BajaNomad - Back from BOLA!

Back from BOLA!

fishbuck - 6-12-2007 at 01:06 AM

I just got back from a 4 day trip that included 1 day fishing in BOLA.
It was alot of fun. Also alot lot of driving with just a little over 1000 miles logged round trip from my home in Costa Mesa.
I had not been to BOLA for about 15 years and that little town has changed alot. I didn't recognise it and had a hard time finding places I had been.
Lots of new houses on beaches I use to camp on. Oh well.
I fished with Jose Rosas out of Diaz sport fishing. Thanks Shari for the referal. He is good and tries very hard too!
I caught six yellowtail and lost a couple. I also hooked some kind of sea monster probably a big grouper or cabrilla. He got into the rocks and I couldn't pull him out.
Fishing was a little slow but had been wide open for a couple of days before I went. I talked with 3 guys who went out with Guellermo on Sat and they caught 50 yellowtail.
I think the water might have turned over and the fish went deep. It happens. If the water gets a little cold the fish get grumpy and won't eat.
I ate 1 night at Guellermo's and it was good but a little expensive. I stayed at Las Hamacas which was $40 and was okay. The room smelled a little and there was no hot water for a shower. The water barely trickled out of the shower anyway.
The room was clean and had tv. It had an airconditioner but it didn't work. The ceiling fan was enough to cool the room down at night.
The weather is very nice there right now. It was cool in the morning and I worn long pants and a jacket in the boat but changed to shorts and no shirt later. When we got back at about 2 it was hot in town and no breeze but nothing that shade and a cool drink couldn't handle.
I jumped back in my truck after fishing and drove back to San Quintin.I didn't want to stay another night in BOLA. Better motels and restuarants in SQ. Plus closer to home.
Great trip!

4baja - 6-12-2007 at 06:09 AM

thanks for the report, next time try casa de sol for the food and air conditioning. :coolup:

Cypress - 6-12-2007 at 06:49 AM

fisbuck Appreciate the report.

Thanks

Cap - 6-12-2007 at 06:53 AM

Did you happen to see if the runway was finished there?

David K - 6-12-2007 at 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cap
Did you happen to see if the runway was finished there?

Check http://www.bajabushpilots.com as they have a forum for every airport/ dirt strip in Baja. I did read recently that the runway was repaved, but (I think) not the original width and/or length.

toneart - 6-12-2007 at 09:44 AM

Fishbuck, you mentioned that 3 guys caught 50 Yellowtail one day.

Can you tell me if there were more than three aboard (+ Guillermo)? What do they do with that many fish? Do they release some of them? Can BOLA, or for that matter, the SOC sustain that volume of fishing if that is what is practiced?

Maybe I am jumping to conclusions here but to me that is like gill netting or hunters going into a fenced deer or elk hunting farm and lusting for blood.
For me, being out on the water in that beautiful environment has as much to do with the enjoyment as catching fish. I like fishing and I have a fishing panga, but to catch more than I can eat seems greedy.

I am not posting this just to anger fishermen. I just don't get it. Please enlighten me.

woody with a view - 6-12-2007 at 09:50 AM

pretty sure it's 5 fish per species per angler per day.

David K - 6-12-2007 at 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by woody in ob
pretty sure it's 5 fish per species per angler per day.

So I am 'sure' that the additional 35 yellowtail caught on Guillermo's panga were released!??? :lol:

What about those Japenese fish factory ships??? You think they just might have some impact on the gulf?

toneart - 6-12-2007 at 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K

Quote:

Originally posted by woody in ob
pretty sure it's 5 fish per species per angler per day.

So I am 'sure' that the additional 35 yellowtail caught on Guillermo's panga were released!??? :lol:

What about those Japenese fish factory ships??? You think they just might have some impact on the gulf?

Of course! My point is that we can do our part to control that which is within our control.

fishbuck - 6-12-2007 at 01:49 PM

I knew the part about 50 fish would draw a response.
Guellermos megapanga had 5 people on board including "G" so the limit would have been 25 fish. I don't know if they released 25 fish or even if they caught 50 or it just seemed like 50. Maybe they released the small ones.
Some of the fish were small.I caught to 20 lb fish and 4 firecrackers. I kept the two big ones and gave the small ones to Jose Rosas. I'm sure he will put them to good use.
My understanding is that it's the honer system in BOLA. No enforcement. So if you fish there be nice to mother ocean and please only take your fair share. To me that is 2 fish. I like to share any others I catch. I don't like to freeze fish and only keep what I can eat fresh.
Jose did mention that commercial netters do work ouside by the big island and he said they scoop up 5 tons of yellowtail at a time. That can't be good. I mentioned shark norma 029 to him and he was unaware of it.
BOLA is a fantastic beautiful place so I hope it can stay that way. I would have loved to catch more fish but I was satisfied with what I got. It was fun to be out on the water on such a beautiful day and I feel like I made a new friend with Jose Rosas. I can't wait to fish wih him again!
I do want to try Guellermo's megapanga. It's more capable and faster so it's easier to get out to the big island. And it has a head which is a plus. So if any one would like to split the big boat with me it's 300 and coulsd fish 4 people easy but I'll fish a 2 way split with anybody.
The fishing is good now and he temp is perfect but it will start to get hot in a couple of weeks so now is the time.
I can fly us down from San Diego and that saves time too!

[Edited on 6-12-2007 by fishbuck]

Cypress - 6-12-2007 at 02:13 PM

About that catch.

You can only eat, give away, freeze, salt, smoke, can, use for fertilizer, chum, am I forgetting something? Oh yea! Sell it.

When you sell your catch you go from sport fisherman to commercial.

Then you need a license, maybe a permit, tax number etc.

Roberto - 6-12-2007 at 06:32 PM

What was that recent thread about what attracts folks to Baja? :lol:

Pretty clear Don Jorge was spot on!

toneart - 6-12-2007 at 08:09 PM

I appreciate your answer, Fishbuck. You read my post where I suggested that I may be jumping to conclusions. You (and others) didn't get offended by my questions. I would be honored to fish with you. Wish I were there now. Won't be back in Baja 'till winter though.

Baja&Back - 6-12-2007 at 09:20 PM

Fishbuck:
Have they finished rebuilding and repaving the main street in BOLA now? Has it moved any?

Thanks
Barry

fishbuck - 6-13-2007 at 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Baja&Back
Fishbuck:
Have they finished rebuilding and repaving the main street in BOLA now? Has it moved any?

Thanks
Barry

I don't think the road is complete yet. It's kind of a split level deal now and a real pain because you have to go all the way to the end to turn around and go some where on the other side if the street.

fishbuck - 6-13-2007 at 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cap
Did you happen to see if the runway was finished there?

I never got close enough to see the main. But there is a recent post on BajaBushPilots from a guy that says the main is repaved.