News flash......

Jim Sammons also runs a kayak package that may be worth looking into. I remember something about them adding Prowlers to their fleet and that their location is closer to the fishing grounds.
Besides that, he's a nicer guy.

Chuck-not sure what your wife is into, but mine enjoys snorkeling, kicking it by the pool, some paddling, and just plain relaxing.  The food, rooms, and service at the ranch are just plain awesome.  The perfect blend of rustic and deluxe.  We make a few excursions to nearby towns to poke around, but Los Barriles is NOT a shopping mecca! The snorkeling is excellent right out in front.  They have a fleet of yaks that includes Prowlers etc.

The place that Sammons goes out of, Punta Colorado is closer to some "better" fishing, but its also more of a "guy place" and not as nice.  I went with Spike the first time, and for this crew I would say don't bother.  Spike was nice and funny to be around, but pretty much sucks as a guide.  If any of you want to go down, and can tell you anything you need to know, cause its REALLY simple.

The fishing in front of the Ranch is excellent.  I caught dorado, roosters, and jacks all within a few hundred yards of the launch...what more do you want?  Live bait is available every morning, enough for the whole day. After dinner the whole family would go down to the beach and the kids caught snapper and a whole bunch of other stuff.

For our outdoors loving family it simply can't be beat.

Thanks, Sean.  That's the kind of insider's info that I was looking for regarding the two resorts.   It sounds like my wife has similar interests to yours.  Cool!

-Chuck

Anyone feel like trying to cooridinate a trip down there this summer? We should all crash Sean's B-day party!!!!          

The movie secton of this site has a great clip on the ranch...http://www.bigwatersedge.com/

Since its already been crashed by a bunch of spearfishing kooks bring it on, its going to be a bloodbath already!  Not sure if there are many rooms left though I am definitely looking forward to the trip.

Hi Bill,

If I remember right the summer months are when the hurricanes hit.  You may get lucky and pick a week when it is nice.

We used to go early May.  Fishing was not at its prime.  But we did not have to worry about the weather.  I think we had one bad day (seas & winds) out of 9 days.  There were striped marlin, dorados and small tunas.  We never targeted roosters.

Ken

what would be better . me and my wife have the 3rd week of april off and the 4th week of june off.i would definatly be down for it .thanks alot for the info on it!!.would any one else be interested in those dates.my wife basicly likes to kick it and snorkel also.hey are the drinks include in the package?
 

thanks eric

Cool, I really like the idea of coordinating a trip if there's interest.

Drinks are not included.  Since you need to bring an ice chest to haul your catch home, have the van driver stop at a tienda on the way up.  If it is a hottish month, buy way more than you would normally drink.  They go down like water.  

Then just buy the occasional mixed foofoo drink at the cantina.  This will save you a TON of cash.

Since there seems to be a lot of interest here is my take on a typical day...

1)Wake up at 0530 while the family sleeps in and take my crap to my yak.
2)Go up to the dining area and enjoy the early fishermans breafast buffet which is super good

3)Eat on the patio and watch the sun rise and wait for the bait pangas to arrive

4) Try and get to the bait early while they still have a full selection, you want 2-4 "grandes" (mullet and horse mackeral) for roostrs and a bunch of sardinas.

5)Start fishing at about 0615

6) Troll live bait south along the beach in 4-6 feet for roosters and jack.  Early morning is best for these, and they prefer the bigger baits which will free up space in your tank. Troll south as far as you choose, but I was going about 3 miles.  The further you go the closer you get to the mouth of the river and you have a chance to pick up other species like snook.

7) You should get as far as you need to go by 10:30 or 11:00 if not earlier.  Turn around and start heading home.  The wind will start coming out of the south pretty much every day around this time.  Going south is the better direction for inshore, and now you will have a tailwind the whole way back.  

Since inshore is over for the day, move out to the edge of the  green/bluewater. This is the prime dodo water, but they are all over.  Troll smaller live baits (if any are still kicking) or dead, dodo's aren't that picky.

9) Youll get blown off the water by 1200-1300.  Put left over dead bait in the freezer in a bucket of saltwater. Hang with crew until late afternoon, when the wind dies down again. Snorkel or whatever.

10) After dinner use the bait in the freezer to fish at night off of the beach with the kids.  Great action for the kids, plus all kinds of neat critters like beach crabs etc are out and about.  

Other tips...
1) Unless you control the ENTIRE process skip sashimi.  With the heat, and lack of sanitation at the cleaning table, this is a bad idea.  FYI-This includes filipinos and asians, trust me, I learned this the hard way.  If you mange to ice your fish and clean it your self, its fine.  If you want to try something really tasty make cerviche out of a trigger fish (very common), it is great.

2) Everyday at about 1330-1400 the kitchen takes all of the days prior tortillas and makes fresh tortilla chips, with fresh guac, and salsa which is free for the asking.  Lots of people miss this, big mistake, its the best you will ever have.  

3)You don't need a ton of tackle if your just yak fishing.  A good assortment of grade A hooks, eggsinkers, barrel swivels, and flouro leader.  Add a few big crocs and your good to go.  A couple of light wire leaders if you want to beach fish.  

Also bring a real bait tank.  I brought the recommended Plano bait bucket and it was a joke.  If you kept it in the water you couldnt troll fast enough, if you took it out your bait was dead in 5 minutes.  I will be making a tank for this year for sure.

4)Go with people you know, you can share the shuttle, also not included, an save more money.

5)Check your bar tab daily to make sure no one is charging shit to your room...BTDT.  The ranch handled it perfectly.

6)Stay as long as possible.  I saw lots of people doing 3-4 days.  Not long enough, you won't want to leave.  You already spent a ton of cash on tickets and shuttles, stay long enough to make it worth while and slow down!

7) Let ALL roosters and jack cravalle go.  They taste like ass but they are ridiculously fun to catch.

Be prepared to be seriously disappointed with the first few fish you catch after returning to Nor Cal.  A 5# jack, fisghts harder than a 25# chinook.

thanks for the great  info.