Got back from our trip to the Sea of Cortez, It was a slow trip with few fish brought to boat..
The wind was so bad we could not fish two and a half days of a five day trip..Nice trip down and back but on this new boat and crew the guide and crew is not as good as on the other boat..
Some of the types of fish at this time of year are Dorado, Cabrilla, Grouper, Sailfish, Yellow tail and other types of rock bass..
We got many Dorado and Yellow tail and a Sail fish on 30# line...
The Sail was released boat side after a 40 to 45 mint fight..
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Nice work/play! If you keep posting pics from Mexico fishing trips, I might have to take a little trip down there.
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Those in picture 2 look like mini whales! Very cool!
Those are some nice Bulls there. So if this was an under productive trip, what does a productive trip look like?
Looks like fun was had by all.
I was wondering how many fishermen on your boat?
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It takes more then just catching fish on a trip like this, how you are treated helps and other things as well...
A good day of catching is 30 to 40 fish per day..But they should be the kind of fish you want to catch, and the guide should let you know what lures or bait to use and when, to make it a great trip...
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[#502800]Are you going back in May? If so, what week in May is it? I talked to you about it at the DAV event, and we are still interested .......... It sounds like this trip put you off a little bit.[/#502800]
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This newer boat and guides are not the same quality as the other trips..And I have no plains to go on this boat in May, I am trying to get my money back now..
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[quote bassrods]
A good day of catching is 30 to 40 fish per day..But they should be the kind of fish you want to catch, and the guide should let you know what lures or bait to use and when, to make it a great trip...[/quote]
Wow. Nothing like high expectations.
For me, I'd be happy just to be with good friends or family out on the water. Any fish is better than no fish, but even no fish can still be a good trip. Having a guide spoon-feed me isn't necessary -- I can tie my own knots and bait my own hook and pick my own lures.
I'm not trying to knock you Cliff (OK, yes I am), but your comment about what a successful trip is just rubbed me wrong. I guess that's why I've always avoided guiding -- people's expectations are too high with variables that are uncontrollable. Oh well. Regardless of what you said, it looks to me like you had a pretty good trip. I'm sorry that your expectations were not met. Good luck trying to get your money back -- did you return the product? Maybe if you offered to return any fish you harvested, they'd be more willing to refund your money?
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Cliff, wondered where you were lately - now I know. I've never done much salt fishing, but this winter we're spending 4 months on the south Texas gulf so I'm planning to rust out my tackle. Sorry your trip wasn't up to expectations, but at least it wasn't catch and release.
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Your post to mine just shows how big your mind is and how you must have been picked on in school as a kid..
First when anyone go hunting or fishing for any thing they don't know about or lures they may not have heard about before or even seen...And used.. Do you know how to fish for every type of fish??
I wish I did.. But when I go to other water in other states or countries I will ask or get some one to show me..
Yes that is not above me as it is you, if that guide only wants my money and does not show me How or where to fish or hunt or does not even put me on the game or fish I want to catch then that is a bad trip..
Many others on this site has ask how to catch bass or how to drop shot or what lures to get and how to use them
in the past I have tried to help them..But like some of them you want to do it your self or try to make fun of them in print or behind there backs .. GROW UP ...
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I have been fishing here and their but people like pbh makes it so I don't post ...
Texas Gulf is great fishing and many lakes are just out of sight with bigger fish...
Let us know how you do and good fishing..Keep an eye out you may even see me..[
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[#502800]Thanks Cliff ........ I have had several experiences with guides and know exactly what you are talking about.[/#502800]
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And yes I just got my money back in the mail..
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Man pic number 2 does look like mini whales! Very cool indeed! Sorry the trip didn't live up to expectations. When you travel that far and spend that kind of money you are justified in getting what you want. Luckily you got a refund but hey it did make for some interesting pics. Thanks for the report and pics, definitely not the usual fish pics of Utah fish.
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[cool][#0000ff]Hey Cliff, you might wanna clarify a couple of things for the folks who have not experienced the Mexico fishing trips out of San Felipe. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]First of all, the refund you got was probably not for the trip you already took but for advance reservations for next year. Right? They usually do not guarantee satisfaction and give your money back after the trip if you are not happy. In fact, you were lucky to get a refund on the advance.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Second of all, when you have gone out with the same boat, skipper and deck hands a few times you get to know them and you appreciate the hard work they put in to make your trip successful. But there are also charter services that really don't care about anything except getting your money and giving you a boatride. They send you out with poor skippers and deck hands that know little or nothing about the fishing. And they are not able to help you in rigging, baiting or presenting your baits or lures. They just park the boat and tell you to go fishing. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Fortunately, the fishing is good enough down there that almost everybody catches fish...and lots of fish. But there is a world of difference in having a skipper who can keep you on wide open bites for multiple species and a guy who just anchors up, drinks a beer and takes a nap while the gringos do the best they can.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]That is a long ways to go and a lot of money to spend on being treated like crap and not getting a good friendly helpful crew. If the economy makes it more competitive the poor quality outfits will not survive past the first year. But it's a pain to count on a fun trip all year and then have to endure something like that.[/#0000ff]
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[quote TubeDude ]
[#0000ff]That is a long ways to go and a lot of money to spend on being treated like crap and not getting a good friendly helpful crew. [/#0000ff][/quote]
I completely agree. However, I believe Cliff's comments were:
[quote bassrods]
A good day of catching is 30 to 40 fish per day..But they should be the kind of fish you want to catch...[/quote]
that's called "fishing". No matter where you are, what water you are fishing, or what species of fish you are targeting, you WILL have bad days on the water. That cannot be controlled.
Now, if Cliff was treated badly, then I believe he might be justified in his complaint. I have a hard time believing that if Cliff asked what type of lure to use, and how, that the crew ignored him. Maybe Cliff should have done a bit of research prior to his trip to understand better how to fish for the species he was targeting?
I think that there are times when our expectations are simply too high. Look at fishing and hunting in Utah, and you'll see what I mean. Anglers are very much like BYU fans -- they're expectations are so unrealistically high that there really is only 1 thing that can happen: disappointment.
I hope Cliff get's another trip, and I hope that the next trip is better than this trip. Some of the responsibility of having a successful trip belongs to Cliff.
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[cool][#0000ff]I agree with you in principle. But I have fished the midriff area of the Sea of Cortez extensively, both on similar charters and on private boats. There is such a diversity of fish species and habitat there that there really are a lot of options. And a lazy or careless skipper can take the easy way out by just anchoring over one spot a using the grab bag approach. A more proactive skipper will search out the schools of yellowtail, dorado or other glamor species and do what is necessary to put the customers on those fish...if that is what they want. In most quality fishing operations around the world the ones that survive and prosper are the ones that cater to the anglers and don't force them to accept what the boat operators want to do on any given day.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If you have gone out on a boat a couple of times and have come to expect a certain level of service it is not unreasonable to be upset when there are new owners and new operators involved...and they do not have a high level of knowledge and experience. Kinda like putting the BYU coaching staff in charge of the Green Bay Packers. Ain't gonna work very well.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]True, the angler (Cliff) has to assume ultimate responsibility for making sure the boat is going where he wants and will fish for the species he wants...using the tackle and methods he prefers to use. But after already fishing on that boat a couple of years previously, he was comfortable in ASSUMING there would be no changes. After they were on the fishing grounds it was a bit late to argue the point or to change things. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Again, a quality fishing operator will carry plenty of the right kinds of tackle on the boat and will assist the anglers in choosing the right lures and rigs, and in getting them set up. Unfortunately, as has been my experience...and a lot of other patrons of that particular charter service...you can find yourself on a boat that only wants the days to be over so they can get back to the port. They really don't care about the customers. They figure that if they can at least catch a few fish the paying angler has nothing to bitch about. But the truth is that the more experienced and sophisticated anglers know the difference between so-so fishing and the wild and crazy action that is available with a little extra work. Guys who spend the money on those trips are looking for stellar trips...not just being abused by skippers and deck hands who see them as demanding tourists with too much money.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There is an old saying that you have to taste the bitter to appreciate the sweet. The opposite is true when it comes to fishing. Once you have had some sweet trips you know when you are getting second rate service and second rate fishing...and you have the right to be unhappy about it.[/#0000ff]
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[quote TubeDude][#0000ff]...[/#0000ff][#0000ff]But after already fishing on that boat a couple of years previously, he was comfortable in ASSUMING there would be no changes.[/#0000ff][/quote]
so Cliff's done this before? This wasn't his first rodeo??
If so, why was Cliff complaining about not knowing what lures to use, and how to use them?
Again, I think Cliff needs to take some of this responsibility upon himself. At some point, you MUST look in the mirror and place some blame on the person you're looking at.
What's the old saying? The worst day fishing is still better than the best day at work.
Hearing someone complain about a bad day of catching dorado, yellowtail, and whatever else, is actually pretty pathetic. Maybe I'm an optimist. Things could have been worse. Cliff could have been fishing Jordanelle.
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You are right..[
] The refund was for the trip I had booked in May, no refund for the bad trip..
The guide can make or brake the trip and that holds true for any trip..Mexico trips for the most has been fun and great fish, this new boat and guide was the worst of all I have been on..
I am looking in too a trip or trips to the Gulf of Mexico out of Texas or Florida, may be more money but you can't take it with you any way...
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I just looked at my e-mail and one of the fisherman that was in the panga with me when I hooked the sail fish just sent me his pictures of it, as soon as I can figure out how to post them from my e-mail I will..( the wife will when she gets off work)[sly][
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They are of the fish in the water..
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