My Baja trip update -

[David Lee]

David
Punta Colorado is in the center of Rooster fish alley for the East Cape. I have had some great fishing from the point the hotel sits on in the past when I was a gear fisherman but not for Roosters. If you have the time walk the sand beaches towards the light house or drive to the lighthouse. When we were there 10am to 4pm was best because you can see in the water the best. Stay as elevated as possible and keep your eyes peeled. If the water is stirred up keep an eye on the tops of the swell,the Roosters seem to like to surf and the jacks seemed to like it in the trough along the shore line. Be prepared to run like ,Jbird mentioned. I haven't fished the beaches west of the hotel but hear they can be very good as well.
Punta Colarado is out by itself and night life will be non existant without a car. If you do drive into town and drive at night go very slow and be careful. Every thing wakes up in Baja at night and likes to hang around on the road. Cows,horses.pigs goats,ect.

Mark

Hi Mark - thanks for jumping in with more info !!

I think there will be a few small Roosters on the beach in December , at least I hope they are SMALL . I'm on fire to get some Ladyfish and Sierra , and hope a few Pompano are still around . Most people kind of snicker when I talk about going that far to catch 'small' inshore fish ..... but you want what you want , right ??

As far as running after fish .... my legs are in pretty good shape , if I do say so myself . What were the best lines you two used off the beach ? Did you catch many fish blind-casting ?? Which direction does the wind come out of most of the time ??

My 'night-life' will be eating dinner , then , going out at dusk w/ the 10 wt. and #30 lb. tippets tyed to BIG BLACK 4/0 SILICLONES - I think a few large Cabrilla/Groupers/Pargo should wander inshore under the cover of darkness ...... maybe one will make a big mistake

Thanks again for your input - have a good one !!

David

[jbird]

David

Without a doubt the best line for the job is a clear Int. tarpon line. I am liking shooting heads less and less all the time. We had them for our trip and it was a constant experiment in running lines to keep our cursing under control. The guys we met that had the rooster fishing down to a science were using tarpon lines with no stripping basket. They would wander/run down the beach with 70' of line trailing behind. It was very effective. The problem that kept occuring with a stripping basket was if you didnt cast for 10 minutes or so, your line would dry out in the basket and be all stuck together in a tangled wad when you made your next cast. And with roosterfishing, every cast is critical, especially the first one to a sited fish. There are applications for a stripping basket, but chasing roosters on a sandy beach isnt one of them..IMHO.

There can be a pesky north wind during the winter months...enough so that it becomes windsurfing heaven. If your in a North wind weather pattern, you may be limited to fishing mornings, before it starts to howl. I dont think your crazy at all to wanna chase ladyfish and sierra. Heck, the ladyfish saved our trip, they were a blast! Bring your tyger wire for the sierras. We also encoutered pompano, You can spot them by looking for a huge silver flash slowly moving just offshore. They travel in a tight school making them look like one big, silver fish. Observe the direction the school is moving and cast a bonefish type pattern several feet in front of them and let it sink, when the fish reach your fly give it some short lttle pulls for a guaranteed hookup to one of these little powerhouses. I used a little pink shrimp for em.

It gets me fired up talking about it....I wanna go back!

Jbird

[Hairstacker]

Pompano? Sounds like those Cactus Charlies would be PERFECT. . . .

[David Lee]

Pompano? Sounds like those Cactus Charlies would be PERFECT. . . .

Hey Mike -

6 in pink and 6 in tan would be nice !!

Really , though ...... I'll have enough shit w/ me to open Kienes fly shop SOUTH . Of course , I'm sure I'll forget something critical along the way , but I'll make-do none the less !

Just watch - it'll storm , the water will get mucho-cold , and the wind will scream at 50 MPH ...... Then , I'll have to stay drunk for 8 days next to the swimmin' pool :P

YEAH , RIGHT

David

[Hairstacker]

David, make a list. Seriously. And don't forget to put rods and reels on the list.

[sculpin]

David
If you will be there a while get a car. If the wind blows it isn't far to Los Frailes which is out of the wind . Most of the times I have been to the East Cape have been in late winter and North winds are a fact of life. Mornings are usually fine but after that you need to find some protected water.
I love the Lady fish and just about any other fish there. You may find some Porgys and croakers in December as well.The problem with using light gear there to fit the fish you think you are going to catch is you never know when a toad will show up. I have hooked fish on gear off the beach that today I still have no idea what they were. I just know I couldn't stop them with 30lb mono.

Mark

[David Lee]

David, make a list. Seriously. And don't forget to put rods and reels on the list.

OMG !!!

Did I ever tell you the story of my trip to Redding about 8 years ago ????

I tyed , and tyed , and tyed ...... had a PILE of bugs , right ?? SO - I get everything ready , pack-up , and head north to my Dad's place . We visit , then , off to the Pit !!

I get there , rig up , and go to select a bug .......

GUESS WHAT I FORGOT TO PACK IN MY BAG -

That's right !! My huge , full fly box !!!!!! Left it sitting on my bench , like a dummy

My X-girlfriend , Mary , Fed-exed it to me the next day (she was good for something on occasion.......) . SO - with fly box in hand , I head off to Gilman road on the lower McCloud . Stop on the bridge , rig up , and off to the Trout .

Hook one , fish about 50 yards of water .... snag -

Go to tye on new bugs ...... NO FLY BOX

After loading my waders in a rabid panic , I hike back to the bridge ....


GUESS WHAT I LEFT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD ?????


David the IDIOT :P :P

[David Lee]

David
If you will be there a while get a car. If the wind blows it isn't far to Los Frailes which is out of the wind . Most of the times I have been to the East Cape have been in late winter and North winds are a fact of life. Mornings are usually fine but after that you need to find some protected water.
I love the Lady fish and just about any other fish there. You may find some Porgys and croakers in December as well.The problem with using light gear there to fit the fish you think you are going to catch is you never know when a toad will show up. I have hooked fish on gear off the beach that today I still have no idea what they were. I just know I couldn't stop them with 30lb mono.

Mark

Mark -

I'm pretty prepaired for the 'worst-case' stuff .... it'll be tough being there if it blows , but I've been blown off the water in most of the state here , so I'll deal with it .... nothing's perfect , right ??

I have discovered that LC-13/T-14 and mono runners will buck ANY breeze up to 40MPH - it isn't fun , but at least I can fish if it gets grim . Of course , I'll pack the Flak jacket and hardhat lest I boo-boo and 'WrapnSlap' my tender self

Both you and JBird have really gotten me going , the storys of ladyfish , Roosters , and Pomps have me ITCHIN' to get there . Fantastic photos of your last trip , by the way !! I plan to document every day w/ a journal and photos , so everyone can check it out .

Thanks again !!

David

[jbird]

David

Its a wonderful place to be, on and off the water. With a little recourcfulness, you can find some finny critters to play with.

The beach and lc13/t14 can be a problematic combo. most of the ambush predators look up to attack, youll have a tough time keeping a leadcore line in the upper water column, no matter how fast you strip. the pompano will like it tho.

jbird

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

The reports you see weekly here under Salt Water are from Gary Graham who has 'Baja On The Fly' down in that same area. His web site has lots of good info.

Andy Guibord and Jim Christensen at our shop have both hosted trips to Punta Colorado Resort. They really like that place and many of our customer do too.

I think it is nice down there all the time but the guides they fished with like any time between June through November.

I heard the snorkeling is wonderful right at the resort.