how big of krocodiles, other lures/flies for surf casting

Small clousers work great in the pacific surf as well. I tie bonefish fly patterns with lead eyes and they catch fish. I'm not a fly purists, though. Small plastic grubs can be cast with the fly rod and they catch fish real well. Mostly, I just like the feel of the long rod.

This isn't my fish, but I've caught them like this.

the long rod in the surf

Your friend is right. The spinning rod approach is easier and more effective than the fly rod. However, I don't agree with the torpedo float idea at asuncion. Most of the shoreline fish are on the bottom and that's where you want your lure to be. It's not like fishing for ladies on the cortez. The fish you'll get are calico bass, sheepshead, halibut, corbina, and yellowfin croaker and these are all bottom feeders.

The best way to fish for most of these fish in the area in my opinion is with leadheads with large plastics or swimbaits. I like rootbeer for calicos and clear/offwhite for halibut. The locals like white for halibut. Juan prefers chrome spoons for halibut (kastmasters or krocodiles).

The best fishing is probably that rocky stretch that starts at san roques. There are numerous shoreline opportunities for calico bass there. You'll want to walk out to the end of those finger reefs during low tide and cast your leadhead out to the edge of the kelp beds (over 100 feet). Let the jig sink on a tight line cause the bass will usually take it on the way down. Then jig the lure back in with lift and sink motions but keep the line tight on the sink. You will need thin line to get maximum distance but abrassion resistant as the fish will dive under your feet as you get them close to shore. Bring lots of plastics as they are easily lost. There's a store in asuncion that sells the leadheads but is usually low on plastics. They should be bought stateside.

Go out in the morning as the wind comes up in the afternoon and the surf will make it more difficult to stay out and the casting becomes harder.

This is just one way. You can also break off mussels and fish bait which will result in a wider variety of fish and is probably better for sheephead.

Another good option is pursuing halibut. These like sandy beaches that are protected from the surf. A good one is the launching beach at san roques after all the launching has ended and everyone has gone home. It's protected from the big surf by the point. The point of land that asuncion sits also provides good spots for halibut on the south side. Locals catch halibut just to the right of the pier with kastmasters. A bit further on the commercials launch their pangas and that too is a good area for halibut. I like the clear/white swimbaits but the locals outfished me with small kastmasters jigged erratically through the shallows. Shari and Juan are very willing to steer you in the right direction and Juan knows his stuff.

Perhaps they will tell you how to get to their 'secret beach' a few miles north of san roques. It has yellowfin croaker and corbina and probably halibut. That environment requires a bit different approach. The link I provided describes it well. Use small grubs here (2"-3") and a light line (8lb test) with a lighter rod for greater pleasure. Cast into the surf and retrieve slowly feeling for bumps. Fish an incoming tide for best results. Peak fishing is usually 1-2 hours after the low tide as fish start to move in on the beds of sandcrabs. Again, you can use live sand crabs or mussels as well.

Good luck.

Oh, and no, I don't think there are stupid questions. To me fishing is about uncovering secrets. Once you know everything it loses much of it's appeal.

This swimbait is good for halibut. I don't have a picture of the grubs for open sandy beaches.

I came across this very small image of angler's pursuing roosters from the beach that I wanted to share as it really captures the thrill of the sport. That's the sort of beach fishing you don't get on the pacific side.

Flyfishing and spincasting from shorelines

Well...unfortunately we have no 'surf' fishing in our Mulege area, but the shorefishing was fantastic in Conception Bay some years back. It can still produce great days if you hunt the outside peninsula shores from Playa Domingo at the bay's mouth, then around the point to the old mine and south some miles towards Ptas Rosa and Teresa.

Here is a nice rooster caught from the old sea wall in front of our casas in Coyote Bay. We would keep spincast rigs at the ready in pvc holders on the wall...and race to them when we saw the pez gallo backfins raised while they were bunching up the lisas (baitfish) in the shallows. What a treat that was..sighting your target and pitching a 1-3 oz. kastmaster or crocodile just in front of the quarry. A sudden lunge, a spray of water, and the fight was on!



We did the same thing with robalo (snook) last year in Mag Bay under the overhanging mangeles along the back bays...great fun.
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