The first day I took my licks getting hammered in the shore break not really knowing what I was doing. My shoulder ached from the heavy equipment that night and I realized I needed a guide to sort me out. The only guide in town wasn't a fly fisherman, but he agreed I could bring my rod along and fly fish in between the Dorado fights.
We started off in his boat with my Dad, Wife Ashley and Sister Courtney and we went to a beach were sardines gather. I watched the guide skillfully throw his nets and start to catch the days bait. I also notice bigger fish picking off stragglers on the fringe of the massive school of sardines. So I threw on a sardine pattern and I could see the guide smirk... Two cast later I was into my first fish! I would stripe the sardine along and the "Chile Verde" fish would come chase after my fly. The guide kept every fish I caught and I made a point of slapping him on the back when he was carrying away the fish later that night for his dinner.... haha.
Once we had enough bait we headed straight out to sea and Ashley got the first Dorado. My Dad set up a pecking order on who got to catch the first fish that day- It went me (cause I am a fish freak and he knew I would really enjoy it), My wife, My Sister and then him (since he had done it before). Wouldn't you know it though, right off the bat Ashley caught one and then Courtney caught the next one and then my Dad caught one... (there were two rods off the back of the boat and I apparently had the cold rod...) 3 hours went by and I started getting nervous and then the captain started screaming and throwing sardines in the water. I have never seen anything like this! There were Dorado all around us chasing fish and before I knew it we had 3 fish on! They jump wildly and they are truly sporting fish. They don't come in easy but once they do you can see how gorgeous they are. Here are a few shots.
The anticipation.
Three Dorado's on!
One of many
The whole party getting their hands fishy...
Fish taco night
Taking a break for a photo
Polaroid lenses are a must spotting the fish
Stripping line
Fighting a Dorado
Landing a Dorado
The next outing was My Dad, My Brother, Pat's new Father in Law, Pat and Jackson Taggart and Justin who were traveling with the wedding party.
We got to the sardine beach and I started catching "Chile Verde's" again but our Guide Fernando was having a rough time getting the sardines to his net. While all this was going on black clouds started rolling in and lightning started flashing off in the distance. We ended up catching a few needle fish out at sea but couldn't find the Dorado. The rain started and the lightning got closer so we decided to go back to the town. We all got soaked and sore from the long and bumpy ride back. After we got back the Owner Gus and Fernando pulled my Dad aside and decided to give him a rain check as long as Gus and Fernando got to fish with us. Perfect! so we made arrangements to go out again after the wedding later that week.
Pat's wedding was awesome and I was honored to be his best man. Here are a few photos from the wedding...
Backing Pat up
The whole Family!
The last day we loaded up and struck out for a relaxed day with Gus and Fernando. We had no problem catching sardines and again I had no problem landing the "Chile Verde's and Needle Fish" While Fernando threw nets and chased the schools.
Dad with a monster
Needle Fish
Fillet table with El Capitan Fernando
Pretty Color
"Dos Grande Gringos"
We also had no problem catching Dorado and it was fun to see these guys cutting lose for a day of fishing. Even though we were paying them for the trip the feeling was we were all fishing together. At this point in the week Fernando realized I preferred the fly rod so he made a couple stops on the way back by some nice beach's so I could land some more fish on a fly rod. I landed a Bonita, some Needle Fish and a few more Chile Verde's and we headed back to town. Fernando would fillet the fish and we made sure everyone got their share and everyone was happy.
Chris Giles
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