The tuna bite has been ferocious lately, with football to wrecking ball size yellowfin schooling up and gorging themselves on squid, ballyhoo, and mackerel. Word spread fast in the sportfishing community about the potential world record, 405.2-pound yellowfin that was recently caught off the coast of Baja, and I for one was not surprised. Never have I seen more 200- to 300-pound class yellowfin busting baits on the surface and getting airborne than these past few months.
With the annual December arrival of the greenback mackerel, so too come the striped marlin in ridiculous numbers. Frigate birds have been guiding us to the marlin where live baits are being pitched 20-30 yards off either side of the boat for a hookup. After a phenomenal tournament season, with some of the biggest marlin in tournament history, we are still seeing the occasional 500- to 600-pound blue or black marlin charge the spread.
Ryan Donovan
RedRum Sportfishing
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
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