East Cape Ecstasy
A Kayak Fishing Rookie Chases Baja Gamefish
By Jeff Moag photos by Jock Bradely As Printed in Paddler Magazine August 2006
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Jim Sammons turns and looks each of us in the eye. "I have to warn you," he says. "I'm a very sarcastic guy - to the point that I have to warn people about it"

We are speeding down a narrow two-lane toward Baja California's East Cape, where we'll fish from kayaks for Roosterfish, Tuna and Marlin. I'm nervous: I had fished in the ocean exactly twice, and now the dean of big-game kayak fisherman is telling me that he won't cut me any slack.

Sammons, who owns La Jolla Kayak Fishing in San Diego, California is only the second man to hook, fight and land a marlin from a kayak. Since boating a 140-lb striped Marlin in 2004 he has assisted his clients in landing 11 more- including nine during his last trip to Punta Colorada. Sammons usually only hunts billfish with experienced clients, but he seems inclined to make an exception for the magazine writer, which means I may soon do battle with the apex predator in the Sea of Cortez. Marlin have three-foot spikes growing out of their noses and swim 50 mph- only sailfish are faster, but that's little comfort. They also have spears and swim in these waters. I am way out of my league.

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