High Plains Drifter
11-11-2007, 08:50 AM
I posted this story on another surf fishing site a couple of weeks ago and I thought the P+S crowd would be interested. Enjoy!!
It was the best cast of my life. My young friend Juan was eagle eyeing the water as we slowly cruised the ATVs home. His morning introduction to surf casting had been great success. The sun was high and the sea clear and glassy smooth. He suddenly rose up and shouted "agujon"! Giant Mexican needlefish! His gaze guided my eyes to five long dark and still shapes about 80 yards off shore. These did not look like agujon to me. In one swift motion I dismounted and grabbed my Breakaway LDX from its holster. Just like John Wayne. In mid-stride I swung the 3-ounce Surface Tension lure into a smooth pendulum cast and let 'er rip. Pilgrim, it was a perfect bull’s-eye at 80 yards. The splash down and strike were all one simultaneous event. The fish did not jump and greyhound like an agujon. It made a strong underwater run and I leaned back with the rod. The fish turned and it became a back and forth battle. I convinced myself it was a crevelle but somehow I knew different. My heart was soon to sink. The hooks pulled out and as I reeled the empty lure to shore the other four fish were chasing and harassing the lure. Four large golden dorados followed all the way to my feet. They were as brilliantly gold as the sun as they twisted and flashed not 10 feet in front of me. Then they were gone. I suppose one needs a burning reason to fish with intensity. This will be a fire in me until the day a golden dorado lies on the beach at my feet.
But I must forget about the dorado. This trip was mostly about my wife. Ruth and I have partnered for over thirty years raising two great kids, working hard, and being frugal. We are now on the doorstep of all this paying off in the form of freedom and adventure. She has caught many nice fish in the past but now I wanted her to catch roosterfish in this beautiful place. I also wanted her to understand why I return here so often. Ruth had learned to pendulum cast a 12' rod before we left. She did it with ease and could reach the 100-yard mark. The season was right. The weather was right. The ocean was right. It was hopeless to count the number of roosterfish and crevelle caught in five mornings of fishing.
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/6489/webruthhugeroosterng5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/4402/webtwoneedlefishwb0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
We had been catching 20-30 pound roosters and crevelle for about an hour. Ruth was 50 yards to my left. As I glanced over I could see her bend her rod with authority and she was onto a strong fighter. The roosters had been taking to the air but this fish was bulldogging underwater. A large crevelle I thought. I had my own fish to tend to so I let her battle by herself. No coaching or back seat driving from me. I landed my fish and Ruth was now 100 yards farther from me. I landed another fish and Ruth was 250 yards from me. Thank goodness Juan had run to catch up with her. After 45 minutes they both excitedly waved to me and as I dashed over they were landing a huge roosterfish. It was spectacular and Ruth could not lift it by herself. What a fish! What a fight! What a woman!
Click on this link to see video
http://youtube.com/watch?v=efsBgXp3q1Q
<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/efsBgXp3q1Q&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/efsBgXp3q1Q&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
Ruth caught three more huge roosters and many other very nice ones. She is a bonafide big fish expert.
http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/7974/webruthrooster3gt1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
I didn't do too shabby myself. My goodness! What a five mornings of fishing we had! Huge crevelle and roosterfish galore in the clear calm Mexican Pacific!
http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/5749/webtoddsmallroosterey9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Click here to see video
http://youtube.com/watch?v=wQxRw8i7GdI
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/3893/webtoddlargejackch8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
On the second afternoon, my friends Fernando and his son-in-law Juan took us on a remarkable adventure. We drove ATVs through the mountain forests for about 20 miles. The scenery was spectacular! The fresh mountain air filled our lungs. What a life. Our goal was a mountain stream that contained langostina. We intended to cast net for these small freshwater lobsters for our dinner. We parked under a large tropical tree and followed Juan down a tiny path. He was swinging his machete to clear the way and soon I heard rushing water. The sight that unfolded was pure utopia. I don't think anyone save a few local farmers have seen this place. We spent the afternoon swimming in the cool waters and netting langostina. I'm so glad this place offered itself to us. It was simply indescribable.
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/8041/webriver2oh7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/1286/webriver3vq3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/3875/webrivernetzw0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
On the fourth day, SOL's Brewroom and his wife met us at the fishing grounds. Jay and Kelly were a pure joy and their short two days went by fast. Jay swung my Rainshadow 1387 like a champ and I immediately knew he had the right stuff. Kelly has an enormous smile and zest for life. They were vacationing in Puerto Vallarta for two weeks but Fernando had driven them three hours over the mountains to fish with us. Jay scored well on roosterfish and crevelle. Kelly casually caught (and lost) some fish as she soaked up the sun, the scenery, and her husbands delight. We were treated to a humpback whale accompanying us along the beach, a turtle laying eggs, and a cool scorpion! We ate lobster, shrimp, and fish. We drank beer (Jay REALLY knows beer) and the local moonshine called raicilla made with green agave roots (tequila is made with blue agave hearts). If you ask him real nice he might let you sample the two bottles he brought home. Hey Jay and Kelly! Let’s do it again!!
Click here to see video
http://youtube.com/watch?v=idNDVMPraIU
Fernando, his wife Maricella, and their children make so much possible. They pick us up from the airport, feed us scrumptious home cooked meals, provide ATVs, and house us. They are the only people for many miles that are perfectly fluent in English. With their aid, anyone can enjoy and fish this unique and outstanding place in comfort and safety. I feel that I am a part of their family.
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/8661/webfernmariwindowqd5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Now Ruth and I have returned from Mexico. It was the finest of times. And the best part?? We know we will be back there many times over!! The glinting golden dorado awaits! – HPD
http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/5048/webrivertoddruthvx0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/3329/webruthdarkmoonpm0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
It was the best cast of my life. My young friend Juan was eagle eyeing the water as we slowly cruised the ATVs home. His morning introduction to surf casting had been great success. The sun was high and the sea clear and glassy smooth. He suddenly rose up and shouted "agujon"! Giant Mexican needlefish! His gaze guided my eyes to five long dark and still shapes about 80 yards off shore. These did not look like agujon to me. In one swift motion I dismounted and grabbed my Breakaway LDX from its holster. Just like John Wayne. In mid-stride I swung the 3-ounce Surface Tension lure into a smooth pendulum cast and let 'er rip. Pilgrim, it was a perfect bull’s-eye at 80 yards. The splash down and strike were all one simultaneous event. The fish did not jump and greyhound like an agujon. It made a strong underwater run and I leaned back with the rod. The fish turned and it became a back and forth battle. I convinced myself it was a crevelle but somehow I knew different. My heart was soon to sink. The hooks pulled out and as I reeled the empty lure to shore the other four fish were chasing and harassing the lure. Four large golden dorados followed all the way to my feet. They were as brilliantly gold as the sun as they twisted and flashed not 10 feet in front of me. Then they were gone. I suppose one needs a burning reason to fish with intensity. This will be a fire in me until the day a golden dorado lies on the beach at my feet.
But I must forget about the dorado. This trip was mostly about my wife. Ruth and I have partnered for over thirty years raising two great kids, working hard, and being frugal. We are now on the doorstep of all this paying off in the form of freedom and adventure. She has caught many nice fish in the past but now I wanted her to catch roosterfish in this beautiful place. I also wanted her to understand why I return here so often. Ruth had learned to pendulum cast a 12' rod before we left. She did it with ease and could reach the 100-yard mark. The season was right. The weather was right. The ocean was right. It was hopeless to count the number of roosterfish and crevelle caught in five mornings of fishing.
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/6489/webruthhugeroosterng5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/4402/webtwoneedlefishwb0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
We had been catching 20-30 pound roosters and crevelle for about an hour. Ruth was 50 yards to my left. As I glanced over I could see her bend her rod with authority and she was onto a strong fighter. The roosters had been taking to the air but this fish was bulldogging underwater. A large crevelle I thought. I had my own fish to tend to so I let her battle by herself. No coaching or back seat driving from me. I landed my fish and Ruth was now 100 yards farther from me. I landed another fish and Ruth was 250 yards from me. Thank goodness Juan had run to catch up with her. After 45 minutes they both excitedly waved to me and as I dashed over they were landing a huge roosterfish. It was spectacular and Ruth could not lift it by herself. What a fish! What a fight! What a woman!
Click on this link to see video
http://youtube.com/watch?v=efsBgXp3q1Q
<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/efsBgXp3q1Q&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/efsBgXp3q1Q&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
Ruth caught three more huge roosters and many other very nice ones. She is a bonafide big fish expert.
http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/7974/webruthrooster3gt1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
I didn't do too shabby myself. My goodness! What a five mornings of fishing we had! Huge crevelle and roosterfish galore in the clear calm Mexican Pacific!
http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/5749/webtoddsmallroosterey9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Click here to see video
http://youtube.com/watch?v=wQxRw8i7GdI
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/3893/webtoddlargejackch8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
On the second afternoon, my friends Fernando and his son-in-law Juan took us on a remarkable adventure. We drove ATVs through the mountain forests for about 20 miles. The scenery was spectacular! The fresh mountain air filled our lungs. What a life. Our goal was a mountain stream that contained langostina. We intended to cast net for these small freshwater lobsters for our dinner. We parked under a large tropical tree and followed Juan down a tiny path. He was swinging his machete to clear the way and soon I heard rushing water. The sight that unfolded was pure utopia. I don't think anyone save a few local farmers have seen this place. We spent the afternoon swimming in the cool waters and netting langostina. I'm so glad this place offered itself to us. It was simply indescribable.
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/8041/webriver2oh7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/1286/webriver3vq3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/3875/webrivernetzw0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
On the fourth day, SOL's Brewroom and his wife met us at the fishing grounds. Jay and Kelly were a pure joy and their short two days went by fast. Jay swung my Rainshadow 1387 like a champ and I immediately knew he had the right stuff. Kelly has an enormous smile and zest for life. They were vacationing in Puerto Vallarta for two weeks but Fernando had driven them three hours over the mountains to fish with us. Jay scored well on roosterfish and crevelle. Kelly casually caught (and lost) some fish as she soaked up the sun, the scenery, and her husbands delight. We were treated to a humpback whale accompanying us along the beach, a turtle laying eggs, and a cool scorpion! We ate lobster, shrimp, and fish. We drank beer (Jay REALLY knows beer) and the local moonshine called raicilla made with green agave roots (tequila is made with blue agave hearts). If you ask him real nice he might let you sample the two bottles he brought home. Hey Jay and Kelly! Let’s do it again!!
Click here to see video
http://youtube.com/watch?v=idNDVMPraIU
Fernando, his wife Maricella, and their children make so much possible. They pick us up from the airport, feed us scrumptious home cooked meals, provide ATVs, and house us. They are the only people for many miles that are perfectly fluent in English. With their aid, anyone can enjoy and fish this unique and outstanding place in comfort and safety. I feel that I am a part of their family.
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/8661/webfernmariwindowqd5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Now Ruth and I have returned from Mexico. It was the finest of times. And the best part?? We know we will be back there many times over!! The glinting golden dorado awaits! – HPD
http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/5048/webrivertoddruthvx0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/3329/webruthdarkmoonpm0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)