That's My Story

THE LAND HOLDS THE KEYS – published June 2006 – Western Outdoor News

LAND HOLDS THE KEYS

A long time ago and in a different life, I spent my first two years in college thinking I was going to be a geologist. Looking back, I think in reality, I just hated being indoors and being a geology major meant we got to go on cool field trips to look at rock formations; scrounge fossilized shells and there was always something neat about outdoor girls in jeans and hiking boots who were in those classes.

When I decided to change my academic endeavors, I never really looked back I never thought Id utilize topographic maps ; geosynclines; techtonic plate movement and reading sedimentary layers, at least, not until I started fishing and eventually trying to make a living in the Baja.

A lot of guys really pride themselves knowing how to read their fishing waters. Look for birds and floating debris. Look for current and temperature breaks. Check out the wind line. “Nervous water” could mean something big is pushing up a bait school. Look for a fin. Scan the horizon for moving dolphin. You get my “drift” no pun intended.

But have you ever thought of “reading the land” as a tool to your fishing?

The land can reveal an awful lot about what might be happening underwater. I’ve seen a lot of bass fishermen who use stuff like this. You see, the Sea of Cortez and indeed the entire Baja Peninsula is a huge geologic book that’s as full of clues as a Dan Brown novel. In Baja, the lack of vegetation means it’s even easier to read and decipher.

The entire land mass of Baja was created when huge techtonic plates shifted (the source of our earthquakes and stuff like the San Andreas fault) and caused a big chunk of land to drift north and one to drift south creating the Baja Peninsula and the massive water-filled chasm we call the Sea of Cortez. The land mass is the result of eons of volcanic, techtonic, and weather activity. Looking at a cliff, you can see layer after layer of sediment. See where that arroyo (gully) looks like a wash down to the water? See how the sand is built up along that point? See those boulders that tumbled down? Hmmmmm…

In the absence of trees that might otherwise block your viewing, stop don’t let your gaze stop at the waterline. Look up! Despite what many of us would like to believe, the Sea of Cortez is not filled with fish everywhere. So, it helps to have some help finding them. Many times what you see on the land is duplicated below the surface.

A huge canyon or a rain gully that has been there for many years washing down rock and sediment from the hills goes right into the water creating a huge alluvial fan of debris below the surface. A great holding spot for bait and fish like roosters, and pargo.

Vertical canyon walls coming straight down often continue to go straight down. Deep waters can be found relatively close to shore. Might not be a bad idea to drag a Rapala or Rebel through there for lurking homeguard yellowtail or amberjack.

See a cliff pockmarked with caves dropping, sloping or terracing down to the water? Imagine those same caves submerged holding grouper, pargo, snapper, cabrilla and other rockfish.

Wind and current whipping around a point of sand will often create a hooke-shaped sand bar extending out from the beach underwater. Look for the differences in water color or current breaks and then try working the area for roosters or if there’s a drop to deep water larger pelagics such as billfish, dorado and tuna could be lurking.

Big boulders and other debris from a landslide is also a tell-tale sign that there could be submerged structure holding fish. See a spine of high spots or ridges descending to the waterline? Imagine those same ridges or plateaus creating underwater seamounts and pinnacles. Even as simple as looking at rock formations that are covered with white bird poop can be a great way to find fish. Foraging birds such as pelicans and gulls will take up residence or stay in areas where bait fish congregate. They eat. They poop. Where bait fish go…you’ll often find predator fish waiting to eat them as well. And that’s where you should be looking too!

La tierra tiene muchas secretos! “The land has many secrets” and they could help you find more fish on your next Baja fishing soiree.

That’s my story. If you ever want to reach me, my e-mail is riplipboy@aol.com.

Jonathan