Lots of fun on light line in high seas. Caught out of Cancun. Released alive, that's why I only have this pic. Capt'n and crew were real pissed that I didn't have it mounted. I told them I'd get a blank and put it together myself, seeing how I spent 17 years as a Taxidermist. It was a rather large specimen.
LDK

David, that is a beauty! Did he jump? Trolling or kite?

David,
That is a nice one. And you were able to keep the dorsal fin intact.
BTW, what's that you're wearing on your head? LOL

skipper was actually pissed because if you kept it, he would sell the meat locally( in spite of what they tell you)

Best time of year is January to March. Take the ferry to Isla Mujeres. Little more expensive but more american boats that time of year. Fishing is typically 20+ sails per day. Some days it can be slow and sometimes boats have caught 40+.

That fishery is all catch and release, dead bait and circle hooks. All billfish anywhere in the world should be catch and release. Money tournaments aside. If you want a mount they can make a fiberglass one using estimated measurements. Much cheaper and you are not killing the fish. Mortality on sport fish caught billfish can be 20% or higher so why take another.

Nice sail but thats not high seas. When you can look off the bridge and see fish swimming at eye level that can be considered high. The swell and the chop in the picture look like an average fishing day.

Nice fish David (although your cameraman needs to be dope-slapped; no reason why the whole length of the fish wasn't captured). Especially with C&R fishing, I at least want a decent pic for posterity!

Have to agree with TN John, though. I know these things can be kind of deceiving, but to this semi-salty New Englander, it looks like you've got no rollers, and only a 2-3 foot swell, max. Having been beat up more often than I care to recall in solid 7-8 footers running close together, in comparison those kinds of seas you had around here are called FAC: flat ass calm.

Cheers,

KG

Sorry for this long overdue reply, I had forgotten about posting this. Steve: yes, he jumped and tail walked but I landed him in half an hour. I was slow trolling a live Cigar Minnow. bluefin: I'm wearing a light blue bandana..lol. jdollar: actually, I had seen dead Sail's hanging on the dock and drying up in the Sun. Even hours later they were lying on the dock spoiling. Someone could have come along and picked it up but after about 7 hours in the hot Sun, I wouldn't want to eat it. TNJohn: I know it looks flat at the moment, but during the fight the seas were rolling. One moment I was looking at a wall of water, the next we'd be on top and I could see the fish jumping and tail walking. Had I not had a good hook set I have no doubt he would have gotten away. KG: my wife took that pic with a disposable camera. She managed to get 6 while he was in the water, but as I said, the seas were tossing and turning our asses all over the place. There was a couple from the UK and two young men from TX. They were hurling their guts out. I was fighting nausea myself. My wife was the only one on the boat that wasn't sick, but she was beat up by the time we returned to dock. I've been in much rougher seas, and 150 miles offshore, but these were even rollers that seem rather calm from this picture view, but it wasn't pleasant onboard that day. Wind was up too.
Regards,
David

I have to agree with Kamo Gari. When out albacore fishing, I love it when that is all the seas we encounter. Most days are 4-8 foot seas with wind chop on top. Then, there was the time we endured 16-18 foot seas on our way back north to San Diego....

Enjoy the calm days when you get them.