The forbidden fruit

[jenwren]

The forbidden fruit
Mother nature has finally given the East Cape a break from north winds and the last three days have been gorgeous. Fishing continues to be action packed with dorado, striped marlin and wahoo providing action daily.

It is interesting how organized and vigilant the Mexican authorities have become enforcing fishing regulations. A few years ago it was difficult to even find a fishing license and most anglers went without. Now charter operators acquire them online for their guests and most conform to the law. The new vigilance has also made anglers more aware and respectful of bag limits.

Last week I bumped into one of our local commercial fisherman who has always enjoyed the reputation of being a "bandit". The whole community is aware that he has no regard for fishing regulations and poaches our sea. He is not bashful boasting that authorities have never been able to catch him with a smoking gun. Last year a sting to catch poachers was set but this guys is smart. One night in the dark while pulling his net a patrol boat tried to approach. He heard them coming and the chase was on. The faster patrol boat started to gain on his fishing panga so he started to do "S" turns all the time paying out line behind him. Finally the patrol boat came to a stop when the line fouled the propellers of the inspectors boat. Like I said this guy is smart.

In a conversation we had last year the "bandit" told me in his soft spoken voice with a smirk and chuckle "the forbidden fruit is always sweeter". Now he tells me he is not fishing and went on to explain that there is just too much vigilance and poaching is too risky. The point of my story is Baja has come a long way from the wild frontier it once was. We still have a long way to go but it is good to see steps are being taken to protect our resources.

I have chosen an image captured from each month of last year and posted what a Jen Wren Sportfishing Calendar would look like if I ever got around to publishing one.




January
Struggling through our East Cape winter



February
While boats were in dry dock mama made herself at home on our bow pulpit



March
We experienced an insane yellowtail bite



April
Striped marlin started to show in numbers



May
The bite moved to high gear. Marlin, dorado and wahoo



June
The East Cape is on fire!



July
Tuna finally showed, marlin fishing was ridiculous and many broadbill were sighted



August
Outstanding fishing continued and 2013 was tuning into a banner year



September
We dodged a couple tropical storms but the bite never slowed



October
Yes, 2013 turned into a year to remember



November
North winds made it a bit uncomfortauble but it didn't bother gamefish



December
Yikes! Prices are rising.



Mark Rayor
teamjenwren.com
markrayor.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/JenWrenSportfishing
US cell 310 308 5841

[Mikey]

very cool read and yes people need to realize regs are there for a reason, not us that follow them but those who choose to kill everything.

great pics too!

[fisherofmen]

awesome pictures!! and that is one bull dodo

[Saltwater Bass]

Amazing