Balsa Fishing

The Balsa raft could travel as far as the islands of Polynesia, 4000 miles away. When Francisco Pizarro left the Panama Isthmus in 1526 on his second voyage of discovery down the Pacific coast of South America; his expedition found Peruvian merchants sailors at sea long before he discovered their country.  The Manteño were a West-Ecuadorean maritime culture flourishing between the 800's and 1526AD.  As early as 2400 B.C. the people of coastal Ecuador began to voyage on the ocean.  The Manteño were mainly fishermen. They built small houses and rafts made of wood, and crafts in ngold and silver. Their religion was based on a cult of snake, the jaguar or puma, and the goddess Umina, who was represented by a large emerald.

Netcasting in Ecuador

"Atalaya" is a legitimate net casting technique of the professional fishermen.

La Camaronera

Elder Earl, Jimmy Olvera, Hermano Pincay, José Jiménez

Catfish, Tilapian, and more

We fished in the reservoir that replenishes the shrimp beds yesterday.  Lots of fish there.  I brought home catfish, tilapia, and much more.

La Sabana Grande Video

Saltwater panfishing in Ecuador

Sabana Grande

We left Guayaquil at 5:45 am, and arrived at the Puerto de Sabana Grande at 7:30.

The boat (Angel) and pilots and been arranged for ahead of time, and all was ready.

They fed us breakast and we loaded the boat.

We spent the day on various locations of the estuary, which looks and fishes like a river, as the tides create a strong current most of the day.

The panfish we caught included Vagre, Corvina Grande, Corvina Yanqui, Lisa, Robalo, Pargo, Urel, Roncador de Peña, Mojarra, Tambulero, Boqueancho, Camotillo, and more.

The best fishing is June, July, and August.  They are available for tours all year.  Invierno (the rainy season 0f November to April is dangerous).

This outfitter specializes in sport fishing, and has clients worldwide.

Dinner was ready when we docked at the port.

Some fish have dangerous poisons

La Trucha de La Luspa

Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OpLPsff9wM

Balsa Fishing

Another high adventure in Ecuador.  We went to the beach to jog and look for sand dollars.  We found the balsa fishers of the Asociación Costa Brava.

There are 18 rafts in the association.  Three were working our section of the beach that morning.  Only one caught fish.

They row out to sea, throw the net, then pull it to shore by hand.  They know they are the descendants of the ancient people and this is an ancient tradition.

The Balsa raft could travel as far as the islands of Polynesia, 4000 miles away. When Francisco Pizarro left the Panama Isthmus in 1526 on his second voyage of discovery down the Pacific coast of South America; his expedition found Peruvian merchants sailors at sea long before he discovered their country. 

The Manteño were a West-Ecuadorean maritime culture flourishing between the 800's and 1526AD.  As early as 2400 B.C. the people of coastal Ecuador began to voyage on the ocean.  The Manteño were mainly fishermen. They built small houses and rafts made of wood, and crafts in gold and silver. Their religion was based on a cult of snake, the jaguar or puma, and the goddess Umina, who was represented by a large emerald.

They encouraged us to take pictures, pull the ropes, and glean the small fish they did not want.  That day we cleaned and froze over 200 fish.

Mostly I did video, which will appear later on http://www.youtube.com/drrhoward

Opportunities in Ecuador

Trout

I have learned that there is a large, active trout fishing industry in Ecuador since trout were introduced about 1950.  There are hundreds of lakes and streams throughout the length of the country, all in the beautiful Andes mountains.  Trout are such a viable, active industry, that there are many regular sport fisherman (those who go every month, or every week).  There are fly fishermen who catch 15 every trip to their favorite lake.

There are guides and services (you can get to beautiful mountain locations by horseback for $12 per day). There are many commercial fishers who get 50 trout every day by leaving lines in the water over night.  

There are restaurants, hotels, public transportation, inexpensive taxis and airports in great locations.  The government plants by hauling tanks by horseback to all the remote locations.  There are many places where visitors can fish and pay by the pound.

There is a unique opportunity: someone should start a specialty store where visitors can acquire or rent trout fishing equipment and guides.

Las Playas we went fishing

Where the sea comes in is like a river

Corvina is a favorite

Shrimp boats arriving in the evening

Small boat fishers work all night with nets

Two or three work long hours according to the tides

Lisa

We caught a wide variety at the river

Large shrimp out at sea

Laguna Luspa

El Cajas Trout

José Vera with Dr. Howard

I don't know if I will be able to make another trout fishing trip in South America, but this one was worth the wait.

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The Lake is 3,786 meters (12,362 feet)

I will have much more to say, but now I need some rest.  Lots of walking at high altitudes.

Roy Howard with host Gustavo Enderico

The place is just before the entrance to El Cajas National Park.  You park at a restaurant and start walking up the mountain.  Lots of people do it.  We only took time to stop at one of 240 lakes that are stocked with Rainbow and Brook Trout.

Lunch at the restaurant

After the hike, the fishing, and back down to the highway, we had lunch and then started looking for the stream they recommended. The Brook Trout has a deep orange colored meat, so locally they call it "salmon".

We left Guayaquil at 5:30 am, met our group from Cuenca, and returned home in the evening, after fishing a beautiful cold mountain trout stream along the way.

Only one member of the group had a little Mal de Montaña: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altitude_sickness

La Entrada Luspa

Saludos!! Es una pena lo de su esposa, realmente habría que considerar que este bien porque el efecto "altitud" (2400msnm) y frío de Cuenca puede influenciar en el bienestar de su esposa.

Referente a la pesca pues estamos bien yo le esperaría en un lugar llamado "entrada luspa" como referencia la estar en la subida al Cajas pasan un canton llamado Molleturo 20minutos despues comienzan una serie de curvas y un pequeño caserio llamado Miguir que se lo identifica por tener una escuelita y cancha encementada de basketball junto a la via, 10 minutos despues estaremos nosotros esperandole llevare mi bandera ecuatoriana y de pesca para que nos identifique. Un detalle la entrada a la luspa es 2minutos antes del control de acceso al parque nacional es decir no tiene que pasar esto, pero bueno insisto nosotros estaremos en el lugar indicado a eso de las 700am que calculo uds llegaran al salir a las 530am desde Guayaquil.

Favor no olviden estar abrigados, con doble pantalón chompas y casacas para el frio, favor si pueden vengan con botas de caucho (7vidas, venus) valen $8, se los recomiendo, caso contrario medias una funda plastica otro par de medias y ahí zapatos deportivos si bien caminaremos con cuidado pero en esta epoca de lluvia se dificulta no mojarse y sentir el frío extremos, guantes también. Claro si hay sol pues mejor! Pero sol para la pesca la complica..jeje

Roy el momento que uds salgan de Guayaquil llame a mi celular 098268204 y calculamos su llegada al sitio comentado...

Entre semana seguimos en e-contacto!! Saludos!!

http://www.ambiente.gob.ec/paginas_espanol/4ecuador/docs/areas/cajas.htm

http://cajaspark.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28&Itemid=1
http://www.etapa.net.ec/PNC/default.aspx