Pic of 140# Baja Black Sea Bass

bajadan2000 · 10-05-2006, 02:52 PM

Caught end of Sept., this year, by Mike Kanzler (aka Kid Jurel, Yellowtail Mike or San Marcos Mike) and his son.

Jason Helaas · 10-05-2006, 02:55 PM

WOW! Thanks for the picture----I needed that!

Great job to you all......

Cliff · 10-05-2006, 03:03 PM

where was this at?

bajadan2000 · 10-05-2006, 03:11 PM

Remote fishing village on the Pacific side of Baja. From Highway 1 it is about 90 miles of driving on a washboard dirt road to get there. This is the first time Mike has every fished there. I have made 3 trips to this village, however, have not had this kind of luck,,,yet.

tracker · 10-05-2006, 03:54 PM

Abreojos?

HiouchiMike · 10-05-2006, 04:22 PM

Sounds like the dirt road. Huge Broomtail Groupers there also. Don't overfill boat and try and come in thru surf with low profile.

bajadan2000 · 10-05-2006, 04:33 PM

You are on the right road.

northriver1 · 10-05-2006, 05:51 PM

Mike can get the job done and worth every penny for his guide sevices.. I had the pleasure to see him in action the past two years at San Lucas Cove. He knows his waters that is for sure. From Portland he is only 1,725 miles away.

Ride Red · 10-05-2006, 06:57 PM

I finally see the difference between rock fish and sea bass.

Nice fish!

Fish Mode · 10-05-2006, 07:15 PM

ahhhhh, thats sad...

Super Fluke · 10-05-2006, 07:54 PM

Thats a pig.

tracker · 10-05-2006, 10:20 PM

La Bocana or coyote lagoon? I have a story about that road on my website! The Destuction of Miss Caroline!

Fish_N_Russ · 10-05-2006, 11:56 PM

so that things what, like 500 years old?

Tagster · 10-06-2006, 07:39 AM

Quote:

ahhhhh, thats sad...

Quote:

so that things what, like 500 years old?

You know, from reading these posts, it could be construed that you are hacking on him for keeping a very nice fish. I doubt that would be the case on a salty dog board, but, it almost seems like it.

That is a great fish!

Fishmstr · 10-06-2006, 07:52 AM

That Abrejos road is a bad one...but haven't they paved the first section? It seemed ok once you got down on to the flats. We got a flat (only one!) and broke a running board bracket! I'm guessing La Bocana.
thanks Dan

bajadan2000 · 10-06-2006, 08:19 AM

Either spot will get you into the large bass and grouper.

Small boats launch out of Estero de Coyote because it is a shorter run. La Bocana has a better launching beach for larger boats.

Please do not run down to this area without being prepared.

3 Warnings::::

1) As mentioned in this and past posts, this is a bad road. Plan on taking all day to make the 90 mile drive. I have a friend stuck down there now. His dodge diesel caught fire from all of the bouncing and shorted out his wiring. The insurance Co. will cover the damage, however, only part of the towing cost. His part of the towing cost is $600-900 US.

2) This fishing area is open Pacific Ocean and should be treated the same as running out of places like Newport or the CR. Conditions can change quickly. The water on the Sea of Cortez side is much easier boating.

3) Forget the fishing regs. here. Get a local to sponsor you. This fishing area is controlled by fishing Co-ops that target lobster and abalone. DO NOT DIVE HERE....also watch were you clam dig. There is plenty you can do here, however, respect the local fishermen.....find out what you can and can not take and where.....

Cliff · 10-06-2006, 12:30 PM

just curious, why wouldnt you dive there?
I would love to see a huge grouper or 140 lb bass down there...

bajadan2000 · 10-06-2006, 12:59 PM

The local fishermen dive for abalone. Anyone diving is assumed to be stealling their abalone or lobster. A Mexican was SHOT while diving about 10 years ago at Turgugas Bay. The shooter only spent a month in prision and the Co-op pitched in and paid the fine and took care of the shooters family. This harsh penalty is only because the person shot was the son of a politican.

All of the fishing Co-ops have 24/7 guards and patrol boats. Many even have night vision googles. Abalone is a high $$$ crop for them and they protect it very well. DO NOT DIVE IN AREAS THE LOCALS ABALONE FISH IN!!!!!!

klamathfish · 10-06-2006, 01:44 PM

What a monster!!!! Did it fight at all???

Rodbender · 10-06-2006, 01:57 PM

The cheeks on that hawg would feed a family!

Fish Mode · 10-06-2006, 02:13 PM

yeah, it is sad to see something soo old die from this world. Not saying he shouldn't have kept it, he should've! If he didn't she woulda dies from that stress, anyways.

Lets just say I think the fish had bad luck to come in contact with a fisherman, but good luck that she had lived long enough to become that big. She musta gave lots of babies!

I come in Peace, I mean no harm...

Fish Mode

backlash442 · 10-06-2006, 02:30 PM

Yeah they fight. Can pull your boat around if not on the hook. Friend caught one about that big on 10lb. test (released). I caught one about half that size and it fought pretty good. Not sizzling runs like a tuna more bull dog type of runs. I've seen guys hooked up for very long periods of trying to get them in so they can release them. Don't want them to trail the line if they break them off. Pretty hardy but you need to deflate their air bladder. Illegal to keep in Ca. except for certain types of commericials which are allowed one as incidental. Not sure if that's one/year or what though. Never eaten one but have heard they are very good. Those fish can get over 500lbs too.

tracker · 10-06-2006, 05:56 PM

In coyote we hooked but never got in, some huge mangove snappers! Those things would come up out of the roots of the mangroves and inhale rapalas. Some maybe 60 to 70 lbs! No stopping them. When we had hit our limit of how many rapalas we wanted to loose we quit fishing there. Was fun to hook them but the cost in gear was great! Listen to what Dan is saying about this road. It is long and washboardy to the max! You also cross a lake bed that can inundate the road when they get rain! Get to know a local if you can as dan has said. Will go a long way to making things smoother!

Here is the link to the story I wrote about a trip to this area! Dont want to hijack the thread but this is exactly a story about this area! All true! Hard to believe but still true!

http://www.justkeepfishing.com/MissCaroline.html

Cliff · 10-07-2006, 10:51 AM

Quote:

All of the fishing Co-ops have 24/7 guards and patrol boats. Many even have night vision googles. Abalone is a high $$$ crop for them and they protect it very well. DO NOT DIVE IN AREAS THE LOCALS ABALONE FISH IN!!!!!!

wow thats intense, thanks for the heads up

HaliUna · 10-07-2006, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Mike can get the job done and worth every penny for his guide sevices...

And how many pennies would that be? Wondering cuz I'll be there next year.

bajadan2000 · 10-08-2006, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Mike can get the job done and worth every penny for his guide sevices...

And how many pennies would that be? Wondering cuz I'll be there next year.

Here is a copy of an e-mail Mike sent me last year when I asked the same questiion.

<font color="blue">Hey sorry for the late reply been in the states....... I charge 200 USD for San Marcos and 250 for Tourtuga and that's two people or three if one is a kid........ three full grown people add 25 for fuel service. Happy Holidays .......... San Marcos Mike

On Dec 9, 2005, at 3:03 PM, </font>

He is the best and well worth the money. He specializes in catching yellowtail and grouper.

Mikes boat

bajadan2000 · 10-08-2006, 07:10 AM

Quote:

All of the fishing Co-ops have 24/7 guards and patrol boats. Many even have night vision googles. Abalone is a high $$$ crop for them and they protect it very well. DO NOT DIVE IN AREAS THE LOCALS ABALONE FISH IN!!!!!!

wow thats intense, thanks for the heads up

Sorry if my post sounded harsh. However, just trying to keep people out of trouble. This part of Baja is a very isolated area and very different than other parts of Baja.

Put your self in their shoes. If you lived in a very poor country were many families live on $5.00 a day and you had a gold mine in your back yard that keeps your village well taken care of. How would you feel if someone wanted to come into your back yard and start digging? That is how they feel about their abalone and lobster fishery and why they do not want anyone diving in their area.

Maybe it is the monetary success that has changed the way these people are. Maybe it is the many generations of living isolated from the rest of Baja, or maybe it is the pirate blood that flows through this area. Probably a combination of all three.

These are very good people, just different than most Mexicans. Please tred lightly.

Super Fluke · 10-08-2006, 07:47 PM

That think is the size of a shark, it my turn to catch a rock fish that big, when you cut it up did it have worms?
Nice fish

Fish_N_Russ · 10-08-2006, 09:31 PM

Quote:

ahhhhh, thats sad...

Quote:

so that things what, like 500 years old?

You know, from reading these posts, it could be construed that you are hacking on him for keeping a very nice fish. I doubt that would be the case on a salty dog board, but, it almost seems like it.

That is a great fish!

Great fish but I would not have kept it, there should be plenty of smaller eating size to keep. I dont think thats 'hacking' just my opinion, and I <u>would</u> be curious how old it was .....

bajadan2000 · 10-09-2006, 07:27 AM

Black Sea Bass change sex from female to male as they mature into adults.

This giant fish grows to 7 1/2 feet and up to 560 pounds and lives to 70 years of age. Found near rocky caves, ledges and near kelp beds at depths from 20 to 150 feet.

Bigmaverick · 10-11-2006, 06:44 PM

Wow that's a big one!! I went on a trip to Cozumel and scuba dived with what they call a Jew fish, that fish they said was well over 500lbs. Apparently it's in the same family as a grouper they are amazing undewater.