BajaNomad

Top water lures to use in Gonzaga

JoelovesBaja - 5-20-2014 at 09:56 PM

Hi
I am going out fishing to Gonzaga or Papa Fernadez this weekend and I need some examples of Top Water lures I can use

Thanks
JLB

JoelovesBaja - 5-20-2014 at 10:25 PM

I found my answer

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=41079&pag...

David K - 5-20-2014 at 10:33 PM

Have a great time! Both Bahía San Luis Gonzaga (between Papa Fernandez' and Alfonsina's) and Ensenada de San Francisquito (between Alfonsina's and Punta Final) are beautiful bays and just this year reached by paved highway (so enjoy it before it gets too develped)!









Here's a map from 1970:

Skipjack Joe - 5-20-2014 at 10:51 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by JoelovesBaja
I found my answer

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=41079&pag...


That thread is dated. There are newer, better, and more expensive lures now.

redhilltown - 5-20-2014 at 11:56 PM

Rebel fastracs jointed lures...blue and black. When the water is warm and the Cortez is on in late summer and early fall they are just deadly...and to be honest a pain in the ass in that you catch so many fish and maybe not the ones you want. Some guys clip off one of the three hooks...if you net a fish caught on one of these you spend more time getting it off the hook (and out of the net) than you did catching it! Just hoist them in.

Check out The Baja Catch by Gene Kira for more info. Outside of that chrome Krocs for casting or trolling can't be beat. If you just want dinner a small hook with squid and sliding sinker for Trigger fish works just about every time...just bring the garlic and butter.

Russ - 5-21-2014 at 06:46 AM

I've always had great success with the $20 peso lure. Not very sporting but effective :light:



[Edited on 5-21-2014 by Russ]

Cypress - 5-21-2014 at 10:11 AM

MirrOlure makes a variety of lures. Some of 'em run on the surface, some of 'em run shallow and some run deep. She Dog, He Dog, etc. They have rattles inside 'em that attract. They work on speckled trout and red fish down here.:bounce:

Bob53 - 5-21-2014 at 10:21 AM

Rebel fastrac broken backs have worked very well for me. I've had the best luck with black and silver.

Hook - 5-21-2014 at 11:16 AM

You said top-water. Did you really mean top-water?

A top-water lure generally is a floating lure or one that is trolled fast enough to stay in the top 6 inches of water. I think it would a very unusual situation for one to be that effective on a regular basis around Gonzaga. I would opt for a shallow swimming lure (0-10 feet) over any true top water lure unless you are hoping for the thrill of seeing them strike a top water lure on the surface.

The Rebel fastrac lures really HAD some weak hooks (are they improved now?) and arent that durable of a body, either, if you catch big fish. I still probably have six brand new ones I bought from Gene Kira many years ago but I moved on to better lures. They work.......just not that long, compared to other lures today.

For trolling shallow, I go with either the X-rap Magnum 10 lures from Rapala or the Yo-zuri Deep Diving Crystal Minnow. If you like the broken back style, Yo-zuri makes those, too. Either the purple or the sardine colors seem to work best for me.

[Edited on 5-21-2014 by Hook]

willardguy - 5-21-2014 at 12:54 PM

this is by no means an indictment on trolling for inshore reef fish, just my thoughts. years ago I remember reading the baja catch and no doubt there's some good stuff in there, but I couldn't help thinking it kind of odd to just be trolling inshore everyday, burning gas and listening to those motors, hour after hour, waiting to kind of "snag" some fish. they did put on a lot of fish, but for me anyway, the biggest thrill is not so much reeling em in, but jigging em off the bottom or casting into crashing birds, you know, "fishing"!;)

Bob53 - 5-21-2014 at 01:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by willardguy
this is by no means an indictment on trolling for inshore reef fish, just my thoughts. years ago I remember reading the baja catch and no doubt there's some good stuff in there, but I couldn't help thinking it kind of odd to just be trolling inshore everyday, burning gas and listening to those motors, hour after hour, waiting to kind of "snag" some fish. they did put on a lot of fish, but for me anyway, the biggest thrill is not so much reeling em in, but jigging em off the bottom or casting into crashing birds, you know, "fishing"!;)

I have to agree. I enjoy bouncing jigs off the bottom and throwin iron on boils but I do enjoy trolling too. Just not all day.

woody with a view - 5-21-2014 at 01:54 PM

me three. catching, not fishing.....

Cliffy - 5-21-2014 at 02:50 PM

Didn't someone on this forum say Gonzaga was all fished out? :-)

wessongroup - 5-21-2014 at 03:36 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Skipjack Joe

That thread is dated. There are newer, better, and more expensive lures now.


:lol::lol::lol:

Hook - 5-21-2014 at 04:30 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
Quote:
Originally posted by JoelovesBaja
I found my answer

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=41079&pag...


That thread is dated. There are newer, better, and more expensive lures now.


Boy, and how, when it comes to the Crystal Minnows. Before this last generation of them, they were under 10.00. Now, they are pushing 20.00 with their "3-D" style. :rolleyes:

I really find the X-raps to swim a little more true.

redhilltown - 5-21-2014 at 11:33 PM

Depends on how well you know an area as to dropping down...if you know what you are doing and you know there is a hole there, structure, or a shelf...by all means! If you KNOW the Gonzaga area that would be a good use of time...there are large grouper and some white sea bass. Otherwise, trolling tight to shore is the best bang for the buck if on limited time and you want something for the frying pan. For the last few years crashing birds means Sierra...love em...but unless on very light gear you are not talking a Hemingway-esque fight. Joe said in his post "the weekend"...and I just assumed was not a local who knew the hot spots. Have never understood the concept that picking the right lure, positioning tight to shore and avoiding the rocks, and trolling is not fishing yet finding some deep water and dropping down for a jawfish, shark or trigger..."is". Yellowtail are found in very specific spots and it is a waste of time to just drop deep if you hope to find them. Everyone knows to look for the diving birds...even then you are just picking off the easy ones the bait fish have brought to you.

Skipjack Joe - 5-21-2014 at 11:51 PM

I just think that the learning part of fishing is the most rewarding aspect of the pastime. It would be nice if someone showed you all the reefs where the yellowtail and whitseabass are found but you should have a good time by just figuring things out on your own. Like redhilltown says - it doesn't have to be a Hemingwayesque experience.