Cholla Bay Kayak Report 3-21

Mexico Joe

Mexico Joe

Cholla Bay 4 Life
Went down to Penasco early Sunday morning and came back Monday evening late. Weather was perfect, couldn't have asked for better. MR FISH was open and fantastic as always. Had about 17 shrimp tortas. I hadn't been down since last May when I got skunked in the Cholla Bay Derby so it was nice to get out there and I noticed that I was a lot more in to it since I hadn't been down in a while. I was focused and determined.

Sunday I concentrated my effort on Flounder and I had made a few flounder rigs before coming down. I caught 2 smaller models near the Tucson beach area in La Cholla. Monday I decided to skip the incoming tide bite and elected to go out in the late afternoon in search for Spanish Macks. I couldn't find anything so I decided to troll some lures one of which caught me two small model grouper. I was using a Rattle-Trap. Can one of the fishing guys tell me which kind of Grouper this is? Sardenero? Both fish were caught on the South side of Pelican Point in La Cholla.

Aside from 3rd degree sun burn I had an amazing time this weekend. I want to give a shout out to Mr Fish Taco, Cholla Bay Sportsmans Club, Lucky Chucky, Villa, JJ'S, CHOLLA MINI MART, JIPPIE and last but never least MY FAMILY that is unfortunately not with BOO BAR any longer but are all at an amazing new joint in the Malecon called TEKILA BAR, shout out to those boys all day! They take care of me like no other. HOLLER @ YOUR BOY!!! I'm out!







CHOLLABAY4LIFE​
 
AZRob

AZRob

Guest
Mexico Joe said:
Went down to Penasco early Sunday morning and came back Monday evening late. Weather was perfect, couldn't have asked for better. MR FISH was open and fantastic as always. Had about 17 shrimp tortas. I hadn't been down since last May when I got skunked in the Cholla Bay Derby so it was nice to get out there and I noticed that I was a lot more in to it since I hadn't been down in a while. I was focused and determined.

Sunday I concentrated my effort on Flounder and I had made a few flounder rigs before coming down. I caught 2 smaller models near the Tucson beach area in La Cholla. Monday I decided to skip the incoming tide bite and elected to go out in the late afternoon in search for Spanish Macks. I couldn't find anything so I decided to troll some lures one of which caught me two small model grouper. I was using a Rattle-Trap. Can one of the fishing guys tell me which kind of Grouper this is? Sardenero? Both fish were caught on the South side of Pelican Point in La Cholla.

Aside from 3rd degree sun burn I had an amazing time this weekend. I want to give a shout out to Mr Fish Taco, Cholla Bay Sportsmans Club, Lucky Chucky, Villa, JJ'S, CHOLLA MINI MART, JIPPIE and last but never least MY FAMILY that is unfortunately not with BOO BAR any longer but are all at an amazing new joint in the Malecon called TEKILA BAR, shout out to those boys all day! They take care of me like no other. HOLLER @ YOUR BOY!!! I'm out!







CHOLLABAY4LIFE​
Click to expand...
Those are some nice fish. What was the depth where you were. Whats your flounder rigs look like?
 
R

rplarry

Guest
Nice flatty Joe!

And that grouper/pinto/?? is awesome too!

Had you ever gotten into fish of that size from your Yak in prior trips?

I've caught the typical trigger, rock bass and corvina from my kayak, but your little trip there was killer.

Congrats!
 
Mexico Joe

Mexico Joe

Cholla Bay 4 Life
AZRob said:
Those are some nice fish. What was the depth where you were. Whats your flounder rigs look like?
Click to expand...

Flounder can be in 2 ft of water and one was caught in not much more than 5 or 6 ft but generally 15ft of water. The grouper off the point were in about 15 to 20 ft of water over the rocks.

The flounder rigs are a jig head on the bottom and then about 8" up the line a dropper loop with 3/0 or smaller baitsaver hook with white grub.

I might have a pic. Ill look later.
 
Mexico Joe

Mexico Joe

Cholla Bay 4 Life
rplarry said:
Nice flatty Joe!

And that grouper/pinto/?? is awesome too!

Had you ever gotten into fish of that size from your Yak in prior trips?

I've caught the typical trigger, rock bass and corvina from my kayak, but your little trip there was killer.

Congrats!
Click to expand...

Larry, usually I'm out there catching similar to what you describe. I'm starting to learn how to target specific fish. So instead of floating around dropping down to the bottom with something small and generic catching rock bass all day I'm trying to rig up with something specific for each target species. I have also learned that trolling bass lures like jerk baits and diving/sinking stick/crank baits work really well for all types. The Rattle Trap I was trolling with could have also netted me a few Sierra or Corvina as well so that is the advantage to trolling one of those except in the kayak it is tiring. I was lucky because no wind and sea was dead calm so I was able to paddle around for a couple of hours trolling without getting tired.

These fish still really aren't what Im looking for as they were still on the small side but it is encouraging that I'm now starting to produce on what I'm targeting specifically. The bigger models should be around the corner!


CHOLLABAY4LIFE​
 
Kelney

Kelney

Guest
Nice report. I was out on my tube last week and grouper (Sardinero and Gulf) were plentiful. Had a few break off as well and got rocked up on a few of the larger variety. I was surprised that I caught as many grouper as I did with very few Rock Bass. The Grouper must be thinning the herd. Triggers were a plenty though. The area South of Competition Hill had another opening in the fence:)
 
Mexico Joe

Mexico Joe

Cholla Bay 4 Life
Kelney said:
Nice report. I was out on my tube last week and grouper (Sardinero and Gulf) were plentiful. Had a few break off as well and got rocked up on a few of the larger variety. I was surprised that I caught as many grouper as I did with very few Rock Bass. The Grouper must be thinning the herd. Triggers were a plenty though. The area South of Competition Hill had another opening in the fence:)
Click to expand...

Good to hear. Friend out of Cholla Bay told me lots of smaller grouper over Thanksgiving weekend too. He says more than he can recall in recent past.
 
brokenwave

brokenwave

Guest
Mexico Joe said:
Went down to Penasco early Sunday morning and came back Monday evening late. Weather was perfect, couldn't have asked for better. MR FISH was open and fantastic as always. Had about 17 shrimp tortas. I hadn't been down since last May when I got skunked in the Cholla Bay Derby so it was nice to get out there and I noticed that I was a lot more in to it since I hadn't been down in a while. I was focused and determined.

Sunday I concentrated my effort on Flounder and I had made a few flounder rigs before coming down. I caught 2 smaller models near the Tucson beach area in La Cholla. Monday I decided to skip the incoming tide bite and elected to go out in the late afternoon in search for Spanish Macks. I couldn't find anything so I decided to troll some lures one of which caught me two small model grouper. I was using a Rattle-Trap. Can one of the fishing guys tell me which kind of Grouper this is? Sardenero? Both fish were caught on the South side of Pelican Point in La Cholla.

Aside from 3rd degree sun burn I had an amazing time this weekend. I want to give a shout out to Mr Fish Taco, Cholla Bay Sportsmans Club, Lucky Chucky, Villa, JJ'S, CHOLLA MINI MART, JIPPIE and last but never least MY FAMILY that is unfortunately not with BOO BAR any longer but are all at an amazing new joint in the Malecon called TEKILA BAR, shout out to those boys all day! They take care of me like no other. HOLLER @ YOUR BOY!!! I'm out!







CHOLLABAY4LIFE​
Click to expand...
Nice catch Joe,
In the 2nd photo, you were probably right in front of my house on Pinto Pt. .
 
R

rplarry

Guest
Mexico Joe said:
Larry, usually I'm out there catching similar to what you describe. I'm starting to learn how to target specific fish. So instead of floating around dropping down to the bottom with something small and generic catching rock bass all day I'm trying to rig up with something specific for each target species. I have also learned that trolling bass lures like jerk baits and diving/sinking stick/crank baits work really well for all types. The Rattle Trap I was trolling with could have also netted me a few Sierra or Corvina as well so that is the advantage to trolling one of those except in the kayak it is tiring. I was lucky because no wind and sea was dead calm so I was able to paddle around for a couple of hours trolling without getting tired.

These fish still really aren't what Im looking for as they were still on the small side but it is encouraging that I'm now starting to produce on what I'm targeting specifically. The bigger models should be around the corner!

Gotcha. Sounds like you are becoming more of a hunter while fishing!




CHOLLABAY4LIFE​
Click to expand...
Mexico Joe said:
Larry, usually I'm out there catching similar to what you describe. I'm starting to learn how to target specific fish. So instead of floating around dropping down to the bottom with something small and generic catching rock bass all day I'm trying to rig up with something specific for each target species. I have also learned that trolling bass lures like jerk baits and diving/sinking stick/crank baits work really well for all types. The Rattle Trap I was trolling with could have also netted me a few Sierra or Corvina as well so that is the advantage to trolling one of those except in the kayak it is tiring. I was lucky because no wind and sea was dead calm so I was able to paddle around for a couple of hours trolling without getting tired.

These fish still really aren't what Im looking for as they were still on the small side but it is encouraging that I'm now starting to produce on what I'm targeting specifically. The bigger models should be around the corner!
Click to expand...

Gotcha. Sounds like you are becoming more of a "hunter" rather than a "gatherer"! Only experience can get you to that point.

Joe, I used to use bass type crank-baits as well. But I was probably over terrain that held trigger and rock bass, so that is what I caught.

In those deeper waters, bigger rocks, with the grouper, do you use a weight to get those crank baits down deeper ?
 
Mexico Joe

Mexico Joe

Cholla Bay 4 Life
rplarry said:
Gotcha. Sounds like you are becoming more of a "hunter" rather than a "gatherer"! Only experience can get you to that point.

Joe, I used to use bass type crank-baits as well. But I was probably over terrain that held trigger and rock bass, so that is what I caught.

In those deeper waters, bigger rocks, with the grouper, do you use a weight to get those crank baits down deeper ?
Click to expand...

The water was only 20ft deep where I was fishing and the good thing about Rattle Traps is they are a sinking lure so when you are not trolling or retrieving the lure is going to sink. Because of this is can get hung up on the bottom if you're not careful. I would assume it would be a little harder to use one of these from shore because you would have to retrieve it incredibly fast to stay off of the rocks. I can almost control the depth of the lure by the speed at which I paddle or retrieve. A better lure to use from shore and even in the kayak would be a diving lure that floats. The faster you paddle or retrieve the deeper the lure goes however these usually have a depth range and will not exceed that. Once you stop paddling or retrieving the lure begins to float and will slowly rise to the surface. You dont really have to worry about these getting hung up. The perfect in-between lure would be a suspending lure.
 
Mexico Joe

Mexico Joe

Cholla Bay 4 Life
brokenwave said:
Nice catch Joe,
In the 2nd photo, you were probably right in front of my house on Pinto Pt. .
Click to expand...

I was paddling from Pinto Point over to Pelican Point and this was a little closer to Pelican Point but in the general area yes.

Brokenwave if you ever see me in Cholla say hi. I have the white toyota with the orange kayak. Always enjoy reading your posts and perspective. Of course... CHOLLABAY4LIFE
 
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