Exotic Fishing..Sea of Cortez

[TubeDude]

We took a trip to San Filepe in the mid 90's. 
I hired a "charter" in a Panga from the beach for $50 and the next morning off we went.  First we stopped for a couple of cast nets full of bait and then out we headed.  Along the way I pointed out a very large shark fin sticking out of the water.  Well this "captain" turns the boat, ties a big snagging treble on to a length of para-cord, runs the boat right up next to the thing and snags it about mid belly.
Like a "Nantucket Sleighride" we were off with him tying the paracord to the anchor line and letting the shark drag the boat around.  This lasted about 20 minutes when I begin to realise that he intends to put the thing in the boat with us...
Thankfully the hook pulled and we lost the shark.
Off again to the unmarked spot out there somewhere.  We fished for a while around some other boats and were catching some grunts when the captian finally understood that I didn't want to keep the fish, just catch them.  Pulled anchor and headed for another spot. It was Corvina and Cabrilla one right after another and some White Sea bass to 20lbs.  Finally we had used the last of the bait and it was time to head in.
The Panga looked like a gut wagon, we were literally knee deep in fish.  Not to worry, he culled a big white, a couple of corvinas and and cabrillas out for me and pointed me to his brothers restaurant told us to have them cook them up for us. 
As I stood there giving out gratuities of sinkers, hooks and a 600 yd spool of 20lb test mono the towns people, as if by some majic signal began to descend on the boat, picking out which fish they wanted and paying a dollar or 2 cash for them before wandering off for their dinner.
It was the most amazing experience I had ever had to that date and I still remember it like yesterday.

Great you were able to experience that fishing.  I used to be on good terms with one of the pangeros who I would go out with at least a couple of times a year.  We would "make bait"...small stuff...and then go catch some corvinas FOR BAIT...for totuavas.  We would head out toward the big white Consag Rock until we came to  "the zone".  Then a 2-3# corvina would go over the side on heavy tackle.   It was rare to catch totuavas under 50 pounds.  Most were 70-80 pounds with some over 100.  Like hooking an underwater freight train.

I also used to get on one of the "long range" boats out of San Felipe that made the run down to the "midriff islands" in Cortez.  Wide open non-stop action for two or three days on many different species.  I also talked my way aboard a shrimp boat or two...as a gringo deckhand.  I speak reasonably good Spanish and got along well with the other shrimpers.  Worked my behind off at night...while working the nets...but got to fish during the day while the boat was anchored up and waiting for the next night's fishing.   Also took home many pounds of huge shrimp as my "wages".

Ahhh...memories.