Baja adventure

Just got back from 11 days in the Baja. It was primarily a Sea-kayaking gig, but in my heart I knew what I was really there for--Dorado!! I drove from N.Cal 1200 miles to Bahia de los Angeles, with trailer in tow. The sun was scorching but that felt nice and you could stand for hours in the water in just shorts and cast out. The fishing was great, nothing in the big game variety unless you count hitchin a ride on the back of a whaleshark. Our species take of which we released most and consumed the rest in vast quantiies-Yellowtail, Barracuda, Calico bass, triggerfish, cabrillo, grouper, shrimp, white clams and schools of small Dorados but nothing bigger than an arm.

We kayaked to the islands just offshore (furthest one 7 nm) and the camping was worldclass. Trolling was effective as we moved island to island but moving into small bays hitting the boils was the most exciting action. Never knowing just what might hit we spooled on 30 lb mono. We used a variety of live and cut bait but got lazy after finding these guys will hit on these here cocodille spoons every damn time. We pulled up a few fish that we couldn't identify even with feild guides. Some of the fish would croak hysterically when pulled from the water unnerving you enough to get em back in the water with godspeed (didn't look to tasty either-prehistoric).

Being out for days on offshore islands in foriegn waters, our sense of time and the rest of the world quickly faded away. VHF and weather radios were useless and we had no idea other than all of us watching the barometers on our fancy watches plummet as the leading edge of Hurricane Paul swept past Cabo. We went from bermuda shorts and sunscreen to clutching the tent poles and praying she doesn't collapse in the middle of the night during 60 plus knot winds. lightening and thunder along with flashfloods and torrential rain rocked us for two tent bound days. LA Bay can get windy even on her best day but this was unbelievable. We later found out that LA Bay recieved more rainfall during that storm than in the past 7 years all together; Global warming? When their was a break in the weather we paddled back with gusto for the main land. Within a day the weather cleared and the bite was back on with a vengeance again nothing big enough to shake a stick at, but all in all it was a kick-ass trip and I would go back tommorow if I had a good enough excuse.

Eureka to Baja. Bud what a life time trip. With storm and all, to say you would turn around and do it all over again. Kudos to you the Drive must have been Brutal. 2400 round trip! Randall

Nice!

That whale shark is Uber Cool.

Those are some fun sized yellowtail.  Just like halloween candy, small but just as tastey as the full sized.

MolBasser

Good report of a fun trip.  Cool photos - post more if you've got em.   

Nice report. Awesome pic of the Whale Shark!

The whale sharks were the highlight of the trip. The guys I took down had never really been  fishing before and had no idea what to do once you actually caught a fish. I did most of the gutting and cleaning without much argument.There was plenty of driftwood on the Islands and we cooked most meals over hot coals. We'd load up sheets of tin-foil with minced veggies, white wine, and butter caked fish (Mostly yellowtail). We then wrapped it up and laid it right on the  embers to cook for 20 or so minutes. The fish weren't big but plentiful and we gorged on all manner of fresh seafood living like savages island to island.

Photography isn't my strong point fellas, but I'm still trying to wrangle some pics from my clients

Oh my.  Glad it just made for a cool story.  What a way to live......fishing island to island.....sighhhhhhhhhh

Mannn...Sign me up for your next adventure...Way to kool....Danglin

great report, thanks!

when I lived in baja, two hurricanes came through, the "desert" was green for months and the cows (normall skeletal) were fat, fat!

J

Great report.
where did you camp? I can't recognize the location from your picture

It's a rare spot my man. I won't give it away but if you read the blog report on my website you can get a general Idea of where it is. The hurricane sucked while we were in it but the desert will thrive from the rain and it didn't really detract from the trip. My clients think it was the adventure of a lifetime. Baja during any season is soul capturing

I have several Baja fishing specific expeditions on my calendar and will be glad to take down any sign-ups. Our big trip for next year is going to be a fully catered Alaskan Kayak adventure,  6 days 5 nights kayak fishing in the Tongass National Forest---JULY 07

I have camped on that very same isthmus several times, very cool spot. I did the island hopping in LA bay and a run to Animas for a week in a Scupper Pro about ten years ago, I will never forget that trip. They say the wind lives in LA bay so if you go watch out.
Your trip sounds like it was quite a cool adventure.

Looks nice enouph to spend a year or two.

Awesome camp spot. Very envious!!!!