smiles and are doing a dance.
By nightfall all was calm and we were getting mixed forecasts. Sometimes it is hard to predict weather in a tropical environment where there is a potential for almost anything to happen. I was awakened at about 2 AM to the sound of doors slamming in our home from strong winds. In a short time the wind stopped and the rain started to poor. Now it appears we may get rain all day.
The fishermen we had scheduled for today elected to pass and give it a go tomorrow. I did see several resort boats depart this morning.
It was almost on this date one year ago we experienced similar conditions. On that date the rain didn't keep our fishermen back. They were rewarded with a killer day landing tuna and billfish.

JD is getting a little wet but it is just adding to the fun of battling a marlin

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HELLO AUGUST!
August has arrived and East Cape is experiencing the most consistent bite of the season. Schooling yellowfin are being found by fleet boats from Punta Perico to Los Frailes and providing limits for most targeting tuna. Some schools are just breezing while the better grade of tuna are with porpoise. Sailfish have been consistent for a while and now big blue marlin are bending rods.

It is my opinion and observation that our season has finally kicked into gear but it is about a month behind. We are normally knee deep in Yellowfin starting early May but this year they didn't arrive until June. Traditionally blue marling fishing turns on early July but it didn't happen this year until August. Looking ahead it is going to be interesting to see what fall brings.

Blue marlin finally show.

Dana Presley battles her first ever billfish and starts with the bar set high.

Dana's estimated 300 pound blue marlin

Diego releases Dana's fish

Sailfishhave been in the same area as the blue marlin

Reece Presley catches her first sailfsih

Siblings Rylee and Bryce both hooked up to their first tuna

This was the Presley families first visit to the East Cape. Look at the smiles, I have a feeling it won't be their last.

That is the end of my tale for this week

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EAST CAPE BLUES
It was another spotty week of fishing on the East Cape.

The weather has been about as nice as it can get. The water is 82 to 84 degrees and a beautiful purple blue. There is loads of flying fish, and birds everywhere. I just keep waiting for the bite to explode.

At the high spot off La Ribera red snapper and amberjack along with huge skipjack are providing action early mornings. Striped marlin and sailfish have also been plentiful but are a little finicky. Further off shore tuna cooperate and bite for a couple days and then disappear. So far they have been up and down all season. Boats go out and have a killer tuna day but then might not be able to find them the next.

This is the first time in history a qualifying 300 pound minimum blue marlin was not weighed for the EC Bisbee. There were some good moments for the tournament though. A 57 pound dorado was brought to the scale and a 213 pound yellowfin tuna. We thought the tuna had that division iced but the last day it was trumped by a 265 pounder. Yikes!

Bisbee shot gun start. These guys are here to have fun

Love seeing young fisherman with their first billfish. The smiles tell the tale.

Early morning snapper

Amberjack

Anglers were brought to their knees by big tuna this week

I don't think this method will work

Is there a doctor in the house. We had to preform surgery to get our Halco lure back. They are tuna candy

We took a few dandies this week. Thank you Accurate! Small reels, big fish!

Unloading Jen Wren

Jen Wren at Verdugo's dock

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TAKEN BY STORM
This week started right where last week left off with outstanding fishing. Limits of yellowfin tuna were almost a slam dunk as was picking off a billfish or two on our way in from the tuna grounds.

Saturday started out like most other days with calm seas and a gorgeous sunrise. Our fishermen had all the tuna they wanted from the previous day so we just ran a short way and plunked in the marlin lures to target billfish. We had only been trolling a few minutes when I watched a water spout form before my eyes. Over the years we have seen several water spouts but I have never been this close to one or actually witnessed one coming together. It lasted for several minutes and poof was gone.

Shortly after the waterspout dissipated we found ourselves in a severe thunder storm with torrential rain. The sound of thunder over our heads was deafening. The storm passed quickly leaving Diego and myself drenched in the bridge. A few minutes later a beautiful rainbow appeared.

The effect of this odd tropical weather was to shut down the great bite. All of a sudden bait is tough to come by, we are not seeing tailing billfish and tuna fishing has been a scratch. This is the third day of tough fishing and I can hardly wait for it to get back to normal.

Stormy weather has effected more than just the fishing. Rene Marin worked for us 2 1/2 years as a scuba instructor and guide before moving to Cabo San Lucas. He always did an outstanding job and I was sad to see him move on.
Friday afternoon I received a call from his girl friend Gabby in a panic asking for our help. She said under tough weather conditions Rene had taken a tour scuba diving to Gordo banks and had been missing since 11AM along with 4 other divers. I called everyone we know in Cabo that could possibly help. The Navy was notified and started a search as did a few of the independent dive shops.
Just before dark we received a report that some of their gear had been recovered but no divers. As darkness set in the situation was looking pretty grim.
Jen and I tossed and turned all night until about 3:30 when we received a call from Gabby that Rene was OK. He along with the other divers being in the water for more than 14 hours were able to swim to shore. I know it was Rene's leadership and competence that saved them all.

A beautiful sunrise with the silhouette of Jen Wren

Incredible water spout

Looking for that pot of gold

After 10 straight years visiting the East Cape Jim Durky released his 1st and 2nd Sailfish

Everything eats those Halco lures

Marlin release

Billfish Cowboy's are newest Team Accurate members

Rene Marin saving a baby hawk he found helpless in the water

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WHEN I GROW UP
All week our East Cape weather has been about as nice as it gets. Seas have been calm with daytime temps between 85 and 90 degrees. Water temperature has risen to above 80 degrees. Inshore it is still a bit off color but off shore we are starting to see that beautiful purple blue color.

In shore the outstanding roosterfish bite continues. Rincon, Punta Arena and La Ribera have been hot spots. Drifting green jacks has been most effective for the larger fish and slow trolling live baits has provided constant action.

Just a few miles off shore striped marlin have been very cooperative. Most boats targeting billfish are releasing multiple fish. It is a bit surprising not many blue marlin have shown up yet. Small skipjack, yellowfin and dorado are here in big numbers which is the main food source for the blues. With that it is my hope the big marlin won't be far behind.

Off shore 15 to 30 miles most boats looking for yellowfin are scoring limits of football sized fish. These fish are not on porpoise but are being sighted breezing on the surface feeding on red crabs and squid. Our secret weapon for these fish has been Halco lures. Cedar plugs are also working well but the Halcos are attracting a little better grade of fish. We stopped trolling hoochies because they are attracting more skipjack than tuna.

Quality sized yellowfin to 100 pounds have been found with porpoise schools. Getting them to bite has not been easy. Positioning the boat in front of the porpoise school and pitching in a live bait has been the most effective method. We have been metering a lot of fish at 40 to 60 feet but they just haven't decided to come up and bite yet.

This week it was a pleasure for us to have 80 year old Stan Rosenblatt fish with us. When I grow up I want to be like Stan. He has the enthusiasm of a kid and stands at the rail and puts bend in the rod with pressure on the fish like a younger man. In contrast we also had 18 year old Tanner Thuet with 4 of his buddies celebrating their high school graduation. How lucky can a kid be? His grandmother has a home on the East Cape in Buena Vista.

Stellar weather and spectacular sunrises

Stan is my idol

Stan gives em no slack

After fighting roosters in the morning Stan released 2 marlin and almost had a sailfish

Here is our future of America

Halcos are attracting everything. We even had a marlin smack one this week

It is tuna time! Here is Jen in her laboratory

Jen Wren Crew Chuy and Diego guiding a disoriented porpoise that beached itself back out to sea

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Thumping em
The last few weeks yellowfin tuna have been inconsistent, biting one day and not the next. This week was a different story. A huge volume of tuna has shown on East Cape waters and are feeding on red crabs. These fish are not on porpoise and we are sighting them breezing on the surface. Most boats targeting tuna are taking limits everyday.

The last couple days the bite has been good in the morning and then slowed. In the afternoon the fish pop back up and if you didn't get a limit in the morning it is a sure thing in the afternoon. Yesterday afternoon tuna were jumping and feeding in a huge area as far as I could see in all directions. Quality dorado are also mixed in along with a few striped marlin and bite while we are waiting for the tuna to pop back up.

Cedar plugs have worked well but Halco's have been our secret weapon. They have been the first jig bit on almost every stop.

Larger tuna to 100 pounds are being caught with the porpoise. We are able to see these fish in our fish finder but it has been frustrating trying to get them to bite. Pitching in a live bait in front of the porpoise school has been the most effective.

In shore rooster fishing has been outstanding. This week we were able to put several anglers on their first roosterfish. One afternoon we released a dozen fish in about an hour.

Gary Noble landed this dandy cubara (dog tooth snapper) while fishing for roosterfish

Might not have landed this snapper with a J hook

Halcos are fish candy

Quality dorado

I think this dorado must have escaped a gill net at some point in it's life

Skipper Chuy watches 4 anglers battling tuna

Love our Accurate reels

Taking em 2 at a time on Halco lures

We have been filling the fish box with tuna everyday

Bigger grade of tuna are starting to cooperate

Several of our guests caught their first rooster fish this week

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HIKE! HIKE!
It is about a month later than normal but football sized tuna have finally shown up on East Cape waters in big numbers. Their appearance is just in time to take over for the great dorado bite we have been experiencing that has started to fizzle.

It was a mixed bag for us this week with tuna, marlin, dorado and even a close encounter with a broadbill swordfish. Winning the KIR tournament tuna jack pot was fun but sighting the biggest swordie I have ever seen was the most exciting moment of the week for me.

Posted are a few random images we captured this week.

Typical East Cape sunrise on the water

Smokey Chris Moyers kids all got in on the tuna action

Sashimi time for Diego

Striped marlin action

Jen Wren going to work

Larry Jackson started his day with a nice dodo

Broadbill swordfish

What a sight!

King boobie stands above the rest on his own turtle

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SOME DANDYS!
This week the main East Cape action moved to the buoys about 15 miles off of Punta Pescadro where quality sized dorado have taken center stage. In recent years I can't remember when boats have been able to consistently catch this grade of fish. Lots of smaller schoolie sized fish are being caught as well but when the big dog bites hang on to your hat.

The marlin have moved to the same area but the bite has been a little inconsistent. One day they are up and the next day it's a no show

The Sea of Cortez never ceases to amaze me and something is always on the prowl. Because of off colored water and crazy currents yellowfin have not made their normal, predictable showing in numbers but dorado have taken up the slack. The dorado not only make good table fare but provide a great photo opportunity as well.

Below are some dandys we captured this week.

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Making the best better
Lots to talk about this week and too many great photos to choose from.

The end of last week Yellowfin tuna made their first showing. It looked like the East Cape was off to the races when a few different schools of dolphin were located all holding tuna. Then it happened. The water in the Sea of Cortez turned over to an ugly green color. With that, for now, the tuna have vanished.

The striped marlin bite has been very consistent and the off colored water hasn't seemed to deter them. The water appears to be clearing up now but was so off-color for a couple of days it made me wonder how the fish ever found our baits.

Getting the marlin to go has been ever changing. One day they will bite the jigs but have nothing to do with them the next. Large 5.5 sized lures have been best. The problem is the weight of the big lures helps the marlin throw them when shaking their head. It has also been an ever changing pattern with fresh baits. One day they are all over live bait and the next prefer ballyhoo. It has kept it interesting and also kept us on our toes.

Speaking of bait, the situation has been pretty grim. Sardines have completely vanished making in shore a tough proposition. We were able to make spanish mackerel and sardineta for several days but the porpoise found them and that was the end of that. Now live horalitos and frozen ballyhoo is the only option.

This week Accurate Jack Nilsen with his merry team showed up to field test some new Accurate prototypes. He had one of their new "Three Dawg" models and also some other secret stuff. The reels looked the same as older models but I was assured they had some new trick stuff on the inside.

Accurate reminds me of Apple computers. They already have the best product available but are always ahead of the curve looking for new ways to make it even better.

Jack is one of the luckiest fishermen I have ever encountered. The fish bite every time he visits. In four days we hooked 18 stripers and had many more opportunities. He invited different guests each day to fish with us and every one came away having released at least one marlin. It was a pleasure to have Rancho Leonero owner John Ireland out with us one day as well.

Call him lucky! The guy looks like the cat that just ate the canary

John Ireland ready to go fishing

Team Accurate with Jack and utility man Wayne

Kelly battles the first marlin of their trip. Accurate reels make it so easy.

Getting it all on camera

Secret stuff! There is a marlin on the other end of that line ripping it off the reel.

Nothing gets by Wayniac.

Here fishy fishy, take that bait.

Hooked under the jaw

Throwing the hook. Look close, the hook is in the white water in front of the fish.

Ever wonder why many of the marlin in photos have a torn dorsal fin?

We have grown to love those circle hooks

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A LITTLE BLOW MAKES EM GO
Fish has been awesome the last couple of weeks with marlin, dorado and in shore rooster fish providing quite a show. Catching has been a trick though. On calm days the fish just don't want to go. When a little breeze comes up, the chop on the water is putting fish more into a feeding mode. With it all, Jen Wren skipper Chuy Cota pulled off the hat trick with 2 of our groups this week.

The big East Cape news is yellowfin tuna have finally arrived. Yesterday we were on a school of spinner dolphin 30 plus miles off shore and could see a huge school of tuna with them. They were headed East and were 38 miles off when we left them. This morning another school just 10 miles off shore were located so it looks like game on!

83 year old Russ Sauer has been visiting the East Cape for more than 40 years. He still stands at the rail like a kid to battle marlin and has the same excitement as with his first fish. I want to be like Russ when I grow up.

The marlin have been numerous but very finicky.

Number one.

Denny is the "new guy" on Russ's team. He has only been coming to the East Cape for 16 years.

Number two!

Skipper Chuy pulls off the hat trick with Dave. Number three! Not a bad day in tough conditions.

The boys also landed a few dorado

Pam Gray lands our first tuna of 2012

I'll take em anyway we can get them. We lassoed 2 fish in one day. What are the odds? The fish are finicky and just batting the baits around. Luck trumps skill.

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CHAIN OF FOOLS

Striped marlin are thick from Rancho Leonero to Punta Perico. There are also a few nice dorado and some sailfish in the mix. All day fish are putting on an incredible and exciting show jumping, tailing and feeding. The fish are plugged with squid making it hard for anglers to get the bite. Seeing all the life has not allowed many dull moments. It has been action packed baiting fish after fish hunting for one that will go.

Early in the week there was a good rooster bite but they have taken the last couple of days off.

Live bait has been hard to come by. The bait pangeros have not been able to make bait at night so frozen ballyhoo has been the only option for purchase in the morning. It is a bit of a weird phenomenon because a mix of spanish mackerel and sardineta are coming to the surface about a mile off shore as soon as the sun rises. We have been able to catch the bait that won't bite in the dark for the pangeros. Sardines have completely evaporated and cannot be found anywhere. I was talking with some of the pangeros at Muertos bay and they believe the bait has just gone deep.

I captured this shot of a dorado puking up squid. Several of the marlin we released have been doing the same thing.

Chain, chain, chain. Fish are feeding on squid why not a squid chain?

It was a pleasure to have AFTCO's Greg Stotesbury fish with us a couple days this week. We have used AFTCO gaffs, gloves, harnesses and other hardware for years. Now they have a new clothing line with some very cool stuff.

Red Rooster skipper Andy Cotes vacationing at Rancho Leonero also got in on the action with some friends on Jen Wren. Andy loved the all Accurate gear on our boat.

Tom Shellenberger catching the moment

We are weeding through the lookers

Looking for a biter

This thresher shark took a skipjack we were trolling at 40 feet with our down rigger.

This weeks weather has been stellar

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TURTLE SEX

East Cape weather has been about as nice as it gets with calm seas and sunny skies.

Marlin fishing has been tough. Finding and sighting fish has been easy but getting them to bite has been frustrating. Boats are only getting one marlin out of ten to take the bait. Quality dorado has taken up some of the slack though. Fish as large as 50 pounds are in the mix every day.

In shore rooster fish and pompano are on the feed. Finding sardines for bait has been the key to success and not easy some days.

Yellowfin tuna have not arrived yet. I can't remember the last time we weren't knee deep in tuna by the middle of May. We did see a big school of them the other day in Cabo Pulmo Marine Park. That is a protected, no-fishing area but the sighting is a good sign of things to come.

Judy Montague got in on some of the great in shore fishing while staying at Rancho Leonero. She heard about Jen Wren and Leonero while fishing an Accurate long range trip.

Diego releases a rooster.

Judy hangs a bull dorado

Marlin are playing hard ball

We are working hard to get the bite.

Caught in the act! Baby turtles in the making.

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Fishing has been a real roller coaster. Early in the week striped marlin were in a feeding frenzy and giving anglers lots of action. Then the marlin slowed but big dorado showed. Just as the bite was getting into high gear a low pressure system hit and it shut off. The weather brought strong winds and we had a couple of pretty ugly days. Now the wind is gone and a huge volume of marlin have showed just a few miles off Punta Colorada. It has been easy to spot fish but they are finicky biters.

It has pretty much been the same roller coaster in shore. Roosterfish, pompano and jacks are on the rampage one day and just flat shut off the next.

This do-do was a dandy

Jen Wren crew enjoying a day off

Giddy up!

Diego boats a toad

Love our Accurate reels

I couldn't let the crew catch ALL the fish

There were a few sailfish mix in the action this week

Beautiful when they light up

Who says there are no orcas in the Sea of Cortez. We saw this big male off La Ribera and we received a couple reports of other sightings.

Next week I will be off guiding SCUBA tours on a private yacht. We will be diving from Ceralvo Island to Gordo Banks and everywhere in between. My 19 years experience as a PADI SCUBA instructor and thousands of dives guiding underwater tours in the Sea of Cortez landed this adventure for me. With this I may not be able to post up a fishing report.

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Marlin bite, lines go tight!
The week started out with breezy weather and a tough bite. Working hard we were still able to scratch out a fish or two everyday and managed to get a few of the folks that fished with us the experience of catching their first marlin.

As the week progressed weather calmed and game fish went on the rampage. From Punta Pescadero to Punta Arena boats are sighting marlin jumping, tailing and feeding on baitfish in a frenzy. Mixed with the marlin are a few quality dorado and sailfish. Schools of bait that was just puddling early in the week is now balled up tight and being pushed around by gamefish.

In shore is going off as well with Roosterfish on the feed.

It seems the Sea of Cortez has come alive. Not only are anglers experiencing excellent fishing they are sighting a parade of interesting sea life. Sea turtles, porpoise and whales are putting on a show.

I was able to capture an incredible amount of great photos this week and have posted some of my favorites

East Cape Angler's club champion "Buena Vida" departing at daybreak.

This marlin is lit up and ready to take the bait

The Adams party having a party

Marlin start to cooperate

Fish have been good size and putting up epic battles

Troy Buzzell experiences his first marlin

Lucky break! This fish was never hooked but we were able to bring it to the boat for a release.

Nine year lot Ervis with the largest dorado of his life. Pictured with his proud father Jen Wren III deck hand Diego. Smaller Accurate 2 speed reels have changed the game so even a 9 year old can make it look easy.

Quality dorado are starting to show

76 year old Chango Cota battles a marlin.

Hanging with a tough crowd. We pitched a bait into a school on marlin in a feeding frenzy and hooked a sailfish

I believe tuna will be along soon. We metered fish under these porpoise but couldn't get em to go

Jumping whales

More than a little tail

Caught these turtles in the act of making baby turtles. Sorry for the disturbance.

18 year old Lisandro Cota hung a huge thresher shark just beyond Jen Wren's mooring

Lisandro with fishing buddy Luis Amador. The shark measured 11 1/2 feet long.

The bite is so good I couldn't stand it and got in on the action.

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WHAT SIGN ARE YOU?
In shore pompano, sierra mackerel, jacks and an occasional roosterfish are providing anglers loads of action.

In Palmas Bay from 5 to 10 miles off shore a large volume of striped marlin have shown and are jumping, tailing and feeding. To coin a description from our friend Gary Graham fishing the marlin bite right now is like "playing Whack a Mole". By the time we get to the feeders they are gone. We are able to slide right up on tailers as they are not being spooked by the boat but are not interested. Big jigs, small jigs, every color in the rainbow, live bait, dead bait, down rigger daisy chain, spreader bar and every trick we can think of has not turned them on. It reminds me of when I was young hanging out in bars. Using my best lines it wasn't often I could get one to turn.

There has been lots of wahoo in the area. They have also been finicky and not very interested in artificials. We did get one to go on a Halco GT jig the other day but a trolled bruja (ballyhoo) seems to be their preference. We have been plagued with short biters.

The good news is conditions look right. It is fun seeing loads of bait puddling along with game fish. It is just a matter of time for them to turn on.

One more note I'm excited about.

Just got word from Bart Hall about the winner of the grand prize of the Fred Hall show. The prize this year was a five day trip for 2 to Rancho Leonero, 2 days fishing aboard one of the Jen Wren boats and Jack Nilsen of Accurate reels is to be the host. Plus a $1,000 to be applied toward airfare and ground transportation was also included. The person that won met his wife while on a trip to Rancho Leonero. Because of the hard economy he has been unable to fish much so this trip is very meaningful to him.

Short biting wahoo has been frustrating

Tailers

Jumpers

Feeders

Fliers!

Jen Wren provides part of the grand prize at the Fred Hall show.

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My heart almost stopped

East Cape weather has just been spectacular. All week we have enjoyed calm seas and warm days. In shore the water has become crystal clear and off shore is warming and turning a beautiful blue.

Biz was slow and I wanted to go fishing so I made a deal with 11 year old Roberto to charter Jen Wren III for the day. When we departed I had broadbill on my mind. First thing in the morning we made the candy bait for our target when a small skipjack ate our hoochie.

Arriving at my favorite swordie location we started trolling. We could see some bait breaking on the surface and everything looked right. Suddenly catching something out of the corner of my eye my heart almost stopped. The instant thought in my head was IT'S A SWORDIE! Turning my head for a better look and confirmation the two fins rose higher above the water. Crap! Just a mako.

All the charter boat skippers know I'm obsessed with catching another broadbill and always call us on the VHF to tease me if they spot one. It is OK because we are getting good dope and I'll take it.

We did have a great day. Roberto landed a nice dorado and we saw loads of sea life.

Doesn't get much nicer than this.

Roberto battling a nice dorado. Only 11 and you should see him pitch a bait and stroke on a fish. The kid showed up wearing his Costa's and decked out in Pelagic gear. He'll be a chick magnet in a few years.

Candy bait

I've got swordie fever. Now is the time they show in East Cape waters

Was disappointed when it was just a mako.

Check out all the pilot fish under this turtle. Conditions are right and the place is going to pop

We just got this tigerfish from the taxidermy. Anyone who catches one while on one of our charters gets a free trip.

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Cover of the Rolling Stone not!
After a winter of continuous boat maintenance this week we launched Jen Wren III for the season. Yesterday was our shake down trip and it appears all of our hard work has paid off.

Eight to ten miles off of the lighthouse schools of bait are starting to puddle up in the blueish 70 degree water. This is a sure sign of good things to come. We sighted jumping marlin, tailing sailfish, and milling dorado and wahoo. Early in the day I sighted a wahoo following the bruja (ballyhoo) we were trolling. It took some coaxing to get the fish to finally bite. As luck would have it, the bite was short and the wahoo took the back half of the Ballyhoo slicing it in two.

With that experience we quickly deployed a couple wahoo jigs. My favorite is a Halco GT jig and the Rapala X-rap. After trolling the area where the first fish bit we had a double hook up on the hoo's.

All week the weather has been about as good as it gets. Also there are a lot of fish in the area but they are just not quite ready to go. It is good enough that everyone is bringing home fish but they are not turned on enough to take limits.

Jen Wren III's winter home

Fishing tackle CHECK, cold beer CHECK, Let's go fishing!

Two wahoo milling around. They are easy to spot in the calm water

What's left of our bruja

Diego Romero with our first wahoo of the season

Wearing my new AFTCO wahoo shorts I landed a wahoo for dinner

Now here is an incredible story. Cleaning the wahoo landed on our Halco we found a piece of our bruja in it's stomach.

Lots of sea turtles at the fishing grounds.

It's not the Rolling Stone but fishing the Jen Wren our friend Gary Green made the cover of the Gringo Gazette.

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From go to slow
Early in the week we experienced an incredible bite of quality yellowtail off the high spot at La Ribera. Lots of boats were there and everyone was bent. Several came away with limits. That same afternoon billfish were very aggressive from the light house to Los Frailes charging at lures and baits presented to them.

The wind blew for a couple of days and everything changed. Today we could see yellowtail in our fish finder in the same location where the action was early in the week but now only a few boats were able to get them to go. Off shore we sighted marlin, wahoo and sailfish but they were more finicky than Morris the cat.

Early in the week we were lettin em go

Today they put on a show

But none would go. These 3 tailers just flipped us the fin

This loggerhead turtle reminded me of Charlie Brown's friend Pig Pen

I lost count of how many turtles we sighted

Today we found what was left of this odd looking squid. Big fins, short mantle, huge eyes, I don't think it is a humbolt?

A small dorado provided dinner and gave a little action

I found this odd critter at the waters edge on the beach in front of the boat yard at Rancho Buena Vista.

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EAST CAPE ROCKS!
The bite is sick! East Cape is having the best yellowtail action I have ever seen with fish that look like they are on steroids plus striped marlin have shown up with a big appetite.

I love providing the catching experience for first timers. Gary and Cindy Green of Chico CA stopped by with their daughter and granddaughter to set up a fishing trip on Jen Wren. Cindy was very reluctant stating she never had any luck and wanted the rest of the family to go without her. I explained that there was a good chance of sighting whales, porpoise, turtles, sea lions and other sea life and that a great time could be had without catching fish.

Yesterday Cindy elected to join the family and what a time it turned out to be. 15 year old granddaughter Shai-Anne and Gary both landed nice yellowtail in the morning. Then we headed a little further off shore where Gary caught and released his first marlin ever. Shortly after that we spotted 4 tailers in a group and hung 2 of them. Gary and Cindy battled both fish to leader and we released them.

At the end of the day Cindy had not only seen all the sea life hoped for she had also released the largest fish.

15 year old Shai-Anne with a dandy

Proud grandfather with their first yellowtail

It was exciting when the first marlin exploded out of the water

This fish put on quite a show

Gary has the first-timer smile

Now husband and wife have doubles going

Uh-oh! One is heading south while the other heads north. Thank you Accurate Reels! I love you guys.

It is choas!

Cindy's fish is a monster striper

Finally got em going the same direction. Gary is really putting on the heat.

First fish to the boat

Here comes number 2

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LET THE GAMES BEGIN

I just returned to the East Cape after 10 days in the Los Angeles area. Visiting family and exhibiting at the Long Beach Fred Hall fishing show was the main purpose of the trip.

Exhibiting at Fred Hall was work but it was also loads of fun seeing old friends and making new ones.

During the time I was gone this place has gone from windy winter conditions to warm beautiful spring weather. More boats are being put in the water everyday and everybody is buzzing about how good the bite is. A big volume of yellowtail has moved in on most of the high spots up and down the coast. Many quality fish south of 40 pounds are being landed daily. Striped marlin have also become more active and showing in bigger numbers. The most exciting news to me is the sighting of a couple of broadbill swordfish. That news gives me goose bumps.

I walked by this sign in the Long Beach convention center for 4 days in a row before my brother pointed it out to me on the 5th day. The prize included 2 days fishing on Jen Wren. If the Hall people would have put a fin on it I might have spotted it sooner.

Me and Jennifer ready for the thousands of fisherman that visited the show

Reports of swordies have me psyched. Bagged this one on my birthday in May. Trying for one in March this year

Just threw this in for kicks. Once in a while I will find a sea horse on our anchor line near the mooring ball. I put this one in our bait tank for a few photos before turning it loose.

My buddies said the show was good for me because of my never ending line of BS. They could be right?

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