That's My Story

PHOTO: The mornings are getting chillier and chillier before the sunrise breaks out. Bring a sweatshirt. The seasons are changing!

SUDDENLY NOT SUMMER!

Originally Published the Week of Nov. 3, 2009 in Western Outdoor News

I just came off the water before writing this. Except for washing the fish stink and crust off my hands before touching my keyboard, I’m still salt-encrusted from head-to-toe. What a day. For three weeks now, we’ve been enjoying balmy skies and flat seas; warm waters and fish fighting to eat the baits. Fish heaven!

Then, just like that someone flipped a switch.

Today I spent the day shivering and wet. I’m glad I brought a light jacket (I always do), but it was barely enough . The sun ducked in and out of the clouds. The waves kicked up. In a panga, it was a bit like “Victory at Sea.” We took waves over the boat and a good portion of the day we weaved about the boat like drunken sailor on liberty walking the docks.

Even the cruisers were getting bounced. I felt badly for many of the angles who were in t-shirts and shorts huddled wherever they could try to stay dry. It didn’t help matters that bait was harder to find and the fish got stubborn as well. The fishing “honey hole” turned into a gopher hole instead!

Where did all this come from? What happened to my summertime?

Truth is, it’s that time of year when we should expect these kinds of changes and we get so lulled into “easy fishing” we forget how abruptly the whims of the ocean can change…even in Baja.

It’s not ALWAYS like it says in the magazines. It’s not ALWAYS like the pictures in the brochures. We forget that Baja is a 1000-mile-long peninsula bracketed by the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez that has as many micro-climates as it does types of fish. We should no more expect consistent weather between Cabo San Lucas to the south Ensenada to the north any more than San Diego and Seattle have different climes.

Seasons change and Baja is no different.

I had a phone call the other day from folks who wanted to book with our fishing fleet in Febuary. They wanted to catch dorado and marlin.

I had to tell them that we don’t catch those fish normally in the winter months.

“Why not?” she says.

“Because it’s winter. The waters are too cold. You should go further south, maybe Cabo San Lucas, “ I tell her.

“Why?” she responds.

“Because it’s warmer and marlin and dorado like warmer waters, “ I answer.

“Why?” she asks again

“Because they just do.” I say without going into the entire marine-biological explanation a bit exasperated. (Perhaps you’ve had this type of conversation with one of your youngsters. The old “It-is-because-it-is-and-I-am-the-adult” way of ending a discussion going nowhere).

“But we already booked our tickets to come in Febuary and really want to catch a marlin and dorado. Can’t you do anything?” She pleads.

Uh sure…I’ll wave my magic wand and just make marlin and tuna appear. You get the idea. I tell them that it’s still the Sea of Cortez and anything can happen, but not to get their hopes up. That’s the best I can do. They bought their plane tickets before doing the research.

There are warm months and there are cold months and we’re about to start heading into the colder months of the Baja fishing season. That doesn’t mean the fish aren’t biting. It doesn’t mean the sun won’t shine. It doesn’t mean your vacation just went up in flames.

But forewarned is forearmed. Be prepared for weather changes. Be prepared to fish differently. I’m taking a heavier jacket on the water tomorrow. I”ve told the clients to bring a sweatshirt or windbreaker. I’m going to prepare my clients to do more inshore (where it’s calmer) than offshore fishing (where we’ll most surely get wet again). But part of fishing is being adaptable.

I’ll be in Cabo San Lucas all week at the Western Outdoor News Tuna Tournament. Come say hi. In fact, when you’re reading this, we’ll probably be right in the thick of it on the docks. It’s always a lot of fun. Hope to see you!

Jonathan Roldan is the Baja Editor and his column appears every other week. He can be reached in La Paz at: riplipboy@tailhunter-international.com