BajaNomad

The Great Tortuga Tuna & How to Drain Your Boat Quickly.

Pompano - 5-14-2005 at 12:58 PM

This is not a 'many caught' fishing report, but it WAS fishing..so..

A few days ago, quite a few Mulege area fishermen had decided to take the boats to Tortuga Island on a search for tuna or dorado. We picked Friday because of the favorable wind, swell, and tide reports from Buoyweather.com My wife and I were set to go. 'EAGER', I might add.

We were a trifle late in rolling out that morning. My wife had just arrived via plane at Loreto the evening before and it was late before we got everything unloaded and prepared hurriedly for the next morning's fishing trip. Just what every wife wants to do after a 3000 mile plane trip, right? She is a real trooper and had said she was really up for it...mostly because where she had been for the last 3 weeks..the sun wasn't. She wanted to soak up some rays with me in the boat and hopefully catch some fresh fish for our future dinner menus.
We got everything to the Serinadad boat ramp in Mulege ...including the lab pup, Cheyenne..by 6:15, which was not that late really. Just enough light to see by and away we went down the river..slowly, slowly, slower, slowing doowwwnnn...what the heck? I look down at my feet and see water coming over the tops of my sneakers....opps, somebody forgot to put the drain plug back in after the last boat cleaning! "Ahem..Hang on, dear...I may have to speed up a little here. Just a little precaution." I said while thinking, 'Hope she doesn't notice the screwup!' Then the damn pup starts spashing around and Phyl's feet get a little damp and she exclaims..."We're sinking!" I calmy reply, "No..no, just a little problem with the drain plug..I'll have it fixed in a jiffy, no sweato." Groan.. now it gets embarrassing, I have to quickly bring the boat to plane to empty the heavy load of water through the open drain hole..before we settle to the bottom mud of the Mulege River!...and there's the morning fleet of pangas slowly cruising down the river out to their fishing grounds. A nice calm morning was completely shattered by a crazed gringo gunning his boat down the river, throwing waves all over the place and merrily waving away..hoping to appear nonchalant. ('Pompano is a little loco this morning, si, compadres?') The pup and the wife are now looking a trifle edgy...and probably thinking they should have stayed ashore.

Well, okay..I got that problem fixed after planing the boat and circling outside until all the water had drained out the stern hole. I have extra plugs onboard, thank the Lord, and quickly get one in place. "So.. that's all a-okay, now..What's say we go find the rest of the fleet and get going to Tortuga. Are you ready, babe?" I said. "Did you put gas in?" she softly asks. I look hard to find the least sign of a smirk on her face, but she is a real poker player, that girl.

We motor on over to our prearranged meeting place at the bait hole just outside Mulege lighthouse..a spot called Punta Prieta. The other boats are there and have already made bait..so off we go. About 8 boats were going to scour the waters clear out to Tortuga Island..about 40 miles away. Hopefully we will come across the dorado schools and reported arriving yellowfin tuna.

We joined in behind and alongside 4 other sportfishers for the long run to Tortuga..going past Sta. Inez Islands and the headland of Pta. Chivato. The bouyweather was a little off in the swell and wave department and we found it a lot more bumpy than we wanted. So I angled off to the east a bit to quarter the uncoming swells and 1-2 foot waves. Not real rough..just uncomforable at speeds exceeding 20 mph. Bouyweather has been kind of unreliable this last season. Hopefully that will improve.

Getting into warmer water I decided to troll a couple of feathers. I started with one green-yellow-red (the Mexican flag) just to be respectful of our host country..and another black/silver/red that had been producing quite well recently. We trolled those a long time northeastward, edging closer to Tortuga. All this time we were in radio contact with the rest of the fleet. No great reports yet..but it was early in the search. Finally Two Dogs reports a hit, but it was off just as fast. He will circle to try that spot again. Now Solo Angel says his wife has just caught a small hen..then another. We are still trolling NNE...changing lure color and action now and then. Not a hit. No other action reporting in from Mi Mujere and Strange Lady, who are in place just off Tortuga Island. Very disappointing to hear there is no action up there..we all had such high hope of finding that Mother Lode of tuna! Then Two Dogs reports in with a single dorado. Good news.

Later, Marty's Boat reports a nice bull taken in warm 76 degree water about 15 miles south of Tortuga. Good..now things will pick up, we think. But on and on we go...still no action. I change colors and types about every 30 minutes until we decide to heave to and have lunch..then Phyl & Cheyenne take a little nap. Swells and winds have now disappeared and it's a flat ocean. Great day on the water now...Just no fish! Oh well, some days are like that.

I troll on and on and on...then Phyl sits up and says, "Yoo-hoo. Ah..you have a fish on." I was so damn sleepy and my hearing is not what it used to be so I missed the strike and run of a nice bull dorado...almost too late. Thank you, dear.
I play him a little more than necessary to restore my manhood/great fisherman identity to my adoring (and humoring) wife. "Oh, that's a nice little bull.", she says. I say, "Hey, he's not so little...and he is very tough for his size..a real fighter!" I pull him over for a couple of photos and then land him for dinner. "Might feed 15 or so for dinner, what do you think?" says I. "I think we should eat out at the Pelican tonight. Steaks. You can donate the minnow there to Scotty for their kitchen."

Next time I am going alone.


[Edited on 10-16-2005 by Pompano]

My catch...

Pompano - 5-14-2005 at 12:59 PM

One hit...one fish.

Pompano - 5-15-2005 at 06:24 PM

A follow up to this fishing report from a few days ago is that the water is now 80+ degrees and many marlin and sail are reported taken. Also dorado are increasing in numbers and yellowtail (jurel) are active again off the north end of San Marcos Island. Sounds like our season is getting underway. Now all we need are those big schools of yellowfin tuna!

Tight Lines!

Cyndarouh - 5-15-2005 at 07:39 PM

Pompano, Whats it looking like for mid June? Were heading down to fish. Great report, keep them coming.

Pompano - 5-15-2005 at 08:42 PM

Cyndarouh, if this trend keeps up, it should be nothing short of fantastic. Be sure to sign up for our dorado tournament June 15th..check at the Pelican Reef Bar & Grill downtown Mulege.

There are lots of big dorado out there right now. We will try to keep some like this around for you!

[Edited on 5-16-2005 by Pompano]

whats the weight...

eetdrt88 - 5-16-2005 at 02:37 PM

of that dorado approx???I'm going to do alittle photoshop work on that photo and put my face in place of yours and then e-mail it to all my freinds and tell them about this big fish I caught....nah,just kidding....nice catch there pompano

Pompano - 5-16-2005 at 04:04 PM

eetdrt88...that bull might go 22-24 lbs. Just a nice one...lots of bigger ones out there waiting for you. Right now is a great time for the bulls and bills. I will be going out manana and let you know what's happening around the waters off Mulege.

I loved the ribs we had at Tony Roma's in Laguna Beach. You are lucky to live close to them!

nice story Pompano

capt. mike - 5-17-2005 at 05:06 AM

my boys did well sat and sun going out with alex, yellows , cabrilla and dodos.
back for mem weekend for more action!
then again june 18th weekend!

july

bajaden - 5-17-2005 at 06:11 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Pompano
eetdrt88...that bull might go 22-24 lbs. Just a nice one...lots of bigger ones out there waiting for you. Right now is a great time for the bulls and bills. I will be going out manana and let you know what's happening around the waters off Mulege.

I loved the ribs we had at Tony Roma's in Laguna Beach. You are lucky to live close to them!


Hey Pompano, great report. I was actually laughing out loud. I did the same thing at lake berryessa. Put the boat in the water and went back to the truck to get the rest of my stuff and noticed the boat was sitting a little lower than normal. I won't bore you with the rest of the details, but it was touch and go for a while. Where are you going to be in july? Does anyone stay down there in the summer? It seems like the fishing is good.

Den......

Bruce R Leech - 5-17-2005 at 06:20 PM

bajaden hopefully the Dorado will be red hot in July.

what kind of computer did you get?

backninedan - 5-17-2005 at 06:29 PM

I live in Loreto year round, theres a two month period that gets a bit toasty. but the beach is close and I must confess, I do turn on the A C for sleeping. The mid and late summer fishing more than make up for a bit of sweat.

Pompano - 5-17-2005 at 08:46 PM

Bajaden..I will probably come down for some more dorado and tuna fishing in July-Oct, but mostly I will be fishing the Far North. There are a few fishermen who stay the entire year in Mulege and the Bay. They like the heat a little better than I. I used to do it a long time ago, but this old body needs to cool off in the summer. I am Norsk.

I look forward to hearing some good reports from you in Loreto. Are things improving any down there yet?

bajaden - 5-18-2005 at 06:12 PM

I got a Compaq with windows XP and all the other bells and whistles. It does everything but cook my dinner, so they say. It took a bite out my boat money though. Maybe I'll see you in july Pompano. Im moving to Mulege in july. I'll probably drive into town on the 8th or the 9th. Hey backninedan, do you play golf. Im bringing my clubs with me. Maybe I could let you win a little money off me. At the very least Im good for a couple of cervesa's. I was in Loreto last july with my daughter. It was so hot we decided to spend a little time in a air condititioned bar. Couldn't find one anywhere in town. We ended up buying a six pack and going to the beach and sitting in the water up to our necks. I think the water temp was around 90 degrees. Had a good time though.

Happy fishing

backninedan - 5-18-2005 at 06:47 PM

Den, I gave my clubs away when we moved to Loreto, and wouldnt you know it, they lowered the green fees for fm3 holders but thanks for the offer. I really miss my golf, not good at it, but always a challenge. Next time your in Loreto, give me a buzz, we can hunt down the elusive air conditioned bar for a nice cold cerveza.

bajaden - 5-18-2005 at 07:33 PM

Thanks backninedan, I'll take you up on your offer. I'd like to know where that bar is.

Den.....

chicagoross - 5-19-2005 at 09:54 AM

Pompano, thanks for the great report! We'll be down within a week, I'm an SLC fisherman, so please post any further news from San Marcos and Tortuga!

Pompano - 5-19-2005 at 10:19 AM

chicagoross...thank you for the nice words and I will be glad to report what's happening with San Marcos and Tortuga.

The latest fishing news from San Marcos is that the yellowtail have become very active again..in the same old spots you have fished before, I'm sure. Just off the northend seal rocks on what a few of us oldtimers call Jorges Reef..where it comes up from deep to 55 feet. All around this sunken island there are many yellows taking bait and sometimes a trolled Mirrolure or such-like plug.

Dorado are being taken south of Tortuga but may have moved to encompass the whole island and area by the time you arrive. A good method right now is using skipjack cut-bait and drifting. Feathers will always catch them, too, AND keep you cooler by trolling...I need that breeze sometimes! It's HOT here!

Lots of marlin and sail in the area now. Fun to catch and release. Tight lines and have a safe trip down to the cove.