FINBACK WHALES PRESENT IN WATERS OFF PUERTO PENASCO

Oct. 21, 2004, Stuart Burnett, Rocky Point Fishing Trip Report:

A quick report from Puerto Penasco this weekend. It looked like it was going to be another Rocky Point fishing trip that the boat stayed on the trailer all weekend.

Saturday was extremely windy and, after venturing out first thing in the morning, we agreed that the 4 to 6 foot wind blown rollers were more than any of us wanted to deal with and headed back into the harbor. We heard a report on the VHF later in the day of some brave soul (read as "idiot") that went out 20 miles and nearly flipped their boat.

Sunday looked to be more of the same, but a drive by the beach showed Rocky Point water actually looked good. We headed out to a reef about 13 miles out, not wanting to venture too far in case the wind changed its mind. The water stayed fairly flat and we anchored up and began to fish.

My wife Connie broke off on a big one. So, we rigged and dropped again. Bam! No hesitation, a nice pinto bass. For about 45 minutes, we enjoyed nonstop action on the pintos, ranging from 10-25 lbs. The bite tapered off and soon the triggerfish were busy pecking at our baits. But not before putting six nice ones and one leopard grouper (sardinero) in the cooler.

By the way, tide was low, just starting to come high. Water was 80 degrees and we were using frozen mackerel for bait that we made during a trip that was blown out in August. Didn't seem to matter that they were dead, the pintos gobbled all we had. Looks like it is going to be a great fall fishing season in Rocky Point!

Also, had a finback whale cruising around us and there were lots of sardines everywhere.

(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.