Quality gear like these Penn International reels are the norm aboard
Cabo San Lucas charter boats so you don't need to bring your own when you're chartering with any of the companies listed on CabosBest.com.
NAVIGATING OUR CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING GUIDE Here's what you'll find in this section - just click and go!
If you love billfish like we do, then you need to be using circle hooks when fishing live or dead baits. The unique design reduces billfish mortality up to 90% when compared with common J hooks as they tend to hook in the corner of the jaw as opposed to the gullet or stomach.
FISHING LIVE BAIT WITH CIRCLE HOOKS SO WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH CIRCLE HOOKS?
Bring up the subject of circle hooks and the average angler will roll his eyes back and make some type of groaning noise sounding his disproval. “Can’t trust ‘em”, “I’ve tried but can’t hook the fish”, “I keep losing fish, it’s just to hard to get a good hook set.” Talk to a pro and you’ll get a completely different story.
Accomplished anglers around the world, including Ron Hamlin who recently released his 20,000th billfish, will tell you that hook-up ratios are higher and lost fish are very, very uncommon. In fact, pros like Ron will tell you that the old-fashioned J-hooks lose more marlin and sailfish than circle hooks… unless you have no clue on how to effectively fish them. People hate change and these “new” hooks require a big change in technique before the J hook angler becomes a convert.
First off, circle hooks are anything but new. It’s hard to know when they first came about but early versions of the concept where used by Pacific Islanders fishing snag prone reefs. Tired of constantly busting off leaders, these fishermen modified their J-hooks bending them into a rounder, wider arc and twisting the hook point inward just ahead of the barb. The result – less snags, more fish. Since then, circle hooks have evolved into the ultimate conservation tool for responsible anglers – non-offset, thin wire carbon-steel circle hooks.
To prove that circle hooks dramatically reduce trauma, a recent comparison study was conducted in Iztapa, Guatemala in order to assess the impact of circle vs. J hooks with both live and dead bait on Pacific sailfish. The results were dramatic and clearly illustrated the benefits of circle hook use not only in regards to billfish survival post-release, but also in hook-up percentage and efficiency.
A total of 360 Pacific sailfish were caught with 235 on circle hooks and 125 on J-hooks. Significantly more sailfish were deep hooked in the throat and stomach with "J" hooks (46%), as compared with circle hooks (2%). Only one sailfish (1%) was foul hooked using circle hooks, while 11 (9%) sailfish caught on "J" hooks were foul hooked. Sailfish caught on "J" hooks are 21 times more likely to suffer hook-related bleeding than those caught on circle hooks.
Circle hooks, like the Gamakatsu's above, are proven to dramatically increase survivability of marlin post release, but they also increase hook-up efficiency as well.
We know the why of circle hooks, now here are some tips for how:
• Standard hook sets are your enemy. Instead, allow the fish to take the bait and swim away. Slowly increase drag pressure until the line comes tight, then lift the rod tip slowly, at this point a short jerk can be used to pull the hook through the jaw, but most times it’s really not necessary.
• Circle hooked live baits are a proven method. Run the circle hook through the baits back just behind the eyes or through the nostrils. Experiment with hook placement on various live bait to find the spot that allows for the most natural swim.
Artificials like this ballyhoo from Williamson Lures are very effective when rigged with circle hooks. Other favorites of ours are their Little Tunny baits... very fishy!
• Circle hooks are not just for live or dead bait! Many tackle manufacturers offer pre-rigged artificial baits – Williamson Lures being a prime example – or you can rig your own artificials quickly and easily.
So there you have it. Circle hooks work for the angler and the fish. The results are stronger, healthier fish for better fights and healthier releases with the added bonus of hooking and landing more billfish than ever before!
VIDEO: RIGGING BALLYHOO ON CIRCLE HOOKS
Here's a short video on rigging ballyhoo on circle hooks we filmed for IGFA Angler's Digest. While it was filmed in Guatemala, the technique used in Central America is equally effective
in the waters off Cabo San Lucas. Click the play button in the video player above.
TEASE AND SWITCH? IT'S THE MOST COMMON WAY TO CATCH MARLIN IN CABO SAN LUCAS
Just about every place on earth where there is good fishing and good fishermen, there are bound to be arguments about what the best method for catching fish is. Well, here in Cabo San Lucas, when you're talking about marlin fishing, it's hand's down the "tease and switch" – and you won't get any arguments about it, it's just that effective.
It's nothing complex. In fact, it's fairly simple once you understand the dynamics.
The premise is that in order to cover a lot of water and find the fish, we'll drop trolling lures into the water and set up a spread of anywhere from 4-6 lures set out a different distances and positions behind the boat. We'll work the water looking for all things fishy like temperature and current breaks, flotsam or weed lines, and of course porpoise and birds, especially frigates. What we're hoping for is to spot a marlin up on the surface or raise a fish with our trolling lures. Sometimes we'll get a blind strike and a hook up on the trolling lures, other times, we'll troll with hookless teasers just to get the fish excited.
Once we do raise a fish or spot a tailer or sleeper up on top, we're looking to pitch a live bait right in its face. If we spot the fish coming up the spread of lures behind us, we'll start reeling the lures in to "tease" the marlin closer in to the boat and as it follows the lure in, we slide a live bait back right along side the lure it's following.... thus, the "switch." Many times, the fish is off to the side of the boat and as the Captain swings the boat into a good position to present a bait, the angler casts the live bait in front of the marlin.
Don't worry if you're not an accomplished angler or are new to this style of fishing. The crew will pitch the bait and/or do the work involved in the "tease and switch" for you. Once the fish is hooked, they'll hand the rod off to you to do battle. Once you start to feel comfortable with the gear and the process, ask the crew to let you do the work yourself next fish.... they're always happy to help you learn and there's nothing like the sense of accomplishment you get when you reap the rewards of doing the work yourself and doing it successfully.
TIPS & TACTICS FOR CATCHING BLACK MARLIN IN CABO SAN LUCAS Blacks and blues are the most targeted species on the Los Cabos tournament circuit and big-dollar tourneys like the Bisbee’s Black & Blue attract a fleet of boats and an army of competitive anglers to Cabo every year. So, what’s it take to up your odds of landing a winning fish? A little knowledge, a lot of work and a little luck go along way and I’ll try to help by passing on things I’ve learned about targeting black marlin in these fish-rich waters. Some of it comes from firsthand experience but I wouldn’t be able to teach you a thing if somebody – and in my case an armada of somebodies – didn’t share their wisdom with me first.
Unlike other marlin, blacks live only in the Pacific. They are considered by most marine biologists to be a continental shelf species – meaning that they tend to remain near landmasses and are unlikely to be found in open waters. Perhaps that characteristic contributes to the black marlin’s more deliberate nature. Black marlin are more likely to remain in a specific area for longer periods of time, move slower than a blue or a striper, and feed in a more methodical, systematic way. Like all marlin, they are opportunistic feeders but differ from the others in that they are known to consume loads of reef fish. Hunting areas of structure for grouper, snapper and other reef fish, the black develops more of a territorial personality. Blacks caught and released in one area are often caught again in the same spot weeks later.
Marlin fishing in Cabo San Lucas usually means trolling teasers to entice and casting bait to get bit. Although live bait accounts for more successful hook-ups, hook-ups on lures and dead bait are common. Dead bait is especially effective on blacks. The how and when to present both live and dead baits comes a little later. For starters, let’s set out a spread that does the job.
Color plays a big role when selecting your trolling lures. Sometimes, simple colors like a black/white soft-head lure is all it takes
to entice a savage bite.
First and foremost is color when choosing lures that are effective on black marlin. Proper selection and occasional changes can mean the difference between coming in with flags flying or being skunked. Remain flexible, if the colors you have out aren’t working, change them out one at a time letting a little time pass between one change and the next. For me, I usually start with a mix bleeding dorado patterns, black/white with blues/purples (skipjacks), and guacamayas – named after a breed of Macaw that sports feathers of red, blue, green and yellow.
Set your lures out in the proper positions using the wake waves as your guide. Run your stinger (the center of the spread) back to the sixth swell in the center of the wakes “vee.” Your long rigger should be placed back at the fifth swell, the short at the fourth. Use your corners too. Set the long corner to the third swell and the short corner to the second. Adjust each lure so that it’s on the front side of the wake, trust me, it makes a huge difference in the action. On the front of the swell, the lure pops and chugs without leaving the water. Park it on the back of the swell, and sure, it’ll pop and maybe chug but it’ll also get yanked right out of the water as swells come into play. Pay attention to the “smoke” trail of each lure. They should leave a long trail and should break the surface well without leaving the water completely. That spray of water coming off the head of the lure is the single greatest factor in causing a reaction strike so ensure that each lure is running right. If it doesn’t look right, pull it in and make sure it’s not fouled in some way, fix the problem and send it back out.
Drag pressure plays a critical role in hook-up ratios on trolled lures. I recommend setting them to about 12 pounds, a little less on the outriggers. In my experience, more hook-ups occur on light drag then heavy.
While playing the waiting game, keep a look out for tailers and have at least one, preferably two, pitch-bait rigs at the ready. When a strike occurs, be ready to cast baits back to where the strike took place. Missed strikes happen, but when they do, don’t give up on that fish! If you’ve had a knockdown but can’t see the fish, an effective method of enticing a second strike is to free spool the struck line for a ten count and twitch it sporadically while dumping line, switch back to striking pressure and crank, crank, crank!! The drop mimics injured prey, the twitch helps sell it, and the sudden retrieve can turn a mildly interested black into a wildly interested black. If the drop and crank doesn’t work, turn back towards the strike zone and get ready to cast bait.
The first bait I send out blind, meaning we still haven’t spotted the marlin, is the dead bait. Cast it on the inside of your turn and leave it in free spool holding the line loosely between your fingers so that you can feel it get picked up or billed but can still let line spill off the reel. Once back to the fourth or fifth lure, return the drag to near-strike pressure. Let the dead bait float and dump throttle letting the boat drift for a moment before reengaging throttle. If you spot your quarry, cast the live bait in front of it while bringing in the dead but be ready to re-cast it to the fish as well. Blacks are deliberate feeders and may prefer the ease of picking up the dead bait to chasing down a livey.
Should no strike occur but you spot a marlin coming up the spread, drop back both a live and dead bait and try to put them right in it’s face. At times, marlin will come up mouths wide open and a seasoned angler can literally drop a bait back right down its throat. Dead bait is easier to position than live in this instance and are often jumped on, especially by blacks.
Once you’ve managed to hook your black, know that while blues are faster, blacks are stronger. Get on the fish fast, any opportunity to break its spirit early is welcome and should be taken. Black marlin don’t have the tendency to go deep like a blue will, they prefer to stay at a depth of 100-150 yards when they do run down. At the most, expect them to go as deep as 300 yards but very rarely deeper. Get on the fish quick and take every opportunity to bring him up to the surface – and work, work, work. You’ll most likely be rewarded with an awesome exhibition of power with jump after jump to quicken your pulse. Breaking a marlin’s spirit fast means more time for you to get another, a greater chance for a healthy release plus the added bonus of the spectacle of a close-in fish going airborne and putting on a show.
Using some of these techniques and armed with knowledge of the species, a recent trip with Baja Sur Sport Fishing Commissioner, Oscar Dacarrett, rewarded our group with not one, but two black marlin – each over 300 pounds. Onboard were my partner, Dolores Peralta, Oscar Dacarrett, Gladston Texeira - business associate and friend of Oscar's, and myself. Captain Cesar and first mate Christopher are well-experienced fisherman and one of the best crews I’ve had the pleasure of fishing with. We set out from the marins in Cabo San Lucas in search of marlin, more specifically, big black marlin. September is traditionally one of the best months for targeting blacks and that’s when we were there. So with tackle prepared, a full tank of fuel and plenty of cold drinks (okay, mostly beer), we set out on a course toward the Gordo Banks.
After reaching our destination, where 85 degree azure blue water met with a solid but not to speedy current, we set out our spread and marked the moment with a cold beer, the first sip sacrificed to the sea to pay homage to our prey. Mere moments later, a short strike on the long rigger triggered a scramble to the stern and the process of turning a knockdown into a hook-up began. Although the marlin that struck the lure was nowhere to be seen, the struck line was free-spooled, a ten count pause, and, you guessed it… crank, crank, crank! Although there was no immediate second strike, the rod now in it’s holder and back on the rigger, no more than a minute or so passed whe we heard the sound we all love, zzzzzzzzz..... the second strike on the same lure!
A strong hook set was made and the battle began. Once the first run stopped, immediate pressure was applied to the fish, pumping up and reeling down to get back spent line. Several runs later, with constant attention paid in order to take advantage of brief “breathers” taken by the black, it was now on the surface and leaping. Jump after jump followed by a straight-up vertical lunge right at the boat kept all onboard whooping and cheering. After an exciting 30 or so minutes, we had a 350 pound black marlin alongside the boat in great shape and ready for release. Caught, photographed and released, this beauty would live to fight many more battles for many more years.
Getting a black marlin to the boat quickly means they'll have a much higher survival rate post-release.
Where there is one black, they are often more. Our spread was reset and we were back on the troll within minutes and soon we had black number two hooked up. This one opted to go deep and remained so the for the majority of the fight with only one series of jumps to entertain us. Gladston had never caught a marlin, let alone a big black. He worked on this fish for over two hours and ultimately won the battle. A 300 pound plus black marlin fights like a horse and when it’s pushing 100 degrees with little or no breeze, you get hot, real hot. After landing our second black of the day, a jump overboard into the warm yet refreshing blue water was much earned. Hard work led to great fun and amazing memories.
So, remember that not all marlin are created equal. Know how to adapt to each species and your success rate will climb. Keeping pressure on the fish makes for a shorter, more efficient battle. The angler’s strength is conserved and the marlin is much more likely to survive post release having not been completely exhausted. So remember to keep your eyes on your spread and your ears listening for the scream of a hot reel!
MORE FISHING TIPS FOR LOS CABOS Many anglers ask whether or not they need to bring their own gear with them when choosing to fish Cabo San Lucas and the Sea of Cortez. The answer we give is that it really isn’t necessary if you book your fishing charter with one of the more reputable charter services in Cabo. In general, most boats are equipped with sufficient gear including rods, reels and lures. Some anglers prefer to use their own gear and if you do, here are some of the basic rules of thumb for the Cabo Region.
Make sure your rods & reels are in the best working order and it’s always a good idea to perform a good servicing on your reels and load them up with fresh line. Baja’s fish are tough and vary in size so having tackle in 20, 40, 60 and 80-100 lb classes is a recommendation we always make.
Pre-rigging some of your favorite lures with 100lb-400lb test leader line is also advisable; go heavy when targeting larger billfish and tuna. The more abrasion resistant the leader line, the better. Lure colors that out-perform others are: green & yellow, green & orange, Dorado patterns, purples and blacks, Mexican flags (green, red and white) and pinks.
Feathers in any combination of the above colors also work very well. In addition to trolling feathers, Rapalas in silver & black, blue and silver, orange and green can produce some terrific jig strikes when feathers won’t. For anglers targeting Wahoo, Marauders in purple & black are a good idea. Although the lures listed work very well, experimenting with Rebels, trolling spoons and others have often proved very successful.
Setting up for live bait rigs is a precise science. There are several different ways to rig live bait. The Mexican skippers simply attach a 9/0 chrome stainless mustad hook, with a 250-400lb, 8-12 ft leader. They then run the hook through the bait’s nose. Other techniques include wire threading and attaching the live bait hook to the baits forehead.
Bait availability changes constantly down here so we suggest leaving the live-bait rigging to the locals who know what bait is available and how best to rig them. If you still choose to rig your own, bring stout leader lines, a hook selection that ranges from 4/0 to 10/0 including circle hooks, wire leader and crimping tools and supplies.
If you are looking to track down and hook-up with grouper and snappers, bring a selection of weights from 4-16 ounces to get the bait down to these hefty rock-dwellers and make sure to use short, stout rods with strong line (60 lb is a good idea). You will need to get on these fish quick and horse them away from structure that can and will bust you off!
The bottom line is that charter services here can provide everything you need to target the species you prefer, but bringing your own specialty gear never hurts.
Photo of a giant Humboldt Squid taken while fishing in Cabo San Lucas
GIANT HUMBOLDT SQUID FISHING IN CABO SAN LUCAS Not too many things get me more excited than the prospect of hooking and landing big fish. The mere thought of setting the hook on a 300 pound marlin, hearing the scream of the drag as the fish pulls off line and watching the acrobatic leaps that follow really gets my heart pumping. Fortunately for me, a two and a half hour flight and a 30-minute drive is all it takes to find myself in the “billfish capital of the world”. What more can a sport fisherman ask for?
Well, for starters, variety. Just like biting into a randomly selected piece of chocolate, when you set out the trolling lures here in Los Cabos in search of the next big one, you just never know what it will be. Different seasons bring different possibilities as does different sides of the Baja peninsula. The diversity of game fish here never ceases to amaze me, and even a slow day on the water offers the opportunity to see some of the oceans greatest creatures. Whales, porpoise, sea turtles and bat rays that often school by the hundreds and perform what almost appears to be a choreographed routine of synchronized
jumps.
The Guerita II is a 34' Crystaliner that charters out of the Cabo San Lucas marina.
On a spring trip to Cabo in late march of this year, my partner Dolores Peralta and I had another opportunity to experience the diversity of life in these nutrient rich waters. Jacqueline “Jacquie” Lee, owner of Guerita II, set us up for two days of fishing with Captain Efren Beron Zamora and crewman Jesus Alfredo Espinoza. Efren has a lifetime of experience as an angler, guide and captain and has a love of the ocean that rubs off on crew and passenger alike. The Guerita II is a tournament rigged 34-foot Crystaliner equipped with everything the avid angler could need or ask for – Shimano Tiagra 50 wide LRS & Penn International reels, Shimano Black Steel IGFA rods and an outstanding selection of lures, this wide-beamed fishing machine boasts top-of-the- line electronics to help get you on the bite fast.
This day we decided to switch to the Sea of Cortez side of the cape and concentrate our efforts on some of the in-shore species that Los Cabos waters offer up. One of the benefits of a pre-dawn start is the experience of viewing some of the most spectacular sunrises you’re likely to find anywhere in the world. The skies here light up with all the colors of an artists canvas with the endless reflection of the ocean surface. Everything is bathed in reds, oranges and yellows and the sky appears to be on fire. The sight alone makes the trip worthwhile.
The rising sun paints the sky in vibrant hues of red and orange as the fishing fleet leaves the harbor and enters into the Bay of Cabo San Lucas.
The Guerita II cut through the calmer waters of the Sea of Cortez with ease by benefit of the natural windbreak that the East Cape coast provides. We set out a mix of CD 4 Rapalas in a sardine pattern and started to work the underwater ledges and rock piles in search of sierra or Spanish mackerel, dorado or tuna. We ran across pods of porpoise working bait schools to the surface. These working pods often hold schools of tuna just below that pick off bait from the edges of the bait ball but today, we found just the porpoise. Off in the distance, Captain Efren spotted surface activity and turned the Guerita towards it.
Within minutes we were surrounded by thousands of Humboldt squid. Denizens of the northern most portion of the Sea of Cortez, these alien looking creatures have slowly made their way down to the southern tip of the Baja in recent years. With tentacles reaching up out of the water like some kind of extra terrestrial meat eating flower, we watched in awe as they fed on floating red crab. Just about anything we tossed into the water was immediately engulfed by the toothy tentacles of the squid and with constant pressure and slow pumps and reeling, we brought them to the gaff.
Legends abound about the ferocity and strength of the Humboldt squid and while many of these tales are true “fish stories”, there is ample credible evidence of the potential for injury and even death from these marine cephalopods. Recently, a Discovery program featured an in-depth study of the Humboldt squid in the Sea of Cortez. During times of agitation, such as when these animals are being fished by fleets of pangeros who make a significant share of their income from the sale of the tasty beasts, they can and do become very aggressive. One pangero spoke of his encounter with the squid with fear and respect. While working a large school, he lost his balance and fell into the water. Within seconds, several five to six footers locked onto him and began to pull him under, all the while biting into his flesh with their impressive and powerful beaks. He managed to free himself and make his way back to the surface and into his panga, scared and exhausted. The scars that he showed tell the tale all to well. He also told of others that did not fair so well, never making it back to the surface.
While events like those have occurred, the squid are usually no more than curious about visitors to their domain. It is the frenzied activity caused by fishing these creatures that creates the aggressive and often cannibalistic behavior. Divers have been able to get up close and personal with the Humboldt squid when no fishing pressure was present, all without being attacked or harmed in any way. The aggressive behavior and flashing of colors associated with a feeding frenzy brought on by fishing pressure is simply not a normal occurrence, but more a reaction to the situation at hand. You need not fear the squid but make sure to stay away from the business end. Tentacles with hundreds of toothed suction cups lead to a bird-like beak with incredible power. Ink on the other hand can reach you from astonishing distances as my partner, Dolores, can testify.
Here's a video clip of an underwater encounter with Humboldt Squid in the Sea of Cortez.
While fighting a squid estimated at about fifty pounds, she experienced the jet blast of a Humboldt squid firsthand. As the squid was gaffed, Alfredo jumped off to the side leaving Dolores directly in the path of what seemed to be gallons of ink shooting from out of the squid. In a split second she was covered head to toe in the slimy, dark liquid. Being the trooper that she is, she laughed it off, wiped herself clean and tossed her line back out to catch another one. By that time we had been joined by over a dozen other charter boats and pangas and everywhere you looked, people were battling these impressive animals. Great fun, an awesome sight and great table fare was the end result. We left the spot having boated 3 squid and cleaning the ink from the deck of the boat.
MINERVA'S BAJA TACKLE: AN INSTITUTION IN THE FISHING GAME IN CABO SAN LUCASThe name “Minerva’s Baja Tackle” suggests that you’ve found the right place to load-up on fishing tackle designed to conquer Baja gamefish. You have, but Minerva’s is much more than just a tackle shop… here you can find the right gear, the right boat and the advice you need to make the most of your time on the water.
Anglers know the role that quality gear and a wide variety of lures and terminal tackle plays in hooking and landing fish. When the fish you're after run into the hundreds of pounds, perform acrobatics like circus veterans and have the strength of a freight train, you'd better be set up and set up right. Good news, whatever you need to handle Cabo game fish, you'll find it at Minerva's Baja Tackle.
Bob Smith with his right-hand man and fellow dirt drag racer Luis inside Minerva's Baja Tackle in Cabo San Lucas.
Started over twenty years ago when the port village of Cabo San Lucas was but a flyspeck on a Baja map, Minerva's Baja Tackle is the product of a love of fishing and the courage to start a business that the owners knew little about running. Bob Smith, former transmission repair shop owner and recreational fisherman, first thought about the idea of owning and operating a fishing tackle shop after having experienced the thrill of fishing the pristine waters of Baja Sur long ago. So with the love of the sport and the area in his heart, he asked his wife, Minerva, how she'd feel about making a major change in their lives. He showed her where it was he would like to be and with her strong sense of adventure, she decided to follow Bob in pursuit of his dream. Let's see, trade a toolbox and customers you only see when they have a problem for a tackle box and customers that only see you when they're happily arranging for a day on the water. Hmmm... not exactly that hard of a choice, is it?
When they first arrived in Cabo and set up for business, there were a total of 12 boats, a few small hotels, dirt roads and no marina. As a matter of fact, when they acquired their first boat, the local game warden rented it from them. Soon, the word was out that if you were searching for a place where the most sought after game fish in the world congregated in huge numbers just a mile or so offshore, Cabo was the place to be. The rest, as they say, is history.
Minerva does a whole lot more than just sell tackle and charter boats. In fact, she's a leader in the conservation of sport fish in Mexico and was recognized by the IGFA with it's coveted Conservation Award in 2008.
Minerva's Baja Tackle has grown into one of the most successful local businesses catering to anglers. The shop now boasts the largest selection of tackle in all of Baja, and if you venture into the store, you'll have to agree. It's like a candy store for sport fisherman. Everywhere you look you're met with a rainbow of colors in the form of trolling feathers, hard-bodied lures like marauders, rods, reels, terminal tackle and clothing for the hard-core angler. The only problem you'll have is running out of cash or room on your credit cards as the selection makes it difficult to stop adding more items to your purchase list.
Bob and Minerva stock only the best gear as they know that the species targeted in these waters will test the equipment to the limit. Penn reels, Calstar rods, Aftco roller guides, Luhr Jensen marine electronics - all par for the course here. In addition to the quality of the merchandise, prices are more than fair. Add over 32 years of experience fishing these waters and the knowledge and advice that they give out are worth their weight in gold, though Bob and Minerva dispense it free of charge with childlike glee. From first-time Cabo anglers to stoic veterans, anyone who wanders in looking for a bit of local information walks away feeling as if an expert themselves.
The Minerva III is a 31' Bertram, the most popular 31' foot sportfisher used in Cabo San Lucas, is a fast and roomy platform and an inexpensive charter boat.
The two have managed to grow from a one-boat charter operation and small-scale tackle shop to a four-boat fleet with all the trimmings one could ask for. Their fleet now consists of: MINERVA III, an extremely fast 31' Bertram Sport fisher powered by a pair of 250 HP turbo charged Cummins that just went through a stern-to-bow retrofit and refinishing; and the flagship of the fleet, MINERVA IV, a 40' Custom Sport fisher powered by twin Detroit diesels that sports two big game fishing chairs; Minerva V, a 33' Ocean twin engine; and the Minerva VI, a 33' Tiara also with twin diesel engines and a fighting chair. Not bad for folks that knew nothing about the business and the difficulties associated with it.
All of the boats in their fleet are equipped with sophisticated electronics designed to find fish, but it is the Captain that really finds them. Think of the fish-finders, depth finders and sonar as tools, they only work if the one handling the tools knows how to use them. The most important tools in Capt. Gutierrez' arsenal are his eyes and years upon years of experience fishing Cabo. The day that we had on the Minerva III was in the middle of a decidedly slow period that was preceded by wide-open conditions just a week or so prior. Unusually cold water made it's way into the area and the fish responded accordingly by scattering in search of warmer, bluer water. Be that as it was, we really didn't expect to catch much of anything, if anything at all.
Enter the skill of a qualified Captain and a fast boat. Scanning the horizon, Gilberto spotted a pod of porpoise far off in the distance about 8 miles out from the lighthouse on the Pacific side of the Cape. With remarkable speed, we were on the spot within minutes and positioned just in front of the porpoise, our spread of trolling lures set right in front of them. Finding feeding Porpoise is one of the ways to find tuna or other game fish, especially when conditions are tough. Within minutes, drags started screaming and we were on. The bite lasted about an hour before the school scattered, but due to the work of both Gilberto and Vincent, we experienced several multiple hook-ups and landed every tuna hooked!
We spent the balance of the day trolling further out looking for marlin or swordfish but spotted none. Vincent came to us and asked what we would like to do, willing to stay out on the water long past what the normal return time should have been. Both Captain and First Mate were more concerned with making sure their clients were happy with the results of the day than about when their already long day would end. That kind of service and genuine care make the trip more than worthwhile, These gents work hard to get you on fish and have a great deal of fun doing it. Vincent, whom speaks better English than Capt. Gutierrez, is one entertaining individual keeping us smiling and laughing the whole day.
We opted to head back in, knowing that conditions were tough, and having been lucky enough to boat five yellowfin tuna from 15-30 pounds, we hoisted our flags and motored our way back to port. While traveling back in, we had more time to talk with our crew and the more we talked, the more we admired them both. Service is a pet peeve of mine, when I feel that I'm not getting the service I should, I complain. However, when I get more than I ever expected, I rave. Here it is, a rave review from a pretty hard person to please. These guys know their business. Bob and Minerva run a damn fine fleet and tackle shop. Need to know where to go when searching for quality boats, quality crews and hands-on, genuine owners? Look no further, Minerva's Baja Tackle has all the above in heaping portions.
One last thing, even if all of Minerva's boats are already spoken for, which occurs often, they'll refer you to other boats that they have personal knowledge of and take no commission for arranging the charter for you. When someone does something for no compensation, it's a great indicator that the referral is made strictly based on who fishes hard and consistently and not based on lining one's pockets. My hats off to them both for the success they've achieved and the service they provide. Bravo amigos and we'll see you soon.
Minerva's Baja Tackle is located in downtown Cabo San Lucas at the corners of Marina Blvd. and Madero. To reach them by phone, call 011 52 (624) 143-1282, or visit them online at www.minervas.com. As mentioned before, their boats and crews are excellent so demand is high, book well ahead of time to make sure you get the boat and the days you want.
SO, WHAT DO ALL THE FISHING FLAGS MEAN? Many folks contact us regarding what the various sport fishing catch flags that fly off the outriggers of boats returning from a day of fishing mean.
