By TommyP

 

It has been three years since there’s been a LTH Tony Reyes Fishing trip.  Two years were missed due to COVID-19 and last year was cancelled because of a dispute over the port being open.    But this trip was just how I remembered it.

An easy five-hour drive from San Diego lands you in San Felipe on the Sea of Cortez.  The nightlife there is always interesting and fun.

Our LTH trip was full with 27 anxious anglers.  The 110-foot boat left on Sunday around noon, bound for the Midriff Islands about 200 miles south of San Felipe.  You are normally at the fishing grounds by 6-7 AM on Monday.  After unloading the nine pangas, a sight in itself, you are ready to begin your fishing tour adventure.

We started on the east side, midway down on Isla Guarda.  YT to 23 lb., pargo and a 20 lb. cabrilla were a great way to start this island-hopping adventure.  Trolling deep diving hard baits was very popular.  We moved further south to Isla Estanque (Snake Island).  A 45 lb. YT and 25 lb. gulf grouper were landed, as well as more cabrilla.

Tuesday, we kept moving south to San Lorenzo Island.  Good cabrilla fishing continued with a 19 and 20 pounder caught.  We got as far south as Bahia San Francisquito.  Lots of pinto bass there.  There was a group of biologists aboard who said the water was a little cold for YT.

Wednesday saw us heading back north to Isla Salsipuedes where a 22 lb. cabrilla, the largest of the trip, was brought aboard. Normally breakfast is served at 5:30 AM, you fish until noon, then lunch and a siesta, finishing the day of fishing at sunset.  Carne asada and a large tray of fresh cabrilla were served on the stern of the main deck, delicious and fun.

Thursday morning landed us at the northern tip of La Guarda, Punta Refugio, a very scenic part of the island.  A shrine dedicated to fishermen is located here.  YT started biting again and good cabrilla fishing continued.  The weather so far was stunning, upper 70’s to low 80’s, T shirts and flip flops was the call.  Heading back towards the mainland put us at Punta La Asamblea.  YT action continued (to 20 lb.), cabrilla (to 18 lb.), and even a couple of black sea bass (170 lb. and 30 lb.) were harvested.

Friday, we woke up next to Isla San Luis in Gonzago Bay.  Enchanted Island is a must see here.  The wind really picked up.  No worries as we only fish a half day and we had plenty of fish on board.  We started north to San Felipe around noon, arriving back at 6 PM.  This gave us plenty of time to check into a hotel, have dinner, and return to the boat later that evening to pick up our filleted fish.

The Longfin (Orange, CA at 714-538-9300 does all the booking.  Check tonyreyse.com. Tony and his crew take care of everything else.  And yes, I cannot wait until next year!