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The adjacent waters off Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur due the great abundance have been called the core area for striped marlin, which is caught by sportfishing virtually year-round, generating important economic resources for the tourism sector. Despite the importance of this species, few studies have focused of the analysis of its feeding habits and in particular analyzing the interannual variability between years when El Niño and La Niña events occurred. Striped marlin stomach contents (1261 samples) collected during 2007-2010 were analyzed to determine if there was variability in the prey. During this period and in agreement with the ONI (Oceanic Niño Index), both of this events were recorded; La Niña (August 2007-June 2008) and El Niño (May 2009-May 2010). Thirty percent of the stomachs were empty. The trophic spectrum of this predator included 89 different items. The diet was dominated mainly by cephalopods (Dosidicus gigas and Argonauta spp.) and fish (Scomber japonicus, Sellar crumenopthalmus, and Sardinops caeruleus). Despite having a wide food spectrum in agreement with the Levin index (Bi = 0.03), this predator could be considered as a specialist. Based on the value of the amplitude of diet (index of relative importance (IRI)), Dosidicus gigas was present in greater amounts in periods characterized by cold sea surface temperature anomalies (IRI = 37% in 2007, 27% in 2008), whereas Sardinops caeruleus (IRI=36%) and Scomber japonicus (IRI=14%) were present with high values during the warm sea surface temperature anomalies prevalent during 2009. The differences in diet among years indicate the availability and abundance of prey, or suggest a migratory pattern of the prey. The results indicate that striped marlin could be considered a biological sampler of its prey.

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