Posted in on 07/06/2009 10:20 pm by Livin 4 Less in Baja
FISHING NORTHERN PACIFIC BAJA
California Halibut!! caught in Punta Banda peninsula!
There is so much information on Baja fishing out there that I could make a seperate website on the subject. My husband Dann is a retired fisheries technician and biologist for the Department of Natural Resources. He knows more about fishing than any other topic on the planet!
A very good reference guide on Methods for Fishing California Halibut can be found at the following link:
http://www.shallowhalibut.com
The following is a short excerpt from the book and comes to you from Dann:
“Fishing the Baja is a wonderful experience. Fishing pressure is light, so you are not seeing alot of other boats when on the ocean. There are however some challenges to fishing the Baja however.
One of the biggest challenges is LAUNCHING your boat. There are very few protected boat ramps in the Baja, especially on the Pacific side. On the Sea of Cortez, finding a place to launch a boat is much easier. There really isn’t the big surge or surf on that side either. On the Pacific side most of the boat launching is done off the beach. The beaches are normally very hard packed, and driving with a four wheel drive usually isn’t a problem. The problem is getting the smaller boat off the trailer and then getting through the surf. Some days it almost impossible to get through the surf which can get 4-8 feet high. The other problem is the water is usually very shallow next to the beach, so in order to get out to water that is deep enough to enable you to put your motor down, most people row. If someone doesn’t mind getting wet up to the waist, the boat can be pulled out in small surf, until the depth is sufficient. The size of the boat and the weight of the boat are important also. The smaller the easier, but you are limited to the size of surf you can get through. Bigger boats are hard to maneuver with oars or even manpower. It is also more difficult to get the boat off the trailer. Wooden pangas are very popular for beach launching, however aluminum boats 14′ to 18′ work well. Just typing in Baja boat ramps on google will give you a few lists and descriptions of what is available.
If you are not up to the challenge of the ocean, the Baja is littered with estuaries. An estuary is just a protected body of water that is connected to the ocean by small inlets. It won’t get as rough in the estuaries and you will be fishing shallow water. There are many great sports fish to be found there also. From halibut, spotted bay bass, croakers, bonefish, corvina, and snook. These estuaries are also great places for kayaking, or sailing. Launching a boat is also much easier and there are more available. Wind is the biggest challenge on the Sea of Cortez. Afternoon breezes or gale force winds are notorious. They can come up very fast also. There is wind on the Pacific side also, but not as strong, and are more predictable.
So once on the ocean, where to go fishing? If you are not familiar with the area your first stop should be at any local tackle and bait shop. Sometimes the charter guys will give you some hints also.
There are basically two types of ocean fishing. Bottom fishing for rock cod, ling cod, halibut, tree fish, sheephead, grouper, etc. The other type is surface fishing, for yellowtail, white sea bass, bonita, tuna, dorado, etc.
Bottom fishing is just what is sounds like. With a lead weight of varying sizes depending on how deep you will be fishing, gets your hook and bait to the bottom, where you wait for a bite, while drifting. Heavy leadhead jigs can also be used to get your presentation to the bottom. Bait could consist of squid, clams, anchovies, etc. Or live bait will always outfish frozen bait, but can be a bit hard to find or catch. Many people prefer to use soft plastics on a lead head jig. This could be some sort of curly tail or swimbait. This eliminates the need for bait, and can be very successful.
Surface fishing usually involves trolling or casting. There are a variety of lures to use for a variety of species. Popular trolling lures are Krocodile spoons, feathers, rapala, cedar plugs, squid replicas, etc. Speed of trolling and lure selection are very important, and take some experience to learn. Live bait on the surface is sometime a very productive method.
Casting is done with spoons, jigs with plastic tails, aluminum jigs, etc. Casting is most productive when you spot a school of fish or see fish boils in the water. Randomly casting without visual confirmation or the presence of fish is pretty fruitless.Fishing methods, lures and locations are going to vary depending on where geographically you are. Ask the locals, go to the local bait store, talk to the panga fishermen. Research is very important if you are not familiar with the area you want to fish.
The further south you go to fish the better the fishing will be. The mouth of Bahia de Conception (sea of cortez side) is an excellent place for triggerfish and roosterfish. The water gets warmer and there is very little fishing pressure. This is true on both the Pacific side and the Sea of Cortez side. The Sea of Cortez does offer a bigger variety of species and it is not necessary to go off shore near as far as is required on the Pacific side, at least for the larger species like tuna, yellowtail, billfish, etc.
No matter where you decide to go fishing in the Baja, it pays to do your homework before you leave. The internet is full of all kinds of fishing reports, and information on what season is the best for which species. Also research the weather. Summer in the Sea of Cortez can be extremely hot. Winter on the Pacific side can be void of surface fish, and storms are common.
You will need a Mexican fishing license and need to know the local bag limits. If you are bringing a boat from the U.S. you will not have to register it with Mexico. The laws were changed a couple years ago, and now only Mexican boats need to be registered. If you are not bringing a boat, that is not a problem. There are charters in almost every town along the coast. Pangas are the most prominent and will only accommodate a few people at a time. There are party boats that take large numbers of people, and may go out from 1-6 days. Again the internet will lead you to any kind of charter you are looking for, in whatever location you are interested in.”
“HAVE FUN FISHING IN THE BAJA”
D ~ A ~ N ~ N
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Sports fishing has the potential to be, if it isnt already, the most profitable recreational business in Ensenada.. People are spending big bucks to come to Ensenada to fish. At one time, Ensenada used to be the yellowtail fishing capital of Mexico. It is not anymore, perhaps because of all the tuna farming, bait catchers, illegal activity and so no.
However, now, there are a only a handful of boat ramps for the fisherman to launch a smaller craft. Here is the short list of boat ramps in and around the Ensenada region:
1. The Hotel Corral. $40 (u.s.) to launch.
2. Rincon. LaJolla Beach Camp. punta banda peninsula. free.
Chartering Notes….
Don’t worry if you have no experience at all. Your skipper or Captain will tie hooks, catch bait, and help you catch fish. If you release all of your fish or fish for certain species, make sure you communicate this to the skipper. Sometimes, the best bet is just tell the skipper you want to fish for whatever is best at the time. Also, don’t be afraid to tell your skipper that you feel like shortening your day because you’re uncomfortable, seasick or whatever. Your comfort and safety come first and the skipper will do all he can to cater to your needs. Most fishing captains speak “Spanglish” and fishing English. However, like anyone else, some are more talkative than others. Be patient, it’s amazing how far hand signs and a smile will go. They are going to do their best to find fish for you and are more than willing to help you out. Ask questions. Put yourself in their place. Any attempts to speak Spanish are appreciated.
My good friend Tom Gatch, writes a regular column in the Baja Times called “Hooked on Baja” as well as being the author of several well recieved books also called ” Hooked on Baja” . Check them both out!
www.bajatimes.com
