BIG EAST CAPE BLUE MARLIN FIGHT FOR 3 HOURS OFF CABO PULMO

Aug. 16, 2006, Frank Springer, Cabo Pulmo, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

I battled a blue marlin for three hours off the stern of the El Borracho out of Palmas de Cortez, just 4 or 5 miles off Cabo Pulmo. The captain said, "This fish is mucho mas more than 600 pounds." They are all saying easily between 700 and 800 pounds.

It fought on the top five or six times and threw his spike in great rakes across the water. And when it came completely out, there was more than 13 feet of fish lined on the horizon. It thrashed high into the air and the the tail cut the water to foam three feet wide.

The huge blue marlin took a plastic feather that was meant for big dorado, and the 6:1 Okuma wahoo reel was lined with 65 pound spectra and 50 pound mono top-shot. And the rod was only a $53 Ugly Stick.

I was able to bring the fish boat side, half way through the mono, three times, before it finally made its death run straight down.

Its momentum cooked off half of the spooled line before I could halt the drop and the current's pull.

The last two hours were spent pulsing the throttle in an attempt to "scope" the fish up, and then a rapid pump and grind to gain some line.

In the end almost all of the line was regained and the fish was straight below the boat when the little 50 pound mono slowly wore apart and the great fish settled back into the dark.

I possibly learned more about myself during that time than any photo would ever be able to reveal. This kind of experience could be a huge ripple on the surface of his pond.

Also aboard the Borracho were Bill Karr of Western Outdoor News, Jase Gallito Deemer, and Kate Springer.

(See "Mexico Fishing News" online for current fishing reports, photos, weather, and water temperatures from East Cape and other major Mexican sportfishing areas. Vacation travel articles, fishing maps and seasonal calendars, and fishing related information for East Cape may be found at Mexfish.com's main East Cape page.