2001 Baja Dorado Tournament Recap
 

For those of you that have always wanted to experience the great fishing in Baja and keep saying “next year”, you should have been there.  The fishing couldn’t have been any better than on this year’s trip

After arriving in Loreto and meeting Lucia, our transportation director, we load van packed and headed for the “Super Mercado”.  We loaded up with local beverages and water for the two hour journey north.  Along the way you get a good perspective of just how remote and desolate Baja can be.  We pass along side Baha de Conception, a magnificent bay with aqua and green water that looks so inviting.  A short time later we arrive at our final destination, Mulege. 

Javier, the owner of our host hotel, meets us and shows us our rooms.  The first thing to do is turn on the air conditioner, then you can start to unpack and settle in.  At dinner, later in the evening, we discuss our plans for tomorrow.  Sea kayaking with my good friend Roy.  This is the only day that you get to sleep in, so take advantage of it. 

At 8:00 am our cabs pick us up for the 20-minute ride to Roy’s, Baja Tropicales.  The building, which he built, is made from bales of straw and covered with an adobe type mud.  The roof is a traditional style, thatch.  It’s a very comfortable place, where he serves meals and you make your arrangements for the kayaking adventures.  We are in luck; Roy is going to join us on our trip.  After explaining the do’s and don’ts of kayaking, we are on our way.  Roy takes time to describe the flora and fauna along the way.   We kayak to one of the outer islands, for a rest and a chance to snorkel.  We are amazed at all of the fish and wonder where are our fly rods!  It’s time to go clamming!!  We stop in about 4 foot of water and Roy says, “we need some clams for lunch”.  In a very short time our bags are full of clams.  Back at Roy’s, we enjoy steamed clams, clams with garlic butter and pasta with a marinara clam sauce.   After lunch, Roy gives us the bad news, “This will be the last time we will be able to get clams from the bay, next year it will become a biosphere reserve”.  We all agreed that it’s still a great trip without the clams. 

Back in town, we start thinking about the next five days of dorado fishing.  On the patio, everyone gets their fly fishing equipment out so I can give it the final check.  We also discuss the tournament rules.  I always throw in a few twists just to keep everybody off guard.  Look out for next year; the rules are going to change! 

It’s still dark at 5:00 am when I start banging on doors, while Kathy is getting the breakfast and lunch together.  You have enough time to eat, make your lunch and get your gear together before the cabs pick us up at 5:45 am sharp. 

The Captains are waiting for us at the dock.  It’s time to get some bait and catch some dorado.  That’s probably the last time you are going to see the others in the group until we get back.  Like I said earlier, you should have been there!!  All week long the boat was surrounded with big schools of dorado.  Lots of hook-ups and landed fish

Thursday is the final day of the tournament and Glen wanted to look for some sailfish.   I decided to go with him.  In the years that I have been down to Baja, I have never seen so many sailfish and marlin in one day.  There were schools of 6 to 8 sailfish all over.  It was hard to decide which school to go after.  We were successful bringing 6 sails to the boat, but no hook-up.  In fact, the one hook-up was from a big bull dorado, that came from nowhere to take the sailfish fly.   

Thursday night is our Tournament Awards Dinner.  Javier prepares a feast highlighted around the fresh dorado that we have brought to him.   Third place went to Willie Tsusaki, second place to Ron Bergstrom and first place to newcomer Larry Dextraze. 

This year’s group: 
Willie Tsusaki
George Tsusaki
Glen Bockmon
Ron Bergstrom
Larry Dextraze
Al Smatsky
Kathy Smatsky

Friday is our final day to fish and Willie asked if I would go with him.  Again we found big schools of dorado willing to take the fly.  Willie had hook-up after hook-up.  I could tell he was getting tired, when he broke of the last four fish by not letting go of the fly line.  I told him, “maybe it’s time to call it a trip”, he agreed with a big smile!

Guides:
Enrique Mayoral
Victor Mayoral
Martin Alvarez
 

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