Cedros Island Trip November 13 thru 12, 2009

Having to go back to work right after I returned from Cedros, doing a trip write up was not high on my priority list. Give me a rainy day however and away we go. Dan Bonfield and I left Harbor Island at 4 am on Tuesday and headed to Ensenada to fill up with fuel. After loading up the boat with the prettiest florescent green diesel you ever saw we headed south to San Martin Island. I’ve got to say right up front, this trip had the flattest water I’ve ever seen for the whole trip. We arrived at San Martin at 5 pm and caught 6 Calicos and a couple of Bonita. An early dinner of ravioli and a nice salad preceded an early bedtime.

With a good weather forecast and flat water we decided to head straight to Benitos in the morning. With a 5am departure we traveled at 23 knots once it got light enough to see well. By 12:30 we were at the top of the Ranger Bank. There was lots of life in the form of birds and whales so out went the lines. After 11 peanut Yellowfin and a lone peanut yellowtail we pulled the lines and zipped on down to Benitos for the evening. The anchorage at Benitos is large and well protected from the north and the west. We got settled in and fired up the Barbie for some New York strips and paired them up with a couple of baked potatoes and a green salad. We spent Thursday working the Benitos area fairly hard with only meager results. (3 YT, 3 CB, 2 Bon, 2 YFT)

Friday morning we gave Benitos a daylight shot for nothing and then headed to Cedros and much better action. The fish while not chewing the paint off the bottom of the boat were much more cooperative and had an appetite for blue and white Tady 4/0’s. We finished the day with 2 YFT, 8 Bon, 17 YT (22# largest) 8 CB 3 WF and 2 SH (8# largest). We anchored up on the south end of the island for the evening and had a dinner which included roast chicken, baked potato and steamed broccoli. You have to eat health occasionally.

Saturday morning the fishing was slow but doable. The current was slow but it was moving. By mid day there was no current and the fish quit biting. We finished the day with 12 yellowtail, 15 calicos and 16 Bonita. We went back to our anchorage for the evening and considered our dilemma over dinner of grilled pork chops, baked yams and a green salad. We decided that the next day we would fish our way south and get fuel in Turtle Bay.

Sunday morning we headed down to Turtle Bay for fuel. Since the water was flat and we didn’t see anything that warranted a stop we pretty much motored right on down to the bay. A quick fueling from the Anabelle and we were back on our way to Cedros. A few minutes fishing there produced 3 nice Calicos but that was it for the day.

Monday morning we were back online bright and early looking for the yellowtail. Current was almost non existent and the going was tough. We fished hard all day and had a pretty weak count for our efforts. The highlight was a white seabass that weighed approximately 15 pounds. Dan gave him his go free card before I could weigh him. The day was beautiful with flat calm water but the fish count was limited (CB 7, Bonita 2, Sand bass 2, YT 4, WSB 1). We headed back to our anchorage with our tails between our legs and contemplated out fate over a plate of linguini and clams.

Tuesday morning we worked our way up the island looking for better conditions. By the time we got to the north end of the island we had scratched up 16 CB, 7 Bonita, 2 WF and zero good water conditions. We made an executive decision and headed toward Jeronimo. We arrived at 5 pm anchored up and enjoyed a dinner of lamb chops, green salad and a baked potato.

Wednesday morning we headed down to Sacramento Reef where we put in a full day laying the hurt on the Calicos. You have to love that place. While the bite wasn’t hot by Sacramento Reef standards, it was steady all day long. We ended up the day with 45 Calicos up to 6 pounds. In addition we had 2 SB, 12 Bonita, 3 WF and 4 Jonnie bass. We arrived back a Jeronimo at 4:30, did a fuel transfer and enjoyed a fine meal of local seafood.

Thursday morning we pulled out at 4 am and moved north at 10 knots until we could see well enough to go fast. At daylight we kicked her up to 23 knots and arrived at Harbor Island by 3:30 in the afternoon.

Good read Yale. Thanks for sharing. Sounds like you had a good time.

I will not be flying out of the country on vacation for the first time in years this summer.
We are planning four 5 day trips on the Wamei this spring and summer instead. Can't wait!

Do you gain weight when you moved up to the 32?

No weight gain with the 32. We ate the same on the 26. Just a lot more room for tackle and fishermen. The downside is higher upkeep because shes in the water and the fuel bill can get serious. Had a great time on the 26 but the room on the 32 is soooo nice. The fish don't seem to care what size the boat is.

I wish i could be a man and have enough confidence to do a trip like that! I always keep thinking "But what if....?" and I think you just have to say "Do it!"
Yale you've had a couple of great trips down that way; I think I'll have to do the San Martin trip first then work longer after that.

My cut line going south when I had the Patron was 100 miles from San Diego. Vessel Assist will bail me out inside of 100 miles. After that I had another boat with me. With the addition of a second engine I’ll go by myself.

Confidence will come with preparation. There are a lot of things on the check list besides my meal plan. Part of the fun is developing a safe cruise plan. First and foremost is that the boats in good shape when you leave. Lots of spares are needed for the parts that are going to bring you to a halt. With a single engine and an outdrive I’d want to have another boat along for San Martin. Remember its 90+ miles south of Ensenada. Extra fuel is a big issue. On the Patron I carried 75 gallons in addition to the main tank. To conserve fuel I often traveled at trolling speed for most of the trip. That would almost double my range. Some extra water is also a plus. The list goes on but it is doable. Just don’t cut your time to prepare or travel to short. One of the most important things is who you go with. Somebody that might be ok for one day could be a disaster for 5 to 12 days. Fortunately I have had great shipmates for my longer trips. Now some of the day trips are another story.

I learn something new every trip that will make the trip safer and more enjoyable.

What did you eat for breakfast and lunch?

Fish for lunch most days with an occasional sandwich thrown in. Breakfast, midmorning snack and afternoon snack were a mixed bag. Hey we eat better than a cruise ship, plus you get to fish. Heck of a deal. :D

Joking aside...That was a geat read! Thanks for posting. I'm still kicking myself for not being able to pull the trigger and go with you last year.

I fished Punta Canoas for a morning just south of El Rosario last week on my 5 day aboard the American Angler; we caught a couple of seabass in 60' of water and a few yellows over a hard sandy bottom. Lots of surface bait here with WSB and YT groups of 6 fish cruising the surface. Wide open sandbass too with a few cudas mixed in. The point offered a little protection from the NW swell and it seemed like a nice place to fish along the coast.

I’m absolutely green with envy Jeff. I haven’t fished the Pta. Canoas area for almost 15 years. It can be a great area but just as you observed there ain’t no place to hide. I’m still hopeful I can head down that way in November.