My son Jonathan and I just returned from a trip by truck to Cabo San Lucas, the East Cape, back to Cabo and return. Departed April 30, 2 vehicles, 6 people, 1 boat; returned May 15, 1999. Two casualties; 1 U-joint and 1 fish smoker which succumbed to a tree branch while strapped to the roof rack (I needed a new one anyway!).
Overall, the road (Mex 1) is in FANTASTIC condition. Lots of new asphalt, and the crater patrol has done a wonderful job of keeping up. One dangerous spot worth mentioning is at Colina Plutarco, about 26 miles north of Cabo San Lucas on Mex 19. The road surface is completely gone in the bottom of the vado, steep washboard for about 200 yards. Problem is you don't see this coming so please, be alert while driving this area!
Next, about 25 miles south of Cataviña is a 1 or 2 mile stretch of "Baja Moonscape" followed by a single lane due to road construction. I know the Cardon cactus is beautiful in this area, but please watch the road thru here.
Mex 3 from Ensenada to Tecate .... fair to good.
Watch out if you're crossing the Viscaino on Mex 1. About 15 miles south of Viscano junction there are some "snow cone" shaped mounds of dirt on the east side of Mex 1; and the federal policia ARE HIDING there, waiting to write you that speeding ticket and whatever else they can get you for.
Also, everyone should know by now that there is mucho policia activity just south of Ensenada (Chapultapec on the maps); WATCH YOUR SPEED HERE!
OK, now for the good stuff! We fished the East Cape, north of the Pulmo reefs, on May 5, 6, 7; only got chased off of the water by wind on May 6. However, we saw NO bait, NO birds, and NO porpoise, and NO FISH! I trolled everything in my tackle box .... so we resorted to the inshore reefs and cleaned up on the trigger fish, and a couple of very small leopard grouper, and cabrilla. For those of you who have never tried triggerfish, do not be discouraged by the difficulty in cleaning these tasty brutes! They taste like lobster anyway you cook it! But, where are the Dorado???
The afternoon of May 7 we broke camp, headed south and ended up on the beach at Boca del Salado, (south of Friales).
May 8, we headed out to blue waters and trolled EVERYTHING! Rapala's, skirted squids, cedar plugs, crystal minnows, big plastic fish, wahoo bombs.......NADA! Jonathan picked up a nice cortez Yellowtail on the way in, though; which kept us in good graces with the rest of our group. (fish tacos for dinner....yummy!)
So, here we are May 9, our last day to fish the "best fishing area in the world"; and I decided to head north and fish the deep water reefs in the area. Actually, it was Jonathan who chose our destination. (hey, I was out of ideas!)
I even said a little prayer and asked God to please give me a hand here, after all, my reputation as a fisherman was on the line!!! It was not even 2 minutes later that my Senator 2/0 was singing! I tightened down the drag and barely even slowed something BIG! I needed every bit of that 60# test, and after a 30 minute plus battle, I wasn't sure which one of us would win, but I had driven all that way down there and I was not about to give up! Well, after many deep runs the fish tired and when it showed color I was amazed to see a HUGE Amber jack.
I handed my rod to Jonathan so I could carefully gaff this monster, and when I felt how heavy this fish was I was a bit apprehensive about bringing it into our 12 foot tin boat! I heaved, grunted and landed the biggest fish I have ever caught....a 70 pound plus amberjack....WOW! Then I realized how far that fish had towed us...about 2 miles! So, I started the motor and headed back for the same spot, a sandy patch between 2 large reef areas.
Now, Jonathan's reel began to sing. He began fighting something which appeared to be even larger than mine! After a 20 minute battle with still no color, I began chasing it with the boat! Jonathan was whipped, the fish was not! I got lucky with the gaff and nailed it on the first approach, lifting a 50 pound Jack Cravalle into the boat. As we headed back to camp to drop off our "load", we were again in the same area when something hit the jointed minnow and never even slowed down. I hammered down the drag, and as the end of the spool came into sight I applied a LOT of pressure with my thumb, and.....the line broke! Man, I just wanted a look at that fish!!!
So, we trolled back and on the way picked up a few Pargo, and triggers. Overall, a decent trip. Not as good as I had anticipated, but I guess that is fishing. I was told by several "old salts" who were fishing the area that they had not seen fishing this poor in 25 years .... I wonder how good it can be when the fishing is HOT!?!? WE spent the rest of the afternoon cleaning the fish and loading our freezer.
So, I was not at all impressed with Cabo San Lucas, but the East Cape is certainly beautiful and loaded with fish. Now that I know how to catch them, and have the man "upstairs" on my side, I'll most certainly be back!
One more thing for all you fisherman ... don't even cross the border without your POLARIZED SUNGLASSES!!!! You just can't believe how much more you'll see!
Photos to follow ......
Hasta la vista, amigos!
Mike reese