Wed jump in and the bait would quickly dash over to see if our boat offered any protectionwhich it didntthen they would take off again. However, I could see Shafers point: Too much chasing was going to have an effect on the fish. This spectacle varies from year-to-year but can often reach truly amazing proportions in October and November when the volume of baitfish appears, attracting large schools of billfish - mostly striped marlin - but additional . I hadnt seen one of those reels in 30 years, so it was a bit retro but lots of fun. . The cold waters of the California Current and the warm waters of the Donaldson meet over this structure, trapping massive amounts of plankton and krill against the structure that forms the Ridge. Captain G, for example, starting driving a fishing panga 42 years ago when he was 12 years old. For most flyfishers, being surrounded by such variety means you basically have two choices: Go loaded for bear by bringing every rod, reel, and line in your quiver, and just follow the bite wherever it leads; or pick one species and go all in, even if that means pouring days or weeks into a species like snook, hoping for the right tides and right timing. While whale watching remains the primary focus in all of Magdalena Bay, fishing in Puerto San Carlos and Lopez Mateos continues to be off the charts for the few anglers who would rather fish than watch. Its just not that common like the sea of cortez cities and up north. Small day pack or hip pack with any personal items. JavaScript is disabled. Fast and very furious: Doubleheaders and even triple and quadruple hookups are the norm when striped marlin are actively feeding on bait balls near the surface. Sport Fishing Charters. Jimmy is the guy! Engines start at USD 8500.00 for a two stroke E Tec, or USD 9500.00 for a four stroke Yamaha. Larocque, the owner, uses 26-foot pangas as mother ships to transport kayaks, anglers and gear within and outside the bay. This gives me some time to calm down. Two minutes later, Aldo points and says, matter-of-factly, Marlin. I jump to the bow, strip line off my reel, and stand in awe as 15 marlin blitz bait around us. Gathering my thoughts and my breath, I start to move, swimming toward a grey shadow. Enjoying a succulent lunch in a . It took me about two minutes to sign up for the expeditionfinally, I was going to Mag Bay. During the calving season, the gray whales migrate to the Baja waters, and so do humans. An anglers skill set and a sense of adventure still has to be there. From October to December of each year, gigantic bait balls congregate miles off the coast of the bay, creating one of the most amazing shows the Pacific Ocean has to offer. Mostly they are out on the Ridge. There are so few boats in Mag Bay that there is never any fighting over bait ballsbut Shafer doesnt chase them at all because he feels that it puts the fish down. A half-dozen marlin were below, attacking the bait within a few feet of our group. You can find a lot of middle-price-point opportunity, and for the West Coast angler, its a lot closer than trekking to the Caribbean. Its all part of the adventure when kayak-fishing Magdalena Bay. This trip was a trip of a lifetime. All rights reserved. A Bonnier LLC Company. In terms of the run up, down or across the bay to reach the fishing grounds, the ride on the pangas seldom took less than 45 minutes and often was an hour or two. Custom Fly Fishing Panga Package 7 days: $2950/person At The New Island Home. It is a place for fly anglers not in search of banner day after banner day, but in search of unique, memorable events. Published August 28, 2017. Answer 1 of 4: Hi all, I'm going to try and keep up with an on-the-go TR for our 9 night journey through Baja Sur; helps to keep the details fresh and gives me something useful to do when I wake up before the crack of dawn. From there we start the 6 hour drive up north to Magdalena Bay, during which we pass through Todos Santos, La Paz and Constitucion. The extraordinary display of so many striped marlin crisscrossing and on the hunt for prey was mesmerizing. The bite for three hours was as hot as it gets for three anglers fishing a seamount 75 miles off Costa Rica. 4) The Panga brings the kayaks out to the location so they are ready when we arrive in the boat. During our inshore days, we managed to catch many species fishing different areas in the bay. The result is a living, moving ball of fish, with marlin and often sea lions in pursuit. It was probably the most incredible experience Ive ever had on the ocean, being able to see them from the stealth of a kayak that left them unaffected by my presence.. The best time - season to fish Magdalena Bay it's from early June to late December. Our next trip: October 20-25, 2022. Magdalena Bay is a gorgeous place to visit just for the pristine beauty, mangroves and giant sand dunes of the outer islands. Show map . By Robert Reid. A barbless hook also will usually fall out within a few hours. It brings in some of the cleanest waters, fresh nutrients, and exotic fishing catch. The Life of Ryan. We're hoping to fish for Wahoo. Guided Beach, includes fly fishing guide, UTV rental, all fly fishing equipment and lunch: $575. Fishing far offshore might take longer, particularly with a stiff headwind chop. Guided Panga, includes fly fishing guide all fishing equipment, bait, lunch and water. The baitfish school together for protection; the ones on the outside are the first to get eaten, so naturally everyone wants to be in the center. Nick answers my next question in the affirmative: Yes, John, thats a coyote trying to drag a giant snook into the mangroves. 2. Whale watching has been passed down through Crispins family to his adult sonalso our hostMarco Antonio Mendoza, who built a safari-style camp at the base of the mountains on a nearby island. The sea lions also were feeding on the bait when they werent nipping at the stripeys or growling at us. The Finger Bank is Mag Bay Lite. Tour will start at approx 7:30-7:45am . We have extreme fishing for Wahoo, Tuna, Marlin, Dorado and more coupled with an amazing atmosphere in a relaxing lodge environment. I take a deep breath, pull my mask down over my face, and slip over the side of the panga. There is nowhere else like it on Earthyou just have to figure out how to get there. Baha Magdalena is a protected bay on the Pacific coast in Baja Sur. If you have always wanted to fishing in Mag Bay, there is no better option. Mag Bay Lodge is one of the few operations in the area that caters to anglers. Seattle Times travel & outdoors editor. I took it all in from a little plastic boat that weighs considerably less than I do, while rushing over the surface with no evident means of propulsion. Drake Magazine Back Issue Content Winter 2019. According tolocals, the rocks here once stood taller, before the Americans used them for target practice in the spring of 1908. A support team helps shuttle kayaks and anglers to the action surrounding Mag Bay. We build custom fly and light-tackle fishing packages that suit your plans, and your . Late September the water warmed up. Flies are cast in the general direction of these rocks while the outgoing tide makes a massive rip a half-mile wide. You have contacted us immediately after booking with all the details of the other deal The Drake Magazine. Whale watching has provided an alternative economy, and in some ways a different narrative, on Mag Bay. Bluewater in front of the bay holds striped marlin shredding bait and the occasional leader with their bills. The waters are teeming with fascinating marine life, and the Baja peninsula is primarily known as a fishing paradise. Camera (get ready for some superb images!) All National Parks & Biosphere Reserve access fees required by itinerary. But we never make it. Depending on seas, etc its a little tricky to sport fish from a panga in those areas getting out in time and back. 1). Outfitting on Mag Bay has increased over the years, and the business of guiding flyfishers seems to be on the upswing. That begs some explanation. Once relaunched, we encountered a northwest wind, not yet brisk but enough to promise a slow, bumpy ride. His captain, Chip Shafer, runs Smiths custom 64-foot Bayliss Old Reliable from Costa Rica or Guatemala up to Cabo San Lucas in September, and they usually stay through December. The fishing in Mag Bay is good all year round, just depends on what you want to catch! Light jacket or sweater. Swimming with the fishes in Baja By John Huber Photos by Nick Price. Deluxe Cruiser , fly fishing guide, all fishing gear, lunch, water and bait. This author does not have any more posts. Whale watching sessions by Panga. At this moment the sardines move from one place to another trying to survive and it is the moment when they start trolling in our boats with quality equipment, for this reason we must be very attentive and prepared to live the moment they are hooked in the trolls and a power struggle begins between the Fish and the lovers of sport fishing, these are the last minutes or hours of life of the fight of the King of the Pacific "El Marlin", the dorado or another fish that will touch you witness live. Captain Aldo pulls me up easily, while Captain Ricardo nods and smiles knowingly. The Importance of Estimating a Sport Fishs Size and Weight, Marlin Expeditions Offers Light-Tackle Paradise in Guatemala. Looking for info on Lodgings and Panga rentals in Mag Bay for a few days in September. On one day last year, they raised 143 marlin and released 50, all on fly tackle. from La Ventana around the waters off Cabo San Lucas and all the way up the Pacific Coast to Magdalena Bay - Wherever the fishing action is best. For more details on trip rules, cancellation and travel insurance visit our, Roundtrip professional ground transfers from and to the Loreto airport. . What to target, and where, within the greater Mag Bay system, are decisions that might leave anglers second-guessing over a vast expanse of quiet water. The afternoon was filled with searching for wildlife from the bow as National Geographic Sea Bird navigated Canal de Soledad. The fear is gone in an instant. . It's normal for the whales to surround the boat, play around, and look you in the eye. We have in-shore mangrove fishing and off-shore, deep-sea pelagic fishing in the Pacific. The volume of commercial fishing in the bay can be overwhelming for some, yet eco-tourism and a mindset of supporting a healthy ecosystem has more than a foothold here. In the smaller boat, we could run ahead of the bait/bird/marlin frenzy and hop into the water. Today, BD has grown into the leading digital media platform for all things saltwater fishing, bringing our large and passionate community the best and most authentic fishing information in the form of fishing reports, fishing gear reviews, fishing recipes, saltwater fishing articles, tackle tips and more from coast to coast. Fish with us at the Lodge at Mag Bay. But there is more to Magdalena Bay than the sardine run. Smith prefers tube flies with a single barbless hook: When the fish runs, the tube fly slides up the line, so there is a good chance to get it back when the fish is released or breaks off. Great, I think to myself. When we were dumped back in the water, we still had another hour or so run out to the fishing grounds. I wanted to take the time to give you some really good feedback on our trip with your team this year! All transportation while on tour. MagBay lodge offers pickups, taxis from loreto, or car rentals are all options. Marco and a few locals have begun taking experienced free-divers to the marlin grounds, where they pay to swim near the baitballs found offshore here in the fall. www.tailhunter.com Mexico Office: Tailhunter Sportfishing. This day tour is the ultimate whale watching experience in Cabo San Lucas - you will likely have the opportunity to see gray whales and their calves up close and personal in calm, shallow water, and the opportunity to pet the whales is not uncommon. Thanks guys! the Magdalena Bay offshore striped marlin show continued into January, much to the amazement of the locals. . Soon, Nick calls out every anglers favorite two words. The closer the big fish get to the bait, the brighter they get with excitement. Like most destination fisheries, there are a range of optionsfrom dirtbagging yourself down there and putting your money toward boats and guides, to going with all-inclusive, airport-to-airport services. Survive, is what an angler does the first few minutes after hooking a striped marlin. With us 60 years of knowledge await you as 4 generations have already passed, with great passion, respect and deep love for the impressive Magdalena Bay and its surroundings. Captain Aldo Atonto tells us the fish will be up within the hour. The Location and Accommodations: Lopez Mateos is still a very remote part of the Baja and as such is a long ways from the bustle of Cabo and La Paz. Smith believes that the marlin at the Finger Bank are harder to catch on fly than those at Mag Bay. From dawn til dusk. The plan was to run up beyond the feeding marlin and cast a live bait into the fray. Explore Isla Magdalena Surfing SUP Fishing Kayaking Snorkeling Spear Fishing Hiking Beach Combing Clam Digging . My friend Nick and I shout with joy, accompanied by excited words in Spanish from our new friends. The Fishery: There are three separate fisheries accessible from the small Pueblo of Adolfo Lopez Mateos. For two days we take turns fishing this bite and entering the marlins underwater world. Combination packages mixing cruiser, panga, kayak or beach fishing; Large groups and Seminars; Activities that include snorkeling, scuba diving, whale watching, kayaking, four wheelers, eco-touring and horseback riding . Id heard stories about Mag Bays incredible striped marlin fishing from Smith and others for years, but not having a 60-plus-foot sport-fisherman at my disposal made it impossible to get there myself. Their main reason for heading south is to mate and give birth in the protected shallow lagoons in Baja. If we can't match the rate of the other deal because one of the above conditions is quantities. But it is also the common name of the greater environment that surrounds it, including a series of massive barrier islands with their own bays and an active offshore ecosystem. Guides here are well versed in spin and baitfishing, but not so much with flyfishing. Magdalena Bay is the name for a 30-mile-long harbor with a collection of mangrove rivers and swamps near the bottom of Bajas Pacific Coast. The MagBay Advantage; About; Wholesale Registration; Dealer Locator; Product Catalog We plan to send out a few more exploratory trips and may start running panga fishing there before the season is over. For more information email us at tagsportfishing@gmail.com or click on the link Mag Bay fishing trips. Bright blue silence. . following conditions are met: According to customer reviews, some of the most popular fishing charters in Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur are: 2023 FishingBooker.com. calm waterways of a . If even one of the four people in this panga had ever flyfished for marlin before, I would feel better. 8:00 AM - Meet at Sea and Land Office. But yea, there are some local captains that would love to get ya out there. It is protected by two islands - Isla Magdalena to the north and, Isla Santa Margarita to the south. The excellent fishing also continued inside the bay for . Hes a perfectionist: Every leader is tied to IGFA specifications, with a 20-pound-test tippet and 12 inches of shock leader. Have you ever noticed that fantastic fishing spots are nearly impossible to get to? Jonathan Roldan's. Tailhunter Sportfishing. Double Room: $80. including a link to the offer on the website and the exact price being quoted. It is not an easy sport by nature, and when you add an environment that is full of opportunity, yet as challenging as the sport itself, then flyfishing goes beyond sport and into crazy worlds where fish light up, cannon balls get lodged into rocks, and anglers can feel their heart and hands charge with anticipation. Get in touch now. A 50% deposit is requested on all open party trips. 4 People Minimum, 2 pangas (2 per panga) 7 nights 5 days fishing; The sight of multiple tall dorsal fins cutting through bait schools is enough to get any anglers heart racing. The boat is top class, also used for deep-sea fishing, well equipped, and seaworthy. Additional non-fishing guests may also be added to your room. All rights reserved. Difficult as this adventure might seem, you can catch more striped marlin in a week here than you can in a half-dozen seasons in Southern California. We're hoping to fish for Wahoo. All meals and beverages as indicated on the itinerary. Magdalena Bay fishing area weather was partly cloudy in the high-70s, with water temperatures at 67 to 73 degrees. Our packages will include: Roundtrip professional ground transfers from and to the Loreto airport; The best accommodations in San Carlos; Breakfast and panga lunches; 4 days of panga fishing (3-4 per . The other deal is subject to the same booking conditions youve opted for with Ask Bob. . Cabo Fishing rentals/ Cabo fishing Charters. Baha Magdalena is a protected bay on the Pacific coast in Baja Sur. If you find your deal on another fishing website at a lower rate, contact ourcustomer careteam. Nick gets pulled slowly down the beach before putting the screws to whatever hes hooked, stopping it just before the sandy shore merges into a mangrove wall. Over summer 2021, weve caught a whole lot of, Well, we have delayed our Mag Bay fishing reports once again, and for that we apologize. The best fishing offshore is Aug through December, inshore there is pretty unique fishing year round. The shoreline is home to hundreds of mangrove-lined channels and is a sight to behold. We werent fishing, but were chasing birds and bait instead. You are using an out of date browser. 4 STROKE YAMAHA OUTBOARD. Im on! His ten-weight is buckled in a perfect inverse curve to his smile. Rarely will they even be found within 15 to 20 miles of the mouth of the bay. Smith designed the boat specifically for long-range trips: 2,300 gallons of fuel, two generators, two watermakers, and backups for pretty much everything. Offshore Fishing. Winter fishing features "yellow tail" (jurel) and other species that usually are deep in the sea rocks. MAGDALENA BAY, Mexico Just off the bow of our 22-foot open boat what Baja fishermen call a "panga" a whale spout erupts with an adrenalin-spiking "fwooosh." Grey whales (gray for you Americans) show up in Magdalena Bay religiously each year, their migration route is roughly 12,000 miles from Alaska to the Baja and return, feeding along . . But really, 200-plus-pound fish on 40-pound braid? Copyright 2023 Marlin Magazine. 3. Dinners are not included as there are now more options to eat in town. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Its not a place to learn flycasting; its a place where knowing how to manipulate 500-grain sink-tips is just as important as knowing how to move big poppers on floating lines. Round trip transfers from Loreto, the closest airport, are in our listed package prices. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Your email address will not be published. The marlin pulled me through and over large bait balls, with frigate birds wheeling just overhead. It feels like the curiosity is mutual. Mag Bay is almost the same size as San Francisco Bay. The largest town along the bay, Puerto San Carlos, has a handful of hotels and restaurants and is a great base for whale-watching or exploring the bay. 1. Ricardo Villegas shows us the rocky point on the north side of the boca (Spanish for mouth of the bay). Reservations can be made by contacting Cary or Erika at Success Sport Fishing - 760-230-6331. Guests chose between local panga rides to the mouth of the bay in search of whales or to a mangrove surrounding a local oyster farm. Flyfishing is not remotely new to Mag Bay, but the current state of the sport absolutely is. Casting into feeding blitzes is common in these inshore waters. Thank you again for everything. The multi-station layout on the Jarrett Bay 56 makes it a one-of-a-kind sportfishing boat. Do not hesitate to contact your new Magdalena Bay home, remember that we have mastered all types of fishing for more than 60 years and we are waiting for you. CABO PANGA FISHING--This tasty wahoo-dorado combo came aboard the Cabo San Lucas charter panga Cheer's for anglers Renee Shattuck and Miguel Hernandez, on a day that also produced 11 more dorado and a sailfish with Capt. So, come out and say hi and let's set you up for visiting us in La Paz in 2023! I recall hearing Morgan Promnitzs voice crackle over the VHF under my seat, as a stripey towed him toward the horizon: Marc! length:7.25m/23 feet 8 inches - width 1.78m/ 5 feet 8 inches weight 1500 lbs / Made from Fiberglass. With options to fish in the Bay, inshore and offshore, you'll be sure to have an amazing time fishing Mag bay. Magdalena Bay. La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico. 6) Fish the grounds for 5 to 6 hours and return home. Its all about getting there in this case, to Thetis Bank, about 30 miles off the northern part of Mag Bay. When the bite is on, Shafer will run the boat up from Cabo San Lucas, while Smith flies from his home in Florida to Cabo, then drives six hours to Puerto San Carlos where a local guide will ferry him out to the boat. I just want to go on a cheap $350 a day type of panga (ex: like in San Quintin, La Paz, etc). :). 202/642-6386) has been leading whale-watching experiences. 11 min read. We had a day or two to spare, so Korchinski offered to take us out on his 43-foot Riviera, Blue Sky. I caught sight of motion in the impossibly clear, cobalt water beneath the kayak, my eyes drawn to flashing pectoral fins and tails edged in electric cyan. We all know that fishing in Mag Bay is world class. Even with the detailed maps, finding the entrance to the channel he described was difficult. The whales might even let you pat their backs if you seem friendly. We can customize your trip to include both mangrove and blue water days. With four passengers, kayaks and lots of gear, our boat was heavier than the norm, but with mucho creaking, the truck pulled us out and only once required a stop to add air to a sagging tire with an old bicycle pump. It is such a large area, with so many species and migratory aspects to the fish, thatunless you were to fish 12 months a year, through all the tides, moons, and weatherit would be nearly impossible to figure out this fishery. The best time - season to fish Magdalena Bay it's from early June to late December. Rumor has it that the record for conventional tackle releases at Mag Bay is close to 200 striped marlin in one day, which pretty much sums up this amazing fishery. Is family owned & Operated "Proudly Creating Life-Long Memories" for morethan 23,000 people in the past 32 plus years .You will have the privilege to embark on a interactive adventure through the majestic ever glade waters of " Magdalena Bay" with father Crispin (Whale King) or one . Known locally as The Whale King, Mendoza is a pioneer of whale watching and sport fishing on the bay. . I can deal with anything at all to get to the great fishing, but here the trip is simple, the place is fantastic, and the fishing is utterly ridiculous. from La Ventana around the waters off Cabo San Lucas and all the way up the Pacific Coast to Magdalena Bay - Wherever the fishing action is best. Its one of Bajas last frontiers, but there are few other places on Earth where so many billfish congregate so predictably. We woke up to a ham-and-egg breakfast and to find that the crew had already caught a healthy supply of live bait. Full service of our Adventure Consultants. Magdalena Bay fishing area weather was mostly clear in the mid-90s, with water temperatures at 78 to 84 degrees. Driving in the natural scenery along Bajas mountain range we take you to Magdalena Bay to take pleasure and admire one of the most exceptional grey whales encounters; where we get close to experience them onboard a full-equipped, open boat "Panga.". What was the point? he said. Please ask at office about pick up possibilities. On other trips, he had watched dozens of marlin finning on the surface as they cruised slowly downsea. The Finger Bank is so named because of three areas where the bottom rises from 3,000 feet to around 300; on the charts, they look like fingers. They werent lit up and there wasnt any bait in sight, they were just following the ones that were actively feeding. A wider area we can now explore ! In 2018, Eli Martinez of SDMdiving.com set up a trip to Mag Bay for photographers. Bring in 5 Wahoo, a few tuna and dorado and head home for a Wahoo Ceviche dinner! Our plan was simple. Private TOUR. Around 12:00 noon we arrive in the small fishing town of Lopez Mateos, check-in to the hotel and get ready for an afternoon of whale . Mag Bay is about the size of San Francisco Bay, and the largest villages in the area are Puerto San Carlospopulation: 5,500and Lopez Mateos, which are a bit rustic to say the least. This experience leads to an appreciation that goes beyond the norm, beyond expectation, and certainly beyond fishing trip.. Incredible Striped Marlin Action in Magdalena Bay, Mexico. The interconnected bays include Bahia Magdalena, Bahia Almeja and a series of smaller bays ending at Santa Domingo to the north. Magdalena Bay is a large (1,200 km) and highly productive coastal bay located between 2415' N and 2520' N, and 11130' W, and 11215' W in B. C. S. (Fig. Next season there will be a fleet of 25-35 Boston Whalers and perfect American built accommodations available in MagBay. If you want to have a great time by the sea, Tag Cabo Sportfishing is your best bet. Each morning, we would meet the guide and run across the bay in the panga, where we then met a boat trailer ferry to take us over land and across the peninsula to the Pacific, which saved us hours of running time. Staying suspended in their time and place. I pushed up the lever drag on the Daiwa Saltiga and came tight immediately. Locally family owned and operated, "Proudly creating life-long memories" for more than 23,000 people in the past 40+ yrs. LOCATED IN SMALL FISHING VILLAGE OF LOPEZ MATEOS AND LORETO 760-908-BAJA Bob's cell . We hefted the bow to accommodate the new trailer he backed down, and soon we were again in the water, on the inside, headed back to the lodge under the rising full moon. Expert Crew with years of experience fishing the waters surrounding La Paz.. Juan was fantastic and really went above and beyond to make sure our time there was special and unique. For over 18 years, family-operated Mag Bay Tours (U.S. tel. 4. The Blue Water fishery is the stuff of legends, the heart of which is an area known as the Ridge. When we reached Thetis Bank, the crew put us in over an 80-foot high spot, though wind and currents quickly moved the kayaks off. Or normally out of the bay? I found spinners with 20- and 30-pound braid perfect for throwing poppers or Sebile Stick Shadds worked back fast and hard. I grabbed it, pushed off from the panga and pedaled hard as I free-spooled away from my lively 7-inch mackerel. ADIOS LA PAZ CARNAVALE 2018! Then marlin happens Music is played loud over a marlin bite. We know the longe range San Diego boats make it a destination for the 8+ day trips, they often make bait right outside of San Carlos on Isla Magdalena as well. With such a vast area, and countless species, time typically becomes a limiting factor more so than lack of fish. On kayaks smaller than the big Pro Angler such as the Hobie Passport models from which two anglers fished you can straddle the vessel with your feet in the water to increase resistance. Just dont expect flats boats, perfect English, or guides with full fly boxes. The bay itself is as vast as it can get and has a feeling of wilderness. MAGDALENA BAY, Mexico Just off the bow of our 22-foot open boat what Baja fishermen call a "panga" a whale spout erupts . The bait moves as the marlin and occasional sea lion push it forward. These places in the bluewater world are teaming with life, and they showcase the dance on a daily basis between apex predators like billfish, sea lions, and anglers.
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