POOR FISHING WITH A CLUELESS PANGUERO

Aug. 4, 2004, Doug Pierson, Inshore Fishing at San Nicolas, B.C.S., Mexico:

A learning experience. Was experiencing great small boat-inshore fishing at Mulege but when son Shawn flew into Loreto I thought we would do even better by going to Bahia San Nicolas and hiring a panga to fish like The Big Boys!

What a mistake. Learned the hard and costly way that just because a panguero is great at handlining for squid and sharks it does not make him a good sportfisher.

We squandered an entire day because the guy, a real nice guy, had not a clue how to sportfish. We saw 6 sailfish at which times the fellow stopped the boat and baited us up with 4# squid baits and we still-fished the bottom! He shrugged his shoulders and smiled making the internationally-recognised sign for "Well, you never know!"

We caught nothing. We circled the entire Isla Iddefonso, which to me looked like the world's best spot to catch bottom fishy. In response to our idea of fishing the island rocks with jigs and cut bait he says, "No fish here." Well live and learn. Next time a panguero shows up with no tackle, no knife and no gaff I'll stop and wonder if this good squid catcher is indeed also a sportfisher. Greatly look foreward to a return to Bahia San Nicolas but this time us beginners will take our own little tin boat and expect outstanding catches.

(See "Mexico Fishing News" online for current fishing reports, photos, weather, and water temperatures from Mulege and other major Mexican sportfishing areas. Vacation travel articles, fishing maps and seasonal calendars, and fishing related information for Mulege may be found at Mexfish.com's main Mulege page.