Man with this Rona going around and preventing us from going to Mexico for any fishing I'm only wondering what next season will be like? With minimal fishing activities going on you guys think anything will bounce back next year? Bigger fish maybe or more plentiful??
Well, as much as I'd like to agree with you on this enforced break having a positive impact for us worm drowners and squid dippers when lifted... it won't.
But why, Stuart?
Because only us recreational types are shut down. Business as usual for the pangas and commercial types. And they're the ones that rape the Sea of Cortez. Not us sportsmen.
Color me not optimistic.
Does anyone think there will be any vaquita left at all when this over?
Well, as much as I'd like to agree with you on this enforced break having a positive impact for us worm drowners and squid dippers when lifted... it won't.
But why, Stuart?
Because only us recreational types are shut down. Business as usual for the pangas and commercial types. And they're the ones that rape the Sea of Cortez. Not us sportsmen.
Color me not optimistic.
Does anyone think there will be any vaquita left at all when this over?
Probably not, so very sad.
And the totoaba are getting crushed as well, after almost making an incredible comeback. One that would have been epic for
Sport-fisherman.
And the totoaba are getting crushed as well, after almost making an incredible comeback. One that would have been epic for
Sport-fisherman.
Agree! The Totoaba are coming back so well that Jerry's buddy in Santo Tomas is catching them regularly it looked like a few years ago until someone told him to STOP taking pictures and putting them on the internet! ja!
Imagine one blowing up top water plug 10 yards off the rocks! 50 lb'ers... Some of the pictures that Lucky Chucky has of his dad's catches in the 50's and 60's you'd wet your pants. No with pee either...
Imagine one blowing up top water plug 10 yards off the rocks! 50 lb'ers... Some of the pictures that Lucky Chucky has of his dad's catches in the 50's and 60's you'd wet your pants. No with pee either...
Stuart knows this too. If you get on T Bass the only thing you can do to get away from them is to move. They are very easy to catch compared to a WSB. I had a double hook up once with a couple who were around 30lbs each, and I swear they worked together like old friends.
Wow, that's to bad guys, I'd like to think even the fisheries are slowed down due to this but maybe not. But on the other bright side maybe the beaches will be cleaner. I would have loved to been able to fish in the 50s. It would probably be a totally different experience than today not just for totoaba but other species as well.
Wow, that's to bad guys, I'd like to think even the fisheries are slowed down due to this but maybe not. But on the other bright side maybe the beaches will be cleaner. I would have loved to been able to fish in the 50s. It would probably be a totally different experience than today not just for totoaba but other species as well.
Wow, that's to bad guys, I'd like to think even the fisheries are slowed down due to this but maybe not. But on the other bright side maybe the beaches will be cleaner. I would have loved to been able to fish in the 50s. It would probably be a totally different experience than today not just for totoaba but other species as well.
Wow, that's to bad guys, I'd like to think even the fisheries are slowed down due to this but maybe not. But on the other bright side maybe the beaches will be cleaner. I would have loved to been able to fish in the 50s. It would probably be a totally different experience than today not just for totoaba but other species as well.
You would have loved it in the 50's early 60's. They were still targeting and catching billfish in those day's and I remember my dad and uncle pointing out the different colored flags they were flying coming back into port that signified their catch. But still, even then, I heard fisherman say if you want some good fishing these days, you need to go out of Guaymas. Two things need to happen if it's ever going to come back, and I don't see either happening.
As one who has fished Guaymas for many years, yep. It dead. Zero enforcement of the pangas and long lines is a joke there is none.
Used to be able to go out and troll some nice Dorado and bill fish (released) for fun. Not so much anymore. Sold my boat, stopped going. Got tired of cutting turtles off of broken long lines and being challenged by Mexican pangas when I did so. Always had the bigger boat and stuck it on top of some pangas when I needed to do so.
For the 9999th time, Mexico is its own worst enemy regarding anything to do with preserving their fisheries.
Kenny,
Do you ever head out to Goldwater for a bit of freshwater fishing? Looks like a cute pond.
I did, my cabin was almost exactly 1 mile above the lake, so I drove by the entrance on Senator Hwy daily. Back and forth to work for 8 years. Put and take trout, some bass, and bluegill. Oh, and of course some channel cat, but they close at dusk. I didn't fish there often, as I don't care much for put and take trout. There is very little cover, and no baitfish to speak of and that makes a not so hot of a habitat. If you have a canoe or a couple of kayak's the Bass fishing over here on the Verde River where I live now is good. Catching some big trout too, if you're lucky.
Goldwater is very nice. Facilities for family gathering and such, with tables, scatter for picnicking with walking trails all over.
I did, my cabin was almost exactly 1 mile above the lake, so I drove by the entrance on Senator Hwy daily. Back and forth to work for 8 years. Put and take trout, some bass, and bluegill. Oh, and of course some channel cat, but they close at dusk. I didn't fish there often, as I don't care much for put and take trout. There is very little cover, and no baitfish to speak of and that makes a not so hot of a habitat. If you have a canoe or a couple of kayak's the Bass fishing over here on the Verde River where I live now is good. Catching some big trout too, if you're lucky.
Goldwater is very nice. Facilities for family gathering and such, with tables, scatter for picnicking with walking trails all over.
Kenny, my dad retired and moved up to Prescott Valley about 5 years ago. He's over at the Stoneridge community. I've driven over to Lynx a few times to scout it out. Really pretty back in there. Is Lynx or Goldwater a better place to kayak fish? I wouldn't mind either fly fishing for trout or bass fishing up there sometime. at Lynx, the handicap spots are bout 10 feet from the boat ramp. IDEAL! My gf also did a marathon 2 years ago that started at Goldwater and ended at Watson. We camped at Watson. Pretty scenery but I've read no decent fishing at Watson? Only Goldwater and Lynx. Which is fine because I like that forest feel...
Saw on AZGFD that a 4lb rainbow trout was caught at Goldwater in early January. We almost always head NE to White Mts for cool weather fishing, Big Lake one of our faves. Really like the streams all around there too. Got frustrated with WMAT prices and conditions of trash all along waters edges, used to love Reservation Lake, but experience there about 7 years ago just turned us off. Different forks of Black River are fun to hunt for the pools and native trout hiding out. I miss fishing.
If I had just bought a Kyak, I'd go to Willow Lake, across 89 from Watson, but both have better bass fishing than either Goldwater of Lynx. Some years ago a kid who was living in the dorms caught a Largemouth at Watson, and I saw it, that was close to 7lbs. Ha, he was at the end of that little fishing dock, and since was used to fishing for smallies, he'd pitched his Gitzit at a shadow he thought was a Carp just for the heck of it. Willow Lake should have plenty of water and it has good cover for bass and there's baitfish too. I walked the shoreline a good part of the way around Willow years ago and saw tons of Bass and Bluegill fry and fingerlings. Me, I'd stay 2 days or so with dad and hit either Willow or Watson first, and Lynx or Goldwater for trout later. Way more people at Watson than Willow.
Saw on AZGFD that a 4lb rainbow trout was caught at Goldwater in early January. We almost always head NE to White Mts for cool weather fishing, Big Lake one of our faves. Really like the streams all around there too. Got frustrated with WMAT prices and conditions of trash all along waters edges, used to love Reservation Lake, but experience there about 7 years ago just turned us off. Different forks of Black River are fun to hunt for the pools and native trout hiding out. I miss fishing.
When I was 14 or 15 I went with my godfather who is an avid AZ outdoorsman to the Black River to fish for smallies. It was EPIC! Last week I was actually scouting satellite imagery of the black river and trying to remember where he took me. I know we entered through fort Apache and by the looks of it maybe 7 mile road???? Waaay back in there and then I remember we had to go down into this canyon where we parked the truck. Got a bunch of crawdads in our creels and then started hiking up river to some of these holes he knew of. It was epic and years later being even a more avid addicted to fishing person I would love to go back. I'm trying to scout somewhere that I could get my truck down into obviously because of being handicap that would be the only way. The upper part of the river near Alpine, up and around MT BALDY and Sunrise it looks like I could get pretty close and fish from shore. I've also been told to hit up all the reservation lakes but don't really know much about those bodies of water. I used to go to the white mountains every single year of my life for snowboarding until 2010 but after my accident I've only been there once...Still want to go camping/fishing up there. My GF has never been to the white mountains. We're trying to make that a reality this summer. We usually just settle for the rim lakes, Woods Canyon, Knoll ....
If I had just bought a Kyak, I'd go to Willow Lake, across 89 from Watson, but both have better bass fishing than either Goldwater of Lynx. Some years ago a kid who was living in the dorms caught a Largemouth at Watson, and I saw it, that was close to 7lbs. Ha, he was at the end of that little fishing dock, and since was used to fishing for smallies, he'd pitched his Gitzit at a shadow he thought was a Carp just for the heck of it. Willow Lake should have plenty of water and it has good cover for bass and there's baitfish too. I walked the shoreline a good part of the way around Willow years ago and saw tons of Bass and Bluegill fry and fingerlings. Me, I'd stay 2 days or so with dad and hit either Willow or Watson first, and Lynx or Goldwater for trout later. Way more people at Watson than Willow.
Thanks for the info Kenny! I might have to hit those up sometime. Prescott is so close. I live in central phoenix and my dad's house is only like 75 miles away. 40 from Carefree Highway I believe. Not far at all. Easy drive. Just have to worry about getting home sometimes with the I-17. I've gotten stuck/held up in Prescott twice in the last 3 or 4 years for brush fires off of the 17.
Joe had me thinking of the Black River too, but I never have made it there for some reason. Field and Stream magazine has been saying with many articles and for decades that the Black River was the best smallmouth river in all the west. Real good trout fishing too, Rainbows and Germans. When you read the articles about the black River, there is usually a mention of Bears, because there's a lot of them. This brown was caught on the Black last year. Yes, I saved the picture, after all. Both catching a Brown Trout and fishing the Black River is still on my bucket list.
I can tell you all about the Black River except for how it's fishing this spring. That's because I haven't been there in five or six years. The Wallow fire put ash in the river and messed up the PH. I've heard it's been steadily improving each year but haven't been up there to check. The best way in is across the San Carlos Res through Point of Pines. Trout and smallmouth move up and down the river as water temperature changes. It's hard to say what is possible for a person with disabilities without knowing more about that person's limits, but there is a system of ladders about a mile downstream from the pump station. Once you reach the bottom it's easy walking along the river for miles, but you do occasionally cliff out and have to wade to the other side. The route in from Elwood Tank always offered great smallmouth fishing, but it's a steep walk down to the river. Upstream from the pump station is White Crossing with more trout and fewer smallies. That stretch of the creek can be reached on foot from the road, but you'll be driving through shallow water part of the way and will want to walk along the stream some when you reach the end of the road. A kayak will not work on this river and might even get you a ticket as it's classified as non-navigable. Don't expect to see many people unless you go on Memorial Day, and even then the crowds are light. You will need to pack in everything, including drinking water, as there are no services or supplies. You should leave Globe with a full tank of gas. And yes, the place is lousy with bears and you will see them. Protect your food as they will surely be around. And consider trying a couple of the larger stock tanks for catfish and largemouth bass.
audsley,
The area you talk about accessing Black River going thru Point of Pines is near the Ten O Diamonds ranch, right? I had a co-worker from Safford who told me about a place in that area where the fishing goes from bass to trout - altho it was years ago. Never did make the drive up there, altho its still a place I'd like to explore. We did a drive on San Carlos res many (20?) years ago coming in from south of Salt River Canyon, turnoff to east was somewhere near Senaca lake. I remember we had a decent map that showed some of the roads. A small abandoned settlement of Sawmill, and some little cattle tank fishing holes, the only name I remember was Phillip Park Tank, caught some small bass at each. Never did find the road to the north we had heard about (I see its Rt 9) to access the river for smallie fishin. Ended the day driving south to Talkalai Lake before sunset - but every little road we took there to reach the lake, already had folks fishin, so we kept turning around and trying the next one. Never wet a line at Talkalai Lake, but tried. We need to explore the upper Salt where the White and Black confluence is - looks awesome. Tight lines everyone!
I misspoke myself. When I said White Crossing I meant to say Ten of Diamonds. Thanks for reminding me. As I recall, you can cross the stream six times before coming to the end of the 4WD trail.
You should have a good map either paper or electronic. Take Highway 70 east out of Globe and turn on to Highway 8 a little past Peridot. Stay on 8 to Point of Pines, which is basically a firefighting camp with no services (unless things have changed.) On your climb up the to Nantac Rim below Point of Pines you can see cliff dwellings high up on your left. Once we stopped to glass them from the road and Apache police came along and politely asked us to keep moving. From Point of Pines there are two main roads going to the river. That's where you'll need to choose your destination.
This trip is not for people dependent on amenities or government agency support. It's for the young and adventurous. You'll be on your own and roughing it. If you puncture an oil pan you'll have to deal with it yourself. I don't know about cell service.
I believe San Carlos is still charging $20 a day per person, which is fine by me because it keeps the crowds down and keeps the place special.
Joester, the route you tried is the way to Black River Crossing which is much farther downstream, is much easier to get to, has far more people and warmer water. I've heard the fish are smaller.
You don't want to go until the river drops. Right now it should be raging and impossible to fish. Typically around the third week of May it becomes fishable and remains good until the monsoons turn it muddy. It's good again in October when the water clears.
If anyone decides to go, please let me know how it went.
We have another area in the WMAT that we really like for stream fishing, but many fishing folks, we have to keep some of our favorite places to ourselves - so we don't as they say, "have to bring our own rock to stand on" to fish there. Good luck folks, and hopefully sometime soon, we can all go catch dinner. stay safe, stay home, stay healthy - this ain't over yet.
Don't be planning any trips soon via the San Carlos Res. They have closed the place off to us non-tribal members for the time being. It really is a place for anyone that loves the outdoors to visit at some point in their life. I know it primarily from hunting but they have some fishy looking waters.
The Fort Apache Reservation is also currently closed to all entry. Every dirt road and 2 track turning off Hwy 260 is chained closed with signs all over the place. I hope that changes soon because I have a permit for Christmas Tree Lake for May 30.
Tonto Creek below hatchery was fun Monday - Teri caught a brown and 2 rainbows, all released - I lost 4 of my lures.
Fishing ultralight 4 1/2' graphite rods, 3# test on micro spinning reels, tossing 1/16 oz Mepps and Wordens.
Beautiful day on the creek. Heading further NE next week.
Stay safe, stay healthy.
Tonto Creek below hatchery was fun Monday - Teri caught a brown and 2 rainbows, all released - I lost 4 of my lures.
Fishing ultralight 4 1/2' graphite rods, 3# test on micro spinning reels, tossing 1/16 oz Mepps and Wordens.
Beautiful day on the creek. Heading further NE next week.
Stay safe, stay healthy.
Below hatchery but above (N) of highway? We're talking about maybe making a day trip this weekend to Woods Canyon or one of the rim lakes. We stopped at the hatchery last summer to feed the big dogs in the lower tank. Need to get the kayaks out and they have PLEZ so F'd up right now it's about as dumb as the current RP model.
Above Norton creek, past the trailhead parking area. numerous paved pullouts along creek before you reach hatchery and the rim trailhead. Stopped at 3-4 places, hunting for the holes with foam :-)
Well I went out fishing the other night on the salt river had a bit of luck, like reeling in a grouper but instead of vertically, it was horizontally, 43lb Flathead.
Well I went out fishing the other night on the salt river had a bit of luck, like reeling in a grouper but instead of vertically, it was horizontally, 43lb Flathead.
HUGE! I've watched some YouTube videos of these guys that pull out BIGGINS out of the Salt and the salt river lakes... Crazy that a fish that big or a fish that can get that big is in the salt river.
We went out to Plez a couple of days ago on Monday. The Striper were foaming so hard at about 1pm but I could not get them to hit anything I was throwing. I had at least 3 or 4 casts that landed straight in the foam but NADA. All my stuff is set up for Rocky Point though with braid line so maybe that was the issue. Going to re wind the reels with some fluoro and hit again this weekend.
HUGE! I've watched some YouTube videos of these guys that pull out BIGGINS out of the Salt and the salt river lakes... Crazy that a fish that big or a fish that can get that big is in the salt river.
Joe, a few years back we went up to the Verde River just below the dam at Bartlett lake and caught lots of LM and SM Bass using spinners.
Cast downstream and drag back up, we couldn't believe all the bites we had.
Out of 10 casts and we caught 3 fish, with 3-4 almost hooked. The largest was 4 lbs. 3 of us caught 25-30 fish in 3 hours,
we threw back most because we didn't want to clean that many fish. It was this time of year late evening, we were on our way home by 10PM.
We fished there 10 times over the past 15 years and found to be a good spot for action. 2 times out of 10 it was just OK.
broken - we fished that same stretch years ago - wading in waist deep and casting chartreuse twin tails, lots of 1-2lb bass - tons of fun.
Now that Hwy 87 is open, probably head back to the creeks just off the rim early next week - temperatures expected to drop nicely for a few days.
broken - we fished that same stretch years ago - wading in waist deep and casting chartreuse twin tails, lots of 1-2lb bass - tons of fun.
Now that Hwy 87 is open, probably head back to the creeks just off the rim early next week - temperatures expected to drop nicely for a few days.
We fished from the shore a 100 yards down from the dam. The first time we caught so many we got tired from it.
There was a full moon that night. We also saw people pulling catfish out all night long, some big ones too.
I need to go back in the fall and try it again.
Joe, a few years back we went up to the Verde River just below the dam at Bartlett lake and caught lots of LM and SM Bass using spinners.
Cast downstream and drag back up, we couldn't believe all the bites we had.
Out of 10 casts and we caught 3 fish, with 3-4 almost hooked. The largest was 4 lbs. 3 of us caught 25-30 fish in 3 hours,
we threw back most because we didn't want to clean that many fish. It was this time of year late evening, we were on our way home by 10PM.
We fished there 10 times over the past 15 years and found to be a good spot for action. 2 times out of 10 it was just OK.
I see what you mean, the trails that I used to get close to the river near the dam are gone.
It's been awhile, but I remember being able to drive down and park 25 feet from the river. The only trails I see are further down the river.
The last time I was there was 7-8 years ago.
I see what you mean, the trails that I used to get close to the river near the dam are gone.
It's been awhile, but I remember being able to drive down and park 25 feet from the river. The only trails I see are further down the river.
The last time I was there was 7-8 years ago.
Might have to take this issue to the supreme court. It seems every last public land recreation spot has been blocked off to vehicle traffic and mandated hike in trails. I've been sentenced to hell on earth. No fear of the hypothetical hell when you live in real hell everyday. They have basically fenced off miles of what used to be public land North of Pleasant. Irresponsible OHV and trash are what kill it for everyone. People shooting guns where they shouldn't be. SMH...
From Google maps it looks like they revamped the area below the dam for flood/erosion control.
It used to have some nice trees along the river bank near 100-200 yards down from the dam. I need to revise my timeline
I bet it was 10 years since I was there last
And after asking my wife, she thinks it was 20+ years ago since were there last. I do remember being able to drive and park pretty close to the river.
We're heading back up to both Tonto and Christopher Creeks Tuesday, temps are going to be lower for a few days then, we can get a nice half day of creek ultralight trout fishing. It'll be sad and interesting to see the damage from the Bush Fire.
And after asking my wife, she thinks it was 20+ years ago since were there last. I do remember being able to drive and park pretty close to the river.
We're heading back up to both Tonto and Christopher Creeks Tuesday, temps are going to be lower for a few days then, we can get a nice half day of creek ultralight trout fishing. It'll be sad and interesting to see the damage from the Bush Fire.
We took the prerunner out yesterday in hopes of reaching the Verde via Sycamore creek. About 3 or 4 miles past Fort McDowell the burn scars start. Middle of highway and then somewhere before Sycamore you can see where it jumped the highway heading East towards 4 Peaks. Got to the gate and it was closed and being manned by US Forest Service. Continued further to the Four Peaks gate, same thing. Asked the USFS if this was for covid or fire. Fire. They are worried about erosion and mud slides now as soon as the monsoons start. Might be closed for a while. We later learned the entire Tonto Forest is closed starting 6/26. So we turned around and went back west on the B Line. Decided to turn on Bush and head towards Sag looking for some off road trails. Everything I repeat EVERYTHING was closed. Butcher Jones entrance gated and locked. Nothing. We kept going. The Salt River was PACKED. I mean. Covid WhAT?! WHAT COVID???? Are you kidding me?! I've never seen so many people simply ignoring EVERYTHING. What a joke. So this is open, gyms are open but I can't go offroading or ONE MAN kayaking at PLEZ??????????!!!!! This shit is garbage makes no sense at this point. No logic in any of this. We ended up on USERY mountain pass road. Heading south up the pass we saw a trail head, Bulldog Canyon. It was open so we bought a pass and entered. We get out there and initially all was good. We then came to a fork in the road and saw a SIDExSIDE and asked if there was any way to get to the SALT. The guy goes, follow me. We start following this guy through a canyon wash and come around a corner and boom, bottle neck ROCK GARDEN and we have 2wd. Going downhill. No option to reverse and nowhere to turn around just HAD TO SEND IT. Got hung up on the middle of three sets of rocks. Guy never turned around. No help and now the GF and I are stuck in the middle of this wash in the Superstitions!!! LOL what a nightmare. Took two tries but had to get the truck jacked up in the air with my HI LIFT jack and stack rocks under the rear tires. 12psi and rear diff lock will do wonders for a 2wd. The driver needs to do the rest. Somehow got the truck to start biting and side to side motion before climbing up out of this huge rock we were stuck on and boom I got out of this rock garden. I was able to go a little further down and turn the truck around. I made one attempt at crossing said garden going back the reverse way to get the F out of there and got stuck again. Buried the truck down to the axle. Rear tow hitch was sitting on the sand. Started the dig out/ rock a bye baby technique, D, R, D, R. Started making a couple of feet of headway at a time. 35" tires were hitting bedrock about 24" down and somehow I was eventually able to get the truck un-stuck for the second time in 2 hours and reversed backwards down the trail to some harder pack dirt on the side of the wash. By this time we had already sent SOS with GPS location to Claudia's brother. At about 430pm, two US Forest Service HOT SHOTS found us in the wash and radio'd position to said brother in law waiting at the gate off Bush that was closed. Bulldog OHV North Gate. The US Forest Service Ranger was listening to radio and decided to come see us LOLLLLLLLL. Apparently, we were NOT ALLOWED in that wash that goes down to the Salt. The USFS ranger was very nice and she let us go with a warning instead of the $100 ticket. Eventually brother in law got there and everyone cleared the way for me to give it one more shot. Somehow hit my line perfectly and was able to get out of this rock garden going up hill in deep sand with 2wd. Never needed the tow. Fell horrible!!! The hot shots let us go back the easy way to the N gate and on to the Bush highway. Finished off the day watching the sunset and the salt river counting my blessings at Granite Reef before heading home around 745pm. The longest most trying day ever! Just to find something to do because everything was closed it pushed us out to somewhere we've never been before and almost paid heavily. Thank god we had water and sun protection. Spent 3 hours stuck. Had the bass rod with me, never even got one cast!!!!! All that to try and get a fish from either Verde or Salt!!!
I used to do that trail off of Usery Pass, Joe. Comes out on the backside of the Salt River. Not for the faint of heart, but a nice trip through the wilderness, for sure.
I had an old International Scout, though. Thing was like a damn billy goat and could take those trails. Don't think I'd do it with two wheel drive. Only tough spot for me was that canyon area of the wash that was all sand. Just pedal to the floor and run fast over it and pray you didn't dig in.
There are a couple of nice trout holes on the backside of the river, just above the Blue Point area. The river undercut the bank and formed a nice deep hole for a good distance. Used to limit out on fat rainbows just casting a small Mepps spinner in a 1/2 hour or so.
Actually forded the river near there in the Scout a time or two, but that's scary as hell. Had water breaking over the hood and no snorkel. Plus, the algae on the river bottom is slippery as hell and you'd loose traction and the current would push you down river.
Ah, the crazy shit I would do back then to catch a fish! Those were the days, though. Long before they policed everything down in that area and Salt River Rec even existed. Pretty much pure Sonoran desert back there and we'd always find tarantulas and snakes wandering the trails.
Funniest thing we ever saw was creeping along a trail and there was a big lizard laying in the sand on the trail. Out of the bush, comes a huge king snake and he's hauling ass to get that lizard! The lizard scurried up the trail, but the king snake is faster and just about nabs him. All of a sudden, the lizard stands up on his back legs and starts running like a human! He quickly out ran the king snake and the snake just stopped in the trail with this sort of "Oh shit, now I gotta find something else to eat!" look about him. I swear, it was something right out of a National Geo video.
We took the drive up 87 yesterday on way to do a bit of fishing - the Bush Fire burn is as extensive and horrible as it looked on TV. Was curious about 4 peaks road, but ALL Tonto NF roads closed. For anyone travelling north on 87, give yourself about 15-20 minutes extra time to get past 188 - NB 87 is one lane for about 15+ miles - the guardrail posts on the right side NB are burned in many sections, will be a lengthy and expensive project replacing that many miles of guardrail. Made it up to See Canyon trailhead, about a dozen cars parked there, so did a quick stretch the legs, and left. Was a nice 1/2 day in the cool pines tho.
I fought public lands access issues for years. It's a real barrel of snakes. I should write up a primer on the subject for those who are interested. We've won a few battles, and but in the long run we're all losing access to public lands.
Public lands, that's funny. As long as person works for the BLM or Forest service then they're public 90% of the time.
Sadly we've been losing access for years now.
I fought public lands access issues for years. It's a real barrel of snakes. I should write up a primer on the subject for those who are interested. We've won a few battles, and but in the long run we're all losing access to public lands.
You ever come at it from an ADA standpoint? I think there could be grounds for argument there.
I used to do that trail off of Usery Pass, Joe. Comes out on the backside of the Salt River. Not for the faint of heart, but a nice trip through the wilderness, for sure.
I had an old International Scout, though. Thing was like a damn billy goat and could take those trails. Don't think I'd do it with two wheel drive. Only tough spot for me was that canyon area of the wash that was all sand. Just pedal to the floor and run fast over it and pray you didn't dig in.
There are a couple of nice trout holes on the backside of the river, just above the Blue Point area. The river undercut the bank and formed a nice deep hole for a good distance. Used to limit out on fat rainbows just casting a small Mepps spinner in a 1/2 hour or so.
Actually forded the river near there in the Scout a time or two, but that's scary as hell. Had water breaking over the hood and no snorkel. Plus, the algae on the river bottom is slippery as hell and you'd loose traction and the current would push you down river.
Ah, the crazy shit I would do back then to catch a fish! Those were the days, though. Long before they policed everything down in that area and Salt River Rec even existed. Pretty much pure Sonoran desert back there and we'd always find tarantulas and snakes wandering the trails.
Funniest thing we ever saw was creeping along a trail and there was a big lizard laying in the sand on the trail. Out of the bush, comes a huge king snake and he's hauling ass to get that lizard! The lizard scurried up the trail, but the king snake is faster and just about nabs him. All of a sudden, the lizard stands up on his back legs and starts running like a human! He quickly out ran the king snake and the snake just stopped in the trail with this sort of "Oh shit, now I gotta find something else to eat!" look about him. I swear, it was something right out of a National Geo video.
Good times back there!
The Forest Ranger told us that wash has been closed since 1996 but my girlfriend remembers being able to drive right down to the salt in the late 90's so I bet enforcement wasn't the same back then. The spot we got stuck at in that canyon was near the top. Real narrow section that had some huge boulders not to mention the 2 foot deep sand. 2wd is not for the faint of heart.
One of the guys that helps Jose with the Boo Bar Poker Run is an off road racer that does baja. Pretty sure for the last 3 years we've been the only one they let go out there with 2wd because Ron knows that I'm not a newb. 2wd = not lifting the skinny pedal EVER! loooooolllllllllllll
Shit, Shawno bags Grouper that big all the time. He just doesn't post here anymore. I've known Jerry Goana for a long time. I guess he goes out with Rocky Point Fishing charter all the time. Never seem them bring one in that big though. I think I know their spot too. I've seen some IG photos of Jerry out there on the boat and you can see Black Mountain in the background along with the Pinacates... That means like 270 heading I think???? Stu??????
I went out in a panga to the location you mentioned, Joe. No GPS. He just lined up on the mountains as you describe. 270 sounds about right. Maybe 12 to 15 miles?
I went out in a panga to the location you mentioned, Joe. No GPS. He just lined up on the mountains as you describe. 270 sounds about right. Maybe 12 to 15 miles?
That's kind of what I was thinking. You'd know more than me obviously... How crazy was it back in the 50's and 60's, Chuck talks about his dad taking them out being able to triangulate spots with fairly decent accuracy????!!!!!
Getting ready to hit PLEZ!!!! Have the boats loaded waiting for the GF to get home. Hopefully the STRIPERS are foaming like they were a couple of weeks ago!!!! Ocean fish in a big lake is pretty fun. Next best thing to Cholla Bay IMHO. When you see these things blowing up on top it looks just like MACKs or TUNA... Unreal!!!
I used to take my boat up to PLEZ. We were in a back cove and I kept hearing something hitting the surface hard. Motored slowly over and there was a huge striper struggling just under the surface. Netted his happy ass.
Upon close examination, the pig striper had a damned large bluegill wedged sideways, stuck in his gill plates and couldn't swallow it or expel it.
Took my knife, cut the bluegill out, a little worse for wear, but still alive, then released him. The striper was still alive, but was toast. He went into the cooler and a nice dinner was had that night.
Another nice catch! Wonder what they're using for bait?
Typically, we'd go a mile or so outta the harbor and drift fish with sabikis for bonefish and throw them live into the bait tank.
Once on the reef, we'd use a custom grouper rig (thank-you, Ric Felder) and hook a live boner through the eye sockets and drop that down.
The minute it hit bottom, hang on for dear life! Grouper strikes are like being hit by a freight train. You either get them off the bottom in the first couple of minutes, or fuggidaboudit. You lose.
I still have several 130 lb test rods that were splintered like toothpicks from big grouper strikes.
Kudos to them, they obviously know the grouper game.
I asked the question awhile back and no one replied. Are the really big ones safe to eat or is mercury a factor? I caught a 175 lb bull shark fishing with Crazy Charlie years ago and it was amazing on the grill . Anyone know?
They are okay to eat. Where mercury becomes an issue is more in pelagic fish (like bluefin tuna) that have a higher fat content. Those big ones can have a high mercury content. Also, the longer lived the fish, the higher the mercury content.
You'd have to eat a lot of fish over a long period of time though for the mercury content to become a real issue, but it does happen. I'm talking about eating fish 4 or 5 times a week.
On Edit: Here's a really good link about mercury levels in fish.
They are okay to eat. Where mercury becomes an issue is more in pelagic fish (like bluefin tuna) that have a higher fat content. Those big ones can have a high mercury content. Also, the longer lived the fish, the higher the mercury content.
You'd have to eat a lot of fish over a long period of time though for the mercury content to become a real issue, but it does happen. I'm talking about eating fish 4 or 5 times a week.
On Edit: Here's a really good link about mercury levels in fish.
I could have sworn that shark has higher mercury content too. But as Stuart said, I've also read articles that say you would have to be consuming fish 5 or 6 times a week which is almost once a day. I love all types of fish/seafood but I could never eat fish 6 days a week. I think once a week or once every couple of weeks is great. Most of my protein comes from chicken/pork. I cook a big loin or a couple of pounds of chicken thigh at the beginning of the week and then we can make multiple meals out of it throughout the weak. Basically, meal prepping.
I used to take my boat up to PLEZ. We were in a back cove and I kept hearing something hitting the surface hard. Motored slowly over and there was a huge striper struggling just under the surface. Netted his happy ass.
Upon close examination, the pig striper had a damned large bluegill wedged sideways, stuck in his gill plates and couldn't swallow it or expel it.
Took my knife, cut the bluegill out, a little worse for wear, but still alive, then released him. The striper was still alive, but was toast. He went into the cooler and a nice dinner was had that night.
One of those weird fishing adventures!
Stuart, someone recently caught a 21 lb'r out of Plez a few months ago and the regular catches that I see posted on AZ Striper page are consistently getting bigger in the average 4lb range. Another picture I saw in the last month from Plez was a HUGE 20lb class Striper that had ingested or tried to ingest another Striper and it had choked itself to death just like you're speaking of. The boaters came across it and pulled it in for pictures. Pretty sure Striper are considered PELAGIC. The last 3 summers I've been taking the jet ski out there to chase the FOAMERS. I figure it's actually really good practice for ocean fishing. Locating bait balls on the sounder and then jigging. I absolutely suck and or the Striper are VERY fragile lower in the water column. I still have yet to jig a striper. Top water is a different story. I really need to try and get a video of it but these things absolutely go OFF!!! FOAMING so hard just like tuna. The water becomes white, literally FOAMING. 100 + Striper in unison absolutely crashing the surface. Nuts.
The crazy thing about Plez right now is the amount of threadfin shad or white shad. Just balls on balls on balls. I wish I could have taken screen shots of the graph yesterday. It's insane. When I was a kid I was pretty avid about snorkeling. Haven't done it in years and now I have the itch to maybe freedive/spearfish. Bought some Cressi masks and dry snorkel. We spent the first two hours yesterday in a more protected cove snorkeling. The vis was kind of garbage but later in the day it calmed a little and you could pry see 10 feet in the shade. I am really surprised at how many largemouth bass I saw. I mean just loads of smaller fingerlings and maybe a few older juveniles from last years spawn. Really encouraging for that fishery. I grew up bass fishing but Plez in the early 2000's took a huge hit and became really hard to get fish there. My buddy always preferred Sag so we would go there more often. Now in my later years and after getting into the inshore ocean game, I've kind of lost my interest in bass fishing. But Plez offers the Striper fishery so that has peaked my interest in the last 3 years. Trying to get better but it's hard. Lot's of guys go out at night with anchovies and green lights submerged to attract the shad.... I don't know about everyone but IMHO you're not a real fisherman unless you can convince a fish to hit artificial. I've had my fair share on top when they're foaming but trying to get better at my vertical game. Lot of guys right now using diamond jigs and spoons just like vertical ocean fishing. Producing little bigger averages too. Striper yesterday were holding anywhere from 35-90 feet in the column. Bait was in the 35' area.... until they push the ball to the surface and go crazy!
So report from yesterday. Only got the opportunity on two foam piles... I was jigging during the first so reeling up from 90' and before I could get to the foam they had ceased and went back down. Second opportunity, the shad were literally "airborn". My ZARA SPOOK landed right in the middle of the FOAMERS and boom the plug got hit so hard that it flew up in the air about 16" LOL and then that was it, nothing. They went back down. We hung around for another 10 minutes but we had a 10 minute paddle and it was getting close to 745pm. I tried jigging with butterfly jigs and a 1oz jig head/swim shad while being anchored and the "archs" were thick and never the left the right side of my screen. They were down there but nothing.... until next time. The challenge pisses me off but I won't stop until I figure out how to get these guys.... maybe it's my retrieve action????! !!!!
I've had similar experiences chasing the stripers at Pleasant. They are there, along with the bait balls, but damned if I could get one to hit anything.
Back east, we'd slow troll surgical eels for them in the Chesapeake. Never tried it at Pleasant, but would be worth a shot. Don't know if you could even find one around here, but maybe online? Yup... these guys.
I've had similar experiences chasing the stripers at Pleasant. They are there, along with the bait balls, but damned if I could get one to hit anything.
Back east, we'd slow troll surgical eels for them in the Chesapeake. Never tried it at Pleasant, but would be worth a shot. Don't know if you could even find one around here, but maybe online? Yup... these guys.
Same fish, just a different environment, and it's in their DNA to eat eels.
I watch this guy John Skinner on YouTube. He's out of the Long Island Sound area. He's written a few books and has some online courses that you can purchase on Salt Strong... One of his books is called Striper Pursuit and the other is about Fluke fishing. I've basically learned everything I apply to flounder fishing from this guy. He's apparently very good at what he does. He basically uses a high/low rig for both. His bread and butter is SAND EELS... There's ones called pork strips and other variations. I think GULP makes some too. Apparently the Striper love these sand eels. His go to for Fluke is the bucktail jig with a dropper loop grub above it. I've caught a handful of Flounder with that rig.
The crazy part about Striper fishing PLEZ right now is that a lot of these guys are finding the stomachs FILLED with CRAWDADS! Snorkeling and free diving Monday I was shocked to see so many crawdads down in the rocks. You'd see little air bubbles coming up, dive down to it and move the rocks away with your hand to reveal a cheeky little F'r right there with his claws up, like, you want some?! Apparently the Striper are gorging themselves on these things which is why people have been having a harder time catching them on frozen anchovies like the previous couple of summers. I know when I fished the Black River back when I was 14 that's how you approach that fishery for Smallies. Pick crawdads, fill your creel and then head up river fishing the crawdads in the deeper holes. Trapping crawdads is LEGAL in AZ with valid fishing license. I might try and see if I can get a few and go live lining for some bottom dweller Striper holding in the deep water as the column starts to warm up.
A quick question for the inshore fisherman. I am heading down this weekend and would love to wet a line. Can I launch my float tube around the Cholla or competition hill area without getting arrested? My wife would rather not have to bail me out of jail even though I am game. I need to fish.
This may not be good news for the banana boat guys:
Under new beach rules, they're too close for comfort. ‘New normal’ coming to Mexico’s beaches with new rules
4-meter social distancing will be required on the beach and in the water
Published on Wednesday, July 15, 2020
292SHARES
A “new normal” is coming soon to Mexico’s beaches courtesy of the coronavirus pandemic.
By next week at the latest, federal authorities will publish new rules on the use of beaches aimed at reducing the risk of the coronavirus spreading among people enjoying the sand and surf along Mexico’s extensive coastline.
State and municipal governments will be required to enforce the rules for the foreseeable future regardless of the local coronavirus situation.
The director of Zofematac, the federal office of maritime land zones and coastal environments, told the newspaper Milenio that a new beach use agreement will be published shortly.
Rodrigo Hernández Aguilar said the emphasis will be on social distancing among beachgoers – people shouldn’t come within four meters of others while on the sand or in the water.
He said people will not be required to wear face masks while they’re on the sand or in the water but they will have to wear them at beach entry points and in any common areas such as public washrooms.
“The use of face masks is mandated to arrive at the beach because there could be crowds when you’re entering the beach, you might be leaving a hotel where there are people or traveling on public transit. That’s why you use [a face mask] when you arrive and go onto the beach and also when you leave. Once you’re on the beach you don’t need to use it,” Hernández said.
He said that authorities decided not to make face masks mandatory on beaches because there is scientific evidence that salty water, sunlight and high temperatures “are favorable for the inactivation of pathogenic agents.”
The new beach rules will establish a limit of 40 people per 1,000 square meters of beach space. On beaches that are part of hotel precincts, staff will be required to disinfect hammocks and deck chairs after beachgoers vacate them, Hernández said.
Beachgoers will be required to place towels over the latter before they use them, he added.
Hernández said that all group recreational and sporting activities will be banned on beaches and that only 15 people will be allowed in the water at the same time. People should visit the beach on their own, with their partner or in small family units, not large groups, he said.
The Zofematac chief also said that under the new agreement, municipal governments will be able to take bookings from people who wish to go to the beach. Hernández added that beachgoers who flout the new regulations could be fined or even arrested.
To draw up the new rules, authorities looked at what their counterparts in four European countries have done, he said.
“We gave ourselves the task of studying what France, Spain, Italy and Greece did, which were the most advanced [countries] … in separating [people on] beaches.” Source: Milenio (sp)
A quick question for the inshore fisherman. I am heading down this weekend and would love to wet a line. Can I launch my float tube around the Cholla or competition hill area without getting arrested? My wife would rather not have to bail me out of jail even though I am game. I need to fish.
Due to covid or in general you mean? In general, yes, there is a hole in the fence and we've been taking my truck over there and hanging out on our own personal beach just west of Reef RV fence line. Water access at anything other than high tide is a little daunting as you would have to walk across that sharp volcanic rock over there... may be doable for you. Impossible for me. After they closed Tucson Beach to vehicles this was the next best thing for me.
For covid.... Good luck. "No beach" to me means if you get caught in the water you're pry paying a fine but I haven't been down since March so I'm not the one to ask about the new "covid rules".
Under new beach rules, they're too close for comfort.