05-26-2009, 02:20 AM
[fishin] A group of us avid anglers decided to brave the swine flu and the banditos and head south of the border for an off shore fishing adventure.
The drive was smooth...after we got the equipment loaded...lots to take and we didn't forget the coolers.
The boat left San Felipe in Baja Mexico around 10 AM and headed for the many islands scattered in the Sea of Cortez. We steamed all night with the actual fishing starting around 6 AM after 3 of us plus our guide per pangas (small dorry type boats) piled in the boats.
Jerry hooked up first with a 21 lb yellowtail. We were busy catching corbillas, yellowtail, sea bass, triggerfish and sheephead. I even hooked a scorpion fish. I had a humongeous fish hook me up and spooled the 100lb test and came close to dunking me in the ocean as I tried to turn him. Never saw what it was, but we were fishing for grouper in about 300 ft of water at the time.
We hooked up with some giant Humbolt squid. I got a couple that they said were about 50 lbs. We had quite a pile of them and the deck was black with ink as the crew cleaned them.
A misdirected flying fish landed on the deck after dark one night. You could watch them swimming around the boat after dark and we fished for mackerel and sardines for bait during that time too. Some of the bait mackerels were 14 inches long.
The food was simple but tasty...and they'd cook up some of the fish as we requested it. The cook made svechie when we'd catch a trigger fish. Delish...
The rooms on the boat were set up for 4 people and there were bunks set up under a veranda toward the back of the boat. The great calm weather was perfect for sleeping out on those bunks....adding to the whole oceanic experience.
We saw whales, sea lions, had porpoise chase the boat and even saw a coyote patrolling the shoreline. The "snow" [
] capped islands were an interesting discovery. It's amazing how a few million birds can snow cap rocks.
We fished for 5 days...and caught many many fish each day. I guessimate we each brought back over 100 lbs of fillets, filling the freezer. I took over 100 pictures, but the mods would freak if I tried to send them half that many, so I'll select just a few.
[signature]
The drive was smooth...after we got the equipment loaded...lots to take and we didn't forget the coolers.
The boat left San Felipe in Baja Mexico around 10 AM and headed for the many islands scattered in the Sea of Cortez. We steamed all night with the actual fishing starting around 6 AM after 3 of us plus our guide per pangas (small dorry type boats) piled in the boats.
Jerry hooked up first with a 21 lb yellowtail. We were busy catching corbillas, yellowtail, sea bass, triggerfish and sheephead. I even hooked a scorpion fish. I had a humongeous fish hook me up and spooled the 100lb test and came close to dunking me in the ocean as I tried to turn him. Never saw what it was, but we were fishing for grouper in about 300 ft of water at the time.
We hooked up with some giant Humbolt squid. I got a couple that they said were about 50 lbs. We had quite a pile of them and the deck was black with ink as the crew cleaned them.
A misdirected flying fish landed on the deck after dark one night. You could watch them swimming around the boat after dark and we fished for mackerel and sardines for bait during that time too. Some of the bait mackerels were 14 inches long.
The food was simple but tasty...and they'd cook up some of the fish as we requested it. The cook made svechie when we'd catch a trigger fish. Delish...
The rooms on the boat were set up for 4 people and there were bunks set up under a veranda toward the back of the boat. The great calm weather was perfect for sleeping out on those bunks....adding to the whole oceanic experience.
We saw whales, sea lions, had porpoise chase the boat and even saw a coyote patrolling the shoreline. The "snow" [
] capped islands were an interesting discovery. It's amazing how a few million birds can snow cap rocks. We fished for 5 days...and caught many many fish each day. I guessimate we each brought back over 100 lbs of fillets, filling the freezer. I took over 100 pictures, but the mods would freak if I tried to send them half that many, so I'll select just a few.
[signature]