Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, July 26, 1993 TAG: 9307260322
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FRANK W. ROGERS III
DATELINE: CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO LENGTH: Medium
Anticipating a trip earlier this year, I conjured up the notion in my mind that in a single day's fishing I would see, catch and release multiple black and striped marlin. I would then return triumphantly to Roanoke to confirm Cabo's worldly reputation. But alas, it was not to be.
Advance planning is important for this type of expedition, and I did none of it. I take the full blame and credit for this first mistake. After all, this was my wife Doris' and my honeymoon, delayed from our late August wedding. Why should I even think about fishing, especially since immediately after our wedding I took Doris to Oregon Inlet, where I fished in a tournament for two days?
But wait, I thought, this may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fish a known marlin hot spot. I decided to downplay the idea of advance preparation and hope that Doris would want to fish with me for at least one day.
Cabo San Lucas is one of two cities known collectively as "Los Cabos" which means, literally, "The Capes." Cabo straddles the peninsula where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez. This is, still, mainly desert area, but it also has a Caribbean feel with the beautiful, clear water and the tropical lushness of many of the resorts. Accommodations are widely varied.
I soon learned that the fishing opportunities and vessels also are varied. All of the major resorts assist in booking fishing trips.
Overwhelmed by the available alternatives, I committed my second mistake by booking a boat through the hotel, sight unseen. I opted for a slightly larger boat given the forecast of a stiff breeze and bumpy seas.
The next day dawned windy and overcast with threatening rain, the only day out of eight that was not sunny.
Doris and I arrived at the pier, as directed, at 7 a.m. A representative of the hotel was there, but our boat was not. We were advised that the captain had arrived, but the mate was late. After about 20 minutes, the mate did finally arrive and the boat was brought around to the pier.
As soon as I stepped on the boat, I began to fear the worst. It was absolutely filthy. Granted, the cleanliness of a boat cannot be an indicator of its crew in every instance; however, my very strong feeling is that a conscientious fishing crew will maintain its boat in, at the least, a clean condition. After a brief stop for five live baits, at $2 U.S. apiece, we headed for the Sea of Cortez.
As it turned out, the live baits were a waste of money. We never put them in the water. Instead, we dragged artificial lures all day within five miles of the beach. I expect that fish can be caught in those waters, but I also knew from talk on the docks that the billfish were being seen 15 miles offshore. At the beginning, we had the company of several other boats in our fishing area. As the day wore on, however, they moved offshore and we maintained our easternmost position.
Because we fished barely out of sight of the marina, we were one of the first boats back to the dock. Our boat ride ended at approximately 2 p.m. with only one tiny bonito to our credit. Needless to say, we never saw a billfish, much less had a chance of catching one.
The crew made their apologies in broken English while I reached the boiling point. I chose not to make my displeasure known at the dock, and instead made my complaint to the hotel's management.
I have received no response to my written complaint, nor do I expect to. I chalk this up to experience and hope that our boat ride can become a lesson for others. Some suggestions:
First, make advance inquiry and do some planning. Especially be mindful of the seasons and whether you will be fishing at the right time of year for what you would like to catch. After our fiasco, we learned that the best months for Cabo are October and November. Some striped marlin were caught during our visit, but not in the numbers that have made Cabo renowned.
Second, spend some time on the docks looking and listening. If you speak Spanish, you will be at a distinct advantage. Choose a boat that suits your budget but appears to be seaworthy and clean. Try to fish with a crew that seems to be interested in and excited about fishing. If possible, pick a crew that speaks English or at least enough English to communicate effectively.
Third, ask English-speaking locals for their recommendations. Do not necessarily rely on the hotel's crews.
Fourth, if you haven't done any of the above, don't go fishing. Enjoy the numerous other amenities Cabo has to offer. A relaxing day on the beach, I assure you, will beat an expensive, frustrating boat ride any day. Fishing isn't everything, it just seems that way. Cabo is to enjoy for all its virtues.
\ AUTHOR Frank W. Rogers III is an avid sport fisherman and a partner with the Roanoke law firm of Mundy, Rogers & Frith.
by CNB