THREE RARE GULF SIERRA CAUGHT OFF PUERTO PENASCO

June 2, 2004, Jim Davis, Isla San Jorge, Mexico fishing:

Just back with a boatload of fish and oysters. We fished on my boat the "Hammer Time" off of Isla San Jorge, 26 miles south of Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico, on the 28th and 29th of May. Very rough conditions, mucho wind and chop, standup fishing was an impossibility. Surface water temps around 75 degrees.

Fast trolled with the always productive blue and silver Jointed Rebel Fastrac. Boated forty of the common Sierra, Scomberomorus sierra, some up to ten pounds. Got three of the elusive Gulf Sierra or Monterey Spanish Mackerel, Scomberomorus concolor, up to 12 pounds.

Also picked up a number of Mexican barracudas, Sphyraena ensis, Spotted Bay Bass and a mixed bag of Grunts. A note of interest, all of these fish as well as thousands of Brown Boobies, Brown Pelicans and Cormorants were all feasting on vast shoals of six inch long Pipefish.

We did a dive at the south end of the island and discovered a rich bed of the delicious oyster known as the Panamic Pen Shell, Pinna rugosa, with many exceeding 18 inches in length. We collected about thirty in 25 feet of water with a bottom temperature of 77 degrees.

Another note of interest, all of the Sierras other than one male Gulf Sierra, were gravid females.

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