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mulege snook

mulegemichael - 3-9-2009 at 02:56 PM

well, finally, finally we caught snook today in the river here in mulege...we've heard of big ones breaking off, we've broken off big ones ourselves, but today we actually landed three of them and released them...so there's hope for the river yet...along with the snook we also hooked and landed some really nice pargo in addition to losing many in the rocks and stumps of the river...it's a really cool catch and release fishery when it's windy out, and, as long as a local doesn't come in and net it at night,(like they did a few weeks ago), it should get better and better...gotta stress though, at this point, it should be strictly a catch and release game if we want the big dudes to be here....hopefully, beachgirl can post some pics later.

Russ - 3-9-2009 at 05:18 PM

That's really good news! What were you using? I think we've got some in the San Marcos Tierra estuary but I have never seen them or caught any using crocks. It is netted regularly but with the proper lure/bait and a kayak I think I might score.

Lauriboats - 3-10-2009 at 08:25 AM

That is so great!!! Of course, as I type the pangas are out front in the Bay with their nets, hopefully they will stay out of the river, but probably not.

Pompano - 3-10-2009 at 08:51 AM

Hi Mike, Good post about light tackle in the rio. Fun times, I bet.

Two Dogs and I were just yakking about fishing the river the other day. I've got a couple ultra-light spinning outfits at the ready. We are going to give the river snook and snapper a try in the next day or two. Let's share a cooler on the bank? It sounds like great fun..catch and release of course. I have a Mad Mouse that has never caught a fish..this will work in the river, as it is the right color and a floater. :rolleyes:

Last year I watched a couple kids..and a couple adults..angling from shore near Jorge's water store near the bridge. Seems they were doing pretty well and filling a couple of 5 gallon pails. Hmmm...even on an incoming tide, I am not eating any of those.

Here's a rabolo/snook...from Mag Bay, though..and they were deeelicious. Let's go back next season. Mag Bay, Abrejos, Asuncion..all good camping/fishing.

MAG BAY - SNOOK.jpg - 42kB

mulegemichael - 3-10-2009 at 11:10 AM

Pomp...i'm always up for a trip to mag bay....in the river here in mulege you had better use something that floats and rip it down or you'll lose more tackle than you want to...shallow running rapalas in silver and blue best....caught two more this morning and on the second one had a monster come up and try to rip it off my line....whooooooaaaa!...roz thumped a couple of grande pargos also....a buddy said just before daylight the snook were ripping the river up so think i will be there earlier manana....bring poppers!!!

Martyman - 3-10-2009 at 11:34 AM

Yeah, stay on top. I dinged my prop going up the river.

Sharksbaja - 3-10-2009 at 12:12 PM

Micheal, I've seen em! Look like 8-10 lbs. leaping over and over as they make there way in & out with the tides. Never caught one though. Rapalas eh! :cool:

Gracias and good luck. Take a pic please!

Just the beginning

Beachgirl - 3-10-2009 at 12:37 PM

Yep, caught two snook yesterday. Not big, but our buddies across in LaFortuna say they are seeing huge ones pretty early in the morning. I want to see one, too! On my lure!

P1010401-3.JPG - 33kB

mulegemichael - 3-10-2009 at 12:38 PM

man, that's one fine looking woman, er, fish..

Beachgirl - 3-10-2009 at 12:39 PM

I just scrolled back and looked at Roger's monster snook. That's what I'm talking about, baby!

Sharksbaja - 3-10-2009 at 01:07 PM

Awesome, thanks!

Hey there, beachgirl..

Pompano - 3-10-2009 at 02:41 PM

Roz...speaking snookwise, bigger is better. If this trend continues, soon there will be ones like this caught and released from the rio at Mulege. (Robalo below was from Bayano River, Panama.)
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We could be on the way to the Days of Ray Cannon! :rolleyes:

Iflyfish - 3-10-2009 at 04:11 PM

Whoa!!!

So this proves that you should never, ever say, "I'd eat my flyrod for a fish like that!" For one like that I might consider it.

Iflyfish

mulegemichael - 3-10-2009 at 04:53 PM

i busted off a grande snook yesterday morning that made my 8wt look like a matchstick....i thought it was a pretty skookum rod until then...time to go up a notch.

fishbuck - 3-10-2009 at 04:57 PM

Great story!

Beachgirl - 3-10-2009 at 05:10 PM

Holy Smoke Roger! Just have to say that is one fine snook!!!! Turning green here. All I want to do now is go fishing....almost. I read alot, too.

mulegemichael y Beachgirl..

Pompano - 3-11-2009 at 04:09 AM

Hey guy and gal..I want to say thanks for prompting me to pursue our river fishery again. I haven't wet a line in those waters for over 30 years, but, by Neptune, there's no time like the present! One of the few blessings left from the last flood was the scouring and cleaning of the old riverbed, plus the afteraffect of bank improvement and dredging.

If it goes well from the bank this morning, I will bring some kayaks for the next outing and try it a little further up the river..where, as I am told by reliable sources, there are some deep holes that hold BIG snook. Rio kayaking would be ALMOST like canoeing a favorite river Up North as shown in the pic. Ah..the water color may be a mite different. :rolleyes:

Mike, as in the canoe photo of Felipa and I, all one needs is a good 1st mate to do the paddling while us guys do the angling, right? (Okay..just to be sure, you might wanna check that with the admiral first.)

I scrounged around in my game room and came up with some 'snook' tackle. Got lots of floating rapalas, poppers, river runts, small Mepps, and the like, then stocked this special river tackle box. I should be go to go for topwater lures.

Giant black snook, the legend says. Chance favors the prepared mind.. (but am just kidding about that huge Diawa 900 with the Cal grouper-broomstick.) Will be using ultralight gear and hopefully not lose to many lures.

Plus...I have this secret weapon I am going to try....The Mad Mouse. So good it may very well be illegal.
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mulegemichael - 3-11-2009 at 05:16 AM

i got so desperate for topwater lures last night that i hacksawed the bills off of a couple of mirrolures just to see if they would skitter across the top...we'll see in the pre dawn hours this morning..

Bob and Susan - 3-11-2009 at 08:35 AM

already this morning...
out here on the bay
we heard that people

are fishing on the river by the bridge...
THIS MORNING

word travels FAST!!! :lol:

Uh..yes..

Pompano - 3-11-2009 at 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob and Susan
already this morning...
out here on the bay
we heard that people

are fishing on the river by the bridge...
THIS MORNING

word travels FAST!!! :lol:

That was us... :rolleyes:

mulegemichael got hit on his first cast. Then it busted off. I got hit on my second cast and landed that nice little pargo.

Then on my forth cast I was hit HARD by a large snook with 'shoulders.' He bent my rod into an arc and pulled line for about 20 yards...I was turning up my drag to stop him as he made a run for a tree branch...POP! ..gone..it was a big fish.

We had a ball! Surface stuff works best..lots of snags on the bottom, tree trunks, etc. Luckily, Mike got some of his lost lures back from the other day.

Fun alternative on windy outside days.
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Bob H - 3-11-2009 at 10:46 AM

Great stuff here! Real, live, up to date, fishing stories.

Pompano, just how many photos do you have? And, where to you keep them, file them, etc. They are always a treat.

Keep'm come'n

Bob H

Pompano - 3-11-2009 at 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob H
Great stuff here! Real, live, up to date, fishing stories.

Pompano, just how many photos do you have? And, where to you keep them, file them, etc. They are always a treat.

Keep'm come'n

Bob H

Thanks Bob, and glad you like everyone's reports. Mike, Beachgirl, and all the guys and gals I know have lots of fun doing them.

My Photos? I put them all on discs these days, each of which contain about 1200-1500 pictures each. I've got many, many thousands I have taken over the years..starting with my first camera at age 10, a Brownie Hawkeye....and adding more all the time. I have them catagorized so it's quite easy to 'search' a particular theme. I also transfer my movies to discs..good insurance.

[Edited on 3-12-2009 by Pompano]

Von - 3-11-2009 at 05:31 PM

All you guys are so lucky well its not luck but blessed. Maybe someday when i retire in 20+yrs ill be doing some of that........

Beachgirl - 3-12-2009 at 09:51 AM

Jeez, Roger..you are way too organized. Well, one of us should be. After you went home for hot coffee and breakfast, Mike left too, and I got hit so hard my lure was snapped off in two seconds. My favorite one, too.

Beachgirl...

Pompano - 3-12-2009 at 05:41 PM

Roz, thanks for thinking I'm 'organized', but the godawful leftover mess in my house confirms the opposite. Luckily, my housekeeper comes on Fridays and Mondays (before and after the weekend.) Knowing me for some years, she now wears a Haz-mat suit.

Hey, congrats on sticking it out and getting a major strike. Fishing is all about patience spiced with luck...kinda like 'understanding the fairer sex.'

I had a ball fishing with you two this morning...as I did yesterday. I did go back for about 6 quick casts after I did my grocery shopping at the beer depot. I snagged on a drowned Winnebago or old refrigerator..couldn't quite feel which.

That fishery is like a box of chocolates...you never know what you are going to get. Pargo and snook for me thus far. I will keep a log from now on, I believe.

Who knows..this may well develop into a cottage sport-fishing industry for Mulege.

Here are this mornings fishing report photos from the rio.
A great time and now my favorite place to have coffee and listen to XM 28 between casts. This was on the airwaves.....

"Take me to the RIV-eer...Put me in the WAA-ter..."

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One of the scenes treats..the smell of a wood breakfast fire and some smoke curling upwards.

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My first catch of the day. One of my floating Rapala #5's (a perch shadrap) that somehow was dropped and started heading for the Cortez.

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I hastily improvished this Rapala catcher by duct-taping a landing net to my casting rod. (this kept me from slipping on the rocks, splashing in, and joining the Rapala on it's journey to sea)
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The action picks up as mulegemichael's surface lure gets slammed.

The Mad Mouse (an old Heddon lure) even got a strike!
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We had lots of birds keeping an eye on things along the river.

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Can you spot the heron in this photo?

And that's all for today, folks. Stay tuned.

[Edited on 3-20-2009 by Pompano]

Night Fishing, anyone?

Mulegena - 3-13-2009 at 09:16 AM

Last night-- late last night-- as I ran the dogs for exercise along the south river road-- from out of the inky cover of darkness materialized an amazing sight-- it was BeachGirl and MulegeMichael fishing-- their poles poised over the water's edge-- sparks flying as the fish frenzied below in anticipation of their tasty lures!!

This is the stuff of good memories.

Bajagypsy - 3-13-2009 at 09:24 AM

That looks like so much fun, gosh, wish I was there for some fishing, I have some serious spring fever!

Cypress - 3-13-2009 at 04:14 PM

Is there any chance of guided fishing trips on the Mulege River? Would love to tie into some of those snook. Lived there for 4 months, had no clue that it was a fishermans dream. :lol:

Last installment of the Snook Trilogy

Pompano - 3-13-2009 at 08:52 PM

There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot.
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Somebody just back of you while you are fishing is as bad as someone looking over your shoulder while you write a letter to your girl...this includes dogs.

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Beachgirl gets slammed by a big one..that busts her off in the rocks across the river... "!%#&@!"

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A bad day of fishing is better than a good day of work.
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Tips: Remember to hold that fish as far in front of you as possible for the photo op.

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20lb snapper like this one should not be photoed on your palm.

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Perfect photo backdrop..claim it's the width of your truck bed. ah..THAT'S A HUGE FISH!! ALMOST SPOOLED ME!!

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All the fish caught in the making of this report were released unharmed...and so was the SEAGULL..wha?
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Good to Go! I rated that bird release at 1 minute 15 seconds...pelicans take a bit longer.

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I love fishing. You put that line in the water and you don't know what's on the other end. Your imagination is under there. Thanks for taking this little trip on the Mulege rio with us. See you on the water!

Russ - 3-14-2009 at 05:47 AM

This is really a fun thread. Guess I'm gonna have to bring my fish gear to Mulege when I go shopping now. :yes:

Good idea, Russ...

Pompano - 3-14-2009 at 07:44 AM

A word of caution, though. While most of your catch will be smaller snook and pargo, occaisionally a whopper will try to spool you. And..there's a few snags here and there.

Use 20lb plus or more and you won't lost so many lures. Shallow running Raps are the best for me. If they don't cast so well for you, put a rubber core sinker about 18" ahead of the lightweight lures.

I did catch my biggest on a 3 oz. crocodile. A real bruiser, that fish!! He had shoulders.

You will have a ball on the tidal flood. Good luck!

[Edited on 3-14-2009 by Pompano]

mulegemichael - 3-14-2009 at 07:46 AM

pomp, what are you doing writing on this post when you should be on the river putting in your time?...git out there!

Pompano - 3-14-2009 at 08:03 AM

I would have been there at 5:30 this morning, Mike, but had some late night guests who wanted a bonfire. I love bonfires! Plus it's a poker noon today and there is only so much time.

Let me know how the tide bite goes!

Phil S - 3-14-2009 at 09:58 AM

Is it my imagination, or did the river banks get "cleaned out of brush" after the "big flood"???? Been about three years since I've been on 'that' side of the river. road looks 'rebuilt' and looks pretty good!!!

Pompano - 3-14-2009 at 10:08 AM

Yes Phil S,

The government dredged a lot of the riverbed in that area, plus cleaned out a lot of undegrowth to promote quicker runoff during flood times. It greatly improved the fishing and riverbank access in that area. Futher towards the estuary and also upstream riverbank foliage remains resonably untouched and natural. All in all, it's a great improvement and hopefully will save some homes in the event of another natural disaster.

Aw..to heck with it..

Pompano - 3-14-2009 at 10:15 AM

I've got 3 hours before the poker game. I'm grabbing a rod and heading for the river!

I know Mike and Beachgirl are having TOO MUCH FUN!

Beachgirl - 3-14-2009 at 05:11 PM

Hi Rog....didn't make it out there today at all...armed with an explicit map we drove for two hours to see some cool cave paintings, only to find at the end of our journey a padlocked gate. Only then did Mike remember it is some sort of Mex holiday today? No matter. We sat under a shade tree....well, something anyway...and had icy cervezas and carnitas we had picked up in town. All in all, not a bad day in Mulege. How was the river?

Pompano - 3-14-2009 at 05:24 PM

Hi Roz,

Just got back from the tournament game...Hey, I won second place. No awards, but a round of applause was nice.

I hit the riverbank in pretty much the same places as before right at 10:45 and cast until 12:30. I caught 2 smallish pargo..and then something akin to an underwater motorhome busted my Rapala and got me behind and around that damn log jutting out from La Fortuna. Oh well, that's fishing.

Two Dogs and Lisa joined in with the dogs, but it was pretty slow for them. We all called it quits at the same time.

Are you casting tonight by the light of the moon? I might hit the river again manana at 12:00..which I think is flood tide that far inland. Your cave painting trip sounds par for the course. Me?..I had to go have another breakfast at Pancho's. Just in case Amy was there.

p.s. Let's go to breakfast at Los Olivos manana. Pick a time before the tide change.

[Edited on 3-15-2009 by Pompano]

mulegemichael - 3-14-2009 at 08:29 PM

how about around 10ish after our workout????...then on to the river for the slaughter

Pompano - 3-15-2009 at 04:45 AM

See you at Los Olivos at ten.

I fish better with a full stomach; some people fish better with talent.

Breaking News: Yakked with our tipsy city engineer last night at Jungle bar..he's not a fisherman, but from what I could gather, the crappie will be running tomorrow. Funny thing is, I never knew Baja had crappies. Something to do with opening a valve..?
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I humbly beg forgiveness for posting this next picture.

[Edited on 3-15-2009 by Pompano]

Cardon Man - 3-20-2009 at 08:37 AM

That's outstanding to hear of improved fishing in the Rio Mulege.

However...In my experience, internet reports of good fishing in a very small, easily accesed fishery almost always result in lots more fishermen and way less fish. Considering how fantastic snook are as table fare...I'd keep it to yourselves as long as you can.

Good luck and have fun.

too late

mulege marv - 3-20-2009 at 11:04 AM

the local pangeros are already setting gill nets in the river, huh go figure.

Sharksbaja - 3-20-2009 at 11:14 AM

Yep, gotta luv it! Here ye hear ye, hear all about it!! I wonder if they monitor BN.

Is that legal Marv?

kill 'em all...and throw out the trash fish.

Cardon Man - 3-20-2009 at 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mulege marv
the local pangeros are already setting gill nets in the river, huh go figure.

Well, that's pretty much the end of that fishery. Good times may be over before they ever got started.

Pompano - 3-20-2009 at 01:19 PM

Guys, the local pangeros have been netting the river for many years, as far back as I can remember. Even as far as the highway. It's a sad, but true condition that does not ever improve.

We would never recommend anyone eating any fish that came out of that river. We catch and release, unless a local asks us for one, then we give it to them with a warning. That river is not exactly the cleanest.

[Edited on 3-21-2009 by Pompano]

Sharksbaja - 3-20-2009 at 01:36 PM

Which begs the question: "Where do you draw the line"

I'm interested.

mulegemichael - 3-20-2009 at 02:11 PM

yeah; a lot of brown trout in that river...a lot of the area that holds fish, particularly the snook and pargo, is REALLY snaggy; not netting water...that's why we lose so many fish as they go directly to the trees and rocks...the netters will get their share, but they won't get em all...

Sharksbaja - 3-20-2009 at 02:29 PM

OH! The "Mexican Brown Trout" :lol:

.........

Cardon Man - 3-20-2009 at 04:32 PM

Or the "Mexican brown snook" as the case may be! :lol:

estebanis - 3-20-2009 at 05:50 PM

Very Cool!!! I once delivered a sail boat north by the name of Robalo up from the cape. Wanted to catch a snook ever since...
Esteban

baitcast - 3-21-2009 at 07:33 AM

I seem to remember seeing a pic of Ray Cannon with a huge snook from the river:?
Rob

Pompano - 3-21-2009 at 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by baitcast
I seem to remember seeing a pic of Ray Cannon with a huge snook from the river:?
Rob

Rob...the stuff of legends. Ray Cannon was a master of promotion...and promoting himself. Some stories say that monster black snook came from another estuary. Others that it was speared right here. Who can say? It's all good.

mulegemichael - 3-21-2009 at 05:20 PM

but??? ....speared?...not caught?...hi pomp...up north...i hate it..m.