Run and Gun

[Robin]

What does "run and gun" style baja fishing mean?

[Tal Nizani]

This is my understanding of it:

When fishing in relative shallow / rocky areas, you need to pull relatively big fish (e.g. 40-50 lb. yellowtail, pargo and grouper) from close cover (rocks, reefs weeds). The capitan of the panga will slow troll lures and/or sardinas in these areas and as soon as you get a hit, the capitan will gun the engine in the hope of setting the hook, turning the fish and pulling it away from the reef.

[East Cape Guides]

Good question Robin, I frequently get asked this question. Baja "RUN & GUN" is what I like to call opportunistic angling. Unlike other big game sportfishing destinations in the world where you head offshore, set your trolling spread and go get a beer, R&G is much more interactive. Baja R&G is all about maximizing your opportunities to catch fish in the incredibly rich and diverse waters of Baja Sur. This type of opportunistic angling will take you offshore in search of tuna under dolphin schools in the morning, always searching for any signs of life on the water that could produce marlin or dorado during your run offshore. All eyes should be on the water, searching, searching, searching. This is where kids and their great eye sight come in very handy. One of the key components to R&G style fishing is an abundant live bait supply. Trolling for striped marlin is a low hookup ratio game and really is just a devise to attract fish to your boat and then either drop back a live bait to a fish in your trolling spread or cast live baits to sighted fish. These sighted striped marlin are what we call sleepers in the morning and tailers in the afternoon. Any debris in the water could also hold multiple dorado, turning a day of trolling for nada into a wide open live bait bite.

Here's a few tips:

Do not limit yourself to one target fish. This is the I HAVE to catch a Marlin or Tuna or Dorado mentality. Take what the conditions on the water gives you. This can changed day to day, even hour to hour.

Make sure your live bait stays alive. Regularly check that your expensive baits are not belly up in the tank. The bait pump should be working properly and the tank should not be too crowded with baits or you'll have a pile of dead chum about an hour after you leave the dock.

Be ready for big fish! Have gear matched to land a fish not to hook a fish. This is an old San Diego Long Range idea. It seems counterintuitive but it makes sense. Most anglers think, if I can't hookum', I can't landum'. This is dangerous thinking and loses big fish. I can't tell you how many times I've seen anglers hook a large tuna on 30, 40, 50 or even 60lb. test line, fight the fish for an hour or more, and break the fish off late in the battle. All your gear must be ready for that big fish...and a few trips to the gym wouldn't hurt before your trip.

Fluorocarbon leader is a great solution for hooking those finicky fish...