BajaNomad

Cows off Loreto?

LukeJobbins - 1-16-2018 at 08:41 PM

I heard rumors, then proof of some cows caught outside of Loreto. Any recent news of these? Are they still around and is anyone going for them? Pangas for rent or locals chasing them? I might have a few days off and would be interested in jamming down for a chance at a cow.

willardguy - 1-16-2018 at 09:52 PM

the Cast n Reel guys say its a yearly deal, same area off the islands, on BD. what do got to lose?:P

ehall - 1-17-2018 at 04:44 AM

I'm not much of a fisherman. What's a cow? Big tuna?

chippy - 1-17-2018 at 06:02 AM

https://www.bdoutdoors.com/forums/threads/424lb-yft-caught-i...:bounce:

BajaMama - 1-17-2018 at 08:04 AM

Can't access BD site w/o acct.

weebray - 1-17-2018 at 08:36 AM

Better hurry down. Maybe you can catch the last one.

David K - 1-17-2018 at 09:27 AM

Quote: Originally posted by BajaMama  
Can't access BD site w/o acct.


Photo of a giant yellowfin tuna.

I never heard the term "cow" either for a tuna??? How can they tell it isn't a bull (by looking, lol)?

Cow definition

Howard - 1-17-2018 at 09:46 AM

A "cow" does not refer the sex of the fish.

I have always been under the impression that a cow refers to the tuna being over 300 LBS.

Never caught a cow with my personal best at 186 LBS and that gave me all the fight I wanted or needed. Had to get around 90 LBS of meat from it and after the struggle with 186 LBS I took catching a 300 LB off my bucket list. If you are targeting cows and have all the right equipment and boat it might be a different story.

David K - 1-17-2018 at 10:09 AM

Thanks Howard. I have caught Dorado, Yellowtail, Cabrilla, and others from a panga, but never tuna. My dad went out on tuna boats often and brought home cans and cans of tuna back in the 60s!

AKgringo - 1-17-2018 at 10:14 AM

I don't know much about tuna, but in Alaska, all of the large halibut are female! Males don't get over 60 pounds, while females can be over 400.

Cancamo - 1-17-2018 at 10:19 AM

Local guy known for big tuna caught 314 and 319lb. tuna south of Loreto about a week apart. They had an article about it with pictures a week ago in I think BCS Noticias.

Same guy captured a big one last year as well, same time of year. He has a spot and all the special gear for sure. He didn't have a proper scale before, looks like he does now.

I didnt know this! Now I'm ready for Jeopardy!

Howard - 1-17-2018 at 10:21 AM

https://www.niwa.co.nz/te-k%C5%ABwaha/tuna-information-resou...

bajabuddha - 1-17-2018 at 10:28 AM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  


How can they tell it isn't a bull (by looking, lol)?


Ask it a question. If HE answers, it's a bull. If SHE answers, it's a cow. :biggrin:

StuckSucks - 1-17-2018 at 10:34 AM

Quote: Originally posted by LukeJobbins  
I heard rumors, then proof of some cows caught outside of Loreto. Any recent news of these? Are they still around and is anyone going for them? Pangas for rent or locals chasing them? I might have a few days off and would be interested in jamming down for a chance at a cow.


Seriously, I had no idea -- I thought we were talking vacas. Why would someone use a panga to capture one of these big animals?

Signed, Easily Confused

Howard - 1-17-2018 at 11:04 AM

Dear confused

First of all they are located at least a 4 hour ride from the marina in Loreto. That would make for a long day unless you overnighted out at one of the islands. One would logically launch from Puerto Escondido for a shorter ride. Not to say Panga's don't go out and target them but the only ones that I have heard of are caught from private sportfishers. You target these fish and are ready for the fight and you have all the right set ups, you realistically don't catch these cows by accident.

I could tell you where they are located but the surfers out there would have to give up their secret surf spots. :))

Some big boys are around, a local boat mechanic caught a 59 LB Dorado a couple of months ago.

I understand your quandary, is it better to catch smaller fish to eat or catch the grandpa for many, many meals? Which is better for the future of the species, letting the medium ones grow up to have more fish or take one grandpa out as he has lived his life? I'm not sure their is a morally correct answer.

It's sort of like off road racing, one is tearing up the land but it brings in $ into the local economies, it depends on ones point of view.

chippy - 1-17-2018 at 11:07 AM

Maybe this
http://www.piscesgroupcabo.com/news/news/monster-tuna-off-of...

Tuna

tehag - 1-17-2018 at 11:17 AM

The big Yellowfin Tuna were caught on Tim Yarbrough's boat.

It's for hire out of Loreto/Puerto Econdido.

Screen Shot 2018-01-17 at 11.08.54 AM copy by tehagl, on Flickr

bajabuddha - 1-17-2018 at 11:30 AM

:O GOOD LORD! :o

Bob and Susan - 1-17-2018 at 12:24 PM

there are "cows" in the bay at mulege... just out front...
I have pictures : )


375686_4443421842898_619822680_n.jpg - 77kB

LukeJobbins - 1-17-2018 at 12:50 PM

Cool thanks everyone. A cow is over 200 pounds. Started as talking about catching a fish the size of a cow. Now its typically just referred to yellowfin tuna over 200lbs (some people use it for bluefin also).

I don't do the Facebook or bloody decks things so if anyone has any contact info for tim's boat or a boat/panga who knows the big tuna area and would be willing to go out there please let me know. Id like to talk to them about it. Thanks

willardguy - 1-17-2018 at 01:13 PM

Quote: Originally posted by LukeJobbins  
Cool thanks everyone. A cow is over 200 pounds. Started as talking about catching a fish the size of a cow. Now its typically just referred to yellowfin tuna over 200lbs (some people use it for bluefin also).

I don't do the Facebook or bloody decks things so if anyone has any contact info for tim's boat or a boat/panga who knows the big tuna area and would be willing to go out there please let me know. Id like to talk to them about it. Thanks

not a cheap ride but hey....all the beer you can drink ;)
https://fishingbooker.com/charters/view/5641

[Edited on 1-17-2018 by willardguy]

LukeJobbins - 1-18-2018 at 06:18 AM

Quote: Originally posted by willardguy  
Quote: Originally posted by LukeJobbins  
Cool thanks everyone. A cow is over 200 pounds. Started as talking about catching a fish the size of a cow. Now its typically just referred to yellowfin tuna over 200lbs (some people use it for bluefin also).

I don't do the Facebook or bloody decks things so if anyone has any contact info for tim's boat or a boat/panga who knows the big tuna area and would be willing to go out there please let me know. Id like to talk to them about it. Thanks

not a cheap ride but hey....all the beer you can drink ;)
https://fishingbooker.com/charters/view/5641

[Edited on 1-17-2018 by willardguy]


Wow thats expensive.

LukeJobbins - 1-18-2018 at 06:19 AM

Quote: Originally posted by willardguy  
Quote: Originally posted by LukeJobbins  
Cool thanks everyone. A cow is over 200 pounds. Started as talking about catching a fish the size of a cow. Now its typically just referred to yellowfin tuna over 200lbs (some people use it for bluefin also).

I don't do the Facebook or bloody decks things so if anyone has any contact info for tim's boat or a boat/panga who knows the big tuna area and would be willing to go out there please let me know. Id like to talk to them about it. Thanks

not a cheap ride but hey....all the beer you can drink ;)
https://fishingbooker.com/charters/view/5641

[Edited on 1-17-2018 by willardguy]


I might be able to do a multiday trip to puerto vallarta for that price.

weebray - 1-18-2018 at 08:32 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Howard  
Dear confused


I understand your quandary, is it better to catch smaller fish to eat or catch the grandpa for many, many meals? Which is better for the future of the species, letting the medium ones grow up to have more fish or take one grandpa out as he has lived his life? I'm not sure their is a morally correct answer.

It's sort of like off road racing, one is tearing up the land but it brings in $ into the local economies, it depends on ones point of view.



Very interesting question. I appreciate your broaching the subject. As a consumer I favor any use of the fishery that is sustainable. I suspect the only way to reverse the diminishing trend is to totally ban ALL fishing for a few years. It's Pollyanna I realize but I could give up eating it for a couple of years. Those years could be spent teaching people how to catch and release and otherwise use the resource more wisely. I know I will get a lot of pushback, I have no statistics to back me up, but I think a major portion of the resource is wasted. Literally tons of marine protien goes out of Cabo yearly. Only to sit in a freezer until it turns yellow and isn't even good for bait.

fishbuck - 1-18-2018 at 10:00 PM

Wow!

weebray - 1-19-2018 at 08:36 AM

Quote: Originally posted by fishbuck  
Wow!


We stayed at Jardines not long ago. An employee was 'cleaning' out the freezers on the back patio. He had several kilo of fillets in a box. I asked him if they were for the restaurant. No, I do this every week or two. It's just fish that is left by fishermen. Wow, I said.

fishbuck - 1-19-2018 at 12:42 PM

I always try to make sure I have people I can deliver my fish to and fresh if I can hustle home quick enough.
I find it an absolute abomination to waste precious fish.
If I don't have people lined up I keep the 1st fish and try to release anything after that and as heathy is I can.
I love fish.

willardguy - 1-19-2018 at 01:44 PM

week or two old fish from the freezer won't have trouble finding a home.

vandenberg - 1-19-2018 at 02:25 PM

Just curious !! What does one do with a 350 lb fish here in Loreto? A fish like that will bring thousands of dollars on the Japanese market, but here it a game fish, so illegal to sell and how much tuna can one eat ? There is enough to feed a village. And how much canned tuna can you use ? I like to know the answer to those questions. I'm waiting !!

Other question.
How do you get a fish that size on board without a hoist ? Tow it in ??

[Edited on 1-19-2018 by vandenberg]

chippy - 1-19-2018 at 03:14 PM



Other question.
How do you get a fish that size on board without a hoist ? Tow it in ??

[Edited on 1-19-2018 by vandenberg][/rquote]


3 or 4 gaffs if you don´t have a marlin door.

LukeJobbins - 1-19-2018 at 10:49 PM

Well personally I would be able to fillet a fish that size and get it to a fish processor in san diego within a day and a half of catching it. It would be under ice in a freezer until the processor, and once at the processor they vacuum seal fillets and flash freeze them. They can then last for well over a year in perfect condition.

And I would give away a lot to whomever would want some. I also usually only keep as much as my friends and I will eat, then it's catch and release.

fishbuck - 1-20-2018 at 01:46 AM

Quote: Originally posted by LukeJobbins  
Well personally I would be able to fillet a fish that size and get it to a fish processor in san diego within a day and a half of catching it. It would be under ice in a freezer until the processor, and once at the processor they vacuum seal fillets and flash freeze them. They can then last for well over a year in perfect condition.

And I would give away a lot to whomever would want some. I also usually only keep as much as my friends and I will eat, then it's catch and release.


Good job brother Luke. The fish god(s) will smile down on you!

"Ice is the fishermans best friend"