BY MIKE STEVENS
ISLA CEDROS – Serious saltwater anglers are well aware of the world-class fishing for yellowtail and calico bass that goes on at Baja’s Isla de Cedros. Tack on possible side quests for white seabass and halibut (among other species), and it’s bona fide bucket list adventure that’s well within reach of anglers of all skill levels. Cedros Sportfishing with Toro is the operation that can make that dream trip a reality, and it starts before you even hop on the plane to the island with input on what to pack, expect and what to leave at home as well.
Landon Thomas of WON’s sales department is a Cedros veteran who likes to pack very little in terms of non-fishing essentials while remaining fully-loaded for time spent on the water. Here are some of his pro tips for anyone heading to Cedros, some of which can be adjusted according to one’s personal needs and preferences.
Pack as light as possible
Since it’s a small plane that takes you to Cedros, each angler is limited to 30-pounds of luggage/gear “upon arrival” and 56 pounds to bring back home. The extra 26 pounds for the flight back is for fish fillets. That being said, the lighter you arrive with, the more weight allowance you have for bringing back professionally packed filets. Thomas left deck boots at home and just operated in flip flops to save weight.
Bring extra iron
Thomas is all about slingin’ iron, so much so that it’s all he did last time he was down there. If that’s you, he recommends “duplicates of your favorite jigs” and said he brought down six surface irons and four yo-yo jigs. Apparently, they were fishing surface iron in 90 feet of water, and those Cedros yellows still make a B-line for the bottom to try and saw you off.
Pack heavier leader
Thomas admitted his “SoCal” jig outfit was a little light and that’s why he lost some of that iron. He said he was getting bit off on 40-pound mono, so he had to go on a bit of a hunt to find heavier stuff. Luckily, he was able to back his jig reel with 65-pound braid and 50-plus-pound topshots, and he thinks on his next trip he will go with straight 60 for the leader. Thomas did mention the braid is just for capacity and his topshots are long, because he prefers to not cast any of the braid.
Just your favorite rods
Three conventional outfits (one for jigs, calico fishing and dropper-loop fishing) typically will suffice, and Cedros Sportfishing with Toro has its own rod-and-reel arsenal visiting anglers can pick from if they need to fill a gap, or if an angler doesn’t want to bring any rods or reels at all.
Standard Plastics
Thomas’ go-to swimbait was a weedless model from MC, but he said all “normal plastics” are effective down here. He said rigging Big Hammers with a ¾-ounce (minimum) leadhead works very well, and that visitors should also bring Flukes and appropriate leadheads (bonus if they glow) for white seabass that also patrol the waters around Cedros.
Beyond all that
Since the planes that deliver you to Cedros are small, it’s a bit of a loud ride so Thomas said noise-cancelling headphones are a luxury one might consider. He said A-rigs also work well at times, and if you want to mix that in, make sure they are constructed with heavy wire. Lead is a necessary evil, but it’s mostly for dropper-loop fishing so bring some heavier torpedo sinkers for that. Landon closed with saying Cedros Sportfishing with Toro features an open bar with unlimited drinks and on-site massages.
For more info, visit cedrossportfishingwithtoro.com
