Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
Member Is Offline
Mood: Optimistic
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April Fishing in Bay of Conception - ROOSTERS!
I was reading 'dudley's' thread about his roosterfish question and thought to make a new one ...but especially about roosters in
Bahia de Concepcion...the Bay of Conception. The Bay is my second home and I know it very well. I've fished it since 1971 and being one of
those 'oltimers', I can remember when it was full of game fish of every description. It was truly a sportfisherman's paradise. If you had never seen
it for yourself, you wouldn't even come close to believing it.
Back in the day...many visiting fishermen from the States would camp in groups in certain familiar places they chose within the Bay...regular seasonal
encampments. Some were after dorado, marlin & sail...others would come for the winter yellowtail..and everyone had all the grouper, cabrilla, and
reef fish they could ever want throughout the year. Most never fished outside the bay...because there was no need to....Just Imagine
That!
But before I get too nostalgic, I would like to present this bit of advice about today's Rooster fishing ...within The Bay.
BEAN ROCKS...lovingly nicknamed... ‘ROCOS FRIJOLES’
Roosterfish in Conception Bay...back in the day I could catch and release them from my Coyote Bay seawall until I got exhausted. I
kept two rods in upright tubes rigged with any 3-4 inch white or silver casting lure...crocodile, kastmaster, daredevil, etc...they all work. When
somebody spotted the roosters topfin slashing through a ball of bait out front, and a thousand birds diving into the froth...we'd race out of the
house, grab a rod, and pitch the lure into the feeding frenzy...and Whammo!..the fun was on!
Unfortunately at present you know the sad story....that sort of action is long gone...for now anyway. If we could convince the Mexican government to
actually enforce the game & fish laws in Baja I'm sure it could come back. We've been beating our heads against that wall for many years.
Nowadays the best rooster fishing we've found (in the Bay) starts in March-April. LOTS of the roosterfish action is at this reef in the
southern half of Conception Bay. And at times it's red hot! My neighbor, Stan, went out for his first rooster fishing and pulled in a
nice 55 pounder. He filleted it before I could get a photo...but hey, they do make good machaca. 
I've been there when the surface was filled with huge rooster and BIG red snapper. 40-50 lb roosters....and a 55 red snapper was my all-time biggest,
lots of dinner snappers, dorado in season, and yellows, too. (see pic)
Later when the waters warm, dorado were common...back in the day, of course. I caught some nice bulls pulling fast feathers near Bean Rocks.
Hah...just remembered my very first 'catch' at Bean Rocks. I was fishing with a live bait (a lisa) ...and pulled up an octopus! My late neighbor,
Crazy Jake, used my camera to take a nice 8mm video of it.
These days, come March and April you are always checking the reef from time to time for roosters or whatever. Or...you would be in the house and hear
the call come in over the VHF radio base station...ROOSTERS AT BEAN ROCKS!...and off you'd go to Bean Rocks (Rocos Frijoles)...about a 5 mile
run from mi casa. You will see the birds and surface action long before you get there....and as you close in, don't let your boat/motor spook them.
Bean Rocks comes up to about 12 ft from the 110 surrounding bottom and is about the size of a large barn. Ease up on it from upwind and make long
casts.
See the map I made and have fun! The photo'd red/white lure is one of my favorites...casts a mile. Jerk it while reeling in...very effective with
roosters and snapper.
If you have any trouble finding this rockpile..just go to Buenaventura Café and have a beer or Sammy. Mike or Olivia will point it out from their
window.
Here's a collage of fishing photos...all taken on or next to Bean Rocks over the years since the early 70's. Good times! Get out there and give it a
go. I'd be there myself if I wasn't in the Snake River mountains chasing cold water trout.
Buena suerte and Tight Lines.
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64831
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Thanks Roger!
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9009
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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WOW, what a catch! That's some nice lookin' snapper, right there..............
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bajalearner
Senior Nomad
Posts: 670
Registered: 8-24-2010
Location: Tijuana
Member Is Offline
Mood: in search of more
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I learned allot about your area and the fish there. I really appreciate your report. I have not been there yet so it is great information. I hope
to hear more and read similar wikibaja stuff from other ol timers elsewhere in BC.
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
Member Is Offline
Mood: Optimistic
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajalearner
I learned allot about your area and the fish there. I really appreciate your report. I have not been there yet so it is great information. I hope
to hear more and read similar wikibaja stuff from other ol timers elsewhere in BC. |
Thanks bajalearner,
Your appreciation means a lot to me. Fishing Baja has been my pleasure for about 40 years..and if I can't physically be there at the moment, it's
nice to give another fisherman any input I can on what and where to fish. Plus photography and history are my avid hobbies....hence my posts on
nomads.
This photo will show how abruptly Bean Rocks comes up on you...and what I expected to catch every time. This time with a great trolling plug...a
Mirrolure. I highly recommend it near any rock structures. Have fun...
For the sake of 'history', here's a dinner plate size halibut/linguado that I jigged up from near Rocos Frijoles...was at about 90ft..caught with 1
oz. white marabou jig. Get ready for some great grilling..
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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JakeinVegas
Newbie
Posts: 23
Registered: 12-15-2013
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Member Is Offline
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Bean's Rocks
Pompano,
Thanks for the tip. We are heading down in five weeks and that is a very reachable spot for my little boat. I wish you were going to be there while we
were there so I could buy you dinner and hear stories about how baja used to be. I am so excited to show my kids all the places I have been reading
about. I always enjoy your posts and learn so much from your contributions. Keep 'em coming.
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
Member Is Offline
Mood: Optimistic
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| Quote: | Originally posted by JakeinVegas
Pompano,
Thanks for the tip. We are heading down in five weeks and that is a very reachable spot for my little boat. I wish you were going to be there while we
were there so I could buy you dinner and hear stories about how baja used to be. I am so excited to show my kids all the places I have been reading
about. I always enjoy your posts and learn so much from your contributions. Keep 'em coming. |
Hi Jake,
Thanks for the offer anyway, maybe next time around.
On Bean Rock, I don't want you to think that it's a sure thing for fishing these days, cuz it's not. You can and should check it out with your boat,
but also know that the whole Bay has been devasted by the commercial over-harvesting of all marketable marine life in the last 40 years.
You MAY find roosters..and other fish...in the Bay from time to time, but the reality is...probably NOT in your timeframe.
But the Bay and it's many beaches and islands cannot be beat for sheer scenery and a pleasant boat ride with the kids. It is the best for
that in Baja, bare none. Visit the islands for sure!
For more serious fishing, you might have to venture outside the Bay. Check with some locals and expats as to where and what is happening at the
moment. With a baited hook, dinner is always available somewhere.
I hope you enjoy the area. And remember to do the stingray shuffle!
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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