Mexico Fishing

[SuddenlySummer]

To be honest, the outfit we're talking about doesn't know about catch and release. It's a different world down at the marina by the sewer. In all of the trips I've taken with them, we've never landed a marlin. They did keep several sail fish and about 75 tuna from one trip but never a marlin.

Just got the March 05' issue of Motorboating and page 80 has an article "The Best Billfish Lodge in the World", Pinas' Bay, Panama. It's 100% catch and release but the article comments that for decades so many fish were being release in poor poor condition from using "J" hooks. It's the advent of circle hooks that have made the difference the last year or so.

I guess my point is that these fish go through a lot of stress when being caught. This resort touts 100% catch and release but since the 20's much of their catch was in trouble when released.

I really don't keep billfish but I also don't have too much of a problem for thoes who do.

[Sportland_Bait]

I just got home from a week in Playa Del Carmen two days ago. 85 degrees each day it was a nice break in the winter. There are not many big charter boats in Playa. For bigger boats you need to go up to Cancun. As previously stated you can hire guides in mid-sized boats just south of the Porto-Real along the beach. While I was there the fishing wasn't that great but I believe it is better in March. The boats usually go out at 8 am for half day trips and return around noon-1:00 pm. I've found the best way to get a deal is to meet them when they are coming in. Talk to the guide and negotiate a price. Sometimes you can get a good deal for the next morning. Other wise the booking agents were getting about $200.

Jason Erlandson

[traveler]

SS, I really don't mean to be a jerk about the C&R thing, I just feel pretty passionate about it, particularily with marlin. I have fished out of the old marina, about 10 years ago on my first visit to Mazatlan. Slow, smelly boat, surly capt who spoke NO englsh, no fish either. If you're not really chasing marlin, I guess they'd do, but I like the whole experience better with a better fleet, capt, boat. Sure, it's more money, which I'm NOT made of, but I will take 2 trips with them over 3 downtown. Just my feelings. As for the C&R stats, you hear lots of numbers thrown around. I can tell you my experience; I've caught 15 stripers, all released except one they killed on me down in Maz before I really knew what the scoop was. Did all 14 released fish live? No way to know, I remember one that looked weak but still kicked, mostly they look pretty, make that magnificent, as they swim away. Even if a couple more died, theres still a dozen more swimming to be caught again. All on j-hooks also. So it's well, well, worth it to me. On the Pinas bay release study, they fish mostly blacks there, which fight longer and harder, and run bigger. I would expect higher release mortality in that fishery. Stripers tend to come to boat in pretty good shape and I think release as well as any big game fish.

[SuddenlySummer]

You're preaching to the choir. I release just about everything I catch except Salmon from Lake Michigan. I think a billfish alive swimming behind the boat is one of the most beautiful sights you'll ever see. Their color, they almost "glow". It's a beautiful thing.

I'm just relating the experience you'll have when going to that charter.

You can stay at a Hotel 8 or the Ritz Carlton. There's just a few things you need to do differently when accepting the lesser of the two. All I was doing was giving "helpful hints" if one decided to choose that option.

I've never been skunked when going out with them but there were many of their boats that came in at the end of the day with nothing.

I agree that you get what you pay for but it seems like if you complain on this HSOforum for not catching fish you get yelled at for not enjoying the experience or if you keep fish you get yelled at for being a pig.

Like Dennis Green once said, "The great part about being in America is that everyone has an opinion but what's even better is that you don't have to listen to them and that's the best part".

[Tom Linderholm]

I definately agree with the voice your result theory, without saying our ship clubbed the 190 striped marlin. I protested but they were pretty content with taking care of business before allowing us to speak up. I feel pretty foolish about it but, what I don't know today I definately know tommorrow! Granted the majority of the meat went to the families the stuff we ended up having smoked was definately not worth what could have been more of a trophy fish this year on our vacation. Hence once a mistake, is learned for a lifetime. aahhh, only less than 2 months to go till the old belated yell cries "fish on"

[drowned minnow]

thanks for the info.. been doing some research the last couple weeks and undesided if i want to fish coastal or offshore, not looking for necessarily a cheap outing just a good all around trip. yes...photo/c&r so would have to hammer out detales with whoever i endup going with.

jason, where did you stay? going to try and hookup with dh for a day, tell your dad i said hi.

[traveler]

Cheffrey, So many marlin are killed down there, or have been over the years, that a single fish sure won't tip the balence. The charters typically don't even offer up the C&R choice to many of the tourists they take out. It takes a while to learn the ropes and get assertive with them. Foreign country, different fishery, different language, it's the mentality that SS mentioned earlier, they act like it's thier fish when in fact, it's yours to keep or not. Thats why usually keeping some tuna/dorado and releasing marlin works well for everyone. SS, Suddenly is a good name for you, cause thats how quick you changed your tune. A minute ago you're offhandendly remarking about how to have them carve up marlin and now you're all "I catch and release everything, yada, yada" I've been around this board for a while too; every time someone brings up C&R it's always the old "I get yelled at either way story" Whatever, normally I wouldn't even bother, but it's marlin we're talking about so it's worth it. Better just to not say anything, right??? Hopefully anyone else reading this will think twice about keeping a marlin, thats all I hope for.

[Sportland_Bait]

Drowned Minnow, we stayed at Hotel Colibri. It is a nice small hotel on the beach, about 35 rooms. Fairly basic accomodations but reasonable and clean. Colibri was built about 10 years ago and has German owners. Last week they were catching Amberjack and Tuna. They said they also caught a big shark. The small boats were catching a couple a day. For great food try Da Gabi. We've eaten there numerous times, it is awesome. Have fun down there.

Jason Erlandson

[SuddenlySummer]

Travler, hey pal this is one's for you!

MARLIN KABOB

Ingredients:

1/2 lb Marlin steak, cut in squares

1 cup fresh basil leaves

1 tsp olive oil

2 Tbsp lemon juice

4 cloves fresh garlic, minced

15 cherry tomatoes

12 whole mushrooms

1 yellow pepper, cut in squares

1 green pepper, cut in squares

1 tsp salt.

Combine basil, oil, lemon juice, garlic and salt in blender. The result should be a brushable sauce. Add 1 Tbsp water if needed. Alternate fish and Vegetable on skewers. Brush on all sides with sauce. Place on hot grill and cook until fish flakes easily.

YUM YUM!

More to come from the MAD MARLIN KILLER.

[traveler]

Hey SS, you know what you can do with that Kabob???

[SuddenlySummer]

You're a peach! You know what really does it for you? You're one of thoes do as I say not as I do kind of .... well you know what I mean or maybe you don't.

Let's look at a reply of yours to a post back on October 12th in the "Outdoor Discussion" forum. The topic was "Want and Waste". You remember this one?

Travler- "Different level of respect??? Not going to make many friends here with that holier than thou attitude. I don't care if you were raised by wolves, what you have here is a different OPINION, nothing more. Nothing more on this subject, either."

The poster was touting how they practice ultra conservation when it came to catch and release. You seemed to have a problem with them.

So why don't you take your own stikin advice and drop your "holier than thou" attitude. You took a simple statement and blew it out of proportion. If you look at my post, I never suggested to anyone to harvest a Marlin. Even if I did, at worst we have as you call it, "a different OPINION" or are you the only one allowed to have one?

You're calling me a flip flopper? You're about as wishy washy as they come buddy.

[traveler]

Hey SS, that was a great line! One of my ATF's. Anyway, without going to all the detective work you did to dredge up an old post, as I remember I was saying pretty much the same thing I'm saying now; selective harvest. Keep some to eat, let others go, simple. There are certain species that MOST sportsman target primarily for C&R; muskies for instance. And Marlin. I'm just glad you fish with Star Fleet so yo won't get a chance to be making kabobs.

[SuddenlySummer]

Actually it was no detective work at all. I just clicked on your previous posts in your profle and saw you posted in the "outdoor discussion/keep it civil" forum. It was the first previous post of your's I checked.

You're not very hard to figure out.

[traveler]

Question is, why would you be looking at my post history at all?? Some attempt at finding something you could take out of context to try to use here? Did you even read the whole thread on wanton waste? I think you'd see my part in it dealt with the poster declaring his higher "respect", several others were also upset with that. Here, it's much easier. Someone asked for advice; you gave a couple bad tips and I called you on it. People spend a lot of $$$ to travel and fish down there and they want good advice. The plain truth is when you hire a charter you should be able to make the call on which fish you keep. If not, find another charter. They have ALL heard of catch and release, by the way. And as for the crew drinking, I've been on a lot of different boats and have yet to see a mexican capt. or mate drink while on the charter (thier job, after all). I'm sure it happens, you've seen it, but I maintain it's a BAD idea. Enough of this, I can't think of another way to say it.

[MAITOI]

Cheffrey, It's getting close to Cabo time. I will be leaving on April 9. Are you still interested in sharing a boat during that week. By the way, I caught my first striped Marlin in Mazatlan in Feb.

[Northlander]

MrS Ill be in Cancun April 6th-12th. Keep a eye out for me. Ill be the one big tall pure white guy. At least the first few days.