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Looking For Mossbacks
By Jonathan Roldan
Mention the word "Yellowtail" and a young fisherman's fingers twitch for a rod and reel while the eyes of an old Baja salt glaze over. Of the many gamefish available in Mexican waters, few offer the sheer tenacity, attitude and tastiness of the sierra dorsalis, known as yellowtail, yellows, forktails, forkies, or mossbacks. Not to be confused with yellowfin tuna, the yellowtail is a member of the jack family with blue/grey/silver sides and a darker blue/green back or, in the larger older resident species, a dark emerald back topped with bright yellow fins.
Talk to a longtime Baja angler or older anglers from Southern California and they will re-count days when the birds dove on seemingly acres of boiling frothing fish. The kelp beds off Southern California, the paddies off northern Pacific Baja and the islands of Cedros and Benitos used to have schools thicker than mackerel. The areas off Loreto, Bahia de Los Angeles and the midriff islands were legendary for 40 pounders that would turn the waters into class 5 rapids when they came to feed.
My own first encounter with these tremendous fish was at the age of nine and I recall looking into the water and seeing solid fish as far as my gaze penetrated. I farmed six fish before I was able to land my first one! It was a 25 pounder that the skipper said was "too small" and after a quick photo, was tossed back into the water with a cavalier flip, as if he were tossing a bonito back. I was devastated, but quickly forgot as my next fish was probably closer to 40 pounds!
That fish, in many areas, would almost be a trophy by today's standards. Indeed, the fish was so sought it attracted commercial interests that wasted no time wrapping entire schools in seine nets. Today, although not as plentiful, it seems sport anglers no less seek the yellowtail. Especially during the winter/early spring months, then again in the fall, yellowtail fishing in the Sea of Cortez can still be spectacular. While in the summer and fall, warmer waters off the Pacific coast bring fish into northern Baja waters under kelp paddies and off structures well within reach of San Diego/ Ensenada/San Quintin fleets.
Current fish have diminished in size to the point where a 25-30 pound fish is considered a trophy. Most of the fish along the Pacific tend to be under that weight, but voracious schools carrying quantities of fish seem to more than make up for size. Many larger fish are found around Cedros and Benitos Islands as well as the higher spots and banks off Magdalena Bay and elsewhere around structures.
Generally speaking, however, the larger fish are in the Sea of Cortez. Less migratory than their Pacific counterparts, this is where most people come to find the grumpy angry fish of the past. The best areas continue to be the islands off Loreto, Bahia de Los Angeles and the Midriff islands, Fish can be found as far south as Cabo on occasion, but with diminishing frequency. In general, if someone asks me for yellowtail, I send him north of my place in La Paz.
Most methods of catching these prized fish entail some degree of effort-both in getting them hooked and then battling the bruisers back to the boat. The easiest way is to find breaking fish and flylining (casting a bait with no sinkers) into the melee. Hang on! When they are on the chew, you won't wait long. Expect short brutal runs that can tax even the best anglers and gear.
A second method, if you're in the fish zone, that requires more work but is no less rewarding, is called yo-yo ironing. This consists of throwing out a heavy metal lure. It doesn't need to be cast as you simply drop it over the side of your boat. Let it fall then wind as fast as you can. Wind until your arms feel like falling off! (I told you it was hard work!) The faster you wind, the better your chances of hooking a fish. Colors such as blue and white / yellow and green / all white / yellow, brown and white (scrambled egg) can be deadly with this method. Try retrieving from various depths. Try dropping all the way to the bottom. Don't let it sit there long as yellowtail prefer rocky areas and you'll get hung up and lose your lure. As soon as it hits bottom, give it a few twitches then wind like heck back to the surface. You can even stop and let it drop before you bring it back to the boat.
Another method is to cast out some distance then crank like crazy; stopping to let the lure flutter down; then cranking again so that you create a "z" pattern back to the boat. Expect huge heavy hits on this type of fishing so make sure you've got your rod securely in hand.
A fourth technique, if there's bait available, is using a dropper loop. Here, I'd favor a short stout rod and line in the 40-60 pound range. There are times when I've had to go to 80 or 100 pound test. It's not the fish that I'm worried about. It's the fact that I'm going to drop my hooked mackerel, squid or sardine 100, 200 or even 300 feet down. When the yellowtail is hooked it's first reaction will be to head right straight to the rocks. These fish like structure so gear your equipment to the surroundings and not necessarily the fish.
Once you're hooked, via jig or bait, dig in your heels! Even if the fish were terrible on the plate, anglers would chase this sportsfish just for the sheer fight. It may not make the speedy runs of the tuna or leap like a marlin or dorado, but in sheer shoulder-packing-fin-beating runs, it's hard to top a hooked yellowtail. It will doggedly pull in bursts of power that will require the angler to constantly put pressure on the fish to make it work against you, your equipment and the boat. Keep your rod tip up and short-pump the fish back to the boat between runs. If you can get its head turned away from the line-eating rocks, you're halfway there.
Excellent raw as sashimi, grilled, broiled or sautéed, it's hard to top fresh yellowtail. The meat is pinkish white and cooks up firm, flaky and white with few bones. It makes great eating along with great stories of boating this legendary fighter!
If you have any questions or ever want to chat fishing, you can reach me at 626-333-3355 or e-mail me at riplipboy@aol.com or www.tailhunter-international.com.
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