Conference wahoo::fishing-v2

I have spent a lot of time dreaming about a billfish.  My chances are better at
getting a giant bluefin first, which will probably diminish the billfish
experience somewhat.  I am still very much interested in someday catching and
releasing one.  I have a 25/30# outfit that I would like to test against a big
sailfish.

Tim

    
    When I got married 3 years ago my wife and I chartered a 48' Cape
    Hatataris (sp) out of Kona in the Hawaiian Islands. We got a really
    good deal by going down to the marina the day we landed and booking 
    on an open boat ($500). This was a 9 hour trip. The great part about
    fishing out of Kona was that as soon as you left the harbor the drop
    off of th reef was like a 1/2 out so fishing could start ASAP. I was
    there in Mid to Late June and I did catch and release one fish (Blue)
    estimated at 230 pounds. It was an outrageous feeling! The captain and
    mate were great and my wife and I had an excellent time. The boat had
    A/C, Color T.V., Microwave, etc.
    
    
                                                          Guy
    

Microwave, color tv? 

Bah Humbug.  Tell us about the engines, the outriggers, the tackle, lures, etc.

    A few years ago while fishing off the fishtails in the Atlantic
    Canyons, about 120 miles off Montauk, we tied into a white marlin
    that was about 8 to 9 feet long.  Our target species were yellowfin
    and bigeye tuna and as I recollect we had 7 or 8 in the boat that went
    between 80 and 150 lbs.  Most were caught night chunking with
    butterfish and live ciera mackeral that we were catching on trout
    rigs as they invaded our chum slick.  The usual pattern was hundreds
    of macks in the slick, then catch a dozen or so that we could live line
    on single tuna hooks.  When these macks vacated the chum slick we would
    get ready for whatever would be chasing them away.  I remember the 
    excitement and anticipatiion because we'd be fishing all night long and
    the best bite was after midnight on cloudless skies.  A couple of times 
    I remember being spooled by some large creature that would tireout 
    four rather beefy guys as we would try to turn around the fish with
    magnum 130# test and big Penn reels.  Fishing at night we couldn't 
    easily get off the anchor as we would with a big tuna hooked during 
    the day.  Typically we where set up with stand up rods and no fighting 
    chair at night.  During the day with the fighting chair we could 
    easily backdown on a big fish and stay somewhat in control, but at
    night if we left our hookup even with radar and loran we would have both
    a hard time finding our spot and securing our anchor. So the motto 
    became "stand up and fight" and we'd boat 60% of our hookups on a good
    night.  Tuna was running $2 to 3 per pound when we were meatfishing and
    we would stay out in the canyons until we loaded the ice chests.
    
    Back to the white marlin, when we hooked up the fish acted very
    different breaking water several times, we thought we had a MAKO
    initially and that his teeth would cut the line quickly.  When this 
    did not happen we hit the spot lights and saw quite a bit of tail
    walking and began to view the iridescent shine of a billfish.  As the
    fish became less green we opened the aft door of the 32ft RAMPAGE and
    hoped we wouldn't get speared by the bill.  However, the fish had more
    strength than we had thought and as he gor closer managed to wined 
    around the trim tabs.  Quick thinking and a handy boat stick enable 
    us to cut the line and retie it onto another rod.  After the fish tired
    out we boated it and decided to keep it to either mount and/or eat,
    since it was our first marlin.  The tail half smoked very well and
    tasted more the texture of pork not fish.  We have since landed smaller
    white marlin and released them.
    
    I've sought billfish off Puerta Vallarta and caugth only tuna,
    currently saving frequent flyer miles for a trip to Cabo San Lucas.
    I understand one can rent a large  motorboat with guide and get into 
    billfish if the season is rigth.  Anyone out there with some Cabo
    stories would be appreciated.
    
    Paul
                         

    Hi Paul!
    
    I've been fishing in Cabo in July this year and it was great. I was not
    fishing directly in Cabo San Lucas but on the East Cape which is said
    to be teh bettes marlin fishing region in summer.
    
    In 4 days of fishing I got: 1 black marlin (app. 300 lbs)
                                1 striped marlin (app. 120 lbs)
                                6 sailfish (80 - 100 lbs)
    
    All fsih were released.
    
    On the last day I hooked a 400+ lb blue marlin, but I lost the fish
    after a short 15 minute battle and a dozen of jumps.
    
    The locals said fishing was slow due to El Nino the warm water current.
    
    I stayed in the Hotel Playa Hermosa which was great.
    
    I will come back next summer.
    
    Regards
    Paul

    Thanks for the info re. Cabo and vicinity.  Now that its getting frosty
    in the Northwest I stay in shape on my rowing machine with the setting 
    on max... Forget the electronic feedback.  I close my eyes and I see
    the beast tailwalking on coral seas.  Who will win... who will tire
    first... Just thinking about I can smell the salt in the air.

    I lived in Panama for four years.....many many years ago(30) and
    there were a lot of blue marlins an bills caught of the eastern
    coast.  Today, however, the climate may not be as good...as the U.S.
    phases out and turns the "Canal" over to Panama. I also drove up
    to Nicaraugua and fished off the west coast and, although we didn't
    fish for the bills, we got plenty of dolphin...the fish.
    I have also had good luck off the Keys in Florida.
    
    Some of the less advertised areas hold good fish as well.
    
    Hawaii, Mexico, Florida are favorites of the easy access fisherman.
    These tend to be fly in and fly out trips.  I would not necessarily
    recommend the tougher places unless your interests include more than
    fishing and you are not pressed for time.
    
    Jim

    I'd like to try to revive this old note.
    
    In 2 1/2 weeks my family and I will be in San Cabo.  I'm trying to talk
    them into letting me do a day, or half day of fishing while wer are
    there.  Does anybody have any idea what I should expect there at the
    end of February?  I don't think it is marlin season, but supposedly
    they still catch sails and tuna (and other stuff I'm less interested
    in).  
    
    Thanks for any help.
    
    Mark
    

     I think you have a decent shot at catching marlin. January is a good
    months for billfish, and I think february is too. I don't think the
    migration starts much before march or april, so you should be in for
    some good fishing. Let us know how you do.

    We just returned last night from a week at the end of Baja.  We had a
    great vacation - beautiful beach, lots of sun, and very reasonably 
    priced.
    
    I was there with my wife and 2 kids (ages 9 & 5, & the 5yr old was
    sick), so my fishing options were somewhat limited.  We did go out on
    a "panga" for the morning, and boated 3 nice tuna (about 25 pounds
    each).  We might have boated many more, but those fish were a bit
    much for my wife and kids!  
    
    We drifted with live sardines not far off the tip of Cabo San Lucas.
    the Tuna would occasionally bunch up enough bait to crash the
    surface.  It was awesome!
    
    We saw a whale and one marlin doing a tailwalk while we were out.
    They do catch striped marlin year around there, but the bigger blue
    and black marlin are more in the summer.  Without the family, I
    probably would have taken a shot at marlin, but I was afraid they
    would be bored if we trolled for hours with no luck.
    
    I highly recommend the place.  The fishing scene was incredible.  Most
    of the fish were in close so you didn't need a huge boat.
    
    It's really tough to get excited about ice fishing here in NH after
    that trip!
    
    Mark,