PUBLISHED WEEK OF AUG. 28, 2006 Western Outdoor News

Photos: Examples of commercial long lining for manta rays near Cerralvo Island

MEXICAN NAVY JACKS FISH PIRATES!

Will wonders never cease? Just about the time you throw up your hands about any conservation efforts or enforcement of gamefishing, something good comes along and you stand up, pump your fist in the air and give a “Woof! Woof! Woof!” for the good guys.

Seems La Paz has is once again the center of news. Last week, everyone wanted to know about the uh…”alleged”…notorious drug king pin Javier Arrellando Felix from Tijuana. The hombre was arrested by the U.S. Coast Guard while fishing international waters in the Sea of Cortez outside of La Paz. (Reportedly, he didn’t ask for a refund of his charter fees).

This week, reports indicate that last month, hot tips by anglers led to the apprehension of three vessels by the Mexican Navy (Yes, THAT navy you make fun of all time!). The boast were illegally longlining dorado. Check this, the boats were slightly “over limits.” They had 7 tons of mahi aboard. Actually, there are no limits for commercial fishing because they’re prohibited from taking dorado commercially. Dorado are strictly a sportfish.

According to the reports, the recently started Center of Marine Protection, who are partners with the Billfish Foundation were instrumental in the apprehension. Based in La Paz and funded by FONMAR, a trust created last year whereby funds from fishing licenses are used towards enforcement, education and research of conservation programs in Southern Baja, they have a liason who works directly with the Mexican Navy. Using on-the-water observations this facilitates the Navy in targeting illegal fishing activities.

Apparently, the three commercial trawlers were from the Mexican mainland and were acting as “mothership” operations supporting pangas that were longlining for dorado. These boats were only licensed as commercial squid boats. If seven tons is 14,000 pounds and let’s say a schoolie dorado is about 10 pounds, that’s 1000 pescado on ice!

All three vessels were taken to Santa Rosalia and charges are pending against the captain and crew.

This is great news. Dorado (dolphinfish) are popular sportfish and for much of southern Baja, the backbone of the catch during the warmer months of the year. They grow fast; fight hard; taste great; and often can be one of the easiest fish in the Baja to catch. Some would say even “stupid” in their voraciousness to eat a bait and an easy target for commercial interests who want to fill their holds with a popular eating fish.

There had actually been a movement in the last few years to legalize the taking of dorado by commercial Mexican fishermen. If that happens, frankly, kiss the sportfishing industry in Baja good-bye. The fish are so easy to catch, an angler can catch dozens in an hour with very little effort. Turn loose a fleet of commercial pangeros and watch the slaughter as well as the immediate decline of the sportfishing industry which is already taking a gut punch.
Obviously tons are already being caught illegally and one can only imagine the impact of “officially” allowing commercial fishermen to go willy-nilly on the mahi. Might as well go club baby harp seals because the dorado are about that easy.

To my knowledge, this is the second time something like this has taken place. In the summer of 2004, Tracy Ehrenberg who owns the popular Pisces Fleet in Cabo, was instrumental in the apprehension of a commercial longliner setting nets on the Gorda Banks. One of their charters reported the activity. Tracy tried to get a fast boat out to the spot, but could get no assistance in finding a boat to take a boatload of Mexican marines out on the chase.

Finally, the Gaviota Fleet volunteered a boat which caught up to the commercial boat discovering more than 2 miles of long lines stretched across the banks. Here’s the rub. Of the 8 crew arrested, a Japanese “fishing advisor” was discovered to be aboard. Additionally, the boat was actually a state-owned boat owned by the Mexican State of Michoacan. Makes you wonder who is giving who permission to do what, doesn’t it? Same old. Same Old.

But this stuff goes on daily. I see it when I’m on the water each week. However, only TWO apprehension in two years? Still have a long way to go!

That’s my story. If you ever want to reach me, my e-mail is

riplipboy@aol.com.

# # # # #
JMR
MEX NAVY JACKS FISH PIRATES
08/25/06

PUBLISHED WEEK OF AUG. 22, 2006 WESTERN OUTDOOR NEWS


TAKING YOUR BEST BULL (SHOT)!

Say, looks like the Baja and Southern Cal are having quite a dorado season. For the lower Baja waters, it seems like we’re finally away from so many of those firecracker schoolie dorado and the bigger bulls have moved in.

This is the time to have your “A” game, amigos. You may not get many shots at these trophy fish that might go 30-60 pounds and are the premier Baja fish of the summer for most anglers.

If you’re fishing the light tackle, use heavier leader. All dorado have teeth. Don’t be afraid to use larger hooks as well. If you’re bait fishing, use the largest hook that will not kill your bait and allow it to swim as freely as possible.

The larger fish are older and smarter. They didn’t get like this because they were stupid or eating just anything tossed their way like their little brothers. Notwithstanding, when on the “feed, ” large dorado will hit just about anything they put their mind to and slam it with a viciousness that will rip a rod out of your hands if you’re sleeping. So, be selective in your lure choices and do not be afraid to use the large lures in your quiver. I have seen even pint-sized dorado torpedo towards lures that were meant for blue marlin and hit them with a zeal that must have knocked out a couple of the squirt’s teeth.

If mackerel seems to be the prevalent baits, go for lure patterns like the Mean Joe Green (green and black) and the Ninja (black and purple) that look like darker baits. Caballitos in the tank? Consider using the Petroleros (silvery blue, grey but with some light orange or brown streaks in it like gasoline…petrol!) If you happen to get one or two in the box, take a moment and examine the stomach contents. See squid in there? Go for pinks, reds and white color patterns.

One of the favorite foods of dorado are flying fish. One reason the dorado will often hang around buoys is that the flying fish will lay eggs on the floats, ropes, etc. Flying fish will often meet their end around the buoys to lurking dorado. I have often found dead flying fish tangled in the buoys and there’s nothing like “flying fish candy” to fire up a big bull. Well..well..well…

Pin that onto a swiveled leader and drag that at slightly higher speed than normal and watch it pop and skitter on the surface just like a live flying fish and watch what happens. Several days I couldn’t find a flying fish, but I did see dorado chasing some fliers, so I rigged a quick daisy chain by putting several tuna feathers in tandem spaced about 12 inches apart with hooks only on the last one.

Dragged behind the boat, they dive and pop just like commercial daisy chain lures! If they have slanted or popper heads the action is even better. Picked up two nice bulls on a day when not much else could get’em to bite.

Other Bits and pieces:

Post terror scare on the East Coast airlines, restrictions have certainly tightened all around, but talking to quite a few of my clients coming and going in the Baja, they’re telling me it’s not too bad at all. Get there early and avoid the crowds. The delays specifically due to the more extensive searches do last longer, but if you give yourself extra time, you’ll be OK. Travelers are being allowed to carry-on items, but, as of the time of this writing, they are still restricting most liquid-based items.

Finally, I must have gotten over a dozen e-mails from amigos asking if alleged notorious drug cartel boss, Javier Arrellano Felix was on one of our charter boats when he was busted this past week. Felix was on a charter boat about 15 miles outside of La Paz in the Sea of Cortez fishing when he got nabbed by the U.S. Coastguard. Sorry, but I had never heard of the boat before now. I hope his trip was pre-aid. I wonder if he’ll ask for a refund?


That’s my story. If you ever want to reach me, my e-mail is riplipboy@aol.com

PUBLISHED IN WESTERN OUTDOOR NEWS Week of Aug. 7, 2006




Photos: In a land that's not accustomed to much rain and a where year's total can easily fall in a short period of time, even an hour of solid water and wind can wreak havoc and it's time to seek some cover until the sun comes back out! "Toritos" are basically violent little storms that can literally pop out of nowhere and quickly blow away. They are well named. "Torito" means "baby bull."

TORITO SEASON

It was still dark outside as I padded around my office in my shorts and flip flops. Not quite 4 a.m., but I was already up and getting ready to get things set for our fishing clients most of whom were still fast asleep or sleeping it off. Let them sleep a while longer before we roust ‘em. But I had to get the breakfasts and lunches ready. Set out the ice chests. Check on ice. Get the coffee going.

All of a sudden, WHAM! Then WHAM again! It sounded like someone had dropped my dark quiet morning in a kettle drum and set off a nuclear explosion! People came running out’ve their rooms. I heard some kids crying and people running down the halls . It was the biggest explosion I had ever heard. Windows shook and things fell of my desk. I started to run towards the door myself and then I heard it…the white noise of water…Rain in torrents followed by smaller anvils of thunder, incredible lightning that torched the morning, and then the wind! Water was already getting pushed by the wind under my door and through the crack of my window.

What in the world? Where did this come from? Lightning in the distance over the water gave the appearance of a huge artillery barrage as I tried to look out my window through the sheets of rain now falling.

The sky had been clear and the moon had been out only several hour earlier! Not a hint that this was going to happen, but I knew it for what it was, a “torito.” (little bull) No, not some new corn chip snack. These are violent little storms that aren’t too different from hurricanes.

They can come up with little warning. They can lash and thrash with the violence of a full “chubasco” (hurricane) then leave as stealthily as they came. This one dropped 5 inches of rain in an hour, then simply blew away. The moon and stars came out to show flooded streets; knocked over trees; and debris everywhere.

People tell me all the time that they are afraid to come to Baja in the fall because it’s “hurricane season.” You can see their eyes bug out and hear the nervousness in their voices as if someone had told them the Night Stalker was hiding under their bed.

My response is usually, yes, a hurricane can happen. But, it’s about as likely as you getting shot by a drive-by in Los Angeles. Too much TV! Thousands of people come to Baja every fall and the only moisture they run into is rimmed with salt on a margarita glass. The fall is one of the most popular times to be in Baja.

However, that being said, there’s no telling when a torito might hit. I’ve been in a number of them and they come up fast. The clouds build to blackness. The waters change colors and start to roll. Wind suddenly whips up and it’s time to get off the water and back to the beach to sit it out. If you’re land bound already, duck into a sports bar and order another round. Watch Mother Nature do the Baja shimmy. It’ll blow over but best head for cover for a bit.

AERO CAL FLIES AGAIN

That’s the good news. The bad news is they only have a handful of planes. The other part of the bad news is that (for now) they are only flying over Mexican airspace. No planes at Los Angeles International. Check out: www.aerocalifornia.com or toll free 800-0237-6225.

According to airline reps, they will know sometime after Aug. 11th or 15th (that’s what they said!) if they will be able to add Los Angeles to their destinations. For those still holding tickets there are several options:

1. Fly out’ve Tijuana the nearest destination to the border. I’ve done it many times and it’s easy. Aero Cal will trade tickets straight across.
2. Contact the airline and obtain a voucher good for 1 year to use your ticket
3. Transfer your ticket to a friend or family member.



That’s my story. If you ever want to reach me, my e-mail is riplipboy@aol.com.