Kourtney Jackson was fishing with her family off Cabo San Lucas when the giant “cow” tuna struck.
A 10-year-old girl reeled in a 200-pound yellowfin tuna last month while visiting Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, from Washington D.C.
According to Pisces Sportfishing Fleet, Kourtney Jackson landed the massive tuna after a fight of only 45 minutes while fishing with her family aboard the 37-foot yacht BBII.
That’s impressive, considering that yellowfin tuna are powerful swimmers and larger specimens often require hours to bring to leader.
Also, catches of yellowfin tuna weighing 200-plus pounds are somewhat rare. At 200 pounds, they’re considered “cows.” At 300 pounds, they’re considered “super cows.”
For comparison, the world record for yellowfin tuna stands at 427 pounds, for a fish caught off Cabo San Lucas in 2012. (The catch of a 443-pound yellowfin, also off Cabo San Lucas, is pending record approval by the International Game Fish Assn.)
Pisces announced Kourtney’s catch via Instagram and viewers can swipe on the post below to watch a brief interview and see other notable catches by lady anglers that day.
Footage shows the marlin inside the harbor at Baja California’s tip. “Of course this caused huge commotion on the docks.”
Last summer we shared footage showing a sailfish – described by National Geographic as “the fastest fish in the ocean” – swimming inside Mexico’s Cabo San Lucas Marina.
The rare appearance was brief as the sailfish soon breezed back into bluer offshore waters, where it belonged.
On Sunday a striped marlin was caught on video swimming around the docks in the same marina, at Baja California’s tip, in another rare event that did not end well for the billfish. (See footage below.)
https://www.instagram.com/p/DA1HUZ5PCoc/
“So this happened yesterday… A Striped Marlin made its way into the Cabo Marina in front of our Pisces Office!” Pisces Sportfishing exclaimed Monday via Instagram. “The Marlin cruised around the slips seemingly confused in the shallow water.
“Of course this caused huge commotion on the docks and unfortunately for the Marlin a group of men caught it later on.”
Pisces spokeswoman Rebecca Ehrenberg told FTW Outdoors that the marlin was gaffed and hauled onto a dock.
Cabo San Lucas is billed as “The Marlin Capital of the World,” but most encounters occur in the deep blue – and most anglers release the marlin they hook.
But the marina, positioned where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez, is occasionally visited by creatures more commonly found in offshore waters.
Ehrenberg said a marlin entered the marina last year, too, and that in late August a school of large squid was captured on video in an “amazing sight” under the lights at night.
“Right in front of Captain Tony’s [restaurant] – calamari anybody,” Pisces joked via Facebook. “Maybe they came for the music.”
The term applies only to yellowfin tuna weighing 200 pounds or more. More rare are “super cows” weighing at least 300 pounds.
A 208-pound yellowfin tuna was landed Sunday off Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, helping to signal the start of another big-fish season at the iconic resort destination.
“COW TUNA Yesterday hitting the Pisces dock!” the Pisces Sportfishing Fleet boasted via social media. “This 208-pounder was landed by anglers Diego Bribiesca & Jesús Rodríguez aboard the boat Scale House (not a Pisces boat). The fish hit on a yellow/orange lure 35 miles out.”
Late summer and fall are prime months for anglers seeking to battle massive and immensely powerful yellowfin tuna, along with blue marlin and other prized game fish.
A yellowfin tuna earns “cow” status at 200 pounds. More rare are “super-cow” yellowfin weighing at least 300 pounds.
According to the International Game Fish Assn., the current world record was set off Cabo San Lucas in September 2012 with the catch of a 427-pound yellowfin tuna.
Yellowfin catches topping 400 pounds are exceedingly rare.
The Cabo San Lucas anglers were fishing for marlin when they spotted a deep-sea oarfish at the surface, being circled by sharks.
Part of the allure of deep-sea fishing is that you never know what you might encounter at sea.
But one can be reasonably certain that nobody would expect to encounter a 10-foot oarfish under attack by sharks.
The oarfish in question, a serpent-like denizen with crimson fins, was spotted floundering near the surface on May 28 off Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Local angler Tony Frasconi and friends, Ken and Gary, were fishing offshore when they saw the oarfish with its tail-fin missing while being circled by sharks.
Pisces Sportfishing Fleet interviewed the anglers after they returned to port.
“Incredible catch today in Cabo!” Pisces exclaimed via Facebook. “This beautiful 141-pound, extremely rare oarfish, was snatched from sharks by anglers in the vicinity fishing for marlin.”
Realizing that the oarfish was dying, the fishermen gaffed and hauled it aboard their vessel. The “elusive and strange” creature was donated to biologists in the Baja California Sur capital of La Paz.
In a separate Facebook post, Pisces added: “This deep-water species is seldom seen and rarely this big. This fish is also known as the ‘Earthquake Fish’ as folk knowledge says they only appear when an earthquake is about to take place.”
Because of their size and bizarre appearance, oarfish are believed to have spawned tales of sea monsters among ancient mariners.
According to National Geographic, they reside mostly at depths of 3,000-plus feet and can measure 50-plus feet.
“Although oarfish were likely the source of many historic tales of sea serpents and sea monsters, they are hardly dangerous to people,” National Geographic assures on its website. “Oarfish feed on tiny plankton and have a small opening to their digestive system.”
Although oarfish sightings are rare, several have occurred off Baja California Sur over the years, generally involving dead or dying oarfish.
Scientists believe that oarfish can be forced to the surface by storms or powerful currents.
In Japan, some people believe that an oarfish sighting could mean that an earthquake is imminent.
The Los Cabos region has not recorded any significant shakers since the oarfish was brought to port.
Nathan Browne’s catch could signal an early start to the season for catching giant yellowfin tuna off Cabo San Lucas.
A report from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, implies that the first “cow” yellowfin tuna of 2024 was likely caught Saturday after a two-hour fight in the Sea of Cortez.
“First COW of the season!? 270 POUND Yellowfin Tuna Caught Yesterday by La Playita local Nathan Browne on 50 lb test with live bait aboard his friend Miguel’s Panga,” Pisces Sportfishing Fleet announced Sunday via social media.
Cabo San Lucas has long been referred to as the marlin capital of the world, but giant yellowfin tuna attract international anglers every summer and fall.
A yellowfin tuna earns “cow” status if it tops 200 pounds. More rare are “super-cow” tuna weighing at least 300 pounds.
According to the International Game Fish Assn., the current world record was set off Cabo San Lucas in September 2012 with the catch of a 427-pound yellowfin tuna.
Yellowfin catches topping 400 pounds are exceedingly rare.
The woman seems more intent on gathering her belongings than walking away from the stray bull.
Lots of crazy things happen on the beaches of Los Cabos, Mexico, but being attacked by a bull has to be a rare event.
The accompanying footage shows a woman being knocked down by a bull that had just been harassed by dogs at La Fortuna in Baja California Sur’s East Cape region.
Unfortunately for the tourist, she seemed more concerned about gathering her belongings than walking away from the beast. (Video contains salty language from others imploring the woman to back off.)
#ENTÉRATE: Toro que fue confrontado por un trio de perros, había atacado a una mujer; los hechos ocurrieron en playa La Fortuna, en #BCS >> pic.twitter.com/ivcom0eqC1
The clip was shared via X by BCS Noticias under the translated description: “Bull that was confronted by a trio of dogs had attacked a woman; The events occurred on La Fortuna beach, in BCS.”
In the footage, the woman is rammed and knocked down by the bull, which apparently had strayed from a nearby ranch.
It was not clear if the woman suffered serious injuries.
A dive company in Mexico on Tuesday shared footage showing clients swimming with a large sunfish that was alien-like in appearance.
A company that specializes in shark encounters off Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, shared footage Tuesday showing a large Mola mola swimming with divers.
“One of the weirdest creatures in the ocean, THE MOLA MOLA,” Cabo Shark Dive suggested via Instagram. “We often see Mola molas during our ocean safaris, and they are super COOL and friendly!”
Mola molas (ocean sunfish) are the largest bony fish on the planet and can weigh up to 5,000 pounds.
Anglers vacationing in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, on Wednesday brought to port a blue marlin that weighed an estimated 1,000 pounds and measured an astonishing 14 feet.
Anglers vacationing in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, on Wednesday brought to port a blue marlin that weighed an estimated 1,000 pounds and measured an astonishing 14 feet.
Pisces Sportfishing, whose fleet was not involved in the extraordinary catch, reported via Facebook that the Minnesota anglers were aboard Dream Maker with Capt. “Cheque” Cervantes.
“Happening NOW in Cabo. Another ‘out of season’ Blue Marlin today, weighing in at 660 lbs and measured out to 169 inches; 14 feet!” Pisces exclaimed.
Marshall Ryerson, who arranged the charter, told FTW Outdoors that the marlin was so long and heavy that only part of the fish could be hoisted onto a local dock scale. Based on its 169-inch length and 69-inch girth, Ryerson added, the marlin’s weight was estimated at 1,000 pounds.
Anglers pose with blue marlin estimated to weigh 1,000 pounds
That would rank as one of the top blue marlin catches in the steeped history of Cabo San Lucas sportfishing.
(For the sake of comparison, a blue marlin caught by Pisces in 2019 weighed 814 pounds on an official scale after measuring 167.5 inches with a 66-inch girth.)
The marlin was caught by Caesar Larson and Luke Fox, who were among five anglers on a charter in search of tuna and dorado. The massive billfish attacked their lures five seconds apart and they fought the marlin with both rods for 90 minutes before it was alongside the 34-foot boat.
Ryerson, who said the marlin was in no shape to be released, addressed the greater challenge of transporting such a large marlin back to port.
“It took seven of us and every bit of energy from each of us to get the fish in the boat,” he said, referring to the anglers and crewmen. “After several attempts and help from the waves we were able to get the fish up and into the boat.”
Luke Fox (left) and Caesar Larson pose with marlin they caught off Cabo San Lucas
Ryerson added that the meat was donated to a local charity that benefits impoverished children.
Tracy Ehrenberg, who runs Pisces Sportfishing, told FTW Outdoors that a 700-pound blue marlin was landed a week earlier. Both catches were unusual because prime fishing season for blue marlin is July through October.
“However, there is always one big blue caught in the first month of the year,” Ehrenberg said. “Two is exceptional. But if you go back and examine the archives, the biggest blue marlin in my memory are caught out of season, like April or May.”
The marlin was donated to a charity that feeds impoverished children
Ehrenberg said the fleets are currently focused on striped marlin, which are more abundant during the winter, along with dorado and other small gamefish.
Catch-and-release marlin fishing is strongly encouraged in Cabo San Lucas, and the vast majority of anglers set their billfish free whenever possible.
The new layout will join Jack Nicklaus’ original course at the property that offers stunning views of the Pacific Ocean.
Jack Nicklaus will return to Mexico to build a second course at Quivira Los Cabos, where he designed Quivira Golf Club that opened in 2014.
The routing is in progress, and ground is expected to be broken by the end of 2022 for the as-yet-to-be-named new Jack Nicklaus Signature course. It will be laid out in the northwest portion of the 1,850-acre development in rolling desert foothills and valleys interlaced with arroyos, and the southern portion of the course will offer panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean.
“The first golf course at Quivira is a spectacular layout playing across a remarkable piece of property,” Nicklaus said in a media release announcing the news Tuesday. “Now, I am excited that design is well underway on the second course at Quivira, which should be stunning and equally as spectacular. I hope golfers who play the second course will enjoy the views, the quality of golf, and the challenge.”
The original course at the property, Quivira Golf Club, tied for No. 25 on Golfweek’s Best 2021 list of courses in Mexico, the Caribbean, the Atlantic islands, and Central America.
After a recent day of fishing, in stormy surf and vanishing daylight, guide Wesley Brough tried one more cast and reeled in a massive snook that could shatter a 20-year-old world record.
After a recent day of fishing, in stormy surf and vanishing daylight, guide Wesley Brough tried one more cast and reeled in a “monster” snook that could shatter a 20-year-old world record.
“We were getting ready to leave when we saw mullet flying out of the water and decided on a last cast,” Brough, a surf-fishing guide in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, told For The Win Outdoors. “I figured it was another roosterfish. Knowing there was not enough light for a good picture, I decided to horse him in and get him released.
“The fish was on the beach in about six minutes and it was definitely not a rooster. To our surprise it was a monster snook like neither of us had ever seen before.”
The Pacific white snook, caught June 28, weighed 51 pounds, 4.8 ounces on a certified scale in town. The International Game Fish Assn. world record stands at 47 pounds, 8 ounces. That fish also was caught off Cabo San Lucas, on July 4, 2001.
Snook catches are rare on Cabo San Lucas beaches. Brough, owner of Cabo Surfcaster guide service, was fishing for roosterfish with Matt Strehle on the Pacific side of Baja California’s tip, in surf generated by Hurricane Enrique far to the south.
“Winds were 25 to 30 mph and storm waves were stacked four to five waves deep,” Brough said. “The only things we had going for us is that the water was warm and there was bait in the area.”
Brough and Strehle were casting lures beyond the waves and retrieving them rapidly so they’d mimic fleeing baitfish. They were targeting roosterfish for catch-and-release photo opportunities.
“As the sun went down we started to see the bait get really nervous and we launched casts out over the waves into the bait,” Brough recalled. “I got hit right away on a big Savagegear stickbait and passed off the rod and it ended up being a 50- to 55-pound rooster.
“After pictures and a quick release we ended up repeating the process three casts later with a 45-pound rooster and a 25-pound jack crevalle.”
Brough’s next cast, in near darkness, produced the snook strike. He said he’d have released the fish but it was hooked deep in the throat and would not have survived.
On Instagram he described the snook, which measured 50 inches with a 30-inch girth, as a “sea monster.”
Brough said he fought the fish in accordance with IGFA rules and has submitted a record application. The IGFA typically makes a determination after several weeks.
–Images showing Wesley Brough with his giant snook are courtesy of Cabo Surfcaster
