We finally had a chance to use the trip to La Paz we won in the W.O.N. tuna tourney last year. Of course a few friends and family wanted to join in on what has become pretty much an annual trip with this being our 5th. So Ron, Randy & I were joined by my brother Mike, my father Steve, Mike Ramirez & Ken Gorsline Jr.

We arrived in La Paz around 10:30 without a worry knowing we were in good hands having Jonathan Roldan of TailHunter International taking care of all the details. After a trip to the market the excitement really sets in as we unpacked the gear in our spacious condo at the La Concha Beach Resort.

Our first day of fishing was on the La Paz side where Jonathan had informed us dorado had been the main attraction. He was right about that & we got hammered by the larger units first thing and had all broken at least 1 fish off each before any met the gaff. We traded the 15 lb. line for 20-30 lb. to deal with the hysteria that would follow when a school would be located by one of the pangas. You've all heard people complaining about boats coming to close to you on a bite but that's just how these guys work together. At the end of the day we all had caught numerous dorado to around 30 lbs. with bigger fish lost by almost everybody. Some right at the boat because everyone would usually be hooked up. Randy managed to hook a very nice Jack Crevelle that put the wood to him pretty good before posing for a picture then being released:

http://momentoffame.com/photopost/data/500/66Randy_Jack-med.jpg

I'm not sure what happened because I know we took some pics of the dorado but they aren't on my camera? Kenny got some good photos, I'm hoping to get them via e-mail soon?

There is a awesome cove where the La paz boats all meet at the end of the day to clean fish & let the guests compare catches, drink, swim, whatever. I chose to continue my tour of mexican hospitals by stepping on a stingray moments after warning others to shuffle their feet. The pain from the poison is pretty amazing along with the fact that the stinger is about as big around as a pencil going in the inside of my right ankle 2". We hung around the beach cleaning fish until the fire had climbed up into my groin area. The capt seemed to think the stinger was broken off so they had a cab along with some extra hands & a dive expert who agreed the stinger may still be in my foot. I highly recommend the military hospital, straight in on a table, excellent care, 1.5 hrs, $33 + $25 for the anti-biotics and tetnis shot. The cab driver who ran to the pharmacy twice while I was on the table as well as being my interpreter & ride only wanted $20. I gave him over twice that.

No one could believe how fast I was back at the Cortez Club bar preparing for the next days fishing on the Las Arenas side where variety has been the story. Having caught enough dorado we ran the idea by Jonathan about switching our 3rd day of fishing to Las Arenas instead of La Paz? In less than an hr. Jonathan was back down to let us know he had re-arranged our trip a day in advance (again). Hands on service you only get with TailHunter International!

We fished the YFT first for some huge skippies and a few tuna in the 10-15 lb. class on the bass sticks. After loading up on more Sardines a trip inshore to look for roosters was in order despite being off-season for them. We weren't disappointed, they were skittish & most were small but even a 5 lb. rooster is an absolute blast on 15 lb. gear. To see them lit-up chasing bait right on the surface sometimes turning away right behind your bait, Sometimes not:

http://momentoffame.com/photopost/data/500/66SM_Rooster-med.jpg

After each getting a couple of them we were out of bait so back to the beach to see what everyone else had done. My Dad & Kenny had stuck to the tuna doing pretty well but no bigger fish. They also had a sailfish come up eating their chum but didn't eat a hooked bait. They also saw a wahoo shorten up a needlefish.

Due to some kind of confusion when we switched the days one more boat than we needed was there due to the fact Ron & Randy had arranged to take the 3rd day off to relax. So I took the boat by myself instead of continuing my rotation since we had an odd # of fisherman this year. This worked out great since I wanted to spend some time looking for wahoo which had been biting in previous weeks slowing before our arrival. My efforts were only rewarded by 1 quick strike that ate off the Black /Purple Yozuri tied to straight 50. After reef fishing for some pargo & triggerfish for dinner A run to the buoys was rewarded with 5 12-18 lb. dorado and an amazing show by 6 or so large black dolphins that balled up our chum for about an hr. This day also needed to be topped off by another rooster or 2 on the beach:

http://momentoffame.com/photopost/data/500/66Rooster_in_Water.jpg

The other boats didn't do as well today on the small tuna mostly catching lg. bonito and sm. dorado.

Our last day some boats looked for the wahoo with Rons boat getting 2 bites but neither stuck. My Dad, Kenny & I got sardines via the thrownet then ran down the beach to make some bait for marlin. While chumming them, the larger roosters showed up & I managed to hook one on the Calcutta TE 400 loaded with 15 that emptied the spool in seconds. I got the 20+ lb. fish boatside only to lose it while trying to lift it for a quick photo. They never showed back up so we continued spending way to much time trying to make bait before I finally changed the hook to something other than the sm. bent shank mustads that couldn't hook anything. 20 lb. Jacks came through our chum but the only one hooked pulled off my hook. I've never seen such a dramatic problem with any one hook.

We as well as Mike's boat spent most the day looking/trolling for marlin, spotting 3 between the 2 boats but no strikes. Both our boats spent the last hr. on roosters with Kenny & I each getting fish in the 15 lb. class reassuring their position as my favorite fish to target:

http://momentoffame.com/photopost/data/500/66JD_Rooster.jpg

Another great trip to Baja without ever seeing a wave, cloud or worry!

Josh