Pic Report - Galapagos Island

[Squidnation]

Nico and I are sitting in the Miami airport waiting for the last flight of our trip. Galapagos Island is a bucket list destination for anyone who is serious about sportfishing. It is also probably the most family friendly fishing destination I have ever been to. Its almost like a fantasy land as to how safe it is and how family oriented the activities are down here.

This is a long report with tons of pics so I hope you guys enjoy it and plan on fishing this incredible place at least once. A few months ago I called Capt Bradon Escobar of http://ecuagringo.com to arrange a trip for my son and I for spring break. We decided on galapagos after a brief chat with Bradon. I had been there a few months prior and couldn't wait to show nico the fishery and scenery of such a wonderful place. At the Last minute Alex decided to join us as well.

Just a couple quick notes about our planning for this trip.

On my last time on the island I noticed that their ballyhoos could practically choke a fair sized blue marlin. I also noticed that they either used 9/0 j hooks or heavy guage circle hooks, or j hook/lures. I am not a purest by any means but I have really am sold on 8/0 or 9/0 VMC or Eagle claw 2004 circle hooks. That being said I knew we needed a case of small mediums as well. Alex secured the baitmasters case and I snelled a hundred 8/0 and 9/0 circle hooks. We also took down a couple squidnation squid dredges and chains. By no means did I go down with the attitude of our stuff is better but rather with a bunch of questions as to weather our preferred techniques would work down there.

Anyway Nico, Alex and I arrived at Guayaquil airport where Nathaly and sergio greeted us. We loaded the stuff and headed to the 5 star Oro Verde for the night.



When we arrived we received the 5 star treatment and they even allowed us to store the bait in their freezer. Later that night I hit the casino next door to the hotel and retired early for our flight to San Cristobal.

The next morning Sergio met us again and transported us to the airport for our AeroGal flight of 1:40 minutes to Galapagos. When we arrived they said the temp was 91 but without the hummity it felt like 75.





Ronnie and Andy met us at the airport and loaded our stuff in the truck. Pete Santini was also at the airport and offerred me a ride to the Miconia Hotel. So we loaded the two vehicles and took off for the long 5 minute ride to the Miconia.

We got there at about 12:30 - checked in and imediatly got started with our activities. At 2:00 we met with Ronnie again and Julio for a snorkle trip to Kicker Rock and Lobo Island.





Our first stop was Lobo Island to swim with the sea lions and check out the Marine Iguanas and shallow reef. It was incredible to say the least. Nico and Alex went nuts with the sea lions. The more we played with them the more they played with us.

Here is nico swimming with one of his buddies. Alex took some incredible underwater pics. can't wait until he posts them all.

















After a couple hours swimming the edge and checking out all the critters we headed to Kicker Rock to swim with the galapagos sharks and other cool stuff in the crack of the kicker rock.





We got to get close to one galapagos shark but most were holding too deep for us to see. We did get surrounded by a school of sea turtles. Also saw a huge ray at Steve Irwim range. We swam throught the crack of the rock and went into some tunnels that were just incredible.

When we got back in the boat they handed us a plate of grilled wahoo with rice and vegatables. Then we putted over the mainland side of the channel and took pics of the breeding frigate birds.



We got back to harbor but first had to snap some shots of the lesser vessels that were moored in the harbor.





We relaxed for about an hour and then walked to a roast chicken resturant where we dined on roasted chicken, chicken soup and rice. What a meal and all for a whopping $6 a person.

Tomorrow would be our first day fishing and I already felt like I did a weeks worth of activities. Bradon sure knows how to keep someone active on the island.

[paul708]

pics are great.
thanks for sharing

[Squidnation]

After a good nights sleep we woke up at 6:15. Nico and I walked to the resturant where the local workers eat. I prefer to try to local fare rather then the typical bacon and eggs that the Miconia served. The little old lady on the corner serves one type of breakfast every day. I can't remember what it was called on the day but it was a crock of some sort of starch cooked in peanut oil and heaped on top of fish, shrimp and octopus. NOW THATS A BREAKFAST!

At 7:00am we were greeted by Bradon and took a taxi boat out to the Blue. The ride to the Rosa Bank is about 34 miles at the closest point. 11 of those miles are done skirting the scenic island





After reaching the south point of the island (i think) - we had a 24 mile ride to the bank. The Blue is a capable boat for the waters we fished but the new Big Fish the Bradon just finished building will be a much more favorable boat. Can't wait to get on that boat. Anyway. Once we got there we deployed a squidnation dredge and a chain. As well a big mold craft teaser on the rightside. We had two Squidnation Mini C CHuggers on the long riggers and two naked on the flats.

As soon as the spread was set Micky the mate retreated to the cabin and grilled up some tasty ham and cheeses sandwiches. Little did we know that the food would not stop coming all day.





We missed a couple stripeys right away and after about 20 minutes we got tight on a mystery fish. After a short battle Nico brought a 35lb class wahoo boatside. Dinner was secured for the night. The mate later told me that in 8 years of fishing the banks it was only his second wahoo caught. There are plenty of wahoo around the island but they are in inshore locations. They almost are never seen around the bank.



After the wahoo I went to sit down saw this on the bench. Believe me these guys wouldn't let anyone go hungry on the boat



I am not even gonna say it



After the oreo cookie break the stripeys turned on. We caught 1 that nico musseled in for our first stripey of the trip

Nico fed and caught his first striped marlin on the new Jon Meade inspired Green/black Squidnation Mini C -





After that fish we hit a lull and then at 2:00pm it cuaght on fire. We went 5 for 11 in the last two hours. I think alex has most of these pics on his camera so I hope he will post it. On this day the fish were digging the dredge. They would fire in on the squidvicious dredge and stick around long enough for us to present a bait. Now before I here that I am just trying to sell. I will say that the next day we had the exact same spread and only had one to the dredge and all the rest to the long riggers.

A couple more shots from Day 1



Lunch on this day was again grilled wahoo with rice and salad



We did notice that we had alot of fish eating flyers So alex and I put our innovation heads together and came up for an attach plan for the next day. stay tuned

[Squidnation]

We were recommended to take our wahoo to the resturant at the Miconia hotel where we were staying. They cooked our wahoo three ways which was a very good meal.

The next morning started off at 6:15 am again with my walk to the old lady's resturant for her choice of breakfast for the day. Today it was to be Ensebolliado. Which is basically an onion and fish stock soup full of red onion, patatos and fish. It is a harty breakfast that the workers eat before their long day of work.

Today was to be a slick calm overcast day, When we set the spread we imediately had a stripey fire in on the right flat off the dredge. He beat us to the punch and left us with a sancocho. It slowed right down after that with a scattered tuna bite.



Once again Grilled cheese aroma starting filling the cockpit. But the a couple of marlins wouldn't let us eat.

The marlin kept coming up the long riggers









This time Julio retreated to the hot plate and came out with an incredible mustard sauce tuna perfectly undercooked. With olives and pickels



Inbetween billfish bites Micky diced up some sushi as well



and this wasnt even our lunch



This was a free jumper putting on a show right next to the boat



Alex got hot scoring a couple in a row



















All this fighting fish and picturing taking built up an appetite. How bout a little chicken and shrimp Paella for a lunch time meal on the Rosa Bank



How bout some fresh strawberries and grapes for dessert. What - now Whipped Cream?



We finished the day 4 for 6 I think and saw two others that wouldn't eat.

[Asylum]

They are ok...

[merry marlin]

Just about as close to heaven you can get.... Keep on sending the pictures!
MM

[Squidnation]

Day three - This was easter Sunday. Last night we ate at the miconia again and had sushi and tuna prepared two other ways. It was good and we headed to bed early for a third straight day of fishing

The morning started out gangbusters - We had four up in the first hour. All four came up on the improvised squidnation flying squid Chain. This thing was got enough to even get a rise out of our stoic captain.





We made this the day before becuase of the abundance of flying fish in the area. Man were they hot for it but almost too hot. We couldnt get them to switch off the teaser to the baits. We were able to hook the first one and then missed two or three in a row. Bradon suggested we clear the flat teaser and only leave the chain and the flat bait on the left side. His reasoning was to not add confusion to the spread. The Flying squid chain is bringing them in but then when we pulled it they would get confused and leave or go to the other teaser and wouldn't return. So we cleared the side and imediatly raised another and caught it. Thats 5 in the first hour. 2 released











Can't forget about the lunch menu - today was beef tenderlion strips with rice and french fries. This is a South American favorite called lomito saltado.

We ended the day catching one more and then had a long lull. I that 11th hour we had a teaser screamer that nearly took the teaser reel and the flying squid chain with him. Luckily he let go with only a few feet of line left. We ended up missing him on the long rigger.

That night we decided to walk to dinner to some place that was recommended to us. On the way there we saw an old black lady cooking up a storm for about 30 people. We figured if the locals liked it we had to try it. Best damn meal of the trip. Beef ribs, beans and rice. Later we walked the harbor walk and took some pictures of the scenes on this easter sunday







Now thats an ass load of bad breath right there



It was very cool to see the town of San Cristobal honoring a gamefish. They are coming a long way





One more day on the island - Hope you guys are enjoying this and will make it to this paradise one day.

[Asylum]

Same fish, little different angle...

[tunatamer73]

Those are amazing pics. Looks like a great time!!

[Robja]

Bill,

Great Pictures and a great report. That is where we were heading a couple of years ago till the guy we booked the trip with got banned from fishing. It is still our goal to fish there sometime in the next year or so and this time I am going with Braden. I will send you a pm to get some more info if that is okay