PEZ GRINGOS GROUP MAKES ITS ANNUAL
ROOSTERFISH FISHING TRIP TO EAST CAPE'S HOTEL PUNTA COLORADA

July 10, 2004, David Lester, Hotel Punta Colorada fishing, East Cape, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

The "PEZ GRINGOS" Dave Lester Temecula, Calif; Don Willson - Temecula; Joe Bishop - Temecula; Stephen Schoppe - Temecula; Ron Burgess - Parawan, Utah; Len Salazar - Lomita, Calif:

Every year we look forward to the annual PEZ GRINGOS fishing trip to the East Cape and Cabo San Lucas.

This year started off with a celebration of my 40th birthday and the news that marlin, dorado, and tuna were biting just outside Punta Colorada.

The PEZ GRINGOS are a small group of fisherman dedicated to hunting the elusive pez gallo, better known as the roosterfish.

After getting our rental van and loading up the rod tubes and gear, we made the quick stop at the Corona factory and were on our way to "The Roosterfish Capital of the World". In about an hour we are enjoying our first margarita and listening to the stories of grande tuna and an ever increasing count of dorado.

Anglers and pangas were matched with Alexandro and the gear was prepared for the following morning. As we waited on the new loading dock for our panga to arrive, we were informed that there were only two boats available instead of the three we had booked (we were disappointed but hardly surprised). A quick shuffling of rods, lunches, and anglers and we were off.

Day one was off to a rough start and the short version of the story was several roosterfish, many small dorado, and a few small tuna for the two boats.

Day two and three saw three new pangas show up at the dock along with new expectations. Bait was plentiful with both sardinas and lisa. The three boats were split between targeting marlin, dorado, and roosters... each of us got what we wanted.

A 300 pound blue marlin was released by Gringo Don Willson and guide Santiago on the Polletta.

Eleven dorado, a few skipjack, and one roosterfish were caught by Gringo Len Salazar.

13 dorado, one toro, one roosterfish and five tuna were caught by Gringo Joe Bishop.

A radio tip to Rigoberto on our boat "Patricia" sent us ten miles offshore to the spinner dolphins where Gringo Stephen Schoppe caught several yellowfin including the largest tuna of the trip, a fat 55 pounder on the smallest purple and silver hootchie in the tacklebox.

A quick stop at the lighthouse while heading in from the tuna grounds with Alonzo on the Bohemia, and Gringo Ron Burgess found himself fighting a 48 pound roosterfish, the largest of the trip, and winner of the annual "Pez Gringo" award.

The hospitality, food, and fishing at Punta Colorada were outstanding as usual.

The second half of the trip is always spent in Cabo San Lucas and is primarily spent surf fishing. This year was tough in the surf so we opted to see Tomas at Gordo Banks Pangas. Fishing had broken wide open and a couple of large mullet trolled off Punta Gorda produced the largest dorado of the trip for Gringo Dave Lester, a 47 pounder, along with a 33 pound wahoo for Gringo Stephen Schoppe. By far the best fishing for the PEZ GRINGOS in recent years.