By Larry Huff

It’s Monday morning. We assume our seats in the car and back out of the garage, well before daybreak. It is 29 degrees with a real feel of 21. We head up Interstate 85. As dawn casts an orange swath across the horizon, hundreds of red and white lights break the darkness, taunting us to join their controlled chaos as they form a constant barrage of obnoxious, pre-dawn light. It’s simply part of the deal; East Coast; congested drive up the freeway; airport bound. By the time the plane is wheels up, the captain informs us that it has warmed up to 34, real feel 26. Soon it will reach 40.

Exactly 24 hours later, we assume club chairs on the deck of a 42-foot vessel named Ni Modo and back out of the marina, well before daybreak. It is 60 degrees with a real feel of — well — 60 degrees. We head out to the Sea of Cortez. As dawn casts an orange glow across the horizon, hundreds of energetic porpoise break the sea’s surface, taunting us to join their carefree swim — as they form one of the most regal assemblies one could witness. But today, it’s post-coffee — courtesy of Pisces Sportfishing, Cabo San Lucas. It’s simply part of the deal: Land’s End; Baja Big Sur Mexico; carefree cruise out to sea; fishing waters bound. By the time the boat is at full speed, the captain informs me that it has warmed up to 62; and my guess is the real feel is 54, thanks to a refreshing breeze generated by the big craft’s cruising speed. Soon it will reach 80.

As much as I missed breakfast with our children Monday morning, I must admit that this deal is hard to beat. It started with a peaceful Monday afternoon on the area’s most “swimmable” beach, followed by an incredible dinner in happening downtown Cabo, capped off by an early retirement and a wonderful night’s sleep in luxury accommodations at the emerging Hacienda — soon to be Cabo’s only five star luxury resort. And now this: an incredibly refreshing breeze; great friends to spend the day with; generous refreshments, and a super-friendly crew — not to mention the breathtaking scenery with the famous El Arco and the hills of Cabo visible off the starboard side. And, of course, the reason we came here: the opportunity to fish the legendary waters off Cabo San Lucas. Now I know why John Wayne came here 50 years ago to fish these waters and kick back in Cabo — this place is simply unrivaled.

Just like “The Duke,” we came here not merely seeking good fishing, but the best fishing. For starters, Cabo is one of the world’s few locales where marlin can be caught year round. Striped marlin up to 200 pounds and even larger blue and black marlin, ranging from 200 pounds up to a whopping 1,000 pounds, are found here. And the smaller but lively Pacific sailfish, which range from 80 to 150 pounds, are also hauled into Cabo’s fishing boats.

Perhaps nothing establishes Cabo’s marlin supremacy like the incomparable Bisbee’s Black & Blue Marlin Tournament. This “super bowl” of bill fishing events is like none other. In 2006, Bisbee shattered its own world record with a payout of $4.1 million. In the Bisbee, a fish must exceed 300 pounds to qualify for the scales, and last fall one yacht — Bad Company 55 — captured a 361-pound blue on day one and a 422-pound blue on day two to dominate the event.

Not only is Cabo the marlin capital of the world, but great tasting fish like dorado (mahi-mahi), wahoo, tuna, seabass and mackerel abound here as well. And while “catch and release” is strongly encouraged for the bill fish, these smaller species reproduce in staggering numbers, making them perfect for dinner following a beautiful day on the water. With great guide services like Pisces, your catch can also be bagged and frozen to take home.

Our amazing Cabo fishing experience was hardly uncommon. As Hacienda reservation holder Rob Zolezzi attests, “I’ve been coming here for many years. You have the best swimming beach in the area right in front of you, and all you have to do is step out the back gate, and you can walk right up to the marina where fishing boats, dozens of great restaurants, and the Sea of Cortez await.

“And, of course, the fishing here is incredible.” A recent trip netted Zolezzi five marlin in just less than four hours. The last-minute cruise — scheduled with Pisces the night before — was supposed to be a “dinner” trip, in search of tuna, dorado, “or something we could cook up for dinner that night.” The next morning, “we started seeing marlin almost immediately,” Zolezzi recalls.

“Looking out at the water, it’s like being at a lake — smooth as glass — and all of a sudden, you see a fin come out of the water and you know it’s a marlin. Just imagine it. A 200-pound fish strikes the bait and jumps into the air and everyone is yelling with excitement, and then you’re in the chair fighting it for the next 30 minutes. It is really exhilarating.” Zolezzi describes.

Even when the catch of the day isn’t a huge marlin, the result is almost always a worthwhile adventure. The smaller fish can be taken to any number of Cabo restaurants, where chefs will filet, prepare and cook it served with rice, beans and salad.

“Yesterday, we had yellowfin tuna that was caught two hours before dining,” Zolezzi recalls. “It was that fresh. It’s just unbelievably tender — melt in your mouth, incredible flavor.”

It is experiences like these that keep people returning to Cabo year after year, seeking the best sportfishing and luxury resort offerings anywhere.

“It’s just a fantastic location,” says avid fisherman and Hacienda owner Marty Giudici, who first fished Cabo in 1984.

“Jacques Cousteau identified it as one of the most fertile fishing places in the world, and he’s right,” Giudici says. “But Hacienda, in my opinion, is the number one spot in all the Baja Peninsula for many reasons, not just fishing: It’s within two hours of the southern U.S.; it has this world-class fishing and an excellent climate; it has a variety of activities including world-class golf courses, ATV riding and a tremendous amount of shopping.

“And one of things I like most about Cabo is the fact that it’s a safe place for me and my family to visit,” Giudici continues. “The setting could not be more ideal.”

With charter services like Pisces, and five star luxury resorts like Hacienda, Cabo creates a truly perfect storm — even in a place where the sun shines 355 days a year.

Pisces Fleet Sportfishing

Widely recognized for the consistency of its catch rates and high level of customer satisfaction, Pisces Fleet Sportfishing is Resort Living’s pick for fishing charter services in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. This impeccably reputable service was founded in 1980 and provides a fleet of 10 vessels that each come with experienced and friendly crews, capable of serving customers at every skill level.

Pisces’ highly touted catch-and-release program gained recognition three years in a row from The Billfish Foundation for releasing the most striped marlin worldwide. Likewise, Pisces was honored by the International Game Fish Association with the Conservation Award, which recognizes charter services for outstanding contributions to the conservation fishing community.

Pisces’ weekly, online fishing reports provide up-to-date conditions, and every boat in the fleet is equipped with state-of-the-art GPS and other electronic devices that not only ensure safety, but success as well.

For more information on Pisces, visit their Web site at www.piscessportfishing.com or call (619) 819-7983 from the U.S.