Im not sure if Ricardo is even aware of how skilled he is at imitating every bird, insect, or wild sound he hears, but Ive noticed. Your email address will not be published. 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. Prices per day vary but you would pay minimum of $650 for an offshore panga. How far out is 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. These static bait balls provided the best photo opportunities. Puerto Vallarta, or simply "PV" is the epitome of Mexico's sportfishing scene. You have contacted us immediately after booking with all the details of the other deal Long walks on the beach in Southeast Florida. 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. It feels like the curiosity is mutual. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. FULL DAY TRIP 280 . 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. I grabbed it, pushed off from the panga and pedaled hard as I free-spooled away from my lively 7-inch mackerel. There were several boats using this technique and most were hooking up regularly. Magdalena Bay Previous Entry. Drake Magazine Back Issue Content: 2020 Summer Stranded on Socotra, Stranded on Socotra, The Quarantine and John Prine, Tarpon, A Mexican Introduction Fall Winter . An All Inclusive World Class Fishing Lodge in Magdalena Bay, BCS Mexico, That awkward snippet of time between Christmas and New Years is what I often refer to as the Skin Flap Days. The engine that moved my kayak at several knots (enough to leave a wake) was a large striped marlin to which I was tethered with 50-pound braid and a 6/0 circle hook embedded securely in the corner of the fishs mouth. Mag Bay will give up nothing easy, but for anglers willing to put in the time, money, and casts, the payoffs can be fantastic. According tolocals, the rocks here once stood taller, before the Americans used them for target practice in the spring of 1908. Experiences we have had with our family business from the 60s to date and we want to share with you our unique and incomparable experiences, we are a founding family and native of Baja Sur, where our first ways of living was commercial fishing and later we combined it with Sport Fishing. Thank you again for everything. Striped marlin are not easy to tease to the boat to begin with, and the ones at the bank seem to be well-fed and a bit more jitteryprobably because of the number of boats that chase them around. We hopped out and lifted the bow while the driver pulled the truck away, unhooked the trailer and soon arrived with another old trailer. The sardine run is going to be extinct at this rate. Explore Isla Magdalena Surfing SUP Fishing Kayaking Snorkeling Spear Fishing Hiking Beach Combing Clam Digging . Each winter, adventurous tourists come to meet and touch grey whales that have come en masse to get their offspring through the first few months of life. The bay is shel- tered from . The frenzy attracts frigate birds that swoop in from above. Custom Fly Fishing Panga Package 7 days: $2950/person At The New Island Home, Includes air port transfers, lodging, and meals. www.tailhunter.com Mexico Office: Tailhunter Sportfishing. I just want to go on a cheap $350 a day type of panga (ex: like in San Quintin, La Paz, etc). I dont want to spend a lot just to be on a huge/fancy boat ran by Americans. But its a short season, and for many locals, the whale-watching jobs end far too soon. The plan was to run up beyond the feeding marlin and cast a live bait into the fray. 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 central Baja region is home to Wahoo, Yellowfish tuna, Wahoo, and Dorado. The dorado . 11 min read. full service galley A/C. Also whats the best way from Loreto to Lopez mateos. Whale watching has provided an alternative economy, and in some ways a different narrative, on Mag Bay. Outfitting on Mag Bay has increased over the years, and the business of guiding flyfishers seems to be on the upswing. Our globe-trotting correspondent discovers big striped marlin and plenty more in the Galpagos. As you get closer, you can spot the marlins fins slicing the surface. Anywhere from 40 to 120 miles depending on where you leave from and what part you travel too. In the smaller boat, we could run ahead of the bait/bird/marlin frenzy and hop into the water. From dawn til dusk. 27' SPORT PANGA . But there really is no spot in the area for a base for a sport fishing operation. If youre lucky, you might even get your hands on some Spotted Bass, Dog Tooth Snapper, Halibut, Snook, Corniva, and Grouper. 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 . Ive caught many good fish in many places from kayaks over the decades, but none offered the level of satisfaction of my first Magdalena Bay marlin. A 50% deposit is requested on all open party trips. Magdalena Sport Fishing! However, I could see Shafers point: Too much chasing was going to have an effect on the fish. Or, you could be left shaking your head at the fish-filled mayhem that can turn on at any moment. Also, whats a good time (month) to fish Mag Bay? We work in partnership with ex-fishermen panga captains who turned to eco-experiences and have the knowledge and network to absolutely maximize your experience here. About. 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. The marlin pulled me through and over large bait balls, with frigate birds wheeling just overhead. He runs adventure trips all over the world to photograph everything from sharks to orcas to anacondas. With options to fish in the Bay, inshore and offshore, you'll be sure to have an amazing time fishing Mag bay. La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico. The Importance of Estimating a Sport Fishs Size and Weight, Marlin Expeditions Offers Light-Tackle Paradise in Guatemala. If you spot a collection of frigates in Mag Bay between late September through early December, they are most likely on striped marlin actively balling bait. Its possible to get diesel fuel in Mag Bay, but they bring it to you by panga; its more economical and safer to just keep your cruising speed low and complete the entire trip on one load. Within the massive bay, miles of mangroves, beaches, channels, sandbars and islets offer chances for snook, roosterfish, golden trevally, Colorado snapper, barred pargo, white seabass, yellowtail, halibut, corvina and more. Many regions of Baja waters still remain untouched by the tourists so you can land upon a lot of rare catch. The area erupts with outstanding action in 2019. Their main reason for heading south is to mate and give birth in the protected shallow lagoons in Baja. Casting anything you want all day long and hooking wahoo, giant tuna, dorado, marlin one after another on every cast. Staying suspended in their time and place. 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. It took me about two minutes to sign up for the expeditionfinally, I was going to Mag Bay. 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. Ramon . Looking for someone to split boat 1st November. I stayed with Wilber, and he and his son will take me out in his Panga at first light. I recall hearing Morgan Promnitzs voice crackle over the VHF under my seat, as a stripey towed him toward the horizon: Marc! Smith told me they were at the Finger one day when there were marlin tails everywhere and everything imaginable was crashing a bait ball the size of an Olympic swimming pool: birds, dolphins, whales, marlin, mahi. Looking for info on Lodgings and Panga rentals in Mag Bay for a few days in September. There would be no stand-up fighting harnesses on this day; big-game angling from a kayak is all about arms and back, and the drag of the kayak. Some boats continue to rack up double and a . 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. Ive been in the flyfishing industry my entire adult life, and I dont approach fish with trepidation. The best fishing offshore is Aug through December, inshore there is pretty unique fishing year round. Fishing in Mag Bay. (8 with children) maximum. 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. The ProKat seemed to be in good working order along with all the fishing gear. This trip was a trip of a lifetime. I wasnt alone in this contest. A support team helps shuttle kayaks and anglers to the action surrounding Mag Bay. The MagBay Advantage; About; Wholesale Registration; Dealer Locator; Product Catalog How deep into the pool would you like to go? His captain was Juan Jose Abaroa Flores, who ran the Mucho Loco for the Rolling Stones for many years back in the 1980s. Korchinski had been toying with the idea of running up to the Finger Bank, some 60 nautical miles north of Cabo. It's a gorgeous place to visit for the pristine beaches, mangroves, and sardine runs. 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. Be Sure to Check Out MAG BAY LURES with MAG BAY LODGE which is where we stayed and who organized this whole beautiful trip for us! However, the crew soon gave us the high sign; with at least 2 hours to get to the lodge, it was time to pack up. My head snaps around to locate it. 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. He knows fishing and is always ready. There were marlin everywhere, not just on the bait balls. Its simply incredible to witness. The grounds we fish at are completely loaded with Wahoo, Dorado, Tuna . Show map . Have you ever noticed that fantastic fishing spots are nearly impossible to get to? Small day pack or hip pack with any personal items. 4 People Minimum, 2 pangas (2 per panga) 7 nights 5 days fishing; Drake Magazine Back Issue Content Winter 2019. Magdalena Bay is a gorgeous place to visit just for the pristine beauty, mangroves and giant sand dunes of the outer islands. Gathering my thoughts and my breath, I start to move, swimming toward a grey shadow. Subscribe here to get the latest updates news on all things fishing and hunting right to your inbox, Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by. Its all part of the adventure when kayak-fishing Magdalena Bay. 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 . The lodge is well maintained, has access to the swimming pool, hot tub, huge garage, workshop, tackle room, outside dining area, and more. Hundreds of miles of Mangroves Inshore for countless species Our contact during the booking process was Marco: he was flexible with our requests about . calm waterways of a . Catches Likely: Marlin, tuna, roosterfish, golden trevalle, pargo, snook, wahoo, dorado, bonita, jacks, and more. Incredible Striped Marlin Action in Magdalena Bay, Mexico. One of the best parts of traveling is the pleasant surprises that come along every trip. 4. 8:30am Loreto bay and 9am Villas Del Palmar. Full service of our Adventure Consultants. Get in! Toby Larocque urged frantically as he and skipper Danny Infante slid a Hobie Pro Angler 14 off the pangas gunwale and into the Pacifics low ground swell. In the bay, between 85 and 95 miles of mangrove-filled canals provide a seemingly endless source of light tackle fishing especially for groupers, snapper and snook. There, an old and battered but serviceable red Ford pickup backed a trailer to waiting boats (artisanal fishing pangas except for us) to be shuttled a mile or so over the sand and dropped in at a beach facing the Pacific. different, you still keep your existing reservation including the cancellation policy. For more details on trip rules, cancellation and travel insurance visit our KNOW BEFORE YOU GO page. You may be in the surf one day, taking waves to the chest, and the next morning you could be pulling hard on a 14-weight. What I like most about mag bay in general is the seclusion and peace. 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. On the other side of the islands, some of the most productive banks provide world-class fishing of pelagic species in large quantities, where each year in November, a natural phenomenon known as the Marlin run gathers in large numbers. Fishing far offshore might take longer, particularly with a stiff headwind chop. The sight of multiple tall dorsal fins cutting through bait schools is enough to get any anglers heart racing. Standard operating procedure called for fishermen to simply sit in their pangas for the short ride. Waterbottle. he history of this Lodge as a core spot for Magdalena Bay fishing is deep rooted in the recent history of the town of San Carlos. Filter results by: Price per Day. If you are approaching from the north, the drive . . Seen here is Marc Mills with a nice yellowtail. Video by Spencer Millsap. I dont think we ever saw more than three sport-fishing boats in a day, but there was clearly a specific area where all the action was taking place. Any info would be greatly appreciated, Anyone, are there any cheap pangas run by Mexicans out in Mag Bay? He says there are still cannon balls stuck in the rocks. Lopez Mateos/Magdalena Bay . Doing battle with a striped marlin from a kayak typically results in a sleigh ride. Known locally as The Whale King, Mendoza is a pioneer of whale watching and sport fishing on the bay. There were five of us on the trip and we had five days to chase bait balls. Mag Bay is offers super size fish options. The other deal is bookable online and is still available when we check. Thirty minutes later and its the post-release chatter, all high fives, and back slaps. Little has changed over the years in this small fishing village where the main available activities are around the fishing, whale watching and Eco Touring. 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. Discover the amazing variety of fish Mag Bay has to offer! 10%. Its easy to keep pace with fins. "Get in! For more information email us at tagsportfishing@gmail.com or click on the link Mag Bay fishing trips. For more details on trip rules, cancellation and travel insurance visit our, Roundtrip professional ground transfers from and to the Loreto airport. Reels spin loudly to the tune of unknown breakoffs and the occasional Spanish Mackerel. Contact Jimmy Camacho from Jimmys Sportfishing. Within a couple of minutes of hopping into the kayak, a savage strike had ripped line from the spool. Max 4 anglers per cruiser. Camera (get ready for some superb images!) Then the sleigh ride began. The productive and healthy marine environment is an anglers dream come true! Enjoying a succulent lunch in a . Marco and others are finding a way to make both experiences happen safely and symbiotically. Our Mag Bay yacht charters are luxurious, affordable, and have all the amenities to fit your budget. Or, at least those lucky enough to find us and have the opportunity to enjoy Magdalena Bay fishing and all the beauty it has to offer. 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. So we hop out of the panga and begin casting a variety of sinking lines and Clousers into colliding currents. Two English kayak anglers find marlin, sails and roosterfish in Baja California, Hell's Bay skiff up for grabs for raffle supporting Captains For Clean Water. Thanks guys! We spotted the frigate birds working the surface; when we got close, we could see the marlin in hot pursuit. 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. We build custom fly and light-tackle fishing packages that suit your plans, and your . 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 . Dorado, Tuna, Sailfish, Marlin, and even Wahoo likely on the Fly His operation is fittingly named Magdalena Bay Whales, but his new camp offers experiences beyond whale watching. Panga $450 - Unguided Light Tackle $750 - Guided Fly Fishing. The excellent fishing also continued inside the bay for . That creates truly special opportunities to experience packs of striped marlin in every direction and boiling at the surface, especially from a kayak. It is a place for fly anglers not in search of banner day after banner day, but in search of unique, memorable events. Our plan was simple. No one just stumbles onto Magdalena Bay, unless they are cruising from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and can spend a few days fishing along the way. The bay is obviously full of fish. Wed been researching and prepping for this trip for months, bringing enough gear to fish for whatever we encountered. We werent fishing, but were chasing birds and bait instead. 888.752.2828; FREE DOMESTIC SHIPPING OVER $50; More. The sea lions also were feeding on the bait when they werent nipping at the stripeys or growling at us. Search top fishing charters in Magdalena Bay. Offshore 25 miles, the wind picks up and I hear it mix with the country music coming from our little travel speaker.