Baja fishing?

Lisa and I are planning on dragging the yaks south of the border in December.  I have been to baja many times, but always fly so this will be new to us!  Besides the obvious advice of getting way south of Tijuana before stopping (don't need to get robbed, raped or killed!) have any of you fished along either coast and found great places to do it?  I am assuming it is best to find either very isolated areas for a day or two or find places where there are other americans there so that your rig is safe while you are out on the water.   I know that I want to explore Mag bay, and going to spend some time at my brothers place at the Bajia de Conception/Mulege river area.  We will most likely make it all they way to cabo and  back as we plan to spend 3-4 weeks doing it and are going to let the weather conditions, i.e. wind dictate when we put miles behind us and when we hang out.  I would love some advice from people that have made the trip before!  I can' wait!  Here is a pic from the bay of concepion last christmas at sunset, and a picture from the light house at the end of the santa rosalia river (also called the mulege river by some) looking back up the river towards the town of mulege. 

I've always heard good things about a book called "Baja Catch" by Neil Kelly. It's an older book but probably still relevant.

I fished an isolated cove about half way between Mulege and Loreto on the Sea of Cortez size and did well. This was all shore fishing and snorkeling and I couldn't keep the fish of my hooks. Lot's of sheepshead looking fish but also some Sierra and Cabrilla.

I've always wanted to check out San Quintin, Asuncion and Bay of L.A.

My wife and I might head down this winter as well.


-Eliot
 

Hi Yaker:

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FishSniffer Intel
http://www.fishsniffer.com/places/baja.html

i love fishing baja but i only fished as far as the Ensenada area and by panga or kayak. Also did a number of shore dives for spearing there. there are great fish and many many big calicos, bonita, YT's and sheeps, lings etc... the water is very cold and deep so i thin kthis channels lots of food for the fish and they are plentiful. a lot of nice coves to snorkel for maybe some WSB as well. pristine coves near Punta Banda with lots of fish. I would have the panga drop me off and i'd spear hung stringers of perch and hand them to the local kids who handline from the rocks to take home and give to their families. my wife and i typically drive down there from SD and stay down there or just go for the day.

i have been going to baja for years and never had a single instance even when we went offroad into the mountains and ran into locals. we have had nothing but good adventures there and we feel fortunate as other have not.

i think the key to avoiding issues is to not bring a fancy car down there. i once went offroad near la mision on the way to Ensenada and found a mountain of cars which had obviously been run off the cliff above. there were maybe a hundred relatively new cars there and all had california plates. it was like a dump yard for insurance scams or something. people were there picking through parts and what not and we just stopped and visited a while.

if you fish the ensenada area and punta banda you can probably haggle a deal on a panga and they would take you out to the point with your yaks where you can then jump in and jig for RF and troll for YT's thats where Vonny's gets them and their pangas can get out there in a jiffy. i am sure they'd give you a reaonable rate to ferry you there and leave you there to fish then come back later.

my favorite thing about going to baja was spearing the fish and giving them to the local kids on the north side of the point by the rocks they call "3 sisters" the boys fish all day by hand and rarely catch much more than a perch with their tiny hook and handline using limpets as bait. but when you go down there and spear calicos, big sheeps, large amts of perch and fill their buckets they reward you with the biggest smiles. thats the best part of catch.

John

here are some images taken from the punta banda area:

http://www.thebajaexperience.com/Fishing%20Picture%20Gallery.htm

  I appreciate the advice and love the story of giving the fish to needy families.  My hunch is we are going to linger in San Diego a day or two if the weather is nice and then drive a bit into baja to start that part of the trip.  Two many stories lately of bad things happening between tijuana and ensandada!  The tough part is to decide to go down the cortez side versus the pacific side.  Everytime I fly to cabo or loretto I stare at the sea of cortez and dream of someday having my grand banks there for months at a time!    We will be most likey taking a 2001 black suburban down.  I have newer rigs to choose from but that one I wouldn't have to sweat the scratches and dings on!  I wish I could bring a sidearm down with me but know that is impossible.  I plan to have a very nice kill stick and some very sharp knives however! 

Growing up in L.A., we went down to Ensenada at least once a month. Then we discovered La Bufadora..... Man, beautiful coves, fishing excellent, structure for spiny lobster, halibut, urchins, etc.....

But then again, that was 35 years ago.

Rich

Growing up in L.A., we went down to Ensenada at least once a month. Then we discovered La Bufadora..... Man, beautiful coves, fishing excellent, structure for spiny lobster, halibut, urchins, etc.....

But then again, that was 35 years ago.

Rich

Rich, that cove is still beautiful and there are still fish but maybe not as plentiful. that place is excellent all the way around the tip and some of those coves are still pristine with thick kelp beds making homes for many fish. i'd go back in a heartbeat but no time these days.

John,

I know what you mean.. That one large cove that you could access by walking up over the hill was breathtaking, and twice when we went there were huge Manta Rays lazily swimming around. Man I miss those days...

Rich

John,

I know what you mean.. That one large cove that you could access by walking up over the hill was breathtaking, and twice when we went there were huge Manta Rays lazily swimming around. Man I miss those days...

Rich

not meaning to go off on this thread but once i snorkeled by la bufadora and out in front of me was this big black seabass. each time i go down there i tell people about it and they just dont believe me. then when you hit the food stalls at the market above you can see the huge black seabass heads dried and hung like ornaments. they are there still and so are the giant bayrays that fly through the kelp stalks. i have seen them.

So wish I spent my younger days traveling Baja instead of the Metal Scene...

 Now, I will wait till older...

Anyway, 3 weeks sounds a little short for such a adventure...

 I was not able to bring it up but, SBD, Hydrospider and co did a sprint down the Baja coast last year and there is a fine report on the adventure that would be very useful info...

 I'm sure someone with talent on this site will post it to you soon....

Sounds like a Grand Adventure....

  I am getting more excited by the post!  It will be fun researching the possiblities! 

baja is great, if you need a place to stay between rosarito and ensenada i can refer you to a house for rent in la salina. we have rented there numerous times and its right between rosarito and ensenada. my wife's aunt is from Tijuana and says that though things happen, its usually to the mexicans and those trying to show off and are being disrespectful. i would still go. i remember 2 trips ago my truck killed its alternator at the san ysidro exit right before crossing the border, i had to change it out on the street, face was all blackened from dirt and dried mud and I got across late. never a bad time yet!

another time we witnessed an accident on the M1, a head on collision and we stopped to help. beware of drunk drivers and drive during daylight hours and you'll be ok.

SBD, Hydrospider, and others made the trip last year. I don't remember what date; so can't pinpoint the picture-loaded thread for you. PM them for info.

Here is the thread from Mahi, Hydrospider, Zilla, Jelly, and Seahunter/Aquaman, and SBD from last June. Man I wish I were there now...................

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,13657.0.html