few weeks ago I went fishing to "Bay of los Angeles", Baja (BOLA) which is at the end of Baja (north) at the side of Cortez Sea few miles before the State of "Baja California Sur" begins, I have two goals for this trip, one was to take the family fishing for YT and grouper and the other was to try our luck and search for the Whale Shark, my 19yo daughter was on vacation time from the Med school and she wanted to swim with a Whale Shark on her summer vacations :o ??? :-\ .
you can read a bit about whale shark on the Sea of Cortez here https://alantani.com/index.php?action=post;board=35.0
Well, long story short, there was no single hit or bite in our fishing lines for many hours, so we opted to use the rest of the boat time for the 2nd goal of the trip, eventho the prime time to spot them is on the hottest months of the year from july-Aug is really a hit or miss to see them everyday at anytime, they are not just waiting for you to show up, so, we searched for them for few hours until it was time to called it a day :'(
we were just starting our way back to the harbor the captain yelled -- HERE THEY ARE !! ^-^
So, we hit the jackpot there was not just one or two but three Whale sharks swimming calm and relaxed of the surface, they are biggest FISH on earth, its really amazing to see them swim to calm around the boat.
my Daughter got ready and waited for a time were we could approach to a whale shark that wasnt swimming that fast and she jumped outta the boat.
she looked happy and proud to be next to the majestic animals and swam with the shark for a moment until she tried to record it and she realized her waterproof camera somehow slipped from the belt on which it was "secured"/tied to her forearm, well, she spent few minutes more there until it was time to get back to the boat.
she was happy and sad at the same time (been there done that :P ) but even losing her expensive waterproof camera didnt erased a big smile from the rush of adrenaline courtesy of the whale sharks.
we spent some more time checking out another whale sharks that came to eat a big ball of sardines, in a moment we counted around 5 whale sharks in the same spot just Amazing time!
we called it a day and returned to safe port around 3pm.
this time came home with the ice cooler empty but with tons of histories to share.
yep, the fishing trip was great maybe for the next one we can catch a fish or two ^-^ :fish
now few pictures
Now Im debt for a $700 waterproof camera because I was the one who help her to secure the camera lace to her forearm :-[ :-X
here is short video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXkJ8XCIX6w
thats all, until the next Baja Adventure
Alejandro,
MED-School and Swims with Whale Sharks!
You got yourself a Rock Star of a Daughter!
Amazing special family memories right there.
You'll laugh about the camera someday.
(might take a week or two though)
Thanks for sharing,
Steve
Quote from: Crab Pot on September 25, 2023, 02:18:46 AMYou'll laugh about the camera someday.
(might take a week or two though)
Steve
Steve, what it really hurts (my Ego) its what she asked me while we were driving back home (its a 4hrs trip from home), - Hey Dad !, from the HUNDREDS knots you said you knew how to tie, couldnt you had used just ONE that worked better? 8) 8) yep, she's a RockStar ;)
What an amazing experience!
Congrats mate - a great day with family building lifelong memories.
Thanks for sharing, Justin
I love that place. Thanks for sharing.
Brendan
:0)
One of those not "so often" experiences you had, particularly nice because it also involved your family.
During many years of fishing I've seen many amazing things, but seldom involves the family. Treasure it!
Nice trip Alex, one of those experiences your family will never forget.
Alright Alex. Good pictures of the largest fish in the world, even though they weren't from an underwater camera. Like Crab Pot said; Med. school and swimming with Whale Sharks! My daughter would never do that.
Alex, that was a great adventure. You created lifetime memories. Congratulations to your daughter for being able to check off one line on the bucket list. Let us know when she graduates. Dominick
Quote from: Gfish on September 25, 2023, 07:12:29 PMAlright Alex. Good pictures of the largest fish in the world, even though they weren't from an underwater camera. Like Crab Pot said; Med. school and swimming with Whale Sharks! My daughter would never do that.
well, this is the 2nd time we have seen the whale shark, 1st time was in 2021, I have some cool underwater videos of the shark when he was pretty close to the boat, the videos arent that amazing cuz it shows only the shark when he swam close by the boat we never chase him around, that time the persons of the boat next to us swam with the shark and it looked pretty fun and thats when my daughter put it on her bucket list to swim with a whale shark.
I will try to upload a short video to yourtube and share it later here too.
PS: I dont blame anyone thats not brave enough to swim with the whale shark because Im not that brave either ;D
Quote from: Dominick on September 25, 2023, 08:57:10 PM.. Let us know when she graduates. Dominick
still long run to that, she's in her 2nd year from 5 years career plus 2 more years in a hospital to be able to graduate as M.D. but you can count I will let you guys know :d
Very special adventure. Thnx for sharing
That's awesome. My daughter would likely jump in and try to catch it. With her teeth. But shes a wild 9 month old baby. Maybe med school one day.
Good job.
pretty awesome!!!!
Great memories there for the family to look back on, how deep was it, @ Exmouth in Western Australia, the whale sharks swim inside of Nyngaloo reef, it is about 12 feet deep there, they also have spotter plains that let the charter boat know were they are, hanks for showing us, cheers Don.
Quote from: Donnyboat on September 27, 2023, 12:06:52 AMGreat memories there for the family to look back on, how deep was it, @ Exmouth in Western Australia, the whale sharks swim inside of Nyngaloo reef, it is about 12 feet deep there, they also have spotter plains that let the charter boat know were they are, hanks for showing us, cheers Don.
I think the zone where we found the Whale sharks was around 30-35ft deep, the captain said you can normally spot them on shallow zones because they (Whale sharks) chase the sardines ball from the deep to the shore/surface and thats where they normally swim and eat pretty calm.
I wish they have a spotter plain too, my daughter was getting pretty anxious because after few hours of searching on the BIG bay we culdnd found them, she even told me, didnt anyone here have one of those planes that search for the whale shark from the sky? :-\ :-\ well, that was easy, the answer is no.
Whale Sharks are Filter feeders(most whales too. What's that say about the productivity of the ocean?). Prolly no danger, unless they smash into you or smack you with their tail. Never heard of that, though.
Sweet! Amigo, you KNOW you thought about hooking it on that Avet!
FINALLY !!!
I went to my happy place, the ocean, the sea of cortez, that feeling of the breeze on my face while the boat is running ...
get ready for PARTY OF THE TRIGGERFISH
I took my family for another fishing trip and once again this adventure start with this view
I will never get tired of this landscaping
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39676-7614-20250728082343ss.jpeg)
since is the middle of summer and its really pretty hot here, we knew already that Yellowtail and leopard grouper are gone for deeper water and are pretty hard to catch, so, we were more exited to get a nice day outdoors having a nice ride on the panga and try to get some fish for a ceviche for a lazy sunday.
I had two fishing rods that were just built and ready for the 1st day on the water, well kinda, the OTI spinning jigging rod was built few months ago but this was its 1st day on the water and we had the for for my youngest daughter, his fishing rod was almost completely rebuilt with better grips, reelseat and guides and my kiddo was pretty exited to use it with its new improvements.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39677-580-20250728094641ss.jpeg)
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39678-3261-20250728094650ss.jpeg)
long story short, we trolled a bit for yellowtail but no luck, so we went to triggerfish areas to keep the kids entretained fishing cut bait.
my youngest kid was the 1st one to get a bendo on her fishing rod
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39680-8907-202507281032230ss.jpeg)
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39681-313-20250728103225ss.jpeg)
it was a goooood figther
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39679-6545-202507281011480ss.jpeg)
then, my other daughter (the one in the Med school) got a strong bit on her fishing rod, she couldt turn the handle on the reel ;D, she asked me for help but I told her that I was there just to put bait and take the fish out from the hooks, nothing else.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39684-2412-20250728110128ss.jpeg)
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(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39686-8972-20250728110200ss.jpeg)
another big and strong Pig (thats how we call them here) Cochitos (little pigs) because of the sound they make when are out from the water
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39687-7807-20250728110225ss.jpeg)
next we move to another Island and the captain saw a big school of dolphins, I mean, a really BIG school, maybe 80 - 100 of those wonderful animals swiming along the panga for a long time. I will upload some videos later and will update the report.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39683-1650-20250728105233ss.jpeg)
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39682-7165-202507281052310ss.jpeg)
we moved to another Island, but we only get bitten by the same hungry triggerfish ^-^
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39688-3405-20250728113707ss.jpeg)
my 2nd kiddo got bored of fishing bait and wait and asked me if she could use a jig lure like the last time when we fishing big Spanish macks, so, I changed her fishing rod for a lighter one with a 2oz Kroc spoon and an Abu Garcia Toro beast reel.
she used the Iron as a jig, just droping to the bottom and retrieving it at different speeds, that way she caught a big triggerfish with a tady 6x iron
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39690-3279-20250728115230ss1.jpeg)
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39691-8750-202507281152461ss.jpeg)
later, using the same method, she caught another triggerfish with a the Kroc spoon
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39693-7011-202507281214220ss.jpeg)
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39695-6637-20250728122355ss.jpeg)
after being the deckhand for the whole day for my dauthers and wife (getting the fish to the ice, put new cutbait, changing the lure, etc) I find a small window of free time on which I took my Zeus jigging rod which was paired with the ProGear 545 I get from Bryan Young, so, I quickly cut the knifejig from the line and put a trace of mono line with a hook and weight and caught my only fish for the day ;D ;D well, at least one for the glam picture
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39705-7665-20250728121226ss.jpeg)
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39699-4718-IMG-20250729-WA0001ss.jpeg)
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39700-7174-IMG-20250729-WA0002ss.jpeg)
we called it a day by 2pm and went home with a nice haul of Cochitos.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39694-2953-20250728121605ss.jpeg)
I will update the report with some short videos I took my my kiddos having hard time getting the triggerfish to the surface
but before finishing this story, let me get you a very
******************************** SPECIAL AND UNIQUE ADVENTURE *****************************
at the middle of the day, the captain told my wife and kids if they wanted to visit a spacial place of the Enchanted Islads of Gonzaga Bay, there is small and hidden cove with a beautiful beach which is located on a small Island and of course you can only get there on a boat, once you are in the beach area of the small Island you are surrounded by tall and straight walls, you feel like being on a Jurasic movie
ok, 5 Islands of San Luis Gonzaga or Gonzaga bay are located here
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39701-6619-POMA5islas.png)
now you can see the Island a bit more clear, 1, 2, 3, 4 (the bigh one) and the 5th one is the smallest of the group
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39702-2636-poma5islas.jpeg)
now, this is the 5th Island
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39703-4441-pomamaps1.jpeg)
and this is how it looks from its Westside, I took the pic when going from the big Island (san Luis) to the Poma Island, our target.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39692-1738-20250728120111ss.jpeg)
and this is where the small beach is located, as you can see, its the Eastside of the Island
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39704-419-pomamaps.jpeg)
and this is how it looks when you are inside of the cove on the top end of the beach
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39696-1317-20250728123742ss.jpeg)
and this is my family getting a very nice and coool swim
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39706-4581-20250728124620ss.jpeg)
what make it very unique, is the Island is made or formed with tall walls of rocks all around of it, and its very strange to "find" a beach on that short space/piece of land, once you are inside of the cover you feel like you are on a normal beach, the place have small waves and sounds as every normal beach.
take a look at the walls that surround that cove
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39697-1914-20250728124910ss.jpeg)
and now, thats how the story ends.
thanks for join me along
Thanks Alex, what a beautiful place! Good to see your family having some fun in the sun!
Wow!
Wow Alex, that cove looks like something on some Greek island! Did you make ceviche with the triggers?
You always do a great job describing your adventures Alex.
COOL! I wanna boat camp there!
Awesome report, great pics, almost like being there.
Wow! Beautiful place. Really enjoyed seeing and reading your adventure. Thanks for sharing.
@ Sheridan, amigo, gracias
@Lee, yep, thats the best description when swiming in that cove, WOW
@ Mark, I've never been in Greece but I believe you, I still havent made ceviche with the triggerfish but soon
@Steve, thanks buddy, just trying to share the joy
@gregg, your welcome to come and camp there amigo
@tony, glad you like it compadre
@Macflyer, gracias buddy, hopefully I will go when the good season start and catch a better grade fish
ok, videos of the last fishing trip.
first my youngest kid getting a nice triggerfish, check how strong they pull the fishing rod, she wasnt mentally prepared to fight a "small" fish this hard LOL
then, you have my other daughter catching a triggerfish, she didnt felt comfy with the spinning gear as you will see but got the fish
later, we had tons and tons of dolphins playing and jumping around us
another Triggerfish caught by my youngest daughter, now she was more aware of what strength to expect from that fish and have a better control of the fishing gear
yet another fish from my Med school daughter, now shes using a low profile reel with a long and light casting rod, she have better control of the gear and was easier to catch the fish
my only fish from the day LOL
it was too easy for a UC Zeus 3 fishing rod paired with a 545 PG reel, not a equal battle but fish is a fish, specially if its the 1st one on the combo
I love catching triggers ..... and eating them. Nice job Alex.
Todd
I've only had Triggers as ceviche... good stuff! What are you doing with the Triggers if not ceviche?
Triggerfish come in their own roasting bag.
I've also just fried them and they were great, and in tacos, my wife and I caught them from kayaks in front of the house we rented in Los Berrilas. Paddle out , drink a beer and catch dinner.
Quote from: Hardy Boy on August 08, 2025, 02:41:22 PMI've also just fried them and they were great, and in tacos, my wife and I caught them from kayaks in front of the house we rented in Los Berrilas. Paddle out , drink a beer and catch dinner.
yep, thats a good way to eat them.
Quote from: MarkT on August 08, 2025, 02:09:24 AMI've only had Triggers as ceviche... good stuff! What are you doing with the Triggers if not ceviche?
well, as you said it, they're best in ceviche, I like to made my ceviche with half of the veggies that most of the people use, so, I can taste the fish in every bite and not just a bunch of onion, tomate, etc. but I also use it for fish tacos in really thin strips, so they come fried battered like finger food, that way you can eat them as snack for a football game, etc
Quote from: oc1 on August 08, 2025, 06:08:25 AMTriggerfish come in their own roasting bag.
well, I KINDA know why you said that, I have just a small idea ;)
I'm curious: Florida Triggerfish are outstanding on the table and highly prized. Do Baja Triggerfish taste the same? They can't be exactly the same species.
Quote from: akfish on August 08, 2025, 10:45:45 PMI'm curious: Florida Triggerfish are outstanding on the table and highly prized. Do Baja Triggerfish taste the same? They can't be exactly the same species.
I dont know about Floridian Triggers but I have noticed that is strange florida water fish are kinda similiar to Sea of Cortez fish
triggerfish, spanish macks, different kind of groupers
so, I will say they should taste the same ;D
Fantastic trip,,nice videos,,,, ;D
thanks Benny, glad you liked them
Spring Break Fishing trip
I have my daugther which is the university in another city at home for the spring break vacation, while at home she asked me if we could go fishing during her stay, so, I checked the weather and made some calls and arranged everything to go fishing on this past Earter sunday, when everything was ready and just waiting for the day, she asked me if she can invite over her boyfriend because he had never gone fishing before >:( :-\ :-X well, we know the guy from sometime already because he goes to the med school with her, so, he was coming to fish with us, I though to myself, well, we might need bait for the sharks afterall.
the day was pretty calm as expected, for our luck, the week was windy and there was a window of calm seas on Sunday, then we have strong winds for few days again
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39973-1086-20260405071033ss.jpeg)
my youngest daughter, my 2nd daughter, her BF, Captain Cook and yours truly
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we started the day trolling two rods, one was the ProGear 545 I bought to Bryan Young and I upgraded the drags https://alantani.com/index.php/topic,38283.0.html with a rebuilded Calstar Graphiter 700M https://alantani.com/index.php/topic,35628.0.html, I was too sure of using this fishing rod because I got it in pretty bad shape and I wasnt sure if the blank was compromised because it had lots of dinks and scratches all over and since I restored it the best or heaviest fish caught on it was a 3# spanish mack.
the other rod for trolling was my Mario Bros fishing rod https://alantani.com/index.php/topic,31101.msg363380.html#msg363380 along with the TLD 20 II with tiburon kit and upgraded drag, this came from my amigo Joel.B so, this was the 1st time using the reel.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39980-6462-20260405082546ss.jpeg)
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39985-8918-20260405115917ss.jpeg)
we have the 1st hook up on the pro Gear 545, my youngest daugther took the lead and took the rod to fight the 1st fish, it was her 1st time trolling so, she took the rod and almost lost it because of the strong pull, so I helped her a little bit with one of my hands to hold the rod, on the 2nd pull I knew that it was going to be a nice fish at the other side of the line, from time to time I left the rod totally up to her so she can feel the strong pulls of a YT, she managed it pretty good almost with no help, actually the 2nd half of the fight was totally her vs the fish, ooh boy it was exited to see her figthing the fish
she's 15 yo but really know how to stand and fight the fish
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39975-3109-20260405075938ss.jpeg)
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39977-7396-20260405080059ss.jpeg)
this was the angry YT, at least from 8-10# of pure muscle
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39978-7527-20260405080343ss.jpeg)
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39979-8092-20260405080351ss.jpeg)
then after some time we have a 2nd hook up again in the ProGear 545, time for my other Daugther to take the rod, she already caght a YT 2 years ago, so, she knew about those strong pulls
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39981-7071-20260405082809ss.jpeg)
and this was the trophy
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39982-8444-20260405083059ss.jpeg)
looks like it was heavy
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39993-2053-20260405083110ss.jpeg)
then after few more trolling time we stop to try some jigging spots but no avail, so we returned to the same spot we were trolling, this time we put the same model and color of trolling lure on both lines because we had two nice fish on the fishing rod with a pink lure and nothing on the red head/white body color lure.
well, after few time trolling we have another hook up, this was time for the kid ^-^ , yep, again on the ProGear 545, the TLD 20II that offers a better tool to fight the fish on low speed was getting no action at all.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39992-3996-20260405085316ss.jpeg)
and this was the nice YT
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39990-5565-Messengercreation5FFD96F6-7A85-4D93-A687-2607A42E7871ss.jpeg)
my wife didnt wanted to take the rod on the next hook up, so I took it, finally a fish bit the lure on the TLD & Mario Bros rod, in my stadistics the Mario Bros fishing rod never had caught a fish since it was built, I dont know what kind of bad karma had the Premier fishing rod but finally got free of bad karma with a nice YT, it felt like cheating with the nice upgraded drag of the TLD and low gear, much better for my lower back.
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(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39984-7706-20260405091025ss.jpeg)
the fish looked bigger on real life than in the pictures, even my wife wanted a picture with the fish
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39987-7621-IMG-20260405-WA0001ss.jpeg)
we moved to another spot to try jigging again and both girls got action, sadly the fish on the line of my youngest girl free itself but the fish on the rod of my older daugher was pretty good hooked
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39995-3100-20260405105702ss.jpeg)
a schoolie size yellow spot grouper
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39994-1533-20260405104557ss.jpeg)
nothing more for few hours so we spend some time around the islands seeing flying mantas
we called it a day by 1pm.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39989-1364-IMG-20260405-WA0080ss.jpeg)
not bad for a not planned fishing trip
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/39986-7087-20260405132259ss.jpeg)
:fish
Nice catch, nice day and a nice family trip ..... well done.
Cheers
Todd
:fish :fish
That looks like a great day on the water with the family and the conditions look beautiful! Thanks for sharing Alex! - john
Desert Bloom. Da ladies be a fishin'!
Quote from: Gfish on April 08, 2026, 06:13:24 PMDesert Bloom. Da ladies be a fishin'!
those two young girls always out fish me, I have no problem with that ^-^
Thanks for sharing the story and photos. Looks like a wonderful fishing trip! Congrats on initiating the Mario rod!
Quote from: work2fish on April 11, 2026, 04:30:53 PMThanks for sharing the story and photos. Looks like a wonderful fishing trip! Congrats on initiating the Mario rod!
thanks amigo, indeed, it was a great trip
YT are a beautiful fish but few days after that fish they look like this