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amigobaja
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On the Reyes we went to San francisquito bay and worked north. Fished half day Gonzaga. (only bad fishing day)
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Hook
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I'll probably catch heel from Chuckie on this, as information you should learn on your own, but.........
you are aware of the wind situation in BOLA, arent you Howie? EASILY the wickedest winds I have ever seen in the Sea (outside of a chubasco/hurricane)
have been there. Probably the top five baddest winds, really.
Always keep your eyes on the horizon for the tell-tale "thin blue line", especially if it is from the north or west. Put some binos on the blue line
and see if there is white capping in it. If so, run like hell for the barn! I dont care if you are catching jawfish by the front loader bucketful. Get
the hell back to port and take a route in the lee of the islands. Carry emergency food, in case you have to spend the night on shore. It's better than
fighting 4-6 footers @ 5 sec. intervals. People have died trying to do that at BOLA, in much larger boats than yours.
There are also some nasty wash rocks in the BOLA area, too. I hope you remember them from your past times there. The Fish-n-Map charts have them. Or
stick with the locals (gringos or Mexicans).
The beauty of BOLA hides some very real dangers. Be prepared for them.
Final note: for comparable sized lures, the X-raps dive deeper than the Mirros of the same size. Using braid on the same pole, I've let out the same
length of line and "measured" (really, just estimated; I didnt have a protractor) the angle between the line and the rod. The X-raps dove deeper. That
can be significant, in some circumstances.
Now, admitted, I am using older Mirrolures, so maybe they have something with a deeper diving bill now. I think I am using 110s or 111s or something
like that.
Purple has always been the best color for ANYTHING for me.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
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Was anything caught down by San Francisquito? Do you remember fishing near some wash rocks about 30 miles north of SF and about a half mile offshore?
That would be Rocas Bernabe (Barnaby Rocks).
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Santiago
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It's a rock on the southern point of Bahia Animas; a good 25 mile from the inner bay.
Pay attention to what Hook has said....
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Lobsterman
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Thanks Santiago,
That's way too far IMO for us to go safely with 2 small aluminum boats. Our average age is 70 except for the grandson.I could make it easily with my
Cabo216 (300 mile range). However, I'll put it in my brain for a future trip. I brought my boat on the last trip there in 2008.
On a trip back in the 80s while fishing around the southern point leaving the bay a chubasco came up around noon. Went from calm to +30 mph winds
from the west in a matter of minutes. We hid in the cove to that clamming spot hoping the winds would die down especially before dusk. They never did
so we took a vote to brave the winds and wave chop or spend the night there. We (my brother and my son) decided to brave the weather. My brother sat
in the bow for ballast, my son bailed in the middle the incoming water from waves and spray while I tilled the 14' aluminum boat with 25hp motor
quartering the building short-period waves . Some how we made it back to shore in the dark using the lights of the city for direction. It was
exhilarating, exhausting and we kinda laughed amongst ourselves probably in fear of what might have been. We were camping at that time on a deserted
streach of beach north of town where the abandoned RV park was. I do not remember any structures from there all the way to La Gringa. Then into town
for a celebration of life feasting for the last time on fried turtle steaks for dinner.
My wife recently retired so I need to get out of dodge occasionally with the boys to get away from honey-does 7 days a week now. BOLA has always been
my favorite Baja location so I'm gonna target it from now on. I'll even be looking for man-cave type places that 3 of us in this group could share
throughout the year. We plan on visiting all locations in the immediate area after our afternoon naps and before the watering hole. I loved watching
BOLA grow from the 70's and feel more attached and at home to it than any other place I fished or visited in Baja. This will be the 1st time I have
not camped on the beach but in an a/c motel room.
Also found the 111 MR Mirrolures in the colors mentioned at Charkbait in San Diego at $10.95 each + tax in the Sports Arena area. It's on the way to
my boat in Half Moon Marina on SI. Also have a online store.
https://www.charkbait.com/cs/cstMirrOlures.htmI.
[Edited on 5-8-2016 by Lobsterman]
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chuckie
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I hunkered down in BOLA last year for a few days, just hung out...Kinda neat place...I hadn't been in there in over 30 years. That same idea crossed
what mind I have left, find a spot and hang out for a few months a year...BUT, I am going to try the fishing and hanging out in Louisiana first...I
know the fishing is better, dunno about the hanging out...I am road tripping starting next Tuesday, going down into New Mexico and hang out with Pat
Garrett and Billy the Kid....I am trying to perfect my hanging out....Doesn't pay very well tho...
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Martyman
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Quote: Originally posted by Lobsterman  | Thanks Chuckie,
I'll go to the website now and order a few as you and others have suggested. The trollers and lure guys in our group have a bunch of Mirrolures and
many other similar brands and models cuz that's how fish exclusively but I'm a bottom fisherman with few lures and I want to bring my own. So these
tips are appreciated by me and will save me a few $ to buy the 1st beers for those who want to share fish tales at the watering hole afterwards.
As in business time-is-money and in fishing time is also limited to their specific feeding schedules for certain fish. In my area rockfish mainly
bite between 1st light and 1030. After that I target lingcod and/or halibut that bite all day. Being in the general area at the right time increases
the chances of you finding fish that day. And if others are in the area calling to let them know what's biting now and on what.
HH |
Thanks for starting the great
thread. I must admit that last time I went to BOLA, we threw iron and trolled lures and didn't get much. I am not a very skilled fisherman and
appreciate your fishing tips Lobster. I saw some cured anchovies at Walmart the other day-maybe I'll try those with a sliding sinker down deep like
you suggested. I have no live baitwell. Seems like a sliding sinker right above the hook would mess with the bait and maybe knock it off?
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woody with a view
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Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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If you fish deep the weight should be at the bottom. Look up dropper loop.
You guys sound like you are talking about a Carolina Rig with a sliding sinker. Use that for surf fishing.
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Lobsterman
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As Woody says above live bait, I say, "squid is your friend". However we are talking two distinctly different species of fish. He is obviously a YT
guy where I'm a bottom fishing guy. Once I catch dinner on the bottom then and only then do I hola hola around for the pelagic species as I have
stated before.
I have many methods to bottom fish each with their advantages and disadvantages. I bring them all when I go fishing and switch amongst them depending
on getting bit or not or snagged on the rocky bottom.
1. Surf Leaders and packaged Snell hooks with weight on the bottom:
adv: inexpensive, hooks hold squid or chovies well, easy to change leader hooks or weights.
disadv: leadered hook line gets tangled with line, snaps and tie points and need constant untangling.
This is my 1st choice when bottom fishing.
2. 2-hook leaders in s/s steel or mono with snaps for hooks, weights and line attachment. You can buy them at Walmart for about a 1$ apiece. I buy
all they usually have on their display rings.
Adv: inexpensive, easy to change hooks, weights and replacement. I have a few already with hooks and weights attached so if I lose one in the rocks
it's replaced in seconds
disadv: ? I'm guessing perhaps with the hooks so close to the rig and all the metal snaps to attach the hooks to, the fish might have 2nd thoughts but
IMO it catches as many bottomdwellers at the same time as the rig above. Leader hooks as above can also be used in lieu of hooks directly attached on
snaps but this increases tangles.
I plan on using the s/s model with no weight on the bottom and tossed with a weighted bobber to fish for triggerfish in BOLA. I used this method
recently in Hilo to catch triggers from off a 15' lava cliff in the backyard of a house I rented while temporally working there. I'll also toss sticky
balls of chub macs, oil, oatmeal and flour for chum as I outlined somewhere in a reply above. I'll make it up in NOB, freeze it and thaw as needed in
BOLA
3. Sliding egg sinker or Carolina rig: I use this setup exclusively for halibut even though I recently caught a 25lb halibut on #1 above with live
anchovie while fishing for shallow-water rockfish.
4. Rock cod rig: It is very similar to #2 above but it has either red/yellow or blue/white shirmpflies for hooks. IMO #1 or #2 is more successful and
cheaper then them so I rarely use them anymore.
5. Plain leadheads: I use them when I continually get rocked on the bottom with #1 or 2 methods. I put as many donuts of squid as they can take. I
also put a cured anchovy or two on them for their flash. The 4-8 oz ones I put a live small mac on for lingcod. I'm bringing them with me to see if
they work in BOLA for YT or whatever we might find in the depths, that is IF we can make live bait. Also a strip of plumbers tape for a white wiggly
tail when the drift is fast can be productive.
6. I call this my Big lingcod killer. It's kinda complicated to explain but I'll try.
a. make a 24" leader with hook on one end and swivel on the other end.
b. make another 36" leader with weight on one end and swivel on the other.
c. before you tie the swivel on "b" run the swivel on "a" thru "b's" line. Then attach "b's" swivel. Thus "a" freewheels around "b's" line.
d. Tie main line to "b's" swivel.
That way the live mac for bait can freely swim in a circle around your rig both up and down the length of "b's" leader. Lingcod can not resist this
set up. I use a large treble hook cuz lings do not appear to be hook shy. I plan on trying this in BOLA as well.
I'll be bringing 10- one lb frozen blocks of squid on dry ice. One lb per day per boat with the remaining each day fried into calamari rings by the
adjacent restaurant for pu pus over a ice cold beer.
aka Halibut Howie on BDs.
...................................Caught on Method #1............................
[Edited on 5-11-2016 by Lobsterman]
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Hook
Elite Nomad
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A sliding sinker can work UP in the water column IF you are using live mackerel and the weight isnt too big. As you throw the bait out, the sinker
initially will slide away from the bait and create a "V" shape in the line with the sinker at the bottom of the "V". The strength of the live bait
will maintain this "V", at it is at the top of one end of the V. The other end is your rod tip. This will get the bait down in a gradual, more natural
fashion than a dropper loop rig. Sometimes this more natural fashion is what the fish want.
This wont work as well with dead bait.
Some also like to put a barrel swivel below the sliding sinker and then attach a leader to the other end of the swivel. The swivel prevents the sinker
from getting any closer than the leader length to the bait. But it is TWO additional knots that can theoretically fail.
If they arent picky and a dropper loop is working, by all means, use it. Much quicker on the drop.
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Lobsterman
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Posts: 1691
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Who says "old dogs" can't learn new tricks?
Thanks hook.
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bkbend
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Location: central OR or central baja
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I may just be lazy but when fishing the B de LA islands for bottom fish I've stopped messing with swivels and weights and bait and just tie a 3" iron
jig on a light rod bouncing it around the bottom while drifting with the wind. Just keep an eye on the depth finder so you can reel up a bit if it
suddenly gets shallower. I'll do that in 10-100 feet of water and catch bay bass, gold spots, triggers and even slimers. I don't notice any drop off
in productivity and it's easier to turn back the smaller guys since they don't swallow the bait.
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18356
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| Quote: Originally posted by bkbend | | I may just be lazy but when fishing the B de LA islands for bottom fish I've stopped messing with swivels and weights and bait and just tie a 3" iron
jig on a light rod bouncing it around the bottom while drifting with the wind. Just keep an eye on the depth finder so you can reel up a bit if it
suddenly gets shallower. I'll do that in 10-100 feet of water and catch bay bass, gold spots, triggers and even slimers. I don't notice any drop off
in productivity and it's easier to turn back the smaller guys since they don't swallow the bait. |
Smart man.
But your message is lost here, there are a lot of nomads that like shopping and like making bottom fishing complicated.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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I like my dropper loop setup in 200+ feet of water. pin on a 6" mackerel snapper and drop it down. within minutes I'm grinding up a 20-35lb yellowtail
tuna!
I'm only a fan of chucking iron when they're on the surface, but that's just me.
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Lobsterman
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bkbend,
Thanks for sharing the tip about bottom-fishing around the BOLA islands. Any particular 3" jig you use?
The guys I'm going with are big time lure guys and have every lure and jig imaginable, so they'll be glad to hear your response. So while they are
using lures and me one of my 6 methods we'll see who catches the most fish.
My bets with them have already been made. It will make for an interesting conversation over a beer at dinner. Hopefully if anyone is in town then (May
29-Jun2) they can come by and join in on our fish tales spin zone and bragging in the restaurant adjacent to Guillermo's. C-cktail hour starts at 5pm.
We'll be in bed by 7:30 or 8pm so come early. As you might expect I'm betting on me.
I know my bottom-fishing techniques could be out of place or misguided in BOLA today but we'll see. But with 5-days of fishing I'll be continually
searching for what works best that day for certain species of fish. I'm sure I'll be using the techniques you guys were so generous to share not only
with me but others on this board who want to increase their chances to catch fish for dinner. I have already loaded some of your suggested techniques
into the arsenal I'm bringing down with me. I'm just excited to be able to experience your part of paradise no matter what the BOLA fish gods have in
store for us.
I'm not, but my partners I'm sure are, interested in catching just YT. I want to see what's down there like I've done on about 12 previous trips
there since the 70's fishing on small boats with squid for bait and using method #1. Perhaps the number of fish and their sizes have diminished since
the 70's but on my last trip in 2008 they were not. Stay tuned for the fish report with pics from my biased side after we return June 3rd or hear them
1st hand in the bar next door.
[Edited on 5-12-2016 by Lobsterman]
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9009
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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| Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666 |
Smart man.
But your message is lost here, there are a lot of nomads that like shopping and like making bottom fishing complicated. |
Goat, you dont know jack smelt about fishing.
And I wouldnt presume to talk you about adjusting the Disraeli Gears on your precious bicycle.
Stick to what you know about. You look foolishly over your head on this.
Why I am pointing this out, I am not sure. You should be left hanging out to dry for most things you post.
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Santiago
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3511
Registered: 8-27-2003
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| Quote: Originally posted by Hook |
And I wouldnt presume to talk you about adjusting the Disraeli Gears on your precious bicycle.
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That's funny right there; soon he will be "In the white room with black curtains....."
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24baja
Senior Nomad
Posts: 951
Registered: 2-3-2009
Location: Grants Pass Oregon/Bahia de Los Angeles
Member Is Offline
Mood: Wishing we were in BOLA
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| Quote: Originally posted by Lobsterman | bkbend,
Thanks for sharing the tip about bottom-fishing around the BOLA islands. Any particular 3" jig you use?
The guys I'm going with are big time lure guys and have every lure and jig imaginable, so they'll be glad to hear your response. So while they are
using lures and me one of my 6 methods we'll see who catches the most fish.
My bets with them have already been made. It will make for an interesting conversation over a beer at dinner. Hopefully if anyone is in town then (May
29-Jun2) they can come by and join in on our fish tales spin zone and bragging in the restaurant adjacent to Guillermo's. C-cktail hour starts at 5pm.
We'll be in bed by 7:30 or 8pm so come early. As you might expect I'm betting on me.
I know my bottom-fishing techniques could be out of place or misguided in BOLA today but we'll see. But with 5-days of fishing I'll be continually
searching for what works best that day for certain species of fish. I'm sure I'll be using the techniques you guys were so generous to share not only
with me but others on this board who want to increase their chances to catch fish for dinner. I have already loaded some of your suggested techniques
into the arsenal I'm bringing down with me. I'm just excited to be able to experience your part of paradise no matter what the BOLA fish gods have in
store for us.
I'm not, but my partners I'm sure are, interested in catching just YT. I want to see what's down there like I've done on about 12 previous trips
there since the 70's fishing on small boats with squid for bait and using method #1. Perhaps the number of fish and their sizes have diminished since
the 70's but on my last trip in 2008 they were not. Stay tuned for the fish report with pics from my biased side after we return June 3rd or hear them
1st hand in the bar next door.
[Edited on 5-12-2016 by Lobsterman] |
In BOLA We use alot of Salas or sumo jigs in Blue and white, yellow and green, yellow and brown fried egg color, and dorado color.
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Santiago
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3511
Registered: 8-27-2003
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| Quote: Originally posted by 24baja |
In BOLA We use alot of Salas or sumo jigs in Blue and white, yellow and green, yellow and brown fried egg color, and dorado color.
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I've often wondered what the 200' reefs must look like - must be thousands of them in the rocks around 7 mile. I've certainly contributed.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9009
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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The story goes that a roadie for Ginger Baker, Clapton and Baker were driving around when Clapton expressed an interest in getting a racing bicycle.
The roadie supposedly said ......"oh, with Disraeli Gears?". Clapton and Baker fell all over themselves with laughter at the term, and decided to use
it for their next album. The band was Cream, of course.
The roadie meant to say derailleur gears, but somehow came out with the last name of an early British prime minister.
[Edited on 5-12-2016 by Hook]
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