Success in Baja!!
- This topic has 21 replies, 13 voices, and was last updated Jun 7, 2007 at 9:03 pm by
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For those of you that have seen the film “Running Down the Man,” Roosterfish caught from the beach is something you are vaguely familiar with.
www.mattjonesphotography.com
Zach, those are all Feild’s photos.
As far as the impact of rdtm, I can’t put it any better than Grant Hartman did on Dan Blanton’s board:
“I know I am going to get hammered again, but I just have to speak out.
Although “Running down the man” is a cool flick, it has already overcrowded the overcrowded beaches off the East Cape.
Last time I checked, there was 10 guys camped for two weeks straight at the light house, one every 100 yards or so, slashing the water at every roosterfish that comes by.
Hey, it was bound to happen, but I for one frown at Frank Smethurst for making the flick. I know Frank well, he’s an okay guy, but he did this as a self promotion stunt, an ego booster. Now calls himself the “fish whisperer”. Wow, I’m impressed.
There is only about 10 miles of prime roosterfish water on the East Cape. Prime conditions- one mile, one fisherman, any more than that, and the fish get spooky.
Someone comes along and makes a unrealistic flick and glorifies it to the world, now every fisherman is going to want to be chasing the man. Frank shot himself in the foot. Frank, next time you want to fish the East Cape, get a ticket and take a seat.
Frank fished for over a month straight to get that fish, I estimated just over 30 lbs. Frank is a very good roosterfish-fisherman, but Franks main secret of success, is that he is willing to wait in the 100 degree plus sun and walk the soft hot sand, day in, day out for a month straight every June for the last 5 years. Sometimes you only get one or two shots a day. To be successful, you have to be stubborn as hell and determined to the bone.
Okay, there I said my piece of mind.
I know I sound territorial and that’s just not the case, I have always encouraged folks to come down and fish the beaches. It’s a lot of fun.
If you plan on coming down, and you don’t have any experience with roosterfish, I recommend getting a guide for at least a day to show you the ropes. Lance and Josh at “Baja on the fly” are great guys! Jeff de Brown at “Reel Baja” is also a very good choice.
If you plan on going it alone and just want to catch fish, size not counting, blind cast sardine patterns at the bait balls early and late. If size counts, your fishing needs to be tight, Permit tight.
The best places to fish are both light houses, Las Ventanas just South of La Paz and Punta Arena near La Riebera. The next best spot is from Hotel Rancho Leonero to Punta Colorado. About a three mile stretch. Everything else is much less productive.
The waters are generally calm, and the fish are spooky. Once a fish is spooked, chances are he won’t bite for quite a while. When they get hammered hard, I have seen them go off the bite for days. Often the fish run quite close to the beach, so don’t wade! Stand back off the beach. I have seen huge fish swim just feet away from guys wading up to their waist. The fisherman didn’t even have a clue the fish was there.
“Running down the man” is a gimmick, once in a blue moon, you can chase them down and get one to eat, but the smart strategy is to wait for them to come to you. If the fish swims past you and you make a cast at the tail, all you will accomplish is to spook the fish. How do you know you have spooked a roosterfish, he will be swimming swiftly, and he won’t even pause to look at your fly. Flies are simple- mullet patterns, Franks “Rasta” is as good as any. 6 to 8 feet of straight 20 flurocarbon will do the trick.
Use plenty of sun-block, Stay hydrated, be stealthy and good luck!
You probably wont be seeing me on any of my old runs, I have gone to exploring different parts of Baja in look for my new favorite roosterfish spot, so “running down the man” has expanded my horizons. Travel farther, less people. I have been searching far, but I haven’t seen anywhere yet where the roosterfish roam like they do on the East Cape.
One thing for sure, I wont be sharing any more of my new favorite spots with Frank in the future.
Grant”
Well, then great job, Feild!
That post is a bit sad, but that’s the reality of any good fishery – whether Frank made the movie or not, the place was getting publicized in fishing photos all over the country.
Great stuff Matt and Ian! I love the pictures Matt and Ian I love your honesty in your response to RDTM. And agree with Carter, Post some more pictures!!!!!
Joel
I know all of you have been clamoring for more pictures for weeks now, and yes, it’s all my fault! Posted below are six pictures that encapsulate
Zach and Mat..thanks. Mat, I was shooting a Nikon D70s, Ian was shooting a D50, and I believe Matt was shooting a Canon 30D. All of the images I posted are from my D70s. Basically, all the images are unedited.
Zach, per your request, here are a few more images. It’s too bad we don’t have any more fish pictures, but at least Matt caught the giant rooster and I was behind the lens to capture that moment.
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