FISHING ON THE B/M TONY REYES BY KIM GILLBERT AND DARRYL COLE
MAY 18 TO MAY 23, 2008
May 23, 2008
It was 09:30 on Saturday morning when we pulled into the El Centro Shell Station to join up with Charter Master Mitch Forward and Roger Rohm. The sky was clear and bright blue. The light breeze was warm and the air was filled with anticipation of another week of fishing down in Baja with Tony and good friends. Gas was $ 4 dollars a gallon and it was hard to believe that 51 weeks had passed since our last rendezvous in 2007. The caravan trip down Mex Hwy 2 was uneventful with a gas stop for one car on the Mexican side of the border for gas at $2.50 a gallon. Traffic down to San Felipe was light with excellent road conditions and a noteworthy encounter with a bicycle road race in the middle of the desert with temperatures just below 100 degrees in the shade.
As we wheeled onto the dock at San Felipe the tide was just right for unloadingour gear. Tuff Cornelius and Co. had arrived just before us since they had onceagain missed the exit to the Shell Station. Next on the pre-departure checklistwas a perusal of the downtown shops along with the obligatory chips, salsa, clams,shrimps and fish tacos with several cervezas. A good visit with old friends,a trip to the General for few tacos for dinner and cocktails for dinner on thedeck of the boat prepared us for the upcoming week. A hot shower before retiringto our air conditioned rooms completed day one.
Sunday was started with brunch at the Hotel Coral on the beach overlooking the ocean. The guys picked up 200 pounds of cocktail ice for the trip and droppedthe vehicles at Tony’s house. We were on our way and out of the harborbefore 11 am with strong winds out of the east. As we made the turn south outof the harbor the wind died down completely and it was calm all the way downfor the next eight hours to Gonzaga Bay. The air temperature was in the low 80’sand the Sea of Cortez looked like a mirror. It was a beautiful sight. After settinganchor, the pangas were unloaded and it was time to “make bait”.
At 5 am on Monday morning the crew dropped anchor in the Enchanted Islands. The 10 knot breeze was warm and the sky was clear. The fishing on the first morningwas excellent. Highlights included 128 cabrillas and 7 groupers. Tom H. tookthe jackpot with a 85 lbs. grouper. The pangas were towed back to Gonzaga Baywhile we enjoyed a fine lunch and a nice siesta. The afternoon temperature wasin the 90’s and the wind was 10-20 kts. When the fishing began in the afternoon,most of the pangas went to the “hot stop” from last year at PuntaFinal. What a difference a year makes, the fishing was very poor with only afew fish caught in the afternoon. This was the beginning of the official themefor this years fishing: Groung Hog Day! We made bait in the evening and wentto bed in Gonzaga Bay.
Next morning we woke up to the sound of the anchor dropping in the EnchantedIslands. The fishing results for the second morning were even more impressivethan the previous day. In fact, a new record was established for our fishingparty. Nineteen groupers were caught before lunch! Two fish were caught by RodgerB. and Mitch F., each catching a 71 lbs. grouper. Ground Hog day continued witha trip back to Gonzaga Bay for very slow afternoon fishing, beers on the beach,clams, and “make bait” at night.
The third day began when the anchor dropped at Ensenada Grande. The wind hadbecome quite strong during the night making morning fishing more challengingwith a few small fish being caught. What a difference a day makes in the ocean.The wind continued to pick up to the point that afternoon fishing was cancelledand the pangas were uploaded back on the mother ship after a panga overturnedduring the night. The day’s highlight was David Robinson’s 14 lbs.cabrilla for the third day’s jackpot. The wind did not let down and continuedto build with speeds steady at 30 kts and gusts to 50 kts. as we made our wayback to Gonzaga Bay. We watched the blowing sand storm over the desert land andthe ocean looked like it had snowed from the white caps. The temperature droppedto the point were sweatshirts were required for the afternoon. The wind continuedthrough the night and all through day 4, keeping the pangas and the fishermenout of the water. Everyone was hoping for a better day to come!
Friday morning was the last chance to make a stance and what a day it turned out to be. This fisherman witness a wide open grouper bite first thing in the morning at the Enchanted Islands. In less than one hour, one panga boated 8 groupers! The boat once again established a group record with 22 groupers caught in the morning with Jason Neben taking the jackpot with a 97 lbs grouper. What a trip! Good friends, great fishing, excellent service from Tony and his crew and most of all, the friendship that continues to grow stronger as everyone enjoyed another fun time in the Sea of Cortez. Thanks Tony! May 2009 can not come soon enough!!
Kim Gillbert
Darryl Cole
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