Alijos Rocks 2007 was one of those special life experiences we'll never forget. The location was completely new to us so we weren't sure what to expect. Fortunately, Alijos presented one pleasant surprise after another. The fishing action began as we trolled down to the Rocks. Julie landed a nice yellowtail and Yellowfin tuna on live bait. The first day at the Rocks started off with a bang as schools of tuna cruised through the crystal clear water. They appeared to be 40-50 pounds, until you took a shot at one and realized that they were a lot farther away and about 80-100 pounds! From the surface, the rocks didn't look very big and we wondered how well the location would accommodate a large number of spearos. Once we were in the water, we could see that the structure was actually very extensive - and teaming with life. In addition to Yellowfin tuna, we saw sea turtles, grouper, galapos sharks and yellowtail. The yellowtail, like the tuna, were MUCH bigger than we're used to seeing around San Benito at 45-55+ pounds. The yellowtail were not the least bit wary of us in the water. The biggest challenge to shooting yellowtail was underestimating their size. With 100+ foot viz, they all looked a lot closer (and smaller) - until you took a shot. In between dives, the hook and line action continued throughout our stay at the Rocks, with local grouper and more Yellowfin tuna. By the end of the trip, our cooler was overflowing.
Needless to say, we're already signed up for Alijos Rocks 2008.
Paul and Julie Miller
I went to Alijos for the first time in June of last year (2007). It was my first in many respects. I had never been in waters where we where, targeting large pelagics such as tuna, nor had I been in such clear water before. The clarity of the water played tricks on your eyes. Things where often much further than thy appeared which accounted for more that one missed shot. The rocks them selves where actually spires emanating from an under sea mount that rises from approx 800 to 160 feet with several pinnacles the come very close to the surface. The rocks themselves hold some beauty in their stark contrast to the miles of ocean that surrounds them but the real beauty lies below. The large jumbly rocks and what appeared to be lava flows in the gin clear water hold may beautiful sea creatures and sub tropical fish. One of my most cherished moments occurred when I saw a sea turtle just below me. I swam down to about 60 feet only to realize it was still 30 or 40 feet deeper. I waited there for a while and the turtle swam up to check me out. I watched it swim around me until my body told me it was time to get air NOW! And to my surprise, the turtle surfaced with me. I swam around watching it for what seamed like only a few minute when another diver swam up and asked if I was going in for lunch. I sill don’t know how long I was swimming with that turtle but it was one of the most memorable part of the trip.
All of the other divers had similar stories and we sheared them during or time on deck together, some had video and some had photos to accompany their stories, that where shared during the wonderful meals prepared onboard. The crew of the boat was beyond excellent, attentive and always ready to lend a hand. The 3 skiffs they maintain did double duty, as fish collectors and taxis to ferry divers to any spot they thought might held the “big one”.
This was truly a Blue Water experience, I felt as if I could see anything swim passed this rear spot as they move from spot to spot. On the ride home I was overcome with thought of what next years trip would bring.
Mike Grummell - Santa Rosa California
Anticipating the next adventure at Alijos Rocks
Alijos it is not for everyone but is indeed a magic spot. It’s a long ways to go but worth it: warm water, 100+ft visibility and abundance of game fish makes this the spearfishing trip of a lifetime.
The rocks are a fish magnet. The sea life is incredible. You see the food chain in action first hand: plankton, bait fish, predators of all kinds, docile turtles, and even seals, 150 miles away from the closest land.
Live the experience at your own pace, stay on the boat and soak a few rays, or dive as your heart desires. If your comfort zone is seeing the bottom at 40 ft, there is nothing wrong with it, we’ve seen tuna cruising-by right against the rocks. The underwater structure is incredible: big boulders, ridges, plateaus, pinnacles, sheer drop-offs with fish everywhere. You see the food chain in action first hand, and you’re part of it. No need to exhaust yourself kicking against the current, just drift dive then signal the chase boat to give you a ride up current, then drift again. Night at anchor it’s an experience on its own thousands of baitfish attracted by the boat lights anchovies, mackerel, needle fish, and an occasional flashing squid squadron passing by it’s a sight to see.
At over one hundred fifty miles away from the closest land the night sky is filled with Gazillion starts, see a shooting star make a wish: TUNA! Blue water diving is something like an exciting boredom, try to keep alert but, more often then not; you just get absorbed by the ocean. I found myself floating in the blue looking at “nothing” kind of like freefalling in a bottomless ocean; my mind wanders, a jellyfish turns into a sea monster, sun rays take strange shapes…. out of the blue a massive school of tuna materializes. I’m still dazed and in disbelief I do a ”take two”, sure enough is real TUNA…. by the time I dive down and level off the school already passed me and I hold on a hail marry shot anticipating the chore of reloading all five power bands. I’m alert now but the school of tuna is gone, half an hour later as another school goes by, I go to a similar routine, this time I take a shot but fall short of the target in the gin clear water.
A bit later I find a high spot. At the edge of the drop off I dive down ahead of the bait and level off at about 25ft, the bait fish picks up courage and joins me and soon I’m surrounded by baitfish – my eyes change focus from scouting the blue into macro mode and I get dazed looking at the pretty fishies eating plankton of dancing up and down the water column. Suddenly the school scatters and along with it goes the false comfort the bait school gave me. Alone I look intensely in the direction of the incoming danger. A single massive yellowtail shoulders it’s way towards the pinnacle. It’s a big fish, a 70 pounder I say, but the 30 pounder I shot yesterday turned out to be a 50 pounder on the deck, so it’s hard to say. I’m already facing it, so he veers right and away from me, I turn away hoping to bring him in, I slowly look behind and see him keeping his distance. I’m running low on air and head for the surface as the big yellow vanishes into the blue. At night I play this tape in my head over and over, should have looked the other way from the beginning!
Next day my buddy and I were drifting by this ledge we can barely make out at over 120 ft deep. Out of the corner of my eye I see this nice yellow swimming towards me, I dive down and away from the incoming fish, it turns wide and way from me but close to my buddy – I look and see his gun extended, he takes the shot and stones the fish. As he gets the fish closer, clips his shooting line onto his float. It’s a nice fish! Suddenly the fish comes to life and takes the float down along with the rest of his terminal gear. We’re watching in disbelief his float getting sunk by a fish that moments ago seemed dead. My buddy dives down, gets a hold of his float and after a bit of struggle the float is on the surface and the fight continues. It all ends up well and another fifty pounder makes it onto the deck.
Erwin and Paul with twins
