INFLATABLE BOAT FISHING AT PUERTO PENASCO

July 10, 2006, Don Dufek, Inflatable boat fishing near Rocky Point, Sonora, Mexico:

On the 3rd of July, we fished out of inflatables trolling the Baja Catch recommended lures and caught Sierra and several Corvina within 1 mile of shore.

We then went to bottom fishing with Squid and anchovies and caught more corvina and Sandbass approximately 5 miles from Rocky Point.

We also trolled at 5 to 7 miles off shore and caught several peanut Dorado on the recommended Jointed Rebel lures.

Finally we hired a Panga Captain and went to 11 mile reef and caught a boat load of large triggerfish, Sand Bass and more Corvina.

The weather was beautiful at Rocky Point. However we did notice the seas would get a bit choppy in the afternoon and then it would die down just before dusk.

We launched our inflatable boats from the launch ramp at the Playa Elegante Trailer Park. This launch ramp works well for aluminum and fiberglass boats at high tide only, and only in calm seas. If there is any chop, one has to make the 3 mile run into the dirt launching ramp in Rocky Point. With good quality inflatables which will handle at least a 10-h.p. motor one can use this ramp with a launching dolly at any tide height and just about any sea condition. Of course, use common sense. I have witnessed others attempting to launch "calm, protected water inflatables" in 3 foot chop with disastrous results.

For catching Corvina and Sierra we were trolling 1/2 to 1 mile offshore east of Rocky Point in 20 to 30 feet of water, and using the lures The Baja Catch recommends. The peanut Dorado were caught while trolling along the shore, 5 miles offshore, over a 40 to 50 foot depth. We caught most of the Corvina and Sea Bass off the bottom, at a depth of 40 to 50 feet, using anchovies and we were at a compass heading of 190 from the "Rocky Point".

The panguero Martin has two boats, Margarita 1 and 2. He is the one I spoke with at the dirt launching ramp. This ramp is behind the Surf and Sun dive and jeweler shop in the port. I would certainly head out with him again. He is knowledgeable, English speaking, very helpful, and very reasonable, $150 total for 3 guys to 11 mile reef, compass 282. We did tipped him and his other captain/boat mechanic "Friday" 20 bucks for filleting the fish, and there were a bunch of fish.

The bad news, Playa Elegante, the campground where we stay, may be a thing of the past in 2007 due to a high-rise going up.

(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.