Need Help Please What type of trip do do

[kelpbass_kid]

Ok, so I am planning on going on a 7 - 10 day trip for my 18th birthday this fall or winter. I am eyeing a couple trips, but really want to go on a ten day with baja fish gear on the independence (I think its open)

However, I really can't decide if a trip for cow yellowfin would be a good idea for my first long range trip. I have experience fishing for big pelagics because I travel to cabo every year for a week to fish on my uncles private boat.

On the other hand, this really might be my only oppurtunity to go on any sort of long range trip for a while. ntherefore, I want to go all out.

The other options would be a 7 or 8 day trip to the ridge or alijos, which sounds like it would be awesome because of the variety.

So what do you think. Long for cows, or long/short for variety?

thanks

[1:11]

cow trip, you'll need less gear, have a shot at a fish of a lifetime, and since you are young you will have good stamina on big fish, and have a better chance at wahoo. Just dont try to fish more drag than you can handle. Crew can help you determine how much drag you can fish. One good fish and you will have gained a ton of experience. Dont fret not being ready. Long trip is the best trip to take to learn how to fish long range, more time on the water. Congrats you scored a trip for your 18th birthday.

[eightmd]

You really have to want to cow fish, because you could be fishing for 3 or 4 days without a bite and not get your cow. Having done both, if you won't be able to go out for a while, I would tend to go for a 7-8 day and hope to get some nice school size tuna and wahoo, depending on time of year.

Just saying I would opt for more action rather than the one or two fish of a life time... But its your choice and either one is good.

[yft1979]

I definitely like a variety, eventhough would like to get a cow some day. The fishing that is going on right now on the 8-10 dayers is what im all about. Alijos is kicking out solid 60-120 lber with a mix of dodos and yts to go along with it. Ad in a sprinkle of hoos. Im just hoping the conditions hold so we get a chance at the rocks on my nov 4 shogun trip. I definitely like fishing alijos. You can also get some toad sheeps and groupers if u try dropping to the bottom.

[tighthead_lock]

its all about the trade off.
we dont know what the Cow season will look like untill the first few boats burn the fuel and time to go down and look around.
A cow trips is mostly driving with a lot of soaking baits for a few chances on big fish.
the early trips focus on variety and lots of fishing time. For me i enjoy the fishing time more than the looking/driving time. early 10 day would be my choice, if i want to chase the big fish I'll book the big trip in january-may.

[1:11]

to clarify when i said cow trip i was refering to the 10 day because those trips have gotten cows in recent years even though its hit and miss. I wasnt refering to a super long trip because that wasnt in your choices. Even if the big ones arent there you will still have a chance at good size tuna and wahoo along with dodos. Regardless, both if those trip options are great. If you want a chance at cow i would say dont pass on the trip because you question if you are ready. There is no way to be prepared for big fish, you just have to hook one and feel for yourself. Its pretty much all work until the fish hits the deck, then an exhausted smile and the prize. Ive seen novice fisherman do very well on long trips because they listen to the crew. good luck, take both trips.

[Butty]

100% go on a 8-10 day in October.
The Cow trips suck... Been there done that and will never do it again. Even though I got several, I'd opt for staying busy and catching variety anyday. You'll have more fun just simply catching. and catching. and catching.................and it'll make you a better fisherman too. Just have fun whatever you decide to do! And don't get too serious about catching a damn fish.

[nick17yz]

news years cow trip!!!!!!!!!

[get some]

Cows are overrated and there is WAY too much waiting when you're fishing them on a 10 day trip...
If I were you, I'd go on a skiff trip. You'll catch yellows and bass (as well as some tuna). Most shorter LR trips spend the majority of their time catching filler fish. This equates to days spent catching small tuna because it keeps people occupied and puts a count together. The problem with LR trips is that they usually cater to the lowest common denominator (the people that don't fish well). So, they often spend most of the trip looking for ripper bites of small tuna so that the passengers have something to pull on. This becomes very boring after the first day or so...
The skiff trips cater to people that for the most part know what they are doing, so you don't have that problem.
If you want to catch a cow, charter a boat in PV sometime down the road. You can catch the fish of a lifetime and then head back the same day for drinks poolside at a luxury hotel...

[titan05]

Hi Evan,

You seem to have quite a quandry here.......Cow trip or Variety?

I have done both and enjoy both but to be honest with you it sure is fun to fish a variety trip when you get a chance to fish Ball Slapper Dorado and then end up around Alijos and get into that nice 50-100 pound Yellow Fin Tuna along with some Wahoo ( my favorite type of fishing) and some really big Yellowtail and Grouper on the bottom...then you run into the Ridge and fish the high spots for wahoo, BIG GROUPER and if your lucky...the Pargo attack the boat. Pargo are a fantastic eating fish and are great fun on light line. You leave the Ridge and head up toward Natividad and then Cedros and Benitos for some off the hook surface iron action on the Yellowtail....sight fishing is a riot. Maybe a few drops for WSB and then hit a drift for Reds. That is a really fun trip and you get to use a wide variety of equipment and techniques on the various fish da jour.

Fishing Cows is a different game all together.....you will run straight down to the lower banks with maybe a brief stop halfway for a dorado or two and some reds......the galley loves it and the lunch and dinner is awesome with fresh Dorado or Reds and then it is running time. Get down on the banks and start looking for mammals and if you find them....it is mano y mano. Big fish will test you and your gear to the limits and sometimes they will break your heart BUT.........when that big old son of a bitch is doing circles and you are doing circles and it becomes a test of wills and you make that last crank and lift and 3 or 4 gaffs sink into a cow and he lights up.......WOW. That is a rush like no other. You flylined a big Mac on BIG GEAR with 130 pound string and you beat a COW in his element.........it doesn't get better than that.

The downside is that if the fish are down or the moon is wrong....and yes the moon does effect the cows on the lower banks or if they are loaded up on red crab or boxfish...it can make for a long, long, long trip.

I think you learn more about fish fighting technique on a big fish trip and you sure as hell learn alot more about rigging for BIG FISH on a Cow Trip. Variety trips you can fish what I would call a more normal terminal tackle idea.........Cows........Splicing, Crimping, Kite Leaders, Loop to Loops, Knots and Hooks, Rods and Reels have to been dialed in 100 % as there is zero margin for error.

Now that I have you scratching your head I would really suggest that you start with a variety trip so you can experience the whole spectrum of fish catching and more importantly the various styles of fishing ie; Fishing a harness or belt versus fishing the rail with no harness or belt at all.

Hope some of this made sense

Have fun and be sure to write a report and let us all know about your trip....regardless of the type.

Oh Yeah.....I forgot....it's all BS without Pictures

[writebrian]

Just got back from 7 days at the Rocks on the Intrepid and would put a serious vote in for variety. We had the best trip ever and all tuna were between 60-110lbs. Caught alll the dorado and yellows we wanted on the way down and back.

Don't sit 10 days waiting for one fish.

[riceman1011]

Originally Posted by 1:11

to clarify when i said cow trip i was refering to the 10 day because those trips have gotten cows in recent years even though its hit and miss. I wasnt refering to a super long trip because that wasnt in your choices. Even if the big ones arent there you will still have a chance at good size tuna and wahoo along with dodos. Regardless, both if those trip options are great. If you want a chance at cow i would say dont pass on the trip because you question if you are ready. There is no way to be prepared for big fish, you just have to hook one and feel for yourself. Its pretty much all work until the fish hits the deck, then an exhausted smile and the prize. Ive seen novice fisherman do very well on long trips because they listen to the crew. good luck, take both trips.

so like you said the only thing you have to worry about if hooking the fish. Cow fishing on a late 10 day trip isn't the easiest thing for somebody who hasn't gone on a long range trip to do. Everything has to be perfect to land that fish. Yes if you listen to the crew your gear wont fail, so thats one thing to check off of the list of worrying about but picking the right bait and making it seem as lively as possibly is the problem. The crew does help with this but they cant be there for him every second of the trip. Im not doubting the way that he fishes, its just that cow fishing is a much different way to fish.


I personally think that an october 10 day trip is the best trip for any angler (unless they want a world record). I've done pretty much any of the trips offered out there and the Fall 10 day has definately been my favorite. Each one has its plus, but the constant action on fish of any variety is exciting for me. I love not knowing what im about to catch each time.

Plus since you dont get to go fishing long range very much a fall 10 day will get you fishing the most amount of days compared to chasing fish for 3-4 days and more than half of the trip being travel days.