Living up in Flag I don't get to RP as much as I used too. I spend my time down there shore fishing and was wondering if there is a certain time of the year that is usually better for fishing? I had some incredible fishing in late spring and have been totally dogged throughout the summer. Just wanted to see if some of you guys might have some insight for me.
Also what size weight would you recommend for bait fishing for pompano? Normally I fish kastmaster but I wanted to try fishing shrimp and cut bait. I just got back from Fl and tried bait for the first time and had some great luck.
The cooler the better, the shores get very warm in the summer.
Right now you can feel the difference as the tides come in, about 15f degrees difference.
For the Big Whites, WSB, Dec and Jan, maybe up to 5th of May, Cinco de Mayo.
Can you get the WSB from shore during the winter or do you need to go way offshore in a boat?
Understand about the plethora of corvina threads. However, I'm not sure I ever got a clear understanding of the best and worst times, other than someone saying they've never had any luck after Thanksgiving. Also, I know they used to have shorefishing contests for corvina at Kino Bay in October. I had been under the impression that April through October was the best, but I was never sure.
The best time to fish from shore is the first chance you get to do it. I've fished from shore all times of the year and I always enjoyed myself. Sometimes I even catch something.
Anybody know of good places to fish from the shore in RP? I'll be down next weekend and would love to give it a shot. Also, any recommendations on bait or lures? Line strength?
I always use kastmasters. Next trip I'm going to bring another rod and try fishing with bait some as well. I had good luck with shrimp and clams when I was in Florida.
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PS- No license is needed when fishing from shore. You only need a fishing license if you are fishing from a boat.
The best time to fish from shore is the first chance you get to do it. I've fished from shore all times of the year and I always enjoyed myself. Sometimes I even catch something.
I'm a little different. I like to catch fish when I fish. So going when say the pompano are still further south in the warmer water would be a waste of time for me.
Some one mentioned that Sierra are darker meat fish. Not so, but should be eaten soon after catching as freezing them will make the meat mushy. Great eating fish!
To Domromer, Kasdanh and anyone else curious about corvina fishing,
I suggest you search the word "corvina" on this forum. I've bugged these guys quite a bit and by now they've done almost everything but put a fish on my hook.
If it's corvina you're after, I suggest you either try the north end of Sandy Beach near the mountain or La Pinta estuary, the latter being a bit of a drive. Be there as the tide is coming in and look for channels. Throw Kastmasters, Crocodiles and the like, and some have said a bit of blue on the lure can be helpful.
I haven't asked much about pompano because I had not understood them to be a particularly good eating fish.
The other name for Pompano is butterfish. they are delicious. I find they taste like lobster. The flesh is too tender for them to be a viable commercial fish. You should really try to catch some. My favorite meal is grilled whole pompano and clams cook in butter garlic sauce.
The other is a book entitled Gulf of California Fishwater's Guide by Donald A Thomson and Nonie McKibben (1976) published in Tucson. The book helps because the website doesn't group fish by families or necessarily use the same fish name you're looking for. Fish identification can be confusing because there are often many names for the same fish, and fish are sometimes incorrectly called by the names of similar fish found elsewhere. I believe the latter may be the case with pompano.
I believe the bloody fish in the picture above is a palomas pompano and is probably the only type of pompano found around Rocky Pt. The book has it among the jacks and says jacks in general are highly regarded game and food fishes. The website says palomoas pompano is considered excellent table fare among "locals." But then if you travel to Asia you'll find "locals" who consider carp escellent table fare, so I suspect I'll just have to try some in order to know for sure.
I believe the corvinas around Rocky Pt. are either gulf or shortfin, and I hear there are a few orangemouths around as well. They are also called sea trout, and they do look something like trout. (I had thought the fish on the top in the cooler picture was a corvina, and that fish does look like a trout to me.) I'm told corvina are very mild-tasting (too mild for some), and I'm sure they would make good breaded fish tacos. I've made two fairly serious efforts to catch corvina but haven't timed it right yet.
There is a highly regarded pompano around Florida, but I believe this is a different fish from what we have in the Sea of Cortez. Similar maybe, but not the same fish. I believe there is also another kind of corvina (or sea trout, weakfish, etc.) in other ocean waters beyond the Sea of Cortez.
We come down to RP every other year or so. The last visit we caught quite a few Longjaw Leatherback right off the beach at the Mayan. we also caught some Corvina as you approach the mouth of La Pinta estuary.
Will be down again this june and plan on parking my butt near the channels of La Pinta as the tide comes in.
We come down to RP every other year or so. The last visit we caught quite a few Longjaw Leatherback right off the beach at the Mayan. we also caught some Corvina as you approach the mouth of La Pinta estuary.
Will be down again this june and plan on parking my butt near the channels of La Pinta as the tide comes in.
Maybe I'll see you there. I'll be down June 7-11 and plan on launching the kayak into La Pinta sometime around high tide. I had good luck on corvina there last fall.
I've caught some of those leatherback on Kastmasters off the beach southeast of Morua estuary. Along with needlefish and puffer fish. And, of course, lots of sand sharks on squid. This year I may try eating one of those sand sharks.
Leatherjacks; "They lack scales and the skin feels like wet leather, and the mouth is relatively huge, hence the name. I do not care for them much to eat however, so all are released. Description and photo courtesy Neff Nash"
I live along the street from Neff. Met him at La Pinta a couple of years back when he was down with his kids. Are you on this forum Neff?
I'm not sure why the subject of leatherjacks came up, unless it's to inform us that what people are calling pompano around Rocky Point are actually leatherjacks.
If there are really any pompano around RP, I believe it's the Paloma Pompano. I say that because Mexfish states that Palomas are found up the upper gulf, but the Gafftopsail are further South. Here's what Mexfish said about Gafftopsails:
"The Gafftopsail Pompano cannot be easily confused with other species with the possible exception being the Paloma Pompano, Trachinotus paitensis (which has shorter fins and no bars).
The Gafftopsail Pompano is pelagic and found out around the tip of the Baja California peninsula, from Magdalena Bay south along the Pacific side of Baja, in the lower two-thirds of the Sea of Cortez, and on mainland Mexico south of Mazatlan. It is found in the first 75 feet of the water column over sandy bottoms adjacent to rocky structure and can be caught just outside the breaker line.
The Gafftopsail Pompano is reported to reach a length of 24 inches but is normally in the 14 to 16 inch range. It is viewed by locals to be excellent table fare."
Gafftopsail Pompano, Trachinotus rhodopus: Caught from shore in the last hour of daylight in February 2003, in 70-degree water outside the breaker line in 20 to 30-foot water, utilizing 15-pound test with a two dropper loop rig, no swivels, 1.5-ounce bank sinker, and Mustad 92553 hooks, size #4, on cut squid at Km. 14 (Twin Dolphins), between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Size approximately 12 inches and 1 pound and gave a medium fight. Viewed by locals as excellent table fair. Description and photo courtesy John Snow.
Gafftopsail Pompano, Trachinotus rhodopus: This super specimen photo of a Gafftopsail Pompano, 17 inches long, caught on 8-pound line from the beach on squid at Bahia de Palmas, East Cape, Baja California Sur, Mexico, October 1994. Says veteran Baja angler Peter, "This is just about the greatest lightweight fighter of all." Description and photo courtesy Peter Langstraat.
Gafftopsail Pompano, Trachinotus rhodopus: Caught from the beach Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, Mexico on cut squid in July 2005. Description and photo courtesy Dr. Robert Mierendorf.
These are leatherjacks caught from shore in Cholla Bay back in March, high tide. I originally was confused and thought they were Pampano. Even after asking a few knowledgable people I was still told they were Pompano. I believe these are caught as often as Pompano and are mistakenly called Pompano. They are leatherback jacks and from what i understand make excellent bait. I too am still on the quest to land some of my first corvinas, and possibly with the ultimate goal of catching sea trout.
I always thought they were pompanos. Someone from Rocky Point told me that's what they are. They fight good and taste good. A rose by any other name...
This is most confusing. Should I conclude that there are no true pompano in the waters around Rocky Point?
If there is, it's probably this one - the paloma. But note that while Mexfish says paloma pompano are found in all Mexican waters (unlike the Gafftopsail pompano,) it also says palomas are one of the rarer species in Mexican waters.
Paloma Pompano
Pámpano
(Trachinotus paitensis)
Fish Identification Photos: Paloma Pompano, Trachinotus paitensis: The Paloma Pompano is one of the rarer species in Mexican waters and is a member of the Carangidae or Jack Family.
The Paloma Pompano is characterized by a silver, slender body that is darker on the upper back and whiter on the bottom.
It has a rounded snout, a straight lateral line and no blotch on the pectoral fin base.
This species can be easily confused with the Silver Pompano, Trachinotus kennedyi (which has a rounded head and a black blotch on the pectoral fin base).
The Paloma Pompano is pelagic and found in all Mexican waters including around the oceanic islands. It is found in the first 75 feet of the water column over sandy bottoms.
The Paloma Pompano is reported to reach a length of 20 inches but is normally in the 10 to 14 inch range.
It is viewed by locals to be excellent table fare.
Paloma Pompano, Trachinotus paitensis: Caught off the beach at Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, Mexico, in 68-degree water, in March 2008, on cut squid bait, utilizing traditional surf gear. Size approximately 18 inches and weight 4 pounds. Description and photo courtesy of John Snow.
Paloma Pompano, Trachinotus paitensis: Caught from shore in the last hour of daylight, in December 2001, in 76-degree water, outside the breaker line in 20 to 30-foot water, utilizing 15-pound test with a two dropper loop rig, no swivels, 1.5-ounce bank sinker, and Mustad 92553 hooks, size #4, on cut squid at Km. 14 (Twin Dolphins), between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur., Mexico. Size approximately 10 inches and 1 pound. Viewed by locals as excellent table fare. Description courtesy John Snow. Picture courtesy Carol Snow
This is most confusing. Should I conclude that there are no true pompano in the waters around Rocky Point?
Yes, it can get confusing.
Very few people in RP call Leatherjacks Leatherjacks- most call them Pompano, but they are indeed Leatherjacks. They are not closely related to Permit or Gafftopsail Pomano, except for the fact that they are all Jacks.
Now, that being said- both Paloma and Gafftopsail Pomano can be caught in RP- I've caught both out on Playa Encanto and while fly-fishing in the 1st Estuary (Marua)
I've caught maybe 10 Gafftopsails in all the years that I have shore fished these waters, so they are not commonly caught, and the biggest was maybe 12 inches. Each was a throwback for me.
Thanks, guys. That cleared up a question I'd had for years.
By the way, did anyone ever answer the original question - when's the best time to shore fish in RP?
I said April to October, but I just barely sort of half-way know what I'm talking about. And my focus is on corvina (which someone said is a croaker. I don't believe it is; corvinas are in the cynoscion family with white sea bass and tortoaba. See that Wahoo? I'm learning.)
Corvina, White SeaBass, Toatoba.... all are members of the croaker or drum family (Sciaenidae). On the Atlantic side- so are Redfish, Grey Drums, and speckled sea trout.
Regarding the "best time" to Shore fish- I'm going to say that the best times for catching surface fish (including Corvina) from shore are late April through early June, and then again from Mid-October to Mid-November (but you can still catch fish all summer long near dawn and dusk). and the best times to catch flounder (the tastiest fish you can catch from shore in RP, IMO) is from early Feb through early April.
These are my "best times" opinion, but you will certainly recieve other opinions as well.
I missed the "croaker" classification because my author has all the "bass-like" croakers in a separate section, and I missed that these arecroakers too.
Everything Wahoo said agrees with my book, which was written by a professor who was chairman of the marine sciences program at the University of Arizona beginning in the 1960s.
Like some others before it, this thread has now been copied into a word file, printed and put in a folder. It's a keeper.
Like Jerry, we've always had the best shore fishing in June however, May comes along as a close second. We'll fish the incoming NITE tide for corvina. Advantage is its much cooler, no beach traffic, no pangas, and during the day we're fishing near/offshore. So, whats a fishing junkie to do before bed??? Fish s'more! BTW, we'll use 'chovies with casting bobbers. Keeps the bait off the bottom and NO rays, no sand sharks, just corvina Yippee! For daytime shore fishing remember saltwater rapalas. Cast far and largest shore fish I ever battled was on a rapala.
long ago, 'fore we knew better we did us a seine... Bad... So now we p/u frozen chovies on our way down (not only legal, but we always have bait, and caught much more fish than squid). Taking them to the beach, we put them in a small cooler with some ice thrown in to keep them cold which helps them stay on the hook. Down side with 'chovies is the smell BUT we use a "Wonder bar" and that bar has always removed the smell from our hands...
I was in RP this past weekend & fished the Las Conchas side of the el Marua estuary. I caught several little pompano, flounder & corvina. The best all around lure is hands down a kastmasters' or something like. Like another member the saltwater rapala's or great choice & thats what usually produces my larger fish from the shore.
do you guys kayak into the estuary or just drive over there and fish the shore? does anyone give you a hard time for fishing in the estuaries? im in las conchas and have always wanted to fish that estuary...
do you guys kayak into the estuary or just drive over there and fish the shore? does anyone give you a hard time for fishing in the estuaries? im in las conchas and have always wanted to fish that estuary...
I kayaked La Pinta. No one was even there except the pangas which were launching to go out to sea.
People do guided kayak tours of the estuaries and I've seen adverts to fish the estuary from a kayak. You just aren't supposed to take a real boat in there as far as I can tell.
You fish right at the mouth of the estuary, not deeper back in the protected part...
There is a big rock outcrop in the mouth of the estuary that gets exposed during really low tides... From the Lac Conchas side you can usually wade out to that outcrop and catch all kinds of fish, just be careful to watch the water rising behind you- by the time the water is hitting your feet you'll have a long, hard swim back to the beach.
Kayaks, float tubes, wading.... they all work. I have had good success using the trout fisherman's technique of using my float tube and fins to slow troll a sinking tip flyline with a clouser minnow pattern. Great fun.
do you guys kayak into the estuary or just drive over there and fish the shore? does anyone give you a hard time for fishing in the estuaries? im in las conchas and have always wanted to fish that estuary...
I drive over to the far side and onto the beach, then fish from shore at La Pinta. I have camped for the last 10 years down there, last time a few months ago. Never had any trouble from either the fish camp people, or the peole who live in the houses further round the point. A while ago we used to slip the people who lived in the house on the Caborca road $10 on the way in, but these days nobody lives there.
As far as I'm aware there are no restrictions at all on the use of the waterways and beaches within La Pinta estuary. Am I missing something?
I know of people who take boats down to that beach at La Pinta and launch from there and camp on shore. Never seemed to be a problem.
I pulled up a Google Earth pic and made note of dark spot in the water that looks like rocks (??).
Anyway, I hope to be there at several low tides the week of the 6th of June. If you are there please give me a yell...
I always have better at or near high tide so don't just fish low tide.
Here's your picture with the area I fished circled. You can see the road coming in and the collection of buildings. It didn't stink when I launched from there, but maybe I was just lucky.
whats the best way to get to the playa encanto side of de marua coming from las conchas? just take that road to caborca all the way there and then hang a right at the encanto road? im familiar on how to get to the oyster shacks in the marua but outside of that ive never gone any further on that caborca road...
whats the best way to get to the playa encanto side of de marua coming from las conchas? just take that road to caborca all the way there and then hang a right at the encanto road? im familiar on how to get to the oyster shacks in the marua but outside of that ive never gone any further on that caborca road...
Go about another 1.5 miles down the Caborca road past the oyster farm road and take a right on the Playa Encanto road- take this road toward the water until it splits and stay to the right. Do not go up the hill to the condos, stay on the lower road and follow it back to the west it as it parallels behind the beach houses and condos. You will eventually come to an old archway that reads "Marua yacht club- members only"- just drive on in and park at the end of the road where it's chained off. From there you are 100 yards from the water at high tide. Happy fishing.
This thread has had loads of good (if not sometime contradictory) information. If there weren't different opinions, for example the best time of year and time of day, I wouldn't trust it! I've been interested in all the discussion about fish identification. Everything from what the locals call them to genus and species! Well done!
I should be down in a house at Las Conchas come April and I'll definitely be fishing the tides and the Conchas side of the Morua Estuary. I'll be using light to medium spinning gear fishing with bait, some silver lures like Kastmasters and some crank baits including salt water Rapalas. I like the idea of trying a a bobber to keep out of the rocks.
If any old timers can add any key tips beyond this I'd love to hear them! Can't find any inflatable bears at Bass Pro Shop or Cabellas. Still looking.
I read through all the I.D. comments (genus, species, etc) earlier on this thread. I've even been to MexFish.com. Still wondering what folks think about this beauty caught on the out tide, off the rocks on the Las Conchas side of Morua Estuary (squid, Carolina rig.) Put up a pretty good fight for the size. I caught 4-5 and had a blast. Catch and release, hope they'll be bigger next time.
I don't care what you call them I have never caught a fish that lb per lb fought harder and was more fun to catch. Light gear was a blast.
I got into a school of them in the rocks off Las Conchas at the Estuary and they were so wild if you lost one there was another on in a couple of seconds. Landed one every cast.
I fished from the shore and rocks on the Las Conchas side of Morua estuary over Easter weekend and caught lots of pompano, flounder, corvina and rock bass. The bass were all small but we caught some big flounder and some very feisty pompano. April-May is a great time for shore fishing!
I fished from the shore and rocks on the Las Conchas side of Morua estuary over Easter weekend and caught lots of pompano, flounder, corvina and rock bass. The bass were all small but we caught some big flounder and some very feisty pompano. April-May is a great time for shore fishing!
Please dont stop there, tell us what you were using and technique. What time of day? What you had to eat that morning and what you were wearing would be greatly appreciated. Gracias
Please dont stop there, tell us what you were using and technique. What time of day? What you had to eat that morning and what you were wearing would be greatly appreciated. Gracias
