Vol . 36 - Iss . 22 Pg . 30 October 13 - 27 , 2017
Cruiser Packages Include :
Call Now For Information !
32 Oct . 13 - 27 , 2017 VOL . 36 • ISS . 22
When trolling for marlin and other species off the Baja Peninsula , the conventional reel is king . At times though the best action comes while
BAJA ROUNDUP
Vol . 36 - Iss . 22 Pg . 30 October 13 - 27 , 2017
BAJA TIP OF THE WEEK
fishing inshore with “ fly lined ” live baits , basically a baitfish tossed out without added weight .
For this sort of fishing conventional gear will work , but a quality spinning reel designed for fighting saltwater fish can give you a big advantage . The new PENN Conflict II line of spinning reels are perfect for this type of work .
The PENN Conflict II features
stealthy cosmetics , a smooth HT-100 carbon fiber drag system and a lightweight design , making it the lightest PENN reel to date . The RR30 Rigid Resin body and rotor are extremely lightweight and durable – 20 % lighter than the first-generation Conflict .
The next generation of PENN Conflict reels combines the comfort of a lightweight reel with the durability
expected from a PENN . Additionally , the Leveline System places the line back onto the spool with little cross over or large gaps when being re-spooled .
The Conflict II is also updated with PENN ’ s CNC Gear Technology and high quality stainless steel ball bearings , making it the ultimate PENN inshore reel .
Tips For Cut Anchovies
When I used to read about fishing folks using cut anchovies to catch stripers , I came up with the logical question to ask , “ Why would a striper eat a cut anchovy ? After all , in the wild , who would be cutting the anchovies for them ? Wouldn ’ t it seem unnatural to find a perfectly sliced piece of fish in the middle of nowhere ?”
Such are the wonderings of a preteen mind , I suppose , and many decades later I am still asking that question . Perhaps I am overthinking the problem , as I have learned that the striped bass can be as much a scavenger as it is a predator . Even lions out on the Serengeti aren ’ t above eating something some other critter killed .
Over the years , I have caught hundreds of stripers on cut bait , mostly anchovies , fishing for them as I would fish for planted trout , with a sliding sinker rig , 18 ” of leader to the hook , with the rod resting in a rod holder , and my big butt planted in a director ’ s chair , staring at a bobber attached to my line .
This is a very social sort of fishing , with anglers lined up on the bank , baits in the water , time passing by while waiting for any signs of excitement . It ’ s the kind of thing we retired guys do to get out of the house so we don ’ t have to follow the wife around the mall doing the married man death march sort of thing , and we ’ re not particularly keen on catching those namby-pamby planted trout .
As it can be with every other activity worth pursuing , there are little tips and tricks that will up the odds of a striper gobbling your particular offering instead of the guy ’ s next to you .
Let ’ s start with the rig itself . Typically , a sliding sinker rig will employ a gadget that your line feeds through and also holds your sinker . One of the best ones on the market is the original
SALTY TIPS by Steve “ Hippo ” Lau
“ Slydo ”, although there are some newer and fancier ( more expensive ) products available . Slydos come in two sizes , and for the most part , I prefer the small model for sinkers up to two ounces .
Most often , there is added a bead between the Slydo and the swivel or snap swivel that is tied to the main line . There is no need to use a fancy glass bead here , an 8mm plastic bead will do fine . Red , yellow , green , blue , or black , the color of the bead hasn ’ t made a difference in my experience when fishing in the daylight hours ; however , when fishing at night , I give a nod to a nice 8mm glow-inthe-dark bead .
I used to forgo the use of a snap swivel on rigs such as this , being somewhat of a leader snob in preferring a plain ball bearing swivel . One lesson I have learned over the years is that when the stripers are biting , it is essential to get a bait back out into the water as quickly as possible . Sometimes you wait for hours for anything to happen , then a school of bass passes by and you don ’ t want to be fiddling around unhooking a fish when you can quickly unsnap a leader , attach a prebaited leader to the line and get it back into the water . Now comes the part with the cut anchovies . Harkening back to my adolescent musings , I used to toss out whole anchovies for bait while older and more successful anglers were using cut bait . After years of stubbornness in using whole baits and catching fewer fish , I decided to join the ranks of the cut bait crowd .
Not only did I start catching more fish on the cut anchovies , I had to watch some really slick operators to find out even more subtle tricks when using cut bait . But that is something for next time .
NEXT TIME : Making heads or tails with cut anchovies .
CONTACT THE FISH SNIFFER ( 800 ) 748-6599 8 a . m . to noon & 1-5 p . m . weekdays or leave your message on our 24-hour recorder .
FISH SNIFFER DIGITAL !!! www . fishsniffer . com
Digital subscription now available to the Fish Sniffer . Download the app from iTunes or Google Play . Check us out on magazine . fishsniffer . com or Email digital _ subscriptions @ fishsniffer . com
These folks scored a pair or heavy tuna and full limits of dorado while fishing off the East Cape this fall .
Photo courtesy of VAN WORMER RESORTS , East Cape , Baja .
Cruiser Packages Include :
Room for 4 nights , 5 days , 2 days of fishing , tackle , breakfast & lunch , 28 ft . supercruiser w / captain & mate
Call Now For Information !
Fish Baja ’ s East Cape at
Martin verdugo ’ s Beach resort
3203
Call Toll Free : ( 888 ) 567-8552 www . verdugosbeachresort . com
E mail : martinverdugo @ prodigy . net . mx ( 949 ) 226-7169 Or 01152 624 141 0054
A beautiful Beach Resort located half way between La Paz and Cabo San Lucas , right on the Sea of Cortez
Martin verdugo ’ s Beach resort