We loaded up Friday afternoon, so I could get some sleep for the drive south Saturday morning early. I can never sleep before these trips, but you have to try.
The first stop was just at the border, to pick up our tourist cards. No problems here, I had all of the needed documents, including a notorized permission slip from my wife allowing me to take our minor son into Mexico without her.
The drive to Loreto was very uneventful, just flat out boring, thank god. In fact all of the Military check points were totally empty. We stayed overnight at Quinta San Francisco which is right by the ramp, $40.00 a night with a/c and very clean.
Early the next morning we get up and make our run for the East Cape. Another uneventful drive, with a stop in San Bartolo for some siguelas and mangos. Verdugos has our room ready, we pull the boat down off the truck and are ready for the next day inshore fishing on the tin.
First day fishing inshore on the tin boat, we headed south out past Rancho Leonero and fished our way back in. The catch was assorted triggers, small cabrilla, needlefish and others but none of the right kind. Its our adjustment day anyways, we call it a day and head for the beach and pool.
Second fishing day was on a Verdugo cruiser with Victor and Nino. We had sardinas and dead ballyhoo for bait. North towards Cerralvo for more sardinas and then out east, checking the shark floats for Dorado. Radio had a school of yellowfin under porpoise, we picked up and ran for it. The mammals were doing all the right things, the school was just deep and didn’t want to play. { sound familiar?} The crew knew what to do. Lots of chum and stroke trolling, produced our fish. We even had a quad hook up in front a 70’ monster of a yacht that was priceless. The crew worked hard and stayed late until the job was done. We got back in at 530…not the standard 2pm. Our 160 qt cooler is filled with fillets.
My son Nate and my buddy Loren both learned how to stroke troll and got there first Yellow Fin Tuna. Nate’s last tuna was almost dinner for huge Blue Marlin that blew up right off the stern. Incredible sight.
Nates first Yellow Fin Tuna, gaffed in Cudas shoulder fillet, it had to make on the boat.
Third day fishing, was on the tin. We headed north to fish Punta Pescadero reef with sardinas from the previous day. Nothing of any real size showed up, so they all went back to swim another day. Stroke trolling on the way home produced a smaller bull dorado, another first for Loren. Hes not in Kansas anymore
Final day of fishing Nate decides to try to break his leg off by falling through a hole in the dock.
Our crew is Ronny and Francisco. We headed north to the shark floats, then due east. The day before a huge school of big Dorado was found, when we arrived there was only big green sea turtles, it was totally dead. The crew was again working there asses off, I cant see where anything was done wrong. We headed towards the Cabo Pulmo area, around 2. The billfish were up tailing. We had one come into the jigs, a fresh dead Mackie was slid back and Nate was on his first billfish. He's has come a long way, he worked the fish and pumped him to the boat, even with his leg being screwed up. Released without question, I was so proud I thought I was going to blow up...
Some pics of him and his Sailfish in action.
The drive home was uneventful, until GN. I got to experience another Baja first for me. The dreaded Mex 1 mirror slap. Of course its not a Semi truck, or a bus, it has to be a pinche gringo truck. Instead of watching the right side of the road to keep right, he drifts over the line and SLAP. I couldn’t go any farther to the right. Nowhere to stop, so we just keep going. We were just that close to a real nightmare. This was in the daytime, about 1pm. $200.00 and a little time this morning and its all good.
BTW don’t go down the Sentri lanes by accident in Mexico, you cant get out of that lane. The US customs agents don’t like it, and its a $5000.00 fine or go back to Mexico, we went back.
If your thinking of driving down, do it now. The place is changing. I saw in Santa Rosalia, a factory dumping chemical waste directly into the sea. Theres talk of starting the copper mine back up. The East Capes inshore fishing is in the dumps{compared to before} and building is going wild. Theres a new huge Marina going in too. I know my amigos down south all want the same things they see the gringos coming down with, I cant blame them. I can only fish farther south, maybe PV or Costa Rica to find what Im looking for. I did find what I was looking for on this trip.....If your a Dad you know what Im talking about.
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