During the calving season, the gray whales migrate to the Baja waters, and so do humans. . What makes the Magdalena Bay offshore fishing so astonishing is a convergence of conditions that occur in the fall. Those who know me, know that fishing is my life. Runs a panga from Mag Bay. Top to bottom everything was amazing. After more than an hour, I was able to bill the beast and work the circle hook out of its jaw, then pedaled for 10 minutes or so holding the marlin by its bill alongside until it was kicking strongly for a healthy release. We watch a reel getting emptied and watch the fish leap, flip, and dive. 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.. For more details on trip rules, cancellation and travel insurance visit our, Roundtrip professional ground transfers from and to the Loreto airport. Contact Jimmy Camacho from Jimmys Sportfishing. Boat Specs - Success Sport Fishing | Fishing, Spearfishing, and Surfing Trips . It hits me with as much depth as the water beneath me. Just dont expect flats boats, perfect English, or guides with full fly boxes. You can view the rates for lodging here: . The best out of 7 charter fishing deals in Magdalena Bay - enter dates to check availability . The fear is gone in an instant. I just want to go on a cheap $350 a day type of panga (ex: like in San Quintin, La Paz, etc). The bait moves as the marlin and occasional sea lion push it forward. At Cabo San Lucas, the phenomenal billfish bite remains the highlight. Gathering my thoughts and my breath, I start to move, swimming toward a grey shadow. 2. https://magbaylodge.com/ . 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 . A series of sea mounts, pinnacles and banks, such as the Thetis and Potatoe Banks, hold huge concentrations of fish in the fall and spring as the species make their annual migrations. LOCATED IN SMALL FISHING VILLAGE OF LOPEZ MATEOS AND LORETO 760-908-BAJA Bob's cell . Our journey to Thetis had us leaving the lodge in two pangas at dawn for a 15-minute ride to a launch point of sorts on a shallow beach. Mag Bay also has some of the finest lodges, yacht charters, and tourism infrastructure in the country. Doing battle with a striped marlin from a kayak typically results in a sleigh ride. Drake Magazine Back Issue Content Winter 2019. If there are five marlin attacking the bait, there are 20 or more slowly swimming beneath it. Depending on seas, etc its a little tricky to sport fish from a panga in those areas getting out in time and back. For more information email us at tagsportfishing@gmail.com or click on the link Mag Bay fishing trips. Striped marlin gorge on bait balls off far-flung Magdalena Bay, creating unparalleled action and record catch numbers. Filter results by: Price per Day. I recall hearing Morgan Promnitzs voice crackle over the VHF under my seat, as a stripey towed him toward the horizon: Marc! My head snaps around to locate it. A surreal feeling begins setting in as the soft light of evening meets the low slack tide. Bright blue silence. It is protected by two islands - Isla Magdalena to the north and, Isla Santa Margarita to the south. We would have a few moments to snap photos before everything got out of range. Also, whats a good time (month) to fish Mag Bay? Find frigate birds low on the water and the stripeys are sure to be there. ENSENADA YELLOWTAIL GURU--Panga fishing at Ensenada with Vonny's Fleet includes a traditional Baja beach launch at the southeast corner of the bay for quick access to the prime fishing grounds at the tip of Punta Banda . JavaScript is disabled. 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. Then marlin happens Music is played loud over a marlin bite. Reservations can be made by contacting Cary or Erika at Success Sport Fishing - 760-230-6331. Wed run ahead of them and the five photographers in our group would plop into the water; the bait would swim over and use us as cover. We can customize your trip to include both mangrove and blue water days. 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 . For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The in-water viewpoint was very interesting. 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. . 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. The fishing in Mag Bay is diverse and plentiful. Hi, no Wahoo never come inside the bay. Get in touch now. 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. Within a couple of minutes of hopping into the kayak, a savage strike had ripped line from the spool. There is nowhere else like it on Earthyou just have to figure out how to get there. Captain Aldo Atonto tells us the fish will be up within the hour. 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. Are Wahoo in the bay too? 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. 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! A series of barrier Islands form a complex of inter connected bays and mangrove channels that extends two hundred miles, north and South along the central coast of Southern Baja. We all know that fishing in Mag Bay is world class. Jonathan. Crispin Mendoza is the living legend of San Carlos, a small town near the bay. He says there are still cannon balls stuck in the rocks. In the event of cancellation notice must be received in writing by the spot holder or charter master 180 days . This would mean a five-hour run, and we would have to leave the dock by 4:30 a.m. Ledbetter and I jumped at the chance and we found that the long run was not a problem at allwe simply hopped in the bunks and went back to sleep. An anglers skill set and a sense of adventure still has to be there. MagBay lodge offers pickups, taxis from loreto, or car rentals are all options. Landing this exotic and surprising prize opened our imaginations. Magdalena Bay, or Baha Magdalena in Spanish, is a 50 km long bay, and about 200 km of lagoons and channels on the Pacific side of the Baja California Sur, in the municipality of Comond. The Finger Bank is Mag Bay Lite. Enjoying a succulent lunch in a . The dorado . Copyright 2018 Baja Fishing Convoys - All Rights Reserved. For a fly angler, there is great appeal in the unknown. Guides here are well versed in spin and baitfishing, but not so much with flyfishing. When we arrived, there were several other boats on the horizon and it wasnt hard to figure out where the fish were. Smith believes that the marlin at the Finger Bank are harder to catch on fly than those at Mag Bay. Frozen in the blue quiet. But we never make it. The Fishery: There are three separate fisheries accessible from the small Pueblo of Adolfo Lopez Mateos. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The central Baja region is home to Wahoo, Yellowfish tuna, Wahoo, and Dorado. Sport Fishing Charters. Time and tide now allow ! 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. It is one of the longest bays, it is considered the second largest in the Pacific. The best time - season to fish Magdalena Bay it's from early June to late December. From about 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., fishing 35 or so miles off Mag Bays southern entrance in Baja California, Mexico, four kayakeros released nine striped marlin. La Paz - Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Suenos Bay/ Magdalena Bay Fishing Report from Tailhunter Sportfishing for Week of Feb. 24-March 4, 2018. . He and his crew load two kayaks aboard each panga and head for a destination determined by anglers goals, the season and the mornings conditions. We had a day or two to spare, so Korchinski offered to take us out on his 43-foot Riviera, Blue Sky. Then, quiet. Trip Itinerary. The sea lions also were feeding on the bait when they werent nipping at the stripeys or growling at us. We hopped out and lifted the bow while the driver pulled the truck away, unhooked the trailer and soon arrived with another old trailer. Dinners are not included as there are now more options to eat in town. If you prefer to Fly Fish from Our ProKat or CapeHorn please just refer to standard offshore packages for pricing. Hes found that these striped marlin dont stay on the bait ball close to the boat, and the motor noise while maneuvering into position is counterproductive. Reels spin loudly to the tune of unknown breakoffs and the occasional Spanish Mackerel. La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico. E: booking@magbaytours.com. 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. 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 . 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. Copyright 2017 - bajaflyfish.com - All Rights Reserved. Some of the thousands of fishing pelicans. The fish at Mag Bay are also well-fed, but the lack of boat harassment and sheer numbers of marlin make it an exceptional destination, especially for fly fishing. On one dive, there were five snorkelers in a semi-circle and a family of sea lions swimming opposite from us. Adults: $261.00 $235.00. data-event-category="Navigation header guest", Full list of top fishing charters in Magdalena Bay, FishingBooker has a Shopper Approved rating of 4.8/5 based on 25793 ratings and reviews. including a link to the offer on the website and the exact price being quoted. Magdalena Bay Whales - Your Adventure Our Passion . The excellent fishing also continued inside the bay for . By Robert Reid. I dont want to spend a lot just to be on a huge/fancy boat ran by Americans. On one day last year, they raised 143 marlin and released 50, all on fly tackle. 888.752.2828; FREE DOMESTIC SHIPPING OVER $50; More. his Lodge was built nearly 30 years ago by some well respected Americans with a vision for fishing in Mag Bay that was far ahead of the time. $1000 for a Cape Horn 27 and $1,750 for a Pro Cat 37. All camping equipment. We're hoping to fish for Wahoo. Prices subject to change without notice. In the afternoons we still found the bait balls, but they were smaller and probably tired. 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. A chain of islands that serve as a barrier protect the bay from the . The ProKat seemed to be in good working order along with all the fishing gear. Baja Flyfishing Co is excited to offer Lopez Mateos/Magdelena Bay as one of our destinations, providing access to several hundred miles of mangrove channels, pristine beaches and the fabled Thetis Banks. Huge fish boils are still the norm here, providing the fly fisher the opportunity to cast a fly in the churning waters with equal chance of catching dorado, tuna, wahoo or billfish. We had two different captains, both were knowledgeable and informative. 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. FULL DAY TRIP 280 . This lodge and operation is nothing short of amazing. Or, you could be left shaking your head at the fish-filled mayhem that can turn on at any moment. 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. This author does not have any more posts. From dawn til dusk. You are using an out of date browser. different, you still keep your existing reservation including the cancellation policy. There is only one hotel for Magdalena Bay. Dorado, Tuna, Sailfish, Marlin, and even Wahoo likely on the Fly You can drive all the way to Mag Bay. 4 nights of lodging in Costa Baja Resort. The lodge is well maintained, has access to the swimming pool, hot tub, huge garage, workshop, tackle room, outside dining area, and more. I wasnt alone in this contest. Magdalena Sport Fishing! Guided Grey Whale Watching. Any info would be greatly appreciated . In other circumstances, I might have thought it was a good time to return to the panga, but I was having such a blast and had gotten so used to climbing up the swells and skating back down that I hardly gave the conditions a second thought. The experience is both fascinating and intriguing. During the calving season, the gray whales migrate to the Baja waters, and so do humans. 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. Also whats the best way from Loreto to Lopez mateos. Magdalena Bay is a gorgeous place to visit just for the pristine beauty, mangroves and giant sand dunes of the outer islands. 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. The frenzy attracts frigate birds that swoop in from above. One problem I flyfish and got a guide already. The next morning, we ran 55 miles south in Enrique's panga to the estero that I believed to be Hoctor's spot. If you just want grouper, yellowtail and those type fish then pangas are no problem. If youre planning your next getaway to Baja California Sur, the lagoons of Mag Bay are a must-see! 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. Our guests stay at the Mangrove Inn, a new facility located just outside the port town of Lopez Mateos. 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 . The gray whale spends summers in the waters off Alaska, and then heads 6,000 miles (almost 10,000 km) south to the warmer lagoons of Baja in January, February and March. quantities. the Magdalena Bay offshore striped marlin show continued into January, much to the amazement of the locals. 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. That day, we released 14 stripeys out of 20 bites, most on the lighter bait rods. If you go online searching for flyfishing or outfitting in Mag Bay, youll find some operations. 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. Hands down, it is my absolute favorite fishing destination and the crew, boats, and service provided just make it so much fun. Required fields are marked *. Locally family owned and operated, "Proudly creating life-long memories" for more than 23,000 people in the past 40+ yrs. Speaks great English and got us some (9) wahoo last September. The afternoon was filled with searching for wildlife from the bow as National Geographic Sea Bird navigated Canal de Soledad. The Lodge at Mag Bay offers a truly extraordinary experience. All reservations for charter are considered tentative until 25% deposit is received. 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. There are innumerable yacht charters that will literally make all heads turn to the dock. Outfitting on Mag Bay has increased over the years, and the business of guiding flyfishers seems to be on the upswing. My imagination is already running full speed when I look across the river and cant believe what I see. 7 hrs whale watching and more. 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. Nick Smith has been fishing Mag Bay for years. Its all about getting there in this case, to Thetis Bank, about 30 miles off the northern part of Mag Bay. The Life of Ryan. This is familiar; this pull, this need to clear my line rapidly. Great, I think to myself. 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. Custom Fly Fishing Panga Package 7 days: $2950/person At The New Island Home, Includes air port transfers, lodging, and meals. 1). The Importance of Estimating a Sport Fishs Size and Weight, Marlin Expeditions Offers Light-Tackle Paradise in Guatemala. Your email address will not be published. The area has numerous small commercial fishing villages where the expertise and fishing knowledge is passed down in families. Double Room: $80. 10%. The plan was to run up beyond the feeding marlin and cast a live bait into the fray. Roosters are notorious for reluctantly coming to within landing distance of the beach or panga, only to run again - sometimes stripping as much as 300 yards of backing from the reel. According tolocals, the rocks here once stood taller, before the Americans used them for target practice in the spring of 1908. Whale watching sessions by Panga. All rights reserved. These four books will tide you over on the days you can't be on the water, At 88, Ed Darwin has spent decades mastering his local waters of Chesapeake Bay, 2023 Active Interest Media All Rights Reserved. . In the morning, the bait schools were bigger and were running together as a group, rather than trying to hide in a ball. What was the point? he said. Its one of Bajas last frontiers, but there are few other places on Earth where so many billfish congregate so predictably. 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. But there really is no spot in the area for a base for a sport fishing operation. Some boats continue to rack up double and a . 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. ADIOS LA PAZ CARNAVALE 2018! With anglers launched, the pangas remain in proximity and in contact to bring bait, food and drinks, gear, or to pick up fish for dinner and put them on ice. At one point there were almost 20 marlin around and below me, casually swimming along. Four kayak anglers explore the rich offshore and inshore waters of Baja's Magdalena Bay. calm waterways of a . A prime example: Magdalena Bay, on the Pacific coast of Mexicos storied Baja Peninsula. All National Parks & Biosphere Reserve access fees required by itinerary. . Thirty minutes later and its the post-release chatter, all high fives, and back slaps. Infante stuck a Daiwa Saltiga lever-drag reel in my face. Casting into feeding blitzes is common in these inshore waters. Yet the vetting of anglers capable of the daily will and skill necessary to excel in these waters seems to happen organically. Thank you again for everything. Its relative inaccessibility has allowed it to remain one of those rare places that time has virtually forgotten. . Swimming with the fishes in Baja By John Huber Photos by Nick Price. After catching and mostly releasing many tuna, I dropped slow-pitch jigs during the afternoon in 200 or so feet to catch Pacific red snapper, gulf grouper and various small reef fish. A remote, isolated bay that sits some 120 miles north of Cabo San Lucas, there is not much in this part of the Baja. Call or email us for pricing on other customized options. Wed been researching and prepping for this trip for months, bringing enough gear to fish for whatever we encountered. A barbless hook also will usually fall out within a few hours. We're hoping to fish for Wahoo. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. 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. He knows fishing and is always ready. 4) The Panga brings the kayaks out to the location so they are ready when we arrive in the boat. . Magdalena Bay Previous Entry. In 2018, Smith and Shafer spent 12 days in Mag Bay, releasing 317 striped marlin on fly. 6) Fish the grounds for 5 to 6 hours and return home. Our 24 ft panga is for 2 anglers is $400 per day. View map . As he fished, Promnitz watched a school of large sardines get picked off one by one by a wolf pack of a dozen marlin, using body language and coloration to communicate as they took turns teaming up on the baitfish, he told me later. Magdalena Bay fishing area weather was mostly clear in the mid-90s, with water temperatures at 78 to 84 degrees. Calle Puerto La Paz 40, Bahia Magdalena, 23740 Magdalena Bay, B.C.S., Mexico. 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. Private TOUR. Winning this round, Nick holds a handsome golden trevally that has taken the place of the snook and marlin we came to catch. Tour will start at approx 7:30-7:45am . Martinez had located lodging for us at the Hotel Alcatraz in Puerto San Carlos and secured a guide that ran a 25-foot panga. 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. It took me about two minutes to sign up for the expeditionfinally, I was going to Mag Bay. A spectacular example of what biologists call "island endemism," Isla Magdalena also offers solitude, bay and ocean recreation, bird watching, hiking and spectacular views, all while being within reasonable distance of pleasant accommodations in the bustling fishing village of San Carlos. This past su. The waters are teeming with fascinating marine life, and the Baja peninsula is primarily known as a fishing paradise. Video by Spencer Millsap. 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. When we were dumped back in the water, we still had another hour or so run out to the fishing grounds. This is the tour you came so far for ! FishingBooker.com. Thanks guys! There are more fly anglers willing to travel now than ever before. 1. $0 - $400 $400 - $600 $600 - $800 $800+ Magdalena Bay: 7 fishing charters available . Round trip transfers from Loreto, the closest airport, are in our listed package prices. 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. Ask Bob. I wanted to take the time to give you some really good feedback on our trip with your team this year! The appreciation for Mag Bay comes from the secrets she keeps. Magdalena Bay, Lopez Mateos, Baja. Mag Bay Lodge is one of the few operations in the area that caters to anglers. Their main reason for heading south is to mate and give birth in the protected shallow lagoons in Baja. Everything worked out really well, and I wanted to let everyone know how much we appreciated it. There must be 50 to 100 marlin all around me! Daiwas Marc Mills was unable to follow that advice, as he was also hooked up. The Baja Flyfishing Co. LLC offers a variety of guided fly fishing, spin fishing and light tackle off shore packages as well as guided beach and kayak fishing. 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. Next season there will be a fleet of 25-35 Boston Whalers and perfect American built accommodations available in MagBay. length:7.25m/23 feet 8 inches - width 1.78m/ 5 feet 8 inches weight 1500 lbs / Made from Fiberglass. Its not an easy task to release a 60 lbs wahoofrom a popper on a spinning rod.