In 2010, the Month of May proved very interesting and rewarding for a star-studded crew of guys to take on the waters off Puerto Vallarta . Their promising efforts would cover both inshore and offshore fishing alike. Joining Ron, Mike, and Oz were fellow Pelagic Pro Team members Capt. David Trafton , Capt Josh Temple , Capt Tony Berkowitz, and world renowned photographer Tony Ludovico . Teamed up with Capt. Herk, Sue, and Ben along with PV's-Los Angeles natives Bogart and tattoo artist extrodinare turned fisherman - Mark , the full-on crew is bound to leave a mushroom cloud of fish slaying destruction in their wake.
With the exception of Berky, the boys all arrived with 24 hours of each other and strategic plans for on the water were being formulated. The very next morning, chaos would reign inshore. A main purpose of this trip, other than to of course put a hurting on some pelagics, was to get Ludovico in the water and let him do his thing.
With a rough itinerary in place, the journey begins.
Below: JT made a quick stop at his familiar fish-slaying vessels to pick up his spearfishing equipment for the day...
After the quick stop at the Maximo , the guys would soon be in their natural element and ready to take on the sea. After short drive north to Punta Mita, the team wound up in Capt. Lora Vasquez's neck of the woods who was more than happy to take us out in the panga in search of schooling Roosterfish . As luck would have it, the boys chose wisely to stay inshore the first day for they were about to have an experience of a lifetime.
Below: Punta Mita's small cove houses several of the local's panga boats.
We arrived out of the clown-car-van Taxi like Rockstars and the locals knew we were here to see Capt Lora . As we slowly get the boat organized and all our gear sorted, we take a second to take in the down-to-earth surrounds in this small Mexican village. Things seem so native and primitive in these area's versus where several of us come from off the coast of Florida, Texas, and California.
Below: Mark playfully interacts with a couple of the local kids hanging out...
Things are all set and we are ready to begin our aquatic adventure for the day. This part of Mexico is very peaceful and full of friendly residents - who like us, make their living on the sea. Anxious, we break the small jetties and begin towards the unknown with optimistic hopes.
Below: A mini gateway to the Pacific courtesy Punta Mita
The inital plan was to find and gather some bait. Lora took us nearby in hopes of attaining some Sardines in the surf. As we drove around for several minutes, things began to look grim. However, Lora is know to pull a rabit out of his hat in the most unlikely of times... would this be one? We continue on with a wide eye open.
Below: Capt. Lora in his natural element...
Below: JT and Ludovico on the bow of the boat ready for the bait hunt...
We would travel up and down the surf zone and while there were pelicans feeding heavily, the bait was not concentrated enough to allow us to obtain any to store in the livewell. One thing you have to realize with this crew is the persistence and dedication that can be observed out of every individual on the boat.
Below: JT being patient with a keen eye out for any sort of bait to make it's presence known.
Below: Back-up plan revolves around an artillery of Spearguns ...
We put a pause on the bait mission and Lora decides to run north in search of activity. The scenery and geology of the landscape couldn't be more different than that of the Atlantic or Gulf Coast of the United States. With that being said, it also possesses and incredible beauty that most people will never see in their lifetime or know exists. The tall rocky ledges that fall into the sea are interestly enough full of vegetation and various plant life. There is much more wildlife that inhabit this part of the coastline than many people realize.
Below: The scenery along this edge of the Pacific shows it's raw beauty.
Time for observing the surroundings on land is cut short as we arrive in 'fishy' waters in search of various activity. Lora has a good feeling and continues a thorough sweep of the area. We then spot a healthy supply of birds crashing the surfzone down the beach... looks promising.
Below: Capt. Lora keeps full alert while guiding the crew to the fish.
At last, after nearly and hour of just getting on the boat, we have reached our promised waters... Pelican's and various birds are crashing large schools of Sardines . As we drift closer to the breaks, our hopes are realized and there is action. Shadows blast underneath the boat... could it be... could it be??? YES! The Roosterfish are here! And in impressive numbers. Lora puts us on the jackpot, now it's up to us to do the rest.
Below: JT gets hooked up on a Roosterfish via topwater lure...
Here come the Roosters ... hungry and hunting down baitfish on the sandbars and in the waves. We can see them clear as day. Water was a decent visibility with all things considering, which allowed us to see the school crashing bait all around the boat. Throwing topwater lures and reeling them in at light-speed was the ticket. Not only would the lures draw a Rooster, but it would draw several at a time following the lure with their cock-like comb dorsals protruding the surface of the water.
Below: A Roosterfish crashes a topwater lure near the boat...
Below: The fish is subdued and released.
With all the action, the visual sights for the next couple hours that would etch in our internal memory would be worth the entire trip alone. Roosterfish in a feeding frenzy is a very impressive sight, especially when their attention is drawn to every lure tossed. Many people wouldn't think of these fish as being agile, however to see them to chase a topwater to the boat and then turn on a dime to pursue another is nothing short of spectacular.
Below: Another Rooster breaks the surface in pursuit of a topwater plug... (photo courtesy David Trafton )
Below: Mike is hooked up on his first Rooster of the trip...
While Mike has landed some donkey Roosters in his day, the fun factor is simply off the chart. Everyone is all smiles. Roosterfish are quite similar to members of the Jack family. While they are their own unique solo family of fish, they possess the hunting characteristics of those similar to the Jack Crevalles and Trevally. They are ambush predators and use force in numbers to destroy various pods of bait.
Below: No matter the size, any Roosterfish will test the limits of your tackle...
Below: Oz poses with a Roosterfish that fell prey to a topwater
Below: Mike takes his turn to quickly pose with a Roosterfish ...
By now, we are getting into them pretty thick. And what is even more satisfying is that everyone is getting into the action. While about half the boat has had previous experience with these dominating inshore predators, the rest have never had the chance to land one. On this day, all Rooster virgins would mark off yet another species on their particular angling list. But the action is far from over, we are having a blast and are not going to stop just yet.
Below: Capt Lora release yet another Roosterfish.
Trafton and JT would get back on the bow and with your true fishermen's motto 'just one more' they would continue the last remaining assult with the topwaters. The fish would continue to chase the lures but were starting to understand that they were blatantly being fooled. Now they would follow and tease the angler even more than the angler would tease the fish. Nonetheless, the boys continued until Lora announced a quick bait mission.
Below: Pelagic Pro Team members David Trafton and Josh Temple focused in a one track minded world...
We nailed them on topwaters, why not live bait? Perhaps the brutes that we saw cruising would indeed fall for a fresh Sardine . However, the trick was getting the bait. They were schooled right up on the beach and with the swells curling on the sandbar proved to be quite dangerous to castnet from the boat. So what is the solution you ask? Josh being the relentless adventurer would nominate himself to hop out of the boat and work his way to the beach for the betterment of crew's future fishing possibilities. Like a trooper, JT hops out and risk life and limb in the name of bait.
Below: JT on a bait mission for the elusive Sardine
All it took was one throw with the net and bingo... the remaining day's bait supply. The boat is golden now. The guys quickly transfer the bait to the livewell and we are set for another onslaught of Roosterfish . JT comes through again! You da man!
Below: Sardines are plentiful, and Roosterfish love Sardines
Getting back in the action, we take a few minutes to find the school of Roosterfish that decided to separate and spread out a bit. Nonetheless, it wasn't long until we were back into the action. With Ludovico out of the water, he takes his turn in hammering a Rooster of his own. While the normal scene would call of a camera, Tony dawns a rod and reel... something that is experienced and seen far less than a Bigfoot or Yeti in the wild.
Below: You know its an action packed day if Ludovico is at the buisness end of a rod and reel!
Below: Another beautiful Roosterfish makes its way to the boat.
Below: Trafton showing off a Rooster after an epic battle that JT fought...
There was one last person on the boat to land their Roosterfish for the day. Trafton , while trying to steal a pose with Josh's fish, would get his chance yet once again. After missing a couple fish, he was due. In short, Dave threw out and hooked a Skipjack. Roosters love Sardines, but a Skipjack is also on the menu and one manages to nail the Skippy and get hooked. "Here you go Dave, have fun" as JT chuckles. Trafton is in an epic battle of his own. Although the odds are against him, stranger things have happened within this talented group of gentlemen.
Below: Trafton battles the last Rooster of the day...
After a great deal of patience and smart angling, David gets his Rooster! It is an incredible feeling as everyone on the boat manages to land and release a fish of their own. Many people travel the world in search of Roosterfish . While not the rarest of species that inhabit the oceans, at times they are often not there when you are pursuing them. However, this day would be different. This day the fishing gods would look down at a fine group of fishing misfits and reward them with an inshore adventure not soon to be forgotten.
Below: Trafton poses with a beautiful Roosterfish
Below: Grin from ear to ear as Trafton finally gets his fish...
The inshore adventure of a lifetime concludes as we make our way back to Punta Mita . We have Capt. Lora to thank as he has once again risen to the occasion and put his guys on a mess of fish. The mental images we came back with shall be stunning for years to come for each of the anglers. Seeing Roosterfish really isn't that big of a deal, especially if you live in proximity to their waters. However, to see the shear amount of chaos that was embarked by the schooling fish on both bait and lures was nothing short of satisfying. They are surreal scenes that a very limited amount of anglers (or people in general) get to experience firsthand. Capt. Lora had a strong catch and release moral and with that others are catching on (no pun intended). Everyone should be able to experience these fish at least once in their lifetime. What a fantastic inshore adventure!
Stay tuned next month for Part II of Mayhem in Puerto Vallarta as the crew goes far offshore in search of frenzying Yellowfin Tuna .
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