Intro...(U can skip, pictures below)
I have done a lot of fishing over my short years, but my dad has not. He has always had to work and could never go on the long range and Mexico trips I would go on. So this year I planned a trip special for him and my little bro who is in the Army stationed in Kansas. I wanted to get them on some big fish.
It turned out 2 weeks before my brother couldn't get the leave. I scrambled to fill the spot and my buddy Jamie hopped in. As we were getting ready to go we watched as Henriette slammed into La Paz. We kept our fingers crossed hoped we could still go. We still had the green light as we checked our bags for our flight. As soon as we cleared Security, we looked up and our flight was cancelled! We grabbed our bags ran to the ticket counter and scrambled to get on a flight to Cabo. I was on the phone with Jonathan Roldan, the whole time during this disaster. He worked quickly to get us a rooms in Cabo, along with transfers to La Paz the next day.
To say the least our trip started off rocky. But I pushed to group to make the best of it, so we flew to Cabo, and partied at all the usual water holes. That was an experience with my Dad, I never thought I would have. T
The next day Jonathan had a big van ready to pick us up and take us to La Concha. Our trip was finally getting on track. We got their without a hitch and prepared the gear.
First Day fishing
We went out of Las Arenas, and it was tough. It was the 2nd day after the storm and the water was green and cold. With not much to speak of, I was worried that my guys were getting impatient. My Dad did get this 30lb Milkfish which put an 30lb Dorado to shame as far as stamina and Aerobatics.
Second Day Fishing
Under Jonathan's advice we gave Las Arenas another shot. This time I told the Pangero to troll in the channel towards Cerralvo before getting bait, since it was hard to get yesterday. We were trolling for 'Hoos, with Rapalas, and started catching Barille, Skipjack. Ten minutes after we started we got bit on the port side. I told my dad to grab it and as the boat started to stop I grabbed the starboard rod and took 2 cranks on it before it stopped. I am thinking, "Great another Skippie" but it starts pulling really heavy, big tail beats and pulling line slow. I am on this thing for about 10 minutes before I see it come under the boat and I yell at Victor my Pangero, "Pez Fuerte!!!" He throws the gaff in it, and 70lb Amberjack comes on the Panga. This day is starting to go a little better.
My dad giving me a hand
So with a good start we get some sardinas, and start fishing. Again fishing was slow for the pelagics. We managed some small misc. including some small 1-2 lb blue trevally. We caught 3 of those and tossed them in the bait well, to save for Roosters. Fishing continued to be slow, so we decided to give the Roosters a shot. We got the beach and fished about ten minutes before my dad hooks up. Problem is, he backlashed the hell out of pro gear 540 on the strike. The fish starts going but the spool is stuck. I reverted back to my days of working on the Long Range boats, and snatched the rod out of his hand and started winding line over the backlash as fast as I could. Victor I pangero starts the motor up to follow the fish, and I finally get about 15 yards of line over the back lash and hand it back to my dad. With the motor running he's safe for the time being. Victor tells me to toss my bait out again, and not more than 30 seconds later, I am bit and hooked up on a nice rooster in the front of the boat while my dad is hooked on the stern.
I get mine (approx 50lber), about 10 min later and snap a few photos, while my Dad is still fighting his in the background. Released back in the water and looked on at my dad fighting the biggest fish he has ever hooked.
He get's it to the boat, and has it to the leader, when it made a last ditch run. It almost worked, my dad couldn't keep up with the direction change and the fish got wrapped in the prop. Victor pulled motor up, and I went into deckhand mode again. I grabbed the 40# mono and just started handling this rooster in the last 30 ft. Got it the leader and we gaffed it in the bottom jaw. Unbelievably, against all odds, my dad got the fish of his lifetime, a Rooster estimated a little over 60lbs.
That was the last of our bait so we played around offshore for a few small dodos and what not the rest of the day.
3rd Day Fishing...Last
For the Last day we fished out of La Paz. We had great fishing with small Dodos. My dad got his first dorado as we had 13 for the 2 of us in a about 3 hours, before we tried trolling for a billfish. Dodos weren't that big, but we got a few over 15lbs and my dad for his first time was pretty stoked.
Overall a great trip despite the unsure start. But as I told my group sometimes the best trips are the ones, you just fly by the seat of your pants. Fishing was definitley on the slow side for September down there, but we had enough action, especially with the last day fishing in La Paz on Dorado and the big fish in Las Arenas to keep it interesting. Our coolers came back completely full and over weight, so no complaints.
Jonathan Roldan at Tailhunter International, runs an unbelievable operation and worked his butt off to save our trip, in a time of complete uncertainty. He catered to our every need and made sure we got on fish. Definitely going to go back next year with him, and this time get my dad on the tuna, big dorado, and billfish. But there is nothing better than making your old man feel like he was 10 again. I think he liked beaching the pangas at Las Arenas more than the fishing. It was one of the best trips of my life, just cause I had him there with me.
Linear Mode
