Baja 2008- The BEST June ever!

I have always wanted to do a Baja roadtrip, and this year I got my wish...a month off and a great group of willing partners in crime including Mahi, Hydrospider, Zilla, Jelly, and Seahunter/Aquaman.  We had a couple of planning session through the spring, and we all read every book/map we could find. We bought insurance and fishing licenses on line.  We packed up a TON of crap and hit the road.

We all met up on 5/31 on I-5 and the adventure began...



One of the things we were most afraid of was breaking down in baja...we never had any car issues in Mex.  However this tire pooped its pants before we even made it to Bakersfield...DOH!



We stopped north of the border to buy pesos...



Dollars...



into pesos...



We crossed at Tecate and it was uncrowded, easy, and allowed us to avoid the whole TJ gauntlet...



We stopped just north of San Quitin and "camped" in an abandon building...





Zilla had built a kitchen into the back of his vintage Yota for the trip and it became the star of the show.  We ate like kings...





At night the "camp" had an eerie five-one-oh vibe.  Raider Nation all the way!



Like the master in Kung-Fu, Bufa the blind but badass watch dog kept an "eye" on our gear.  The local lurker was deathly afraid of her...good girl Bufa!!!



The bullet-riddled restroom.  When they ask "paper or plastic" I will be forever ruined...



Mahi splipping into the manana-mode...



We used the sun, inverters, and Zillas generator to keep our junk charged...



Unfortunately the water temps/weather/fishing in San Quitin sucked so we bailed and headed south.  The desert near Catavina is simply gorgeous...









We went through a ton of military checkpoints.  We had no issues and the guys were very cool...







This guy however was not down with Mahi filming me getting searched...lo ciento!!!!



We heard that the road to our destination (Bahia Asuncion) had been recently paved.  It turned out that it had been rebuilt and paved...and then destroyed by the first winter...DOH!



Where did that bridge go?????



We rented this "house" for about $70 a night for 6 guys.  Crude but kind of charming in its own rodent infested way...



It even had a salon.  Barber Dan gave me the latest look...



The view and location did not suck...



The locals were extra cool, we greatly enjoyed their company...



While the launch looked harmless...



It had a temper and claimed some gear...



We caught novel fish but the water and weather remained too cold for pelagics...



We went next door for help...



Justin paid his respects and prayed.  His prayers WOULD be answered...



I was so inspired I gave a heart-wrenching sermon on the virtues of dielectric grease and adhesive-lined shrink wrap.  I apparently angered the gods as Zilla's and Terry's electronics died shortly there after...



As things on the Pacific side were still too cold, we headed off to the Cortez side.  We stocked up at the local Walmart before heading  into the desert...



This spot looked promising...



So we setup a small town and went to work...



That evening Zilla went out front to check out the bait situation.  He had no trouble catching a bunch of greenies.  Justin had no trouble eating them!!  Good work round-eye!!!



We had the best tequilla a $1.80 could buy...the good stuff!!!  Ironically it was actually kept on the bottom shelf at the store.  I always thought that was just an expression.



On our way to work...



Justin began making sure we didn't go hungry by snuffing one nice fish a day...which allowed us to release almost everything we hooked...



Terry looks happy!!



We caught a lot of quality fish here, and a lot of what in the heck is that thing????

A brief tour...















This pargo mulleto was just the right size...



For chef Zilla to do this...



more...







A local fisherman sold us an octopus. Zilla went to work...



Tako poke...mmmmmmm...



Justin continued to shoot it up...



Pay attention to Alan's posts...you never know when you might need them!!!  Over time things need attention...



Inferior camping gear was NOT tolerated!!!



We finally found a good us for the Plano bait buckets.  While they kill bait in less than a minute, they make EXCELLENT showers!!!



Another friendly local pangero sold us some bugs.  Langosta ala Zilla was INSANE...



The snorkeling also ruled...



Jelly shot a parrot for cerviche.  My kid has no idea how good his life is...



After we left we stopped here in Mulege for a burger.  After 14 days of fish it tasted damn good...

The roads weren't really all that bad, however the drivers were insane.  People would pass here no trouble.  The shoulder is littered with monuments.  They apperently don't see the connection...



Fuel was also never an issue...gas worries were total BS...and it was 2.50 a gallon!!!  Viva Mexico!!!



High quality reverse-osmosis water was also plentiful and cheap.  These places were SUPER clean...



Lots of major bridges also being built on Mex 1, so access will only improve...



On the other hand some hotels were inline with Mexican stereotypes.  This room came with no plumbing, plentiful insects, and visits from low-end prostitutes...AWESOME!!!



Others were quite nice and very affordable...



Killer tacos were everywhere...



All of our primitive Mexico adventures ended abruptly as we rolled into Ranch Leonero...



We were all ready for some pimp accomodations...10 days here will cure anything!!!  We were joined folks that flew in including by my family, ChuckE, and Bob Neal.



Sit-down dinners were excellent and huge treat, but we all missed Zillas food...



Jelly with a tiny bonie...



That turned into a delicious poki appetizer...



At the Ranch were were into an entirely different group of species. Terry with a pretty rooster...



ChuckE with a huge pargo mulleto...



I was lucky enough to get a nice amber, something I have tried for many times...



This thing was way too big for the tankwell, but it fit down the Rod pod with a little muscle.  Peek-a-boo...



I got a solid rooster the next day...



Dan was on something good a short while later...



Muh-nay!  Mahi may have pee-d his pants after seeing this fish, his lap was yucky after the release...



Bob was a dorado magnet.  He caught one almost everyday.  I helped him with his first, which made a BIG mess out of his gear...



By the end he was a professional dodo wrangler...



More fish...





Elsie turned 6 and had her 5th birthday at the Ranch.  Another kid that is oblivious to her good fortune...



Fish again...



Between fishing, we had more fun...



Tiny tuna...



plus pargo...



equals food to remember...



Along with things to remember was having Paige sit in my lap while I paddled and watching her Rapala get creamed, and my Kunz rod get bent, and see Paige do all a 9 year old could do to handle a nice fish all on her own. She got railed numerous times but worked the gear like a pro...



Happy kid, proud papa...



After being in baja for 24 great days we dashed home.  Crossing the border was bittersweet.  We were all ready to be home, ready for pizza, and ready to see friends and family, but we all missed Mex too.



Until next time...

Been waiting for that report for a Month,

 Truly AWESOME, EPIC ADVENTURE!!!!

 ConGrats to you all on a Great Trip and Glad it was uneventful in the Negative,

Thanks for the Great Report Scaw...

 Awesome.....

 Would Love to do that someday,  and Just Keep Going......

Man o man I have been dreaming of a trip like that. Truly a lifetime adventure. That is without a doubt the best post I have ever seen, thanks for sharing

Looks like killer trip. I am glad you all had a great time . Would you ever thinks of putting together a trip like that for people that have had no experience with going down south.  I would be intrested in it if so. Glad all had a great time and made it home safe...      VERY JEALOUS

                                                                    jim ricker

Would you ever thinks of putting together a trip like that for people that have had no experience with going down south.

Yep...stay tuned.

WOW!  That looks like a blast!

I've fished south of Bahia LA before, but not east cape, it's stunning!  Gotta get my ass down there!  Next year, or maybe even this winter.  Want a rooster!

Rick

Sean:

You truly have a blessed life.  I really wish I could have made the trip.  Glad to see you guys made it uneventfully.  SO where's the pic of the low end prostitute?  I have eaten at the burger place in Mulege, cool place.  The bartender is really cool, forget her name.  The dessert in Catavina is awsome.  I lost my head there.  Literally. 

Buenos Tiempos, mi hermano. 

Very well done.   

 

gracias!

Thank you!!!!!!!!  I have a photo next to my bed of a sunrise over Bahia de la Conception from my last trip down that is the last thing I see every night before sleep.... your post put me right back down there. Love all the captions to the photos, appreciate the time and effort.
Steve

Welcome home fellas!  Awesome report.  Some day... some day!

Truly amazing adventure.

Adopt me please.

Great sense of humor, Sean, especially about the local "Wal Mart." Any idea why there were so many military checkpoints?

Sean....  Excellent recap!
It all wouldn't have been as fun without such great company.