YES, well I remember that trip, SIR BUG KILLER himself brought BIG BUG TAILS for all. Juicy and sweet were they!!! Jim the freaking Galapagos would be on my bucket list, but I heard it is all a preserve now. I do not know if fishing is even alowed.

It's funny how we have been there so many times and yet I feel the same way. It will be hard to sleep tonight! See you tomorrow bud!

I guess thats what happens as you realize your dreams. Plywood, 2x4's, picture window and siding are going down for Rob's and my place, enough to finish the front. Also going is an 8D deep cycle battery to get the solar system for OUR PLACE to be known as ""Sueno del Mako"" or in english "Mako's Dream" up and running with power. I have one more battery but it will have to go on the next trip. This one lets me test the system and Sven will do the installation this coming week. Hopefully it will be up and running for the October trip starting on the 17th. That way we can charge electronics during the day and evenings too. Tight Lines all.

Thank you Bob for your reply.


Have a safe trip to and from, and let us know how it went.

Be sure to wear eye and ear protection when working with power tools.

SAFETY should be job 1.


Bon Voyage

Ok Monstahfish and I are all set. We got our FMMs taken care of today. It was about an hour wait today by car to come back.

Knock on wood that I am not superstitious, but my fortune cookie tonight said:
“You will enjoy the twisted road, if you don’t expect it to be straight.”

Now if it had said A twisted road, that would have been something.


One week to go.

Too bad it's paved the whole way. :D

I'm looking forward the the photos and videos of everyone having fun.

Defjack is getting his FMM today at the border today.

I doubt any bait or otherwise fish in Gonzaga Bay would look like these flies, but I thought I will give them a try.


http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/DSCN5190.jpg


It is more satisfying to catch a fish with a fly that one ties after all.

No??



I am almost done packing, but some addition of accessories to the kayak remains. It should be done tomorrow.

I may even take out for a lobster hooping trip before our trip.

Just back from paradise, passed Danny on the road as we were coming back. They will do good. Water was nice. Temps were good but still warm. 90's but LOW humidity so not too bad. Sven and Steve took Rob to the deep reef in Gonzaga. I will let Rob tell the rest of that story.

BRING WIRE and SMALLER jigs, fish are targeting 1-2" bait. TON'S of Sierra, lot's of Corvina, bass, triggers, rose snapper. small mega baits but BEEF up all the small hooks. OR YOU WILL LOOSE FISH, some of them BIG fish. BIG fish just love to straighten out those small trebles. In SIX days those going will catch.
Tight Lines.

Welcome back. That was a short trip.

Did you get any work done, or just dropped off the material?

Great to hear the fish are there and biting.

I don't know if I could use metal leader on the fly rod? I will call a fly shop.

I guess I will have to see what happens.

Thanks for the tip on hook replacement.

Hashem it is YOUR outfit. JUST DO IT, your worry would be to damage your rod tip if you were to hit it, and your fly has a small piece of lead so it could damage your rod. I was fishing a deceiver years ago and had it happen, but it is not something that would normally happen. I do not worry about it. With sierras you will be cut off a lot!!! They are everywhere now to over 32"'s. Short 6" wire will work and BTW put anything SILVER or FLASHY as part of your fly. They will ALL get bit but............................................... ......Flashy is better, the bait is silver, (match the hatch). Tight lines, fishy dreams.

Thanks Bob,

Will do as advised.

All your flies will get bit, lighter colors with flash or silver normally work better. 6" wire leaders will save flies and jigs. Plastics also work well BUT you have to move them faster or the triggers will tear them up. If you are getting lots of triggers MOVE your Jigs FASTER. Works for me. Tight Lines and fishy dreams.

Just to confirm.

We will be meeting at Johnnys Shell station in El Cajon at 5 am. Address is 515 N. Magnolia Ave, just off the 8?

YES, Jeff 5am Saturday morning, it is POSSIBLE I will be a few minutes LATE as I am loading TWO new guys that morning, but I will be there. Jeff you know how hard it can be to get loaded when there are going to be three of us all trying to get ALL our gear on board. Gr8fulDude will be coming in on Friday night and loading his stuff, then sleeping in his car until morning. Do not know when Hashem will arrive, hopefully by 3 so we should be on time but you never know.

My plan was to leave LA around 8-10:00 PM on Friday. Take the (15) freeway.
Hit the Pechanga Casino for several hours, and then it is a 45 min. drive to Bob's place (according to Google Maps) and arrive to his place by 3:00 AM initially for the 3:30 AM rendezvous.
Since the rendezvous time was changed to 3:00 AM, I was planning to adjust my arrival.

I could also take (405) freeway come directly, to Bob’s place if that is a better plan and after loading, do something around there, or go to Pechanga afterwards.
I don’t know how much useful sleep I could get in the car.
As to loading the truck, I think all of the gear should be present, so the heavier/sturdier ones are on the bottom. Like my Yeti cooler and the Rubbermaid Actionpaker’s containers.
I have a roof carrier that in Lieu of Bob’s kayak could go on top. The light but bulky items like sleeping bags could go in there. I will have extra straps with me if needed.

I am available to suggestions.

If you are at my place at three it will all work out fine. Remember my rack holds two yaks, yours and Gr8fulDudes. Should be good.

Jeff sent a pm and this was my reply. We all know where we meet at Johnny's shell station? From there we will put those needing FMM"s or need them stamped in one or two trucks. Those trucks will do a left at border check to get FMMS the others will go right and line up there before the light on RIGHT side. When we come out of FMM PLACE we will get in right lane and you will follow us, stay close. I will keep the speed down so you can keep up. Go to all things Baja or Bust STICKY THREAD and print out the driving directions JUST INCASE. Once out of Mexicali I will stop at a PEMEX STATION on the right side of the road to get us all together again. FROM Samn Diego to Mexicali is 125 miles we can stop there for fuel if needed. Then from there to San Felipe is another 125 miles. EVERYONE will fuel up there. Then 95 miles to camp.

Will do as directed Bob.

May I suggest that only the heavy items of yours and G8 be loaded up until I get there.

Then we can load up my heavy items first.

I will bring the roof carrier and if not used, leave it in my car. Perhaps we can put the carrier on top of the kayak, if it can be useful.

I have changed the hooks on 12 lures with the new Owner hooks. At $10.00 for only six (6) hooks, I got only two packs.

I am tying some new flies too. Pictures to follow.

FMM done (paid but still needs to be stamped), fishing license-check!

Still interested in doing a one or two night camping trip to San Luis Island if anyone is interested. Fishing out there should be insane. Check out this link, then click on the pictures.

http://wikimapia.org/6427399/Isla-San-Luis

Hasta Sabado, amigos :cheers1:

100 hours and it is off to paradise, predicted temps should be in the 80's days and low 70's nights. As of now no rain in the forecast and winds 5-10 mph. Fishing should be GOLD or BETTER. I would expect to be eating breakfast in San Felipe around 1030 and be in camp before 1pm, fish the afternoon and have Brats by Jack around dark. Tight Lines amigos, and fishy dreams.

What kind of music do you all listen to?

On the way down, Satellite XM radio, easy listening from the 70's. When we get there whatever YOU bring, I have no radio in camp, nights we usually just talk. Bring what you like.

Anything but rap.

I will have some Turkish belly dancing music.



I was reading some old thread, about the NO, NOs of taking to and from Mexico. Besides the obvious ones like drug etc..

No ammunition, even empty shells. Be sure to clean you trucks if you are a hunter.

I usually carry in my pocket a Swiss army knife at all times, it will be packed away. I was going to bring a hunting knife (packed of course), but I will change it to a dive knife. Packed away of course.
Fillet knives should also be packed and if anyone asked---they are cooking knives.

Last time I was there, we were given lobsters to bring back, by a co-op fisherman. I gave a lot of fish to them and in exchange they gave us lobsters. My host took them all, without offering any to me. That is another story.
I knew that lobster fishing was not allowed for visitors; but did not know it could present a problem if we had some with us, since we had no proof of purchase. Good thing I did not know it could be a problem. I would have been sweating it out at the check points. They checked out our truck much more carefully leaving Baja than getting in. They made us get out and they looked under the seats.
All young soldiers with machine guns.

All good info, yes there are check points where you may be asked to step out of the truck while they check it out.
I always keep my money on me and my passport and papers in a box I can see to make sure it is not opened. I have only lost a ten dollar bill I left in the console and did NOT keep an eye on. Yes ALL knives are packed AND in the back of the truck, NOT in the cab. And NEVER make any remarks to the guards, just politely answer their questions. Respect goes a long ways. Tight Lines.

CALL from MEXICO
 

Sven and Steve are at my place. Danny and friends are at a palapa in front of restaurant and leaving tomorrow. Sven might have caught a 30+# Jack Cravelle, so there are big fish in the area. He called to let me know that the guys working on the concrete floor were doing a great job. Floor should be done TOMORROW, then maybe the outside ramp will be done Friday. Means I can start on the inside soon. Happy days are here again!!!!!! Tight Lines and fishy dreams.
See you guys 84 hours from NOW at Johnny's Shell Station. Paradise here we come AGAIN!!! You too can ride the BAJA EXPRESS.

Still using those 1-2 inch shiny lures? I hope so since I cleaned out tackle warehouse of their 1/4 oz. kastmasters in chrome and chrome/blue today.

So you get them Thursday or Friday, did you get larger/stronger hooks, split rings and split ring pliers? Of course you have a light spinning outfit to cast them with and wire to keep from being cut off. Jeff the small stuff will catch all year long many times BETTER than the BIGGER baits. Remember if you want to work deeper water the larger faster sinking jigs work too. Mega baits from small to large, Surface iron, deep iron for Yo Yoing all work..Trolling BIG REPALAS trolled just off the rocks can be deadly too. MANY techniques to choose from, most of them work, right now today it is YOUR call. Tight Lines.

Drove today for two hrs. to get OWNER single replacement hooks.

They are made to replace the treble hooks.

They are suppose to be strong. Will see.

Never straightened out an OWNER hook yet!! Hashem they should be fine.
Jeff bring them all, someone might want to buy a few from you.
Buddha's Bait's Mexico. "U hook em Buddha cook um."

Are Jack Cravelle good eats?

Never tasted one Rob but I do know that the Rose Snapper and OM Corvina you took home to mom were MUCH better. Tight Lines partner.

Another Mexico call
 

While waiting to see my doctor this afternoon I received a second phone call from Sven with an update. Sven and Steve caught two yellow tail today. He said every time they got the yaks up to trolling speeds they were bit. WFO mostly SIERRA, BASS, TRIGGERS, but fish after fish, after fish!!! The small mega baits and rapala type lures too. SILVER, SILVER, SILVER WFO!!!!! He said one YT was small 4 pounds.

GUYS bring a light outfit just to have a ball with. I will be surprized if anyone on this trip does not have a hundred fish day if they wanted one. a light spinning rod or a fly rod should be just the ticket, I will bring my 8 wt. to play around with.

In other news the cement floor inside our place is DONE, Sven said it looked good and they were working on the entrance ramp. So our new place is coming along just fine.

60 hours till we meet up at Johnny's Shell station, is EVERYONE ready for a fishing trip to paradise???? Tight Lines and fishy dreams.

Thanks for the update Sir.

These hot days we are having in LA are like "Spring training" for fishing in Baja.


I got lots of small lures, maybe I should get more!!

Two fly rods and homemade flies to experiment with.

See you in Vista soon.


Was the trolling speed reached with Mirage drive or paddles? My guess is the Mirage drive.

mahigeer


stop playing around, bring some big boy tackle, hike out to the bird shit rock at bufeo at low tide and catch one of these, in ten feet of water....



...i was chasing yellow snapper around a rock when i went face to face with this big mother.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...psdpezgzv5.png

Way to go Danny, been feeding those puppies for years. Yep it is hard to get the guys in close enough the other problem is that they almost always rock you. Nice fish?

this was the only cabrilla i took from the point. i was hanging out in massive balls of bait and watching the sierra absolutely go nuts. also hanging out shallow and hunting the VERY skiddish yellow snapper.....also stumbled upon a small DOGGY SNAPPER which made quite the meal.

visibility wasn't too great inshore. Our highspot on the other hand greeted us with 60 foot visibility and no shortage of Pargo, cabrilla and even a teenage gulf grouper.


Guys headed down, TONS of gill netting pangas out fishing every day/evening/night. tons of bait.


good luck and safe travels


Bob, if you could gather any info about the house for lease up the road that would be awesome!

Will do Dannowar. Thanks for the tip.
My (2) two speed Avets are ready to go along with some smaller Shimanos. #60 braid with red Seaguar #25-30 top shot.

I got big Krocks and some poppers in different sizes. My go-to iron is Salas 6 X Jr. in scrambled.
I even have some knock-off flatfall lures.

Tied some weird looking flies with lots of flash on them. One even has lead wire, so it can sink.

Is that fish from the current trip, or previous ones?