https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nwj7UB9OysU
Here’s my annual Baja video. Guys trip this year with lots of fishing! Had a bunch of new blood down there this year, which made for exciting times
for the newbies!
One of my fishing buddies from my Humboldt days, Cameron Thomas, finally made it down. I’ve been asking him for years and he finally pulled the
trigger. He came in from Montana and I think he’ll be back! I picked up Cam at LAX on Monday morning and we had a smooth border crossing at TJ (even
got my truck/camper/boat X-rayed!!!). Stopped for money/supplies in Ensanada and made El Pabellon Beach (Butterfly Beach) by nightfall. Got up early
the next morning and after a few more supplies in Santa Rosalia, made Dos Amigos in San Lucas Cove by 2:30 that afternoon. Easy trip down.
Unfortunately the wind was blowing and was forecasted to for the next several days. We unpacked and began setting up fishing rods. We launched the
next morning, but were only able to make it out to the Haystack. There were no firecrackers or sierra around, but we did catch a few small skipjack
and some bay bass. The next day was more of the same with even more wind! Cam was getting a good work out in the boat and trying to get his sea legs
back! The next day it calmed down enough for us to sneak out to the V for a few drifts. Only had one hit, but missed it. The next day it was a little
calmer and we were able to get in a few more drifts and caught two nice YT, one on iron and the other on bait. The bait fish was a nice 25 pounder.
The wind continued to lay down for the rest of the week We fished the V the next day for 5 nice YT, including our biggest fish of the trip at 32
pounds! We then got skunked there the next day as the fish moved out…we could have tried the island, but decided to get chocolate’s on the low tide.
We were successful getting those as least. The next day we decided to fish the island and found that the smaller YT had moved in! Cam and I caught 7
or 8 fish that day from 8-15 pounds. We had those fish fairly early, so decided to troll the island to see what we could find. We trolled about half
way down the island with only one leopard grouper to show for our efforts. Just as we rounded a point past a jagged reef, the middle rod gets hammered
and is stripping line very quickly. Just as I clear the rods and begin to turn the boat around, with the line screaming off the reel the whole time,
the fish swims around a rock and cuts us off! Wow…big something!?! We continue to work that area for several more grouper, including an amazingly
beautiful golden-phase leopard grouper! We continue down the island to the West light and find some firecrackers that we play with for a little while.
Cam tried the fly rod, but only got a leopard grouper. On Cam’s last day fishing, we fished with Garrett, a friend from SLO who was camping with his
family, and had great action on 8-15 pound YT around the island. I think we landed 7 or 8 that day, including an rare fortune jack. The first I had
ever seen. The next day we had a crew change as I drove Cam to the airport in Loreto and picked up the Oregon boys (Jason, Vern and Doug).
Doug has been coming on trips with me for about 15 years, but this was Vern and Jason’s first trip. They only had a week, but we packed a lot in! I
took Jason and Vern over to the island the first day to get in on the good action. Jason couldn’t believe it when I handed him my flyine rod about 30
seconds into the first drift telling him “there’s a fish on there!” We caught 7 or 8 fish and farmed many more. We then trolled the island on the way
home and got a double on dogtooth snapper right off the West light. I’ve seen a lot of them snorkeling, but these are the first I’ve ever caught.
Beautiful fish and very tasty! The next day Doug, Jason and I decided to try the V for some bigger fish, but only had one hit that broke the line…so
we headed over to the island to see if the little ones were still around. It was wfo at the island, but the wind had picked up to 15 knots by the time
we got there. Every bait we dropped got hit quickly and we put 6 or 7 fish in the box in about 45 minutes before we headed for the barn. That
afternoon the tide was really low and we cleaned up on Chocolates…enough for 2 huge meals that week We got in another trip to the island the next day
and had an epic drift were we landed 6 fish in about an hour! Ended the day with a few more before heading in.
The wind picked up a bit the next couple days and we decided to do some hiking and day trips. We did a day trip down to Concepcion Bay and spent the
day at Playa Coco (a place I’ve camped many times). The fishing wasn’t great, but we did catch a few roosterfish. The snorkeling was good and everyone
enjoyed looking at the beautiful fish. It is a lot warmer there than San Lucas and we had a great time hanging out on the beach, drinking beer and
eating steviche. The next day we did a day trip out to Punta Chivato to snorkel off the beach. A little breezy, but still a great time behind the
point snorkeling and, you guessed it, eating steviche and drinking beer! Awesome snorkeling out there and the boys really enjoyed it. Fortunately the
wind came down the last day and we were able to get out to the island once more. Doug was riding with Grant and Jason and Vern were with me. It
started off a little slow with only a few fish on our first drift, but then we moved to an inside reef and had great action for an hour with flat calm
seas. We had plenty of fish by 11, so we headed in to pack up camp for our departure the next day. Had a wonderful dinner at Grant and Dar’s and
played music well in to the night.
We left early the next morning and made it just S of Tecate by nightfall. Crossed early in the morning and dropped the boys off at SD airport by 11
and I was home by 5.
Another great trip!
Until next year…adios!!!
Steve |
