Trip Report May 25 to 31, 2003

Departed San Felipe around 10:30 AM but almost left two of the McNulty brothers at the dock because they were off buying ice. The trip "down Baja" was rockier than usual but everyone sorted out their gear and the previous night's residual effects along the way.

Made bait at Bahai de Los Angeles after offloading the pangas. Bait was scarce but enough was taken to provide some for each panga.

Started fishing for real at La Raza. Nice Yellowtails hit the bait, some trolling lures and iron jigs. Also found an assortment of Cabrillas and Spotted Bay Bass. Art Contreras took the daily pool with an 18 pound Yellowtail. Fished Salsipuedes in the afternoon.

Moved to San Francisquito for Tuesday action. Yellowtails were bigger and tough as hell to land. Also caught Sheepshead and Spotted Bass. Luis Constandse took the daily pool with a 28 pound Yellowtail.

Back to La Raza and surrounding area for Wednesday morning. Fishing was slow but a 22 pound Yellowtail was taken plus several others. Moved to Snake Island off the southern tip of La Guardia. Windy conditions but good action trolling. Jerry Le Compte boated a 41 pound Grouper trolling a purple mirror lure.

Moved to Refugio Bay at the northern tip of La Guardia for Thursday morning fishing. We had made bait that night so we tried fly-lining live mackeral for Cabrilla. Action was hot! We had to make bait during the day from the pangas to get back to fly-lining Cabrilla. This is a lot of fun but you do get your butt kicked a lot.

Special treat of the morning was being able to cast into a Cabrilla boil that included a Grouper jumping completely out of the water. We caught several Cabrilla while the boil lasted. Daily pool was won by Sal Casillas with a 14 pound Cabrilla.

We left the very scenic Refugio Bay to travel to the Baja mainlandThursday afternoon. Mostly a long boat ride on the Jose Andres plus a long panga ride afterward to Ensenada Grande. Few fish were caught.

Stopped at Las Encantada for bait early Friday morning. Still had slow action for bait.

We arrived at the Golden Reef around 6:30 a m for our last morning's fishing. Action on live bait was hot with nice Yellowtails, Red Snappers, Cabrillas taken plus a few White Sea Bass. Art Conteras boated a 48 pound Black Sea Bass putting him in 1st place overall in the pool. Jerry Le Compte placed 2nd with his 41 pound Grouper from Wednesday and Luis Constandse took 3rd place for his 29 pound Yellowtail from Tuesday.

Despite concentrating on fishing we were witness to whales close-up, to dolphins' aerobatics around the mothership and to the beautifully unique scenery off of the mid-riff islands.

Best trolling lure was pink mirror lure followed closely by the purple mirror lure. Best jigs were chrome with blue or green, blue and white and green and yellow.

The crew and guides did a great job for us. We could talk about catching more fish (and we always do) or about the ones that got away, but our memories will be about the good times and good people we spent a week with.

Thanks to Captain Tony and crew from all of us! A good time was had by all.