Cabo Striped Marlin Report - lots o' pics

[LuckyDrew]

Nice shorts buddy!

[Nimrod]

awesome report. great pictures. what kind of camera were you using?

jemche - The smallest and least expensive camera I had laying around. It is a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-L1. 4.1 Mega Pixels. I've had it for a few years.

Congrats on a great trip with your buds. I wonder why the crews over there haven't embraced circle hooks yet? Saw a couple of your fish bleeding. Did the crews tell you why they don't? Just curious

Wire - I enjoy fishing all over and experiencing the way others fish. The day I went solo I almost missed my first fish because I did not do the Jersey Jerk. I mentioned to the crew that I was used to fishing with circles and they offered to use circles. I elected to fish the way they normally fish for most of the day and switched to circles with similar results later in the day when we had to replace one of the rigs. There was a bit of a language barrier and we did not get into a discussion as to why they generally fish with Js.

We fished with different crews each day we were there and all used Js. They were using very short shanked Mustads. Several of our fish were hooked right in the corner of the mouth where you might expect to find a circle hook and many were hooked deeper. I don't recall seeing any of the fish hooked in the bill where you might expect a trolled J-hook. When I go back I would like to use more circles and see what difference it makes as well as take advantage of practicing with them in an area with mutliple bites.

[extraction]

Capt. Paul

Check out this link and then click on the video. This Quick Rig Bait Bridling Kit is the tits. This little tool and clips are really catching on here in Cabo and I would say the hook-up percentage is 95%.

The Circle Hook sits perfectly on top of the head and is great for pitching baits or slow trolling live or dead baits. It takes about two seconds to rig a bait. I couldn't get my crew to try them when I first brought them to Cabo over one year ago. They thought it was a democracy on the boat until I pointed out it was a dictatorship and I ordered them to use them. Now, they love them and use the Quick Rig exclusively.

http://www.quickrig.com/specialty_intro.html

Drew, I asked your mate where you bought your pink shorts but he wouldn't tell me.

[Nimrod]

Capt. Paul

Check out this link and then click on the video. This Quick Rig Bait Bridling Kit is the tits. This little tool and clips are really catching on here in Cabo and I would say the hook-up percentage is 95%.

The Circle Hook sits perfectly on top of the head and is great for pitching baits or slow trolling live or dead baits. It takes about two seconds to rig a bait. I couldn't get my crew to try them when I first brought them to Cabo over one year ago. They thought it was a democracy on the boat until I pointed out it was a dictatorship and I ordered them to use them. Now, they love them and use the Quick Rig exclusively.

http://www.quickrig.com/specialty_intro.html

Drew, I asked your mate where you bought your pink shorts but he wouldn't tell me.

I am very familiar with the QuickRig tool and agree it is the boobs....err....tits. I was thinking that it would be perfect down there and will bring mine along next trip. (I might also bring my own fighting belt and Thumb Dinger as both would be helpful down there)

The QuickRig tool is also great on dead baits too such as eels and dredge baits. Still playing with it on trolled ballyhoo. We've sold several of them but they haven't quite caught on up in this area. But used with any bigger live bait it is an awesome tool that puts the hook in perfect position and helps keep the bait kicking.

Glad to hear it is working well for you and your crew.

[PurpleCedarPlug]

Great pictures and report Paul. Heard you were down there.

Looks like you had a blast. Thanks for sharing..

[traveler]

I fish Cabo 200 days a year so let me give you my first hand knowledge on the Circle Hook, J-Hook debacle. First, it's a disgrace that more boats don't use Circle Hooks in Cabo. I can tell you that I would guess that over 80% of the private boat owners use circle hooks and you can reverse that percentage for the Charter boats that don't use Circle Hooks. I'm not bragging (yes I am) but I'll go head to head with anyone in Cabo right now out at Golden Gate with me using Circle Hooks and anyone else using J-hooks and I'll kick your arse 99% of the time for total number of Stripped Marlin caught in a day.

I don't dispute your #'s, problem is most of the fisherfolk on those charter boats only get out once in a vacation, or a couple times a year (like me). Getting the word out on circles to the general public is waaaay more difficult than spreading the word amongst a few hardcore private boats; add in the cultural/language barrier and it's easy to see why most of the charters clientle just go with the flow.
But there are a few of us trying I had the opportunity to be an observer during the WCBRT and fish alongside Chris, Dave and the crews who are leading the charge for circles in Cabo. (even got in on the world record setting day!) So my eyes were opened to circles in a big way! And m doing what I can to further the cause...
Coincedentially, I've been fishing with the Redrum fleet for a couple of years now, and am doing my best to get them to make the change; I have a verbal commitment from them to begin the process of getting thier cappys to switch to circles, and I brought circles with me in October when I fished with them. (did really well too!) It's all about education, and theres no better way for them to see what circles can do then to stand in the cockpit and hook up! They really aren't used to thier customers doing thier own casting and hooking up, so I figure if they see me doing it, they must figure anyone can! It didn't hurt that on day 2 my hookup percentage was better then the mates who was still useing a j-hook
So it will take time, but the wind is blowing the right way I think.