By Scott Hulet
Just back from six days on Cedros. Was fortunate to have traveled with Cedros Adventures. Jeff Rodriguez (an ex-sardine seiner skipper) and owner Adrian Ojeda (a tuna spotting pilot) have this thing down to a science. Van pickup down the street from my house in San Clemente was sweet. Our flight was later in the afternoon, so they have brunch organized at the Costa Ensenada hotel, along with a pool and a few day rooms to relax in until takeoff from Cipres Airport. The Cessna Grand Caravan handled all 12 of us and our gear perfectly. From the moment you get in the van you don’t lift a finger.
Once oScottFish1n-island, we were set up in style at their lodge, perfectly sited on the bluff on the north side of town. The view to Natividad, Eugenia, and the harbor was insane. Rooms and food were A+, and the air con was crucial. I rolled solo, and had a great time with a solid bunch of return clients, all hard core fishermen and great guys.
The trip coincided with the Torneo de Pesca, drawing anglers from the states, the island, and the nearby fishing towns of Punta Eugenia and Bahia Tortuga–maybe 80 fishermen all told. Jeff convinced me to enter saying, “Hell, anything could happen.”
It’s a totally roots affair, and the biggest weekend of the year on the island. The whole town moves down to the beach for three days, with live music, barbecues, dancing, and good vibes. The people of Cedros are amiable, open, and welcoming, from toddlers to ancients. Like going back in time.
The event lit off at dawn, with a concussion rocket getting everyone’s attention and sending the pangas racing to their favored spots. Some blew all the way up to Punta Norte, while most worked the zone around the salt works and El Morro.
I was paired with maestro Lalo Mata, a two-time winning captain, along with a father and son from Colorado. We quickly put two slugs on ice. I fished an LX two-speed, 65lb. braid and a 50lb. fluoro leader with a 6/0 hook with a sliding sinker on a Calstar 765ML Grafighter.
Slow-trolling fat Spanish macks was the go. It was slow for the fleet, with only sporadic bent rods in evidence. Fishing near Punta Prieta I got picked up by a stout one. After horsing it away from the rocks, a big albino knot-head slammed it, nipping out a chunk of stomach. When it surfaced, it had my fish by the tail. I short-pumped it like a freak, Lalo hay-hooked it with a perfect gaff shot, and we had our biggest fish on the board. Noting how slow it was, I had the audacity to mention that hey, we might actually be in the conversation. Josh and Richard, the dad-and-son team, each did an epic job and boated two more slugs. Hmmm…
Everyone noses in to the beach to drop off their catch. Local kids haul the fish up to the scales, a total mob scene of partying locals, a brass band, and a butcher station. Every single fish is ScottFish3processed and moved onto the malecon for a barbecue for the entire pueblo.
My lobo-molested jurel was just heavy enough to claim first place at 42.3 pounds. It also happened to be my personal best. Our boat won top total weight for five fish at 196 lbs. The biggest fish prize was $15,000.00 pesos, which I kicked back to Lalo (no brainer) and the town church. Also won three Torium 30s on Tallus rods, which went to Lalo as well. A couple of cases of abalone were split up among my cronies from the lodge. I kept the trophy, which I have now been spooning with for three days.
Throughout the week yellows to 50 lbs. were caught, including surface iron, yo-yo, and dropper loop fish.
I have to say thanks again to Lalo Mata: puro macheen! Anyone on his boat would have had the same result I did–I was just a mongo riding the high liner. Gotta say, Cedros Adventures is the most deluxe way to experience this remarkable island. Every element of their program is on point, and Cedros is a place you have to visit if you’re at all interested in big, violent fork tails.