I recognized Tom and Al getting off the plane but I had no idea what the other two looked like. I was wearing one of my logo t-shirts hoping that they would see me. To my surprise, two gentlemen approached me and asked if I was Al. Sure enough it was Richard and his son Michael from LA. Tom was still waiting for his bag to be unloaded when I pointed to him to go through customs, at this point it was a fruitless wait. His luggage did not arrive. Tom was visibly upset and you can understand why. I walked him over to the Aero California desk; they asked for his luggage tag and informed him it would arrive tomorrow. He still was not happy. I reassured him that his luggage would arrive and I arranged with Gerardo and Lucia to transport his bag to Mulege the next day. Off we went on our journey. Tom was quiet during the hour long ride to Mulege. Once at the Las Casitas Hotel, we unloaded the luggage and every one settled in their rooms. Alejandro and Amelia made everyone feel right at home with another excellent dinner at the hotel. It had been a long day for the group so it was off to bed early.

Kayaking day, Kathy and I let the group sleep in until 7 am since the cab wasn’t coming until 8 am for our kayaking adventure. It was their first test at getting up and getting going in the morning. At best Tom’s bag wasn’t due to arrive until afternoon so, we all pitched in to help Tom get into some clothes for the kayaking trip. Richard asked if he could bring a fly rod with him, sure go ahead. So Richard and Al B. got their equipment ready for the trip. Once at Ecomondo’s Roy and his wife Rose made our group feel at home, with coffee and stories about his unique building. We gathered our equipment and with some instruction from Roy we were on our way. First stop was an island a short distance away for some snorkeling and fishing. Al B. and Richard headed to the point of the island and the rest of us went to a good beach for a rest. As we met up with the two fishermen, Richard was catching quite a few "taco bass" but Al with his floating line was just not getting the job done. It was off to get some clams for lunch. I showed them how to get clams the easy way, Michael had it down, but for the rest of the group it was going to be a little more of a challenge.

 I heard a commotion and saw Al B. had flipped over his kayak, I don’t think I have seen that move before. Some how his fly rod got broken when he flipped and he lost his sunglasses. Back to clamming, another commotion, I see a kayak floating a long ways from the group with out a rider, it was Tom’s. Back in my kayak to retrieve it. I told Tom to just take a break and we will get the clams (Michael and I). A short time later we were on our way back to Ecomondo’s. Roy and Rose steamed the clams for use to try and prepared some pasta with clams for lunch. After lunch Roy presented them with a certificate that signified them as "Vagabundos".

When Kathy and I arrived back at the hotel, I checked on Tom’s bag, sure enough, it had arrived. Knocking on Tom’s door, I said I had a surprise for him. What is it, your bag, I thought he was going to break down in tears. No Problem, I told him.

Later that evening we met the guides for the next day and did some hoochie rigging. It was late so off for tacos we go.

5 am wake up call, second drill, this time not only do they need to eat breakfast but make lunch. Tom was feeling a little more spry and Michael noticed in the morning, by saying to him, "I think Tom is a new man this morning since he got his luggage, Kathy quickly said clean underwear will do that".

Off to meet our captains, the sea was not kind to us, some wind with lots of chop. Victor headed straight out and we headed north. It was rough but not enough for us go back. We trolled all morning catching skipjack and some bonito but no dorado. Victor thought the water was too rough and ended up taking Richard and Michael into the bay. Better luck tomorrow.

Wednesday Heavy clouds and lighting greeted us in the morning. We delayed our departure till 7:30 am, then headed to the bay. Tom hooked one roosterfish but it was short lived. Richard and Michael hooked several toro’s, about 9:30 am we looked out of the bay and saw it had calmed, so we headed out to open sea. Another hook up for Tom, his first dorado and the first dorado of the trip. I remember him saying, "I don’t know if I could handle one of these on a fly rod". A short time later the fish was landed and off we trolled again. After fishing we all went to "Ramon’s" for some tacos, one of my favorite spots. Tom wasn’t sure what to order, he just said, "I’ll take two of what ever they ordered". No complaints, the food was excellent. After dinner, a small mariachi band came into the restaurant, Kathy told all of them if they didn’t want to have them play just say no thanks and they would leave, but Tom mumbled, "I think the only song I know is "La Bamba", quickly the group started playing. When they finished, they went over to Tom for payment, he gave them a small Mexican coin, they replied, it wasn’t enough so Tom dug for more. I promised I would not reveal what it cost..

Thursday – With a little flatter water, we were able to get out further into the sea, we trolled for skipjack and bonito. Richard and Michael had a double hook up in no time. Richard wanted to cast a fly and asked if it was OK, "I said sure". After several casts we decided to start trolling again, when we did, I told Richard, "if you hook another fish, we were doing something wrong". Sure enough, the boat didn’t move ten feet and we had another double hook up. This time I told Richard to speed up the strip. The second cast he was into a nice bonito. Next up was Michael, but he had no success. With dorado on our mind we headed off. The sea turned very rough but we stuck it out. A short time later we had our first dorado on, Michael got the honors of reeling it in. Strange it was another loner. We carried on, then another hook up, this one was smaller, we kept the fish on for a long time throwing chum and me casting a sardine. But again another loner. When the wind and sea calmed down, we saw a big pod of whales near by. Michael had another dorado on, but this time it was a big bull about 30 lbs. I heard him say, I think the spool cracked. I heard another pop; this time the reel came unglued and was finished. It was frozen. The fish was only about 30’ from the boat so we decided to hand line the fish to the boat. When we got the fish close to the boat we had one shot, but it was too strong and left us high and dry. So much for the photo of the big fish.

Friday – It was the final day of the tournament, to date not one dorado has been checked it. Not because we haven’t been trying, but the weather had and cold water temperatures had been a huge factor. This was going to be the first year that not one dorado was caught on a fly rod. At Annual Banquet the tournament money was donated to the Mulege Scholarship Fund. And the Captain’s chili pepper scarf was awarded to Tom L. for being the most entertaining guest (angler) during the week. I promised I would divulge all of the details.

Saturday – Last day of fishing and the group tried very hard to find fish again no schooling fish were to be found. Tom and Al went into the bay for a final fish or two.

Sunday was we traveled back to Loreto. Kathy and I met our next group; Bob, Greg, George, Willie, Bob S., and Jim at the airport. They were excited to be in Baja and immediately asked about the fishing. Unfortunately, we had bad news that the dorado were scattered and few and far between. I told the group that we would make the best of it and the guides would work very had to make sure that they had a good time.

Monday- Kayaking day. This is always a big event. The cab picked up the group for the short ride to Ecomundo’s. Roy and Rose were waiting for us. We received our instructions and off we went. First to the island for a trip around to snorkel then off to the clam beds. It didn’t take very long before we had enough clams for lunch, now the paddle back. Roy and Rose steamed the clam. After lunch Roy presented them with a certificate that signified them as "Vagabundos".

Tuesday - first day of fishing. The wind was blowing pretty well but it didn’t prevent us from getting out. We spent most of the time with in three miles of the harbor,
Bob S. and Jim caught 11 different species of fish including three dorado. Jim hooked a large rooster fish but lost it at the boat. We estimated the fish to be around 25 lbs. George and Willie both landed large jacks.

Wednesday – The weather was perfect. Bob hooked the first dorado of the day, a small female which was released. About an hour later, it was Greg’s turn. This one was larger, it was Greg’s first dorado and largest fish that he had every caught. He struggled getting the dorado to the boat. Martin, the guide, a very quite man who always has a very serious face, knew by Greg’s reaction, that it was his first dorado, so when Greg got the fish close to the boat, Martin would tap on the side of the boat and off the fish would run again. Greg was working up a sweat and each time he got the fish close, tap, tap, tap and off the dorado went. Greg asked for advice, and we kept encouraging him that all he need to do was just keep up the pressure and get the dorado to the boat. Final, Martin felt sorry for him and gaffed the fish. This one was going to be used for the dinner Friday night.

 That evening we changed the rules for the tournament to the largest fish caught on a fly rod would be the winner of the tournament. I would realize later that this could be a big mistake not defining the rules.

Thursday – We left the hotel not releasing that it was heavy surf at the harbor. All of the other captains had cancelled their trips. We waited at the harbor for a while when the Captain’s said that we could go out but we would probably just go to the bay. No problem. Everybody caught fish on their fly rods. And Bob and Greg caught three dorado trolling. Greg, who was the one that was very vocal about a rule change caught and landed a giant needle fish, from our location, I could see the fish being brought into the boat. I first thought was OH No not a needle fish. Sure enough, when we were all back at the hotel, Greg wanted to register his catch, a 36 ½" needle fish. I told him, it had to be an edible fish. He claimed foul and said that the rule was never discussed at our meeting last night. He was right so the fish was registered. This turn of events made for a desperate final day of fishing.

Friday-last day of the tournament- everyone was gunning for Greg, and the rule was, any fly caught dorado would take the prize. So off we went, my two boat partners were Bob S. and Jim B. We stayed close that day not more that 5 or 6 miles from the harbor. We immediately hooked our first dorado, and were looking for more. Sure enough, here comes some buddies, small but hungry. I gave the rod to Tito and starting casting a popper to make some noise. Jim and Bob were casting sinking lines with sardine fly patterns. Bob hooked the first fish but lost it, darn, then Jim had a hook up, small but caught on a fly. We kept the fish on the fly rod for a long time encouraging the school to stay with us, I began to think, we should land and measure the fish just to make it legal. So we did. HURRAY, fly caught dorado, and no more needle fish. Sorry Greg were our thoughts. Since we had no bait to keep the fish interested they soon left us. Back to trolling. We spent some time, working the shoreline for a variety of fish and soon went back into the open water looking for more dorado. About 11 am we found another school of fish. Again, Bob had the first hook up, a good fish about 15 lbs., but it was soon off. We kept working the school, and Jim had another hook up but it too got off. The excitement was over for the day. We all pledged to be silent about our day’s events until the tournament dinner.

Greg was fully expecting to be the winner for the week until I made the announcement about our day. They were all ears listening to the story of what had transpired with Jim and Bob. Jim with Tito as the Captain were the official winner of this week’s tournament and split the prize money. Greg was awarded a new award for the largest needle fish caught on a fly rod. Way to go GREG!

Saturday – final fishing day, we all went in different directions with some hunting for dorado and other content with the inshore fishing. Later that night I took the group to the Mission in Mulege and then off to Santa Rosilia for our annual hot dog feed. As always most are skeptical until the first bite, then they all claim it was the best hot dog they have ever eaten.

From Kathy and myself, Good Bye friends, hope to see you all next year.

Please check the web site for the dates of the 9^th Annual Dorado Tournament.

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