Success in Baja

I recently went on a 4-ish day trip to Baja (left on Friday afternoon, came home by Monday afternoon) with a trip through Indigo Adventures and we crushed it. Can't say enough good things about how the trip went.

My buddy Sean called me up on Wednesday afternoon and as we were chatting, he asked what I was doing this weekend. He realized I was free and asked if I'd like to go on a trip with him to Baja. He had the trip set up through Indigo Adventures already, so all I needed to do was pay for my spot and book the plane ticket. Everything else was handled.

Within about 10 minutes, I had paid for my plane flight (like $425 round trip...not bad and I used flier miles anyway) and reserved my spot. I found out later that they do hook and line trips, along with spearfishing and whale watching/snorkeling. Anyhow, I was there for the spearfishing.

We landed in Cabo, and Colin was there with a truck. We loaded everything up, and took off to the marina. Soon after that, we were loaded up and motoring out to the dive site.

Arriving in the evening, we made camp, and got ready for the next day. We were diving, no matter what.

Around 7am, we hopped back in the boat and cruised out to the dive spot. Since he had hired a driver for the day, Colin jumped in with my buddy Sean and I so that we had a spotter. It was deep diving for us, but we made it work. We were mostly freediving in 60'-85' that day.

On my fifth dive, I hit the bottom and looked at my watch. I was 72' deep. Holy **it. Just as I was about to turn and swim back up, I looked over my left shoulder to see a 65# amberjack, about 2 feet away from me, checking me out. I lined him up, and put a spear right through its gill plate. With the shooting line and floatline in hand, I dragged the fighting fish all the way to the surface. Once at the surface, I threw a leg over the fish's head and took a knife to its brain and gills. Success.

Later that afternoon, we began drifting for wahoo. Colin managed the boat and fished while we were diving a fair distance away. I didn't see any wahoo, but managed to land two Sierra Mackerel. Meanwhile, Colin landed a 20 pound wahoo hook and line. We decided to call it a day at that point, headed back to the beach, laid out in the sun, drank beer and eventually sat by the fire. We camped on the beach. It was great.

The next day was a massacre. Diving the same area, I was able to take out another amberjack in the 40# class. I tore out of another amberjack at that point, was able to shoot two more Sierra mackerel. We moved in shallower, and my buddy Sean was then able to hit bottom, and he slammed out two nice Dogtooth Pargo. In the shallows, I was able to shoot a big Golden Trevally, and a 20# dogtooth pargo.

At that point, we decided that it was probably enough take for one day so we were ready to call it. I think Colin would have kept diving all day if we hadn't told him we were good. We took the boat back to the Marina, Colin loaded it up, and we headed in town. There, he had the fish filleted, vacuum sealed, and frozen. We then hit a nice local hotel with wifi (which Colin had paid for), showered, and crashed.

The next morning we picked up our fish, threw them in duffels, and packed up. Colin drove us to the airport, and we were good to go.

This was, in my mind, the best way to do Baja. All we had to do from when we landed to flying out was dive and put a hurt on some fish. If I get the chance, I'll be going again in April when the fish move in shallower.

Here's his site if you're interested: http://www.indigoadventures.net/

Sounds like a great trip. Thanks for the report Pete.

Wow wow that what a diving trip should look be like.

great writeup and pics. I dig the BW diver photo, very cool.

Freakin' amazing! Nice write-up. Makes me want to get into some warmer waters! What did you think was the best eating wise- the pargo?

Glad you made it work.  I spent a week in Mexico last year and still didn't have enough time to do all I wanted and relax.

Now that's what im talking bout!!!

Thanks guys. It was a blast.

As far as taste, amberjack was the best, hands down.

Like swordfish, but flakier and moist.

Thanks for the trip report and pictures Pete.

Sounds pretty sweet! Thanks for the report and congrats on a successful trip!

Sounds like it was an awesome trip!  Great pics too.

 Fly in; dive down, shoot fish, swim up, repeat. Then just chill and drink beer.  What a hell of a trip!  Thanks for sharing the adventure. Nice pics.

Dude that's a fat ass Pez Fuerte!!

When you say town and marina are you talking San Jose Del Cabo or Cabo San Lucas?

Congrats on the trip and thanks for sharing.

Antonio

Thanks guys. It was a blast.

As far as taste, amberjack was the best, hands down.

Like swordfish, but flakier and moist.

Nice Pete. It's interesting that the jack crevalle (toro) which is closely related to AJs taste like s**t.

Hi Pete, congrats on the fish! thanks for the report.