Sierra Mackerels from the beach (non-kayak)

Took a trip to Cabo about two weeks ago.  Had a blast catching sierras from the beach infront of the hotel next to the arch.  Saw a couple big cuberas and mullet snapper caught from the rocks.  Also saw a 30 lb roosterfish chasing ballyhoo all the way to the beach.  That in itself was worth the trip.  Wish they had kayak rentals on the beach.

Those Sierra sure are beautiful! I caught a few of those in Mulege about ten years ago and we made ceviche with them. How did you guys prepare them?

-Eliot

The water is so calm and beautiful!  Thanks for the report and pictures.

I fished around the left of that beach in my float tube...also right out front from a panga and slayed Sierra...didn't know yaking back in O4 but if I ever go back... That's a sweet resort u stayed @   

Thanks paddlefish for pics...

Hey, thanks for the report.

I'll be in Cabo in ten days or so, and I'd love to do the same kind of fishing.

I'll be bring a spinning outfit with me, and a few spoons. Can you share a bit more information about what lures or bait worked for you?

Thanks,

TallPaul

  Wow, great report and pictures, way to make the rest of us jealous!  Those must have been fiesty, what type of set up were you using?  Can't wait until December to be down there! 

Aaaaahhh, the arches. Bring back fond memories from years ago.  Spent a week down there while they were filming "Troy".  We chartered a panga for only $80, trolled rapala and feathers for skipjack and bonito, no roosters or big macks like you caught.  I also tried surf casting but no luck.  You guys nailed em!

Very nice, those sierra make killer civeche (sp) as well!

Sierra are great smoked.  You can take them to Girselda's smokehouse on the Marina in Cabo and she will do a 50-50 split with you on the fish; smoke it and package it for you at no cost.  If you get 10lbs of fillets(she'll do that as well) she keeps 5 and you get 5 smoked.  It's a great way to go.  Sierra don't freeze well.

As far as how to catch them- the way I do it is from a panga trolling squid hoochies with a 3/4 to 1 oz sliding sinker in the head of the hoochie.  Be sure to use wire leader to a chrome long shank hook just to the end of the tentaciles of the hoochie.  Rig the end that goes to you line with a BLACK swivel.  Do not use brass or stainless-  The Sierra will hit the shiny swivel and cut your line.  I learned this the hard way.  
Pangas are cheap now- We got one for 6 hrs for $150.00.  One very good Captain we have used for many years is Jose Bernardo Ruiz.  His Cel is 044-6241596272.  You can also just go down to the Panga fleet and look for the boat `Ana Isabel'  Another guy is Normando and his boat is named `Sirius'  He is a good captain as well. 624-1376626. Good luck!  I hope to get back down in October to the East Cape for Tuna(wife's orders).

Jody

You are right in front of where we own a timeshare at Playa Grande. The ocean is flat. Not too common for right there. You can rent kayaks on the other side of the bay by the office.

Those are great pics!! We ate S/M in Costa Rica, they were our favorite. Sorry I missed your call the other day, we'll have to get together on the pontoon boat at Del Valle with the wives/kids.

I caught them on mostly top water lures like 5 inch pencil poper, any large 1 to 2 oz kastmaster or mickey jig, kroc. would work also.   I  caught most of them on top water lures.  Make sure you use steel wire leader because their teeth are razor sharp like wahoo.  The bite was very brief, only lasted about half an hour to 40 min. best before sunrise and sunset.  They move out a little deeper as soon as the sun comes out, that's when I wish I had a kayak.

We fished on a panga the first day, which was a little disappointing.  I would be very cautious if I was going back there.  With the bad economy and the swine flu, Cabo is really hurting for business.  They think Americans are walking ATM machine.  My friend got his reels stolen at the airport from the luggage.  In fact, he never got his luggage until the day we returned with his reels missing.  Plus we had a lazy, bad-attitude, non-English speaking captain, who was unwilling to go where we ask him to go.  We ended up catching 7 or 8 bonitos all day which wasn't bad, but they weren't the target species.  The boat had very limited fishing gear.  So if you go, don't count on using their gear unless you go on a nice cruiser.  I would also bring a fillet knife and fillet your own fish.  They leave a lot of meat on the fish so when you leave they can get more fillets out of the fish to sell.  That's why we decided to fish from the shore instead of going again on the panga.  We caught more fish from the shore and had more fun than going on the boat.  If you go, just be careful.  That's all I am saying.  Good luck.

Eugene

Awesome fish...thanks for the pix...

A note about Pangas in Cabo:

We took pangas (actually superpangas) out 4 times while down there and had a ball.  Pangeros were generally great and 3 of 4 did what we asked and really strived to get us into fish (one admittedly was a lemon captain).  We caught rooster, snapper, sierra, dorado, tuna, marlin, etc...we were really happy.  Caught plenty and gave some to the captains each trip...  Trips were set up through BajaBoy Sportfishing...will definitely try them again next time I'm down...