Black Sea Bass!!! (non kayak)

wow! i loved the coronado islands when i went with a few people on a 17 ft whaler. we did spearfishing at pukey point and in the middle grounds. also hit some sandy spots for halibut.

as far as i know the only fish i have heard of that is protected is the totoaba. it looks like a wsb with an orange mouth.

i saw black seabass at the 5 minute kelp beds by the coronados and they were massive. i didnt have the right gear to spear one but i think i would have taken one had i had the right setup. they were real easy to approach too. they were BIG.

john

Totoaba=orangemouth corvina?

MolBasser

I have the impression they are scientific and rigorous in their management and I am not worried theylet the fishery collapse. Enjoy it.

I have the impression that there is a serious lack of enforcement, but we digress.

Nice catch Randy!!

-Allen

Unless your a gringo, then you better have your papers and fish in order....

MolBasser

Unless your a gringo, then you better have your papers and fish in order....

MolBasser

Sure ... for gringos coming across on charter boats.  Lots of enforcement.

For a gringo fishing your average day cruiser or panga out of Cabo or other ports down there, I've never seen enforcement.  I've never had to buy a license even though I always ask.  I've never been checked.  And I've had to tell the crews to stop at the limit, as if they didn't even know there was one.

For local commercial fishermen ... lot's of destructive and illegal fishing activities.

-Allen

Sure ... for gringos coming across on charter boats.  Lots of enforcement.

For a gringo fishing your average day cruiser or panga out of Cabo or other ports down there, I've never seen enforcement.  I've never had to buy a license even though I always ask.  I've never been checked.  And I've had to tell the crews to stop at the limit, as if they didn't even know there was one.

For local commercial fishermen ... lot's of destructive and illegal fishing activities.

Sounds like business as usual for Mexico: a good facade and plan made moot by rampant corruption and lack of enforcement. Folks, this is a nation whose government has generals and politicians who are drug trafficers or their representatives. Every once in a while one goes down, but most just keep piling on millions and investing them here for retirement while the average person there is just trying to survive.

Very nice fish, Randy. I don't think you need to be concerend.

I think the Mexican Government has given significant thought about the conservation of the fishery--I've seen a few documentarys on the people involved in the sea of Cortez for instance. It is a delicate balance between supporting a tourism industry for poor fisherman and others there versus protecting the fishery and habitat. I have the impression they are scientific and rigorous in their management and I am not worried theylet the fishery collapse. Enjoy it.

 I think anything the government down there is doing is minimal. There are a few laws, but any laws regarding bag and posession limits are barely enforced. On my last hiking trip to Baja, my brother and I spoke with old timers who predicted another 10 years of sustainable fishing, then a collapse. The signs of overfishing are everywhere down there...you can find piles and piles of dried up carcasses - sharks, rays, tuna, crabs, scallops - on beaches and other dumping sites (not sure why they don't throw carcasses back in the water), and any old fisherman can tell you that it's not what it used to be, even ten years ago...
 Anyway, I love Baja and I don't mean to preach, but it's sad thinking it might be all gone in the near future. I plan on going again in Feb or March!

Nice fish Randy

or licenses with us,

So what kind of Licenses did you have to buy US and MEX?

yeah, down there you buy a mex fishing license and then when you come back into the us waters you have to have a us license and also fill out a game form which states what you have and where you caught it. to be on the safe side have al lthe papers and you would be good. also, keep the fish whole as well.

Unless your a gringo, then you better have your papers and fish in order....

MolBasser

Sure ... for gringos coming across on charter boats.  Lots of enforcement.

For a gringo fishing your average day cruiser or panga out of Cabo or other ports down there, I've never seen enforcement.  I've never had to buy a license even though I always ask.  I've never been checked.  And I've had to tell the crews to stop at the limit, as if they didn't even know there was one.

For local commercial fishermen ... lot's of destructive and illegal fishing activities.

-Allen

Very true.

The gringos that get grief are the PBers and charters coming south from the US.

If your already in mexico, not so much of a big deal, although I have heard of enforcement in the bay of LA.

MolBasser

wow

Mooch - BBQ sounds great, but I'd REALLY like to introduce that bad boy to Chuck's fryer.  Have to see what we can put together.

Mike -  Since we weren't fishing in California waters, all we needed was a Mexican permit.  $5.00 (included with the ticket).  Came as a pleasant surprise to me - I thought we'd have to fork out for a 1-dayCA  license. 

Randall - It did win the jackpot, but I didn't need that to alleviate the sting - the fish took care of that just fine    In fact, in my euphoria, I ended up tipping the deck hands 2/3 of the pot.


Randy

I have the impression they are scientific and rigorous in their management and I am not worried theylet the fishery collapse. Enjoy it.

I have the impression that there is a serious lack of enforcement, but we digress.

Nice catch Randy!!

-Allen

What po-le po-le said~!
Nice fish.

Z

great fish randy.  i think you may need more than 1 fryer!

Randy got back a day before me.....................
So, he hooks up and I keep watching over my shoulder as the deckhands keep shooing folks away from him as he obviously had something large on the end of his line.  When I heard the shout of BSB I was stunned.........a bit confused........startled that they imediately double gaffed it (taking no chances) and then just as quickly explained that not only were they legal but that this was not their only one for the season.  It was their reported impression that they were doing relatively well.
It was too funny the mixed "congratulations" and "are you in the pool?"  People were friendly about it and were super nice to take the pictures since neither of us were prepared for anything......too funny.  Between us we have enough gear to sink a boat but for this trip we went out with nothing but two rented poles and two purchased lures................

 I have always said winning the Jackpot is not about the Money. When I lived in Socal I had at one time an unbelievable run of 5 jackpots for 6 trips and the deckhands always made off w/most of it. Kudos to you and Pat and to do it on rented gear makes it sweeter. That gear is has proven it self time and again and will again. More then likely you gave it the hardest test ever. Randall

What boat did you take?  What landing?

MolBasser