I had the pleasure of fishing with Justin Reynolds from Radio Silence Fishing, Skyler and Jeff Khachadoorian, and Scott Summersgill last week on Cedros Island. We planned the trip with Jeff Mariani from Cedros Kayak Fishing and were fully hyped to experience another adventure in Baja California, Mexico.
We spent four days fishing from Mariani’s new 28′ super panga while cruising around Cedros, Benitos, and Natividad. The target was grande calico bass, and we found them … lots of them.
Justin Reynolds with a big bass on the WAR / RODGE combo. Skyler Khachadoorian holding a solid calico on the WAR / MANO combo.Scott Summersgill with a beautiful bass on the swimbait.Skyler and Justin doubled up on swimbait-eating jumbos.Biting! Photo by Scott Summersgill.I was jacked to catch my first few goats on the trip. Photo by Justin Reynolds. Scott with a chunky island bass.Big doubles! Photo by Scott Summersgill.Jeff Khachadoorian with a giant-sized starry grouper. The current IGFA world record is 2 lb 15 oz, so Jeff’s fish would have shattered that if we knew the record at the time of the catch.“Dude, cast into that cave … I bet there are calico in there.”Forests live on many of Cedros Island’s tallest peaks and ridges from the water they collect from passing clouds and fog.Reynolds was constantly catching toads.Scott celebrates a victory against a gorgeous yellowtail.Big bass are rad and so is Jeff Khachadoorian. Scott with a dark calico taken on a weedless swimbait. We experienced some insane weedless fishing. Photo by Justin Reynolds.Jeff Mariani with a massive 60 pound white seabass taken on the WAR / RODGE combo!How many kicks do you think this white seabass tail experienced over the course of the fish’s life?The red crab were pretty sparse at the island … oh wait, never mind. Easy pickings for calicos and other hungry creatures.I caught my first-ever broomtail grouper on the 8″ swimbait in 6′ of water. So rad! Photo by Justin Reynolds.Skyler stoking on his new PB of 9 pounds taken on a Mano weedless swimbait and Ritual Angling rod.Reynolds with a chubby bass on the Kicker 7″ Pickle Kick.The grande calico were chewing the 8″ swimbait and I was loving it. Photo by Scott Summersgill.Jeff Khachadoorian couldn’t let his son Skyler show him up, so he also broke his PB with a 9 pound calico.Our crew and Capt. Ramon.
Thank you to my fishing buddies for exploring more Mexican waters with me, for never-ending casting, for making me laugh like a child, and for being awesome humans. You guys are so citrusy!
Thank you to Jeff Mariani and the staff at Cedros Kayak Fishing for everything you do, and for letting us explore the islands.
Our crew experienced phenomenal fishing, unforgettable visuals – both of dramatic seascapes and attacking fish, friendship, laughter, and memories that surely will not be forgotten in this lifetime. We found our treasure. Find yours!
