La Paz / Isla Cerralvo Report - 2008

[Tony Buzolich]

Just got back from hosting my first two groups to La Paz thanks to Jay Murakoshi and Flies Unlimited.

Having been there several times before, I have to say this was one of the best trips ever. Not only was the fishing great but the group of guys that went were great as well. Most of who came are friends and are avid fishermen but only a few have ever fly fished the salt before this. This trip made experts of all of them.

My first week's group included a couple of my fly club members that had only fished trout before this. Don Voigt, the oldest member of our group, really wanted to try something new and this really presented a challenge for him. Not only did he have to stand up in a rocking boat all day but he had to cast a heavy bluewater fly rod. TFO,s Bluewater Baby was just the ticket for Don getting him his first ever Dorado along with plenty of roosterfish and jack crevalle throughout the week.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/_MG_5171upload.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/_MG_5235upload.jpg
My wife and I managed several new species ranging from African Pompano to White Bonita to Triggerfish and Yellowfin along with the usual skipjacks, toro, and dorado. My wife even managed a nice yellowtail.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/_MG_5168upload.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/_MG_5206upload.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/_MG_5405upload.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/_MG_5302upload.jpg

Most of my second week's group had come down here with me the year before and couldn't wait to get back. All of these guys are very gung-ho fly fishermen but most are still new to the salt. 12 weight rods where the norm with 500gr. and 600gr. lines being first choice. All of the guys carried back-up rods of either 12 weight or 10 weight with floating lines and poppers. This really proved to be fun with lots of surface action on poppers.

Note the popper down this 30# toro's throat.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/_MG_5222upload.jpg

Dorado were a little hard to come by but by the end of the week everyone had taken several and some were real monsters. 50#ers on a 10 weight were no problem for Jim May.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/_MG_5373upload.jpg
Not to be outdone, my boss Bob Boucke, took this 60+ pounder measuring just under 70 inches. (Maybe a record here?)
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/_MG_5389upload.jpg


Most of the dorado averaged in the 10#-30# range.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/_MG_5342upload.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/_MG_5247upload.jpg
A couple of my guys even took some beautiful barred Pargo. (Not usually taken on a fly) Here Brett Allis lifts a 20 pounder.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/_MG_5411upload.jpg
A great time was had by all with memories that may never be repeated. Sadly, the area is developing rapidly with new construction. The local airstrip is being lengthened, and more small jets are coming and going. Along with this the local fishermen (pangeros) are fighting to save their fishery. They're at odds with the commercial fisherman who use their trollers to cut most of the bouys and harvest anything in their path.

We'll go again next year, and hope some of these great memories remain for all of us.

TONY

www.feather-river-fly.com

[mems]

Hey, I know that place. Glad you had a good time Tony, sorry I missed you guys. I think the light house was my favorite place to fish. That is one big bull mahi! That is like 50lbs of ceviche. Glad you guys liked the TFO rods. Nice pictures, Mems.

[Tony Buzolich]

Mahalo Don.

I have to say the TFO Rods really held up well and non were broken on this trip. The Bluewater Light was the most used with the Baby being second.

Another great rod that doesn't get mentioned much on fly boards was my wife's TFO 703H Spinning rod. This too makes a perfect rod for the area and type of fish. When the wind was blowing hard the spinning rod was a great way to still get in to fish. I loaded her reel with 50# braid topped off with a flourocarbon leader. The three piece rod also made traveling with it easy.

Hope to see you the next trip to Kona,
TONY

[Jay Murakoshi]

Tony

Looks like you guys had a great trip. The weather has been screwy, winds one day, dead calm the next day. Lot's of warm water spots and that's where most of the dorado were hanging out. I too caught a couple yellow tail my first week down there, in my 3 days I got to fish.

Development - that's going to kill the area. I give it 3 maybe 4 more years and it will be like the East Cape/Cabo. You probably didn't see the Muretos bay area. The road going in looks like a 4 lane express way and a lot more development.

I see Ramon's sunglasses are still in one piece... I gave him a pair of Costa del Mar's. Actually most of our captains have new sunglasses. I'm trying to schedule a trip in October for some YF and marlin. But I"m just waiting to see what the airlines are going do.

Did Don Thomas and his wife catch a bunch of fish.

Jay

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Thanks Tony.

Wonderful photos and what a great variety of fish........

[Darian]

Hey Tony,... looks like a great trip. Those are some really big Dorado. I see Kim got a large Skippie, too. 8) 8) I sure out missed out on not going down there a second time.... Too many obligations here. Maybe next year.... :D :D :D

Hmmm,.... Went back for another fix.... It suddenly dawned on me that Kim got the yellowtail. That's a very unusual catch for this time of year down there. Good eatin' too. :D :D :D

[Loren E]

nice to meet you at the airport Tony! Glad to hear you had a good time too.

[Tony Buzolich]

Hi Loren,

Yes, quite a surprize too when someone you've never met calls you by name. I'm glad we met as I'd seen you all week casting from the bow of your panga. You really looked like you knew what you were doing and having fun at it too.

I think it's great when board members bump in to one another away from home. Kinda feels like a member of the family showing up for dinner, and the more the merrier.

Thanks again for that 11 weight too. I didn't need it this trip but it's a great backup when I do.

Hope to see you again out on the water,
TONY

[Hairstacker]

Tony, great stuff!! Love the pictures and, man, that dorado is unreal!