CR report...Roosterfish on a jig

[CFScheer]

This will be a pretty short compared to my usual reports as I haven't had a chance to put in a serious session since returning to CR last week. I'm hoping to set aside half or all of the upcoming weekend to fish though...stay tuned....

Over New Years we had a client Chris and his daughter Tara come down to spend a few nights at the Sierpe del Pacifico property and get out on the river and ocean for some R and R.

We only fished for about an hour and a half at the diablo reef, but managed to put 3 kinds of red snapper and a bunch of jacks and rainbow runners in the boat.

Chris with a nice mullet snapper. We got a few yellowtail snapper and a small dog-tooth as well.


Tara's only fishing experience has been with salmon up in Alaska. When I asked her about her attitudes towards fishing the night before she seemed pretty indifferent. After a few takes and a couple fish landed on the jig she was all smiles. Without any provocation she even admitted that fishing was fun!


A beautiful thing about jigging - one that most of us probably forget - is that it is a technique that just about anyone can catch a fish on. Give someone a spinning outfit with a managable drag setting, a 3 minute lesson on the gear and motions, and some coaching throughout and they could catch fish. A first time fisherman probably won't be able to drop back a ballyhoo to a hot sail, cast a fly to a trout, or even cast a lure to a cruising dorado. They will be able to open the bail, drop the jig, reel the line in, jig the rod, hook and bring the fish up though...all without anyone else touching the rod.


small bluefin trevally



My buddy Jim had to drop off some clients of his at his vacation rental near the rivermouth yesterday afternoon, so his son Trevor and I went with and got a couple hours of jigging and popping in near Cano Island. The jig bite was on. The first fish hooked was all over the place during the fight...up, down, lots of head shakes and changes of direction. It all made sense as I wired in a 30lb. roosterfish. I figured that there were a couple around in this area, but given our depth and location 15 miles offshore at the island this is a rare catch. The "pez gallo" took on of Jim's 200g flatsiders. This pic will be surely be entered into the contest.


We caught a nice variety of jacks, rainbow runners, trevally and amberjack from then on. Shortly after catching this guy on an offshore angler freestyle jig I tied on the brand spanking new ET hammered first drop jig. I didn't catch one on the first drop, but that was my fault for missing the two strikes I had. It stayed on my line the rest of the day because it was producing big time. Several AJs up to 30lbs. amongst a mixed bag of jacks and football tuna. Sorry Jim no pics with the jig...will get some next trip.


This one looks to go around 60lbs. My friend had his baitrunner loaded with 50 lb. powerpro set to a drag setting much lower than the set-up could reasonably handle. Despite my advice to tighten down a bit, he keeps it loose because he is old, stubborn, and cheap. Needless to say, this fish made some runs...about 200 yards of line worth. We had to chase it down like it was an f-ing billfish or something. Kind of ridiculous, but fun.


pura vida - Cassidy
www.sierpedelpacifico.com
"Where the jungle meets the river that meets the sea"
Homesites with slips starting at $40,000

[Sea Draggin]

Roosterfish on blue jig. Thats what I'm coming down for.!

[shoefish]

Great report! Congrats!

[paul708]

AWESOME.
rooster on a jig..
Great job.

very nice report and pics.

[CFScheer]

Roosterfish on blue jig. Thats what I'm coming down for.!

The rooster inhaled that jig Jim. The hook was lodged way back in the gullet. Unfortunately he was bleeding pretty badly by the time I had him tailed and was in no condition for a release.

It's always a shame to have to boat a rooster, but on the bright side you can now say that your jigs are "lethal" on "pez gallo" as well.