Fishing Forum

[cool][#0000ff]We have been moaning about the coming of winter...with snow and "hard water". I still tube, as long as there is water soft enough to float me without having to use an auger to open it up. But, I can't help but think back about the years I lived in southern Arizona, and the trips TubeBabe and I made to the sunny beaches of the Sonoran coast on the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California). [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The water does cool down to about 60 degrees during the winter down there, with daytime air temps under 75 (BRRRRRR). During the early spring, the water quickly climbs to over 75 and stays between 86 and 90 all the rest of the summer...until about November. Tubing wet, during the summer is like tubing in bath water.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I think about that a lot as I pull on my neoprene waders, over 3 layers of fleece. I remember sweat running down my face, in the sunny summer days down there, as I massage my numb finger tips and swish the ice out of my guides here in Utah.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As I fish all day, with only a couple of taps and a stinking small white bass for my efforts, I harken back to days of 200 fish off the Mexico beaches...with over 30 - 40 separate species represented. As Forrest Gump might say..."It was like a box of chocolates. You never knew what you were gonna get."[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]We had several areas we enjoyed fishing along the Sea of Cortez. They ranged from a 4 hour drive (Cholla Bay) to about 6 hours (San Carlos or Puerto Lobos). Both Cholla Bay and San Carlos were easily reached by paved roads, and had motels and supply businesses...like gas stations. Puerto Lobos was accessible only by driving some 60 miles on rutted sandy desert roads...often requiring either dual truck tires or 4 wheel drive. It was a remote Mexican fishing village, with no electricity or water. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The Sea of Cortez is more like a lake than an ocean. There are big tides...up to 25 feet change near the top of the Gulf, but seldom any troublesome waves. We could launch and beach on nice clean sand, without having to fight sloppy water on most trips. But, we did have to be careful to stay inside points or bays, whenever possible, to avoid the sometimes strong tidal currents. We ventured out into the open water only during slack tides.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The good news is that we seldom had to kick very far off the beach. I used to show off to visiting guests by casting back over my shoulder, as I kicked away from the beach. As I reeled to click the bail on my spinning reel, I would usually have a fish on the jig already. However, we consistently did better whenever we looked for rocks and small reefs in the crystal clear waters and cast around those. There more more fish of more species wherever there was structure.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It was more difficult to find something the fish would not hit, than to find a "hot lure". Almost any kind of jig, spinner, spoon or "hardbait" would attract vicious strikes from the swarms of competitive fish. And the fish all have teeth. We have a collection of shredded soft plastic baits and scarred crankbaits that we "retired" from active duty after they were too badly damaged by fish. On some casts, using plastic grubs on jigheads, we would have a hard strike, only to reel in a depainted jighead, with a shred of plastic hanging from it.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]After a full morning afloat, our hands would look like hamburger, after handling hundreds of spiny fish...even though we wore "half gloves" to protect our flesh. We called that "Mexican fish rash". Some fish, like the stone scorpionfish and the bigjaw leatherjacket, had spines that were poisonous and needed to be avoided entirely. We seldom kept anything that dangerous, unless it was for a picture. The scorpionfish are delicious eating, but not worth the risk of getting spined by putting them in the basket.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]We used all kinds of tackle, from ultralight spinning to medium heavy baitcasting, depending on the species and lures involved. I also flung a lot of flies on my 9' for 10 weight rod, with a shooting head and big streamers. The fish loved it all, and much fun was had, regardless of the tackle.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Here are some pictures and narrative to whet your appetites and to warm you up vicariously.[/#0000ff]


"Puerto Lobos Freeway". Sixty miles of sand and ruts. Often impassable except with 4X4. Note the blue waters and the lighthouse point of the Sea of Cortez in the distance.


No facilities at Puerto Lobos. We drove on the beach until we found some sheltering dunes and set up a beach camp. Note: I was trimmer and had dark hair in those days (early 80's)


Trudging my tube on my head, while carrying rods and fish basket up from the beach below.


The San Carlos area calls itself "Where the desert meets the sea.". The water is clear and warm and swarming with fish. Good snorkeling from this beach too.


Part of the same cove we fished a lot. We almost got stuck in the mud the last time we went, when a sudden hurricane (really) blew in and soaked the roads while we were still at the bottom of the hill. We were stranded in San Carlos for a couple of days until they repaired the main (paved) highway that got washed out in hurricane floods.


This big bay, near San Carlos, looks like a scene from the South Pacific. Lots of good memories in that area...before it got taken over and developed by a big commercial marina, golf course and housing development. Sniff sniff. By the way, this is where they filmed the movie "Catch 22" with Alan Arkin.


Typical mixed bag of triggerfish and several species of bass. We kept those because they were the best eating. Most fish were released.


Tubes ashore at Cholla Bay. Quite a few Americans have small houses (and some big ones) in this area popular with Arizonans. It is only about a 4 hour drive from either Tucson or Phoenix. Note the mixed bag of small bass and such we kept for dinner. We usually gather a group of local kids who are fascinated by our tubes...and by my ability to speak both Spanish and in "Donald Duck". When I do both, the kids roll on the ground.


TubeBabe with an average spotted bay bass. These fish are found in southern California too, but not nearly as plentiful as in Mexico. They are actually pests. You can't keep them off your line when fishing for other species.


TubeBabe with a stone scorpionfish. Note that I had removed the poisonous spine fins before having her hold the fish for a pic. The fish are mild and delicious eating, but can be dangerous if you do not know how to handle them.


The bigjaw leatherjacket is a shallow swimming predator that smacks flies, jigs or hardbaits with a vengeance. They are poor eating but good fighters. You do need to be careful when handling them. They have 4 little needlelike spines right behind the dorsal that cause excruciating pain if you get one in your hand while handling them.


Needlefish are common throughout a large area of the world, usually in warmer waters, like those in the Sea of Cortez. Down there they may reach up to about 5 feet and weigh 10 pounds or so. The average is about 3 feet and maybe 3 or 4 pounds. They are difficult to hook because of their long bony jaws, but they attack all kinds of lures and baits. I used flies and jigs tied with velcro, to hook their teeth and to at least get a couple of jumps out of them before they got off. They are really fun fighters, but a real pain when you are surrounded by them and can't get your offerings down through them to other fish.


This is a friend from Denver I took down to the remote beaches of Puerto Lobos. He had never caught anything but trout and was terrified by the toothy needlefish. He was valiantly trying to keep the jumping demon from landing in his tube with him. I laughed a lot.


The "machete" is another fish that is great on light tackle but not held in high regard as a food item. However, if you want good bait for the sailfish, marlin, grouper or snappers out on the reefs, this scrapper is a good thing to have in the bait box. They cruise the surface and hit flies and spinners with gusto. They usually jump several times and can run some line off on light spinning gear.


TubeDude with an average size Machete, taken on light gear and 3" plastics.


A mixed "bag" of inshore reef dwellers at Puerto Lobos. The big silver fish are triggerfish. The striped one is a SMALL pargo...snapper. Those babies get to be 50 pounds or more. Even the smaller inshore ones are tough to hold on tackle with less 15 pound line and a stout rod. They really power down into the rocks as soon as they are hooked. I have donated a lot of tackle to "long line releases" on these powerful fishies.


A typical mix of triggerfish and basses, of several species. These are all easy to fillet, with firm white flesh. All are delicious in almost any recipe. We usually only keep enough for a couple of good meals and release hundreds on an average trip.


A mostly bass mix from Cholla Bay area.


The Mexican hogfish, a member of the wrasse family. We catch a lot of them. They are pretty and they are good fighters, but not as good eating as the basses. I kept this one to pose for a picture.


Closeup of a Pargo...dog snapper. The teeth are nasty canines (like a dog) and can tear up lures as well as human flesh. They are fantastic eating and are commonly taken and sold by Mexican commercial fishermen.


Another small inshore reef dweller known as a porgy. They are like a crappie on steroids. They hit and fight hard and are decent eating too.


Roosterfish are prized in the Sea of Cortez. This is a smaller one, taken on a big spinner. Big roosters become lureshy and respond better to live mullet or other bait. They are superb fighters and one of the more beautiful and interestingly formed fish down there.


Sardineras (cabrilla) are a mainstay of the reef fishermen and commercial fishery in the Sea of Cortez. They get up to about 25 pounds, off the deep reefs, but are usually from 2 to 5 pounds in the inshore waters we tube. Just right for freshwater bass gear. Absolutely fantastic on the table.


The sargo is another fish also found in some Pacific coast waters. It is also found in the Salton Sea, in southern California. It hits lures well and fights hard. It is also a good food fish.


More spotted bay bass. They rarely exceed about 3 pounds in most of the areas we fish, but even a 10 incher hits hard enough to take the rod out of your hands. And, they fight much bigger than their actual size. They are plentiful and great eating. They are the perch of the Sea of Cortez.


Triggerfish are often considered pests. They swarm over a lot of the reefs and smack almost anything that they can get to before their schoolmates. Even worse, they have a mouth full of sharp canine teeth, for crushing clams, crabs, shrimp and other invertebrates. They can shred plastic baits and demolish spendy hardbaits. The good news is that they fight like demons and are great on the table. Guys fishing the offshore reefs for grouper or cabrilla hate them, but us inshore tubers love 'em.


One of hundreds of stingrays TubeDude has caught or speared in the Sea of Cortez. There are several species of rays down there. They are dangerous to handle but are fun to fight, especially from a tube. They can really pull you around. There used to be a lot of small species of sharks down there too. But, the commercial fishermen have cleaned out many of the desirable species and are now going after even the sharks and rays to salt down and sell for cheap.
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[blush] After that, don't be surprised if you find plans for a trip to Mexico in your Xmas stocking!! I'm homesick for my warm "home" ... you just pushed me over the edge!
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Wow TD and TB! I didn't know they made that many types of fish.[] A very handsome couple in the photos, I might add.

You've had a great number of different and varied experiences centered around float tubes.

I think I'm with that guy who didn't want the Needlefish jumping in the tube with him.

Thanks for sharing. Warmed me right up.[cool]

zonker
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[cool][#0000ff]I thought you might like that. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If you behave yourself, I will post a pictorial on fishing the area around New Orleans. I was on a 6 month work assignment down there and really got to experience some super tubin' on the canals and backwaters. Lots of redfish, seatrout, flounders and several other species. TubeBabe made several trips over from our home in Tucson, to join me...and look for snakes and gators (joke, Honey. Ouch, ouch.)[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Back to the Sea of Cortez...you cannot imagine the number of species in some areas we visited. We did a lot of snorkeling, as well as fishing. We collect seashells and have a big wall display as well as several shelves full (lots of dusting). But, when we put our heads under the surface of that lovely warm water, it was like entering a well stocked aquarium. Our term for it was "Jacques Cousteau's Garden". We would be surrounded by fish of all sizes, shapes and colors. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Hope we get some more trips in down there before our kids inherit all of our tackle.[/#0000ff]
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I promise to behave myself. Can't wait to see the pics. (All you lurkers behave, too.)

TB doesn't like snakes and gators? I can't imagine why. (Somehow the picture that forms in my mind of hanging your legs below a floating donut in water inhabited by things that have you on their dinner menu causes me to shiver even in a state that never sees such things. Makes a good case for a hardboat.)

z~
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[cool][#0000ff]In one of the sections of my "book in progress", I discuss the potential for "wildlife encounters" and how to deal with them. Obviously, the best policy is to avoid situations in which the possibility of getting up close and personal with something hazardous to your health. That includes gators, poisonous snakes, snapping turtles and operators of PWC.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]TubeBabe has always had a severe dislike of reptiles. She won't even touch a harmless lizard. However, she has made great progress since we were married (26 years ago). While we lived in Arizona, we hiked in the desert a lot. Whenever I heard her hit "high C", I did not say "What is it?". I said "Where is it?". I knew it had to be some kind of snake...and it did not matter what kind it was. As far as she is concerned "A snake is a snake."[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I did a lot of photography down in Arizona, and put together a large slide show for "snowbirds" (winter visitors) called "Desert Bloomers". It was mostly about the blooming plants and cacti of the desert, but included some wildlife shots too. Of course, there had to be some "buzztails" to make it all authentic. Greenhorns gotta see snakes.[/#0000ff]


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[#0000ff]When we first started photographing that "flora and fauna", TB would not stay anywhere within rock-throwing distance of any snake I happened to be working with. However, as the years passed, and as she learned more about the different snakes and their harmless demeanor, she would actually stand beside me as I coaxed the critters to " for the camera".[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]We saw several rattlers swimming out in the water on the Arizona lakes we fished. TubeBabe proved that you can actually throw up a roostertail from a float tube. On one occasion a harmless little blue racer tried to join her in her tube, mistaking her for a small island upon which it might rest on its journey across the lake. She was not very hospitable and thrashed the water to a froth with her net, until the poor little snakey abandoned its quest to be sociable.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]On one of her trips to New Orleans, for a long weekend of fishing, TubeBabe beached her tube on a mud bar. She looked around very carefully, looking for anything slithery that might be waiting for her. Since it was about the end of February, and still a bit chilly, I assured her that there would be no snakes out and about, so she did not need to worry.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]She flew back to Tucson after that trip and I went back alone the following weekend. I almost did not tell her that sitting in the low bush next to where she got out was one of the biggest and meanest looking water moccasins I have ever seen. But, I did. I wonder why she did not come back over to go fishing with me again before I came home a couple of months later.[/#0000ff]
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Ha another great story! Not only one but two! Your's tubin and the other guy's canoeing! Same area! Same doings! Seminole Steve on the [url "http://www.canoecountry.com/bulletinboard/"]Click here: BWCA and Quetico Park Bulletin Boards, bwca, quetico, bulletin board, canoe country, boundary waters canoe area in[/url] talks about that while back and lots of photos just like you did!
I sent a note on that site about yours hope he would come over!
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