Back from Baja

[TunaHead]

My long awaited trip to the Sea of Cortez ended a few days ago. I've collected photos from the group for ya and I'll let them tell the story. All I can say is that the fishing and diving were PHENOMENAL and we are tenatively scheduling a trip next year.

The trip got off to a slow start. My brother Eric (left) and I had to spend 12 hours in the San Francisco airport due to a UAL computer snafu. We muddled through. Willy, this one is for you. You can guess what I have in my glass.
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s76/TunaHead101/P1070398.jpg

Our group chartered a tour bus to travel from San Diego to San Felipe. The charter bus is on the right and our ship the Andrea Lynn is on the left.
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s76/TunaHead101/DSC_0003.jpg

Saw this is the harbor at San Felipe. Jeez that guy gets around...
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s76/TunaHead101/P1070416.jpg

Some of the young gentlemen in our group chose to spend part of their evening in San Felipe at this establishment. All I will say is that what happens in San Felipe STAYS in San Felipe...
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s76/TunaHead101/_DSC0018.jpg

Fishing in the Cortez... Find birds=find fish.
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s76/TunaHead101/_DSC0368.jpg

Me casting into the flock.
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s76/TunaHead101/_DSC0381.jpg

Hookup
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s76/TunaHead101/_DSC0422.jpg

A morning's catch of YT
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s76/TunaHead101/P1070439.jpg

Ryan, Mike and Max of the New York contingent with some nice Yellowtail.
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s76/TunaHead101/_DSC0475.jpg

My mom Jessie, at age 69, cranking on a fish.
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s76/TunaHead101/_DSC0026.jpg

[TunaHead]

Continuing on...

Returning to the mothership for lunch.
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s76/TunaHead101/_DSC0157.jpg

Other stuff worth catching: Jack and Max of the NY group with (L->R) a cabrilla, a golden cabrilla and a pargo.
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s76/TunaHead101/P1070516.jpg

Getting ready for an afternoon dive.
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s76/TunaHead101/_DSC0379.jpg

After a dive: Eric with a lobster. The rock scallops in the foreground are mine and were collected in ~ 20 minutes. The chef grilled Eric's lobster with garlic and butter for him that night. I saved my scallops for 3 dives and Pancho cooked teriyaki scallop appetizers for everyone.
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s76/TunaHead101/P1070434.jpg

FRESH sashimi appetizer (yellow tail and cabrilla only and hour out of the water)
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s76/TunaHead101/P1070446.jpg

Sunset on the Cortez.
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s76/TunaHead101/_DSC0194.jpg

Our charter master brought 2x4's and plywood on the trip to make a "fillet table" for the crew.
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s76/TunaHead101/_DSC0003.jpg

This is what we actually used the fillet table for. We had a thousand or so golf balls that we brought with us. The drivers were lost enroute but we had a 9 & 5 iron with us. We call this game "Chipping for Pangas".
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s76/TunaHead101/P1070529.jpg

At night we took pot shots at the sister ship which was anchored a couple of hundred yards away. (Ummm... there may have been alcohol involved in this incident...)
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s76/TunaHead101/P1070569.jpg

[TunaHead]

Other fun stuff to do in Baja:

Not enough fishing during the day for ya? How about fishing for squid at night. Squid fishing is fast and furious. We put over 50 on deck in less than 2 hours and shook off many more. Here Eric has one putting a bend in his rod.
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s76/TunaHead101/P1070489.jpg

A couple of squid ;)
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s76/TunaHead101/_DSC0132.jpg

Making friends with the natives...
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s76/TunaHead101/_DSC0732.jpg

Adios from Baja!
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s76/TunaHead101/P1070509.jpg

[macojoe]

Wow that is so cool! thats one hell of a squid!! Great fish, What a Sunset! The guys with the seal is great!

You are a luck man!! Congrtas on a great trip!!

[bassarama]

Thanks for sharing your fun.

Great fishing and awesome pics.

[reelapeelin]

WHAT A TRIP!!...wow, you guys had some FUN!!...

[tsubaki]

Unbelieveable Tuna. Sashimi and all, I know it was hard returning to real life.

[Airslot]

Wow, incredible trip, pix, and story to go along with it. Looks like another line added onto my must do list for this lifetime.

Simply incredible ;D


About the golf swings, you need to transfer your weight to your forward foot a litle sooner ;)

[Stinky_Hooker]

Absolutely INCREDIBLE!!!! What a trip!! Nice job and great pics! Thanks for sharing!!

[Shawsee]

Awesome pictures and looks like you folks had some fun! I really like the shot of your Mom at 69 yrs old giving it hell! :D

[charlie_the_tuna]

dude, thats the sh!t.
good for you.

[Sean]

WOW, that seemed likethe perfect trip and Holly SQUID!!!
Good for you, I'm glad you had a blast!

[parishht]

Wow, what a trip. ;) ;)

I would be afraid to hit the golf balls though,
the Seinfeld episode where Kramer hits golf balls from the beach
and kills a whale by getting a hole in one into
the blow hole, would be in the back of my mind. :o :o

[Airslot]

Hitting golf balls of a moving boat sounds like fun to me....it's not like the game iss't hard enough on dry ground... ;D ::)

[lumberslinger178]

TH those pics are awsome looks like beautiful waters to fish from........

[TunaHead]

Airslot, I haven't hit a golf ball in 10 years. I was just happy my head was down in the picture.

The water was amazing. I'm used to diving in a full 6mm wet suit in 50-51 degree murky conditions. I wore a 3mm shorty suit and was comfortable in 72-75 degree water. I took a spear gun but it didn't have the range needed for clear water. We had to rent a large wooden model from the ship.

FYI... It looks like we will be repeating the trip next year, probably in the 3rd week of June, 2008. I have agreed to take half the charter (10 spots) and at the moment have 6 spots available. We will begin collecting deposits in August. It'd be great to have some V20 folks along!

[phester]

looks like you all had a big time!, and productive! Beautiful camera work. I wish I could do that every day of the week.

[frayed_knot]

I knew Hammer had a Bayliner! ;)

Sweet pics and I wish I was there too! Looks like a blast.

[TunaHead]

Hey, where is Hammer???

[macojoe]

Lefty formely none as the the Hammer ;) ;D

[Blue_Runner]

Awesome trip Tuna! That is way too cool. Those fish are a thing of beauty.

[willy]

Tuna that is the sweetest fishing trip I ever heard of, well done man ;)
I would love to join you next year but I don't know if I can swing it finacially :-/
And thanks for the toast, I am having one right now and heres to you and your friends and family, you know how to live brother ;)

[randlemanboater2]

WOW!!!!!!! That looks like the trip of a lifetime.......and you go every year? You are blessed my friend.

I am sure I am like Willy in the financial department, but how much money are we talking for the trip?

[C YENSEN]

looks like a blast, can I go next time??? ;D

[TunaHead]

I PM'd brother Willy about the costs recently. I'll repost the info for everyone to see.

[msbhammer]

Damm, busted by Tuna. He seen me in my other boat. ;D
Great Pics. TUNA. Looks like you had a great time. Good for you. *;)

Yeah Tuna, diving in a 6.5 myself. Dont like the restrictions in the suit. XL is a bit to small and a 2X is way to big.

[chesapeake_dreamin]

Glad to see you had a good time and made it back in one piece and good health. Congrats on a well deserved trip.. Looks like lots of fun.