Boldfin
06-12-2008, 10:31 PM
Fishinmofo & Greg M. were not the only FNN'ers in Loreto... I was there from the 5th to the 10th on a Fisherman's Spot-sponsored fly-fishing trip. The six of us stayed at the same hotel, the Desert Inn - formerly La Pinta.
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/Boldfin/Loreto%20on%20the%20Fly%202008/P6060034.jpg
This was my first trip to the Sea of Cortez, and first time fly fishing out of a panga. We got into the routine on day one by pulling on some reef donkeys off Carmen Island. The pargo and cabrilla would literally launch themselves out of the water as they crashed the chummed baits thrown by our panguero. They proved to be quite challenging to fool with flies, but we managed to get a few grabs. Most of the time we were immediately bitten off. If we did get lucky enough to stay on, keeping them out of the rocks was no easy task.
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/Boldfin/Loreto%20on%20the%20Fly%202008/P6050027.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/Boldfin/Loreto%20on%20the%20Fly%202008/P6050029.jpg
We also picked up our fair share of less desireable game fish: snappers, needlefish, triggers, cornetfish - aka "snot snakes" - and hogfish.
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/Boldfin/Loreto%20on%20the%20Fly%202008/P6050031.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/Boldfin/Loreto%20on%20the%20Fly%202008/P6070040.jpg
We spent the next day in pursuit of dorado. We made a long run out to the gounds, saw a flotilla of boats, but didn't find the fish. Our panguero talked us into running all the way back. This proved to be a bad choice, as our friends who stayed behind all got into dorado. One hooked and lost an estimated 30+lb fish when his fly reel busted off the reel seat. We had to hear about that for the next four days. At least he had a shot at them. We ended up settling for more tug of war with the reef donkeys, which is fun and all...
Day three we decided to try to find the dorado again. The wind was up, and the going was slow. We heard reports of warmer water and large schools of fish to the south, but we went north. We never found the dodos, and once again we ended up on a reef. At least this time the size and quantity of the the cabrilla was better. I also caught quite a few sabalo (ladyfish). It was a nice change of pace to catch fish on the surface.
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/Boldfin/Loreto%20on%20the%20Fly%202008/P6070042.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/Boldfin/Loreto%20on%20the%20Fly%202008/P6070046.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/Boldfin/Loreto%20on%20the%20Fly%202008/P6070047.jpg
Our friends stayed inshore, and had a banner day on the roosters, each getting over ten a piece - all on fly. I'm sure that's a day of fishing they won't soon forget.
Day four we were determined to get into dorado once and for all... We made another long run and found a large sargasso patch with several boats already on it, all hooked up. By the time we were in casting position, the fish had been put down. Chumming hard with sardinias would only bring them up very briefly. The window of opportunity to get them to take the fly was small, and we didn't have a lot of hookups. Still we both managed to land our first dodos on fly - though my buddy's fish was a lot more impressive than mine.
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/Boldfin/Loreto%20on%20the%20Fly%202008/P6080048.jpg
As our bait was just about to run out, my buddy hooked a large fish. Even with a stout 11wt and a top of the line bluewater reel, he spent the next hour or more bringing the fish to the boat. He was rewarded for his efforts with a 41 pound bull, a truly impressive fish!
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/Boldfin/Loreto%20on%20the%20Fly%202008/P6080053.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/Boldfin/Loreto%20on%20the%20Fly%202008/P6080054.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/Boldfin/Loreto%20on%20the%20Fly%202008/P6080055.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/Boldfin/Loreto%20on%20the%20Fly%202008/P6080059.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/Boldfin/Loreto%20on%20the%20Fly%202008/P6080078.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/Boldfin/Loreto%20on%20the%20Fly%202008/P6090084.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/Boldfin/Loreto%20on%20the%20Fly%202008/P6090086.jpg
Overall it was a good end to a good trip. I'll be back to chase the dodos and roosters again soon. Big thanks to Fishingmofo for carrying some of our dorado fillets back in his cooler. I've been enjoying them for the past two days. We were on the same flight as him coming back, and saw Greg's deal and all that too... I sure hope he is feeling better.
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/Boldfin/Loreto%20on%20the%20Fly%202008/P6060034.jpg
This was my first trip to the Sea of Cortez, and first time fly fishing out of a panga. We got into the routine on day one by pulling on some reef donkeys off Carmen Island. The pargo and cabrilla would literally launch themselves out of the water as they crashed the chummed baits thrown by our panguero. They proved to be quite challenging to fool with flies, but we managed to get a few grabs. Most of the time we were immediately bitten off. If we did get lucky enough to stay on, keeping them out of the rocks was no easy task.
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/Boldfin/Loreto%20on%20the%20Fly%202008/P6050027.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/Boldfin/Loreto%20on%20the%20Fly%202008/P6050029.jpg
We also picked up our fair share of less desireable game fish: snappers, needlefish, triggers, cornetfish - aka "snot snakes" - and hogfish.
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/Boldfin/Loreto%20on%20the%20Fly%202008/P6050031.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/Boldfin/Loreto%20on%20the%20Fly%202008/P6070040.jpg
We spent the next day in pursuit of dorado. We made a long run out to the gounds, saw a flotilla of boats, but didn't find the fish. Our panguero talked us into running all the way back. This proved to be a bad choice, as our friends who stayed behind all got into dorado. One hooked and lost an estimated 30+lb fish when his fly reel busted off the reel seat. We had to hear about that for the next four days. At least he had a shot at them. We ended up settling for more tug of war with the reef donkeys, which is fun and all...
Day three we decided to try to find the dorado again. The wind was up, and the going was slow. We heard reports of warmer water and large schools of fish to the south, but we went north. We never found the dodos, and once again we ended up on a reef. At least this time the size and quantity of the the cabrilla was better. I also caught quite a few sabalo (ladyfish). It was a nice change of pace to catch fish on the surface.
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/Boldfin/Loreto%20on%20the%20Fly%202008/P6070042.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/Boldfin/Loreto%20on%20the%20Fly%202008/P6070046.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/Boldfin/Loreto%20on%20the%20Fly%202008/P6070047.jpg
Our friends stayed inshore, and had a banner day on the roosters, each getting over ten a piece - all on fly. I'm sure that's a day of fishing they won't soon forget.
Day four we were determined to get into dorado once and for all... We made another long run and found a large sargasso patch with several boats already on it, all hooked up. By the time we were in casting position, the fish had been put down. Chumming hard with sardinias would only bring them up very briefly. The window of opportunity to get them to take the fly was small, and we didn't have a lot of hookups. Still we both managed to land our first dodos on fly - though my buddy's fish was a lot more impressive than mine.
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/Boldfin/Loreto%20on%20the%20Fly%202008/P6080048.jpg
As our bait was just about to run out, my buddy hooked a large fish. Even with a stout 11wt and a top of the line bluewater reel, he spent the next hour or more bringing the fish to the boat. He was rewarded for his efforts with a 41 pound bull, a truly impressive fish!
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/Boldfin/Loreto%20on%20the%20Fly%202008/P6080053.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/Boldfin/Loreto%20on%20the%20Fly%202008/P6080054.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/Boldfin/Loreto%20on%20the%20Fly%202008/P6080055.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/Boldfin/Loreto%20on%20the%20Fly%202008/P6080059.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/Boldfin/Loreto%20on%20the%20Fly%202008/P6080078.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/Boldfin/Loreto%20on%20the%20Fly%202008/P6090084.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/Boldfin/Loreto%20on%20the%20Fly%202008/P6090086.jpg
Overall it was a good end to a good trip. I'll be back to chase the dodos and roosters again soon. Big thanks to Fishingmofo for carrying some of our dorado fillets back in his cooler. I've been enjoying them for the past two days. We were on the same flight as him coming back, and saw Greg's deal and all that too... I sure hope he is feeling better.