LEOPARD AND GULF GROUPERS CAUGHT
DURING FISHING AT GONZAGA BAY

June 11, 2004, Erik McElvany, Gonzaga Bay, Baja California, Mexico:

I went to Gonzaga Bay over Memorial Day weekend and had an outstanding fishing trip for leopard grouper and a few gulf grouper.

We fished in approximately 75-degree water and the grouper were literally stacked up over a reef that at the high spot was 56 feet deep and fell off to 120 feet very quickly.

Initially we were using Mega Bait's, Diamond Jigs and some homemade bucktails and we caught a few fish, but the bite really took off when we used live bait. We caught mackerel and a few spotted bay bass for bait. The leopard grouper would eat the mackerel on the drop, but the fun part was a couple of rookie fisherman, Jack Vessey and Travis Fusi, catching 50-pound gulf grouper that engulfed a whole spotted bay bass.

It was everything my dad, Mike McElvany, could do so the fish wouldn't win, and we lose not only a hook and sinker but a whole rod and reel combo. The two fisherman eventually gained composure after the initial "attack" and got the big grouper in.

The count for the trip were three gulf grouper and forty to fifty leopard grouper, which were all released except for five.

The group consisted of myself, Erik McElvany, and Mike McElvany, Demian Rodiles, Gianni Mayo, Ross Jenkins, Jack Vessey, Travis Fusi, Angela McElvany, Michele McElvany, and Ronda McElvany.

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