Betsy and I just returned from a ten-day visit to our youngest daughter’s home in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico (aka Los Cabos). Cabo is on the very tip of the thousand-mile-long Baha Peninsula beneath California. The Sierra de la Laguna Mountains separate the Sea of Cortez from the Pacific Ocean, and other than what has been developed, the very dry terrain is desolate brush and cactus. The temperatures ranged from the low 80’s during the day to 70’s at night. The wind, except on the water, was negligible.

LuAnn’s home was of stone walls, marble floors, and tile roof. The great room included the dining area and living room. The south wall of that room, approximately 25 feet of retractable sliding glass doors, opened onto a covered terrace that contained a covelike fireplace and chimney on the west. A lawn, much like a putting green, separated the terrace and swimming pool that was framed by manicured palms and beautiful hedges of scarlet-colored Bougainvillea. Looking south from the terrace offered an incredible view of the Sea of Cortez with its fishing charters, sailboats, and parasailers.

I began my non-fishing days with a dip in the pool and a short bask in the sun. The glass doors remained open until bedtime. This incredible setting offered Betsy and me a long time coming reunion with our three daughters as our family hadn’t been together since summer 2019.

On our first full day, we went to Chileno Beach where we able to snorkel and observe beautiful fish. Jacques Cousteau once called the Sea of Cortez “The Aquarium of the World.” Rightly so. Our second day included ATV side by side riding on the Migrino area’s desert with its thousand-year-old cactus as well as the Pacific coast’s beaches and magnificent surf. Sandy Arroyos (dry river beds) led us to the ocean. We found the Pacific side cooler and windier. Non-fishing days also included trips to quaint towns such as Todos Santos and San Jose as well as a sunset cruise where Betsy, unfortunately, became seasick.

We booked a half day – five hour fishing excursion for Monday the 19th, our third day, and Lisa, our middle daughter, and I met the captain in the Cabo Marina at 6:00 A.M. I didn’t know quite what to expect, but I guessed that we wouldn’t venture too far out for a half day’s action. The quest for my bucket list dream, a marlin, would probably have to wait for the full day’s action scheduled later in the week.

Before I get into the fishing action, I need to talk about my being susceptible to seasickness. Other than taking two Walgreen motion sickness pills an hour before departure and skipping breakfast, LuAnn gave me two elastic wristbands to slip over my wrists. I needed to wear them so that the imbedded beads on the bands put pressure between the two tendons on the insides of my wrists. Called Nei Guan (P6 or PC6), it is used to relieve nausea and motion sickness. Dr. Laurie, our oldest daughter, also recommended Nei Guan. Whether it was the pills, Nei Guan, or both, I didn’t get sick on either outing.

With Lisa and I seated in fighting chairs on the stern, we trolled parallel to shore along the arches, around the cape, along the Pacific side, and back with an outrigger on ether side. These rods pulled surface lures. The rods on the corners pulled deeper diving stick baits. The action was slow with Lisa losing the first strike as she brought it to the boat. We caught three fish altogether on the surface lures – a Spanish mackerel and two albacore-like fish.

On the return trip along the arches, the first mate rigged an outfit with a live bait similar in size to a crappie. With the baited hook ready in the live well, we approached the rocky shoreline. He repeatedly tossed the live bait into the rocks without success. I later learned that he was targeting rooster fish. As we approached the harbor, a seal, supposedly named Poncho, climbed onto the transom and begged for our bait fish. Minutes later a pelican landed on the transom and dipped his beak into the live well and helped himself. In spite of the slow action, the arches and coast in general were spectacular in the dawn’s early light. I’m especially grateful to Lisa for looking out for her dad.

See you next week with a play by play on a spectacular striped marlin.