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. 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. Reels spin loudly to the tune of unknown breakoffs and the occasional Spanish Mackerel. . Light jacket or sweater. The best fishing offshore is Aug through December, inshore there is pretty unique fishing year round. . 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. MagBay Sportfishing Charters in Baja, California, Mexico. Information on the bay, although always a little scarce, has become easier to find. Instead, he simply trolls a standard East Coast spread with two dredges, two squid chains and a pair of hookless lures or ballyhoo, and all fish are teased to the boat. 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. 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. 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. Mag Bay Lodgings/Panga Rentals? | Bloodydecks 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. Magdalena Bay Whales - Your Adventure Our Passion . ACTIVITIES - MagBay Experiences Marlin Magazine may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. Puerto Vallarta, or simply "PV" is the epitome of Mexico's sportfishing scene. Offshore vs. Inshore Fishing in Cabo San Lucas: Which is Right for You? However, I could see Shafers point: Too much chasing was going to have an effect on the fish. The best out of 7 charter fishing deals in Magdalena Bay - enter dates to check availability . Anywhere from 40 to 120 miles depending on where you leave from and what part you travel too. full service galley A/C. Lopez Mateos/Magdalena Bay . Between these islands and smaller sand banks which . Trip Date: Group Size: - + - + Show map . The fishing they have done over the past 30 years is enough to amaze any fishermen with days on the water around hidden tuna pens that are unimaginable fishing. For over 18 years, family-operated Mag Bay Tours (U.S. tel. 11 min read. The conditions of your booking with us still allow penalty-free cancellations and The Fishery: There are three separate fisheries accessible from the small Pueblo of Adolfo Lopez Mateos. (more). Magdalena Bay and Lopez Mateos - Baja Flyfishing Company Also whats the best way from Loreto to Lopez mateos. Brian J. Cantwell. Just dont expect flats boats, perfect English, or guides with full fly boxes. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Smith believes that the marlin at the Finger Bank are harder to catch on fly than those at Mag Bay. Help us make more videos by clicking the like button. Outfitting on Mag Bay has increased over the years, and the business of guiding flyfishers seems to be on the upswing. The fish push the bait to the surface, then attack it from below. For more information email us at tagsportfishing@gmail.com or click on the link Mag Bay fishing trips. La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico. Fishing in Mag Bay. Cancn's up there somewhere. As I get closer, the bluewater world comes into focus. Reservations can be made by contacting Cary or Erika at Success Sport Fishing - 760-230-6331. There is only one hotel for Magdalena Bay. 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. LOCATED IN SMALL FISHING VILLAGE OF LOPEZ MATEOS AND LORETO 760-908-BAJA Bob's cell . The return trip took us perhaps 20 additional minutes when the wheel bearings in the old trailer failed halfway across the sand. I hop on a boat, shoot out in the morning, flip some baits around the red rooster III who just got there from a 3 day run. Fish with us at the Lodge at Mag Bay. Swimming with the fishes in Baja By John Huber Photos by Nick Price. Or, you could be left shaking your head at the fish-filled mayhem that can turn on at any moment. B ottom and/or Deep Sea Fishing depending on the season and target species.. 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. For fly fishing we have a custom panga package. Mexico's Magdalena "Mag" Bay is among the best and most consistent sportfishing experiences in the world. 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. A Bonnier LLC Company. Juan was fantastic and really went above and beyond to make sure our time there was special and unique. 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. And in the case of Mag Bay, the bigger that sense of adventure the better. But know this: If youre thinking of just rolling down to DIY the bay, make sure you are highly competent in a boat. The frenzy attracts frigate birds that swoop in from above. What was the point? he said. 6) Fish the grounds for 5 to 6 hours and return home. Magdalena Bay fishing area weather was mostly clear in the mid-90s, with water temperatures at 78 to 84 degrees. Other times, there was a guy on the bow with a spinning rod, throwing some kind of lurehe also was hooking up regularly. Incredible Striped Marlin Action in Magdalena Bay, Mexico Private TOUR. Please call for a quote. calm waterways of a . But we had a great morning with yellowfin tuna small to maybe 20 pounds and skipjack. 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. 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. quantities. Approx. Survive, is what an angler does the first few minutes after hooking a striped marlin. Located on the Pacific Ocean side of the Baja Peninsula, Baha Magdalena, or Mag Bay, is one of the most legendary yet remote fisheries in North America.This 30 mile long bay, famous as a home to the gray whale during its southern migration, is formed by two sandy barrier islands named Isla Magdalena/Isla Margarita and provides incredible inshore and offshore fishing. Guided Grey Whale Watching. Once relaunched, we encountered a northwest wind, not yet brisk but enough to promise a slow, bumpy ride. Fly Fishing Packages - Baja Flyfishing Company The ProKat seemed to be in good working order along with all the fishing gear. 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. Our globe-trotting correspondent discovers big striped marlin and plenty more in the Galpagos. All reservations for charter are considered tentative until 25% deposit is received. I could hear shouting across the waves, as other kayak anglers, rods bent over hard, were pulled in various directions. Mag Bay also has some of the finest lodges, yacht charters, and tourism infrastructure in the country. But its a short season, and for many locals, the whale-watching jobs end far too soon. 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. Our Packages are based on 2 Anglers, notice that this is a suggestion you can add Anglers, days or combine it with other locations. . Kids: $200.00 $179.00. 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. 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. Magdalena Bay Properties; Fishing Calendar; Booking Calendar; Contact Us; SPA; ADVENTURES; YACHT SERVICES; LOCATED IN SMALL FISHING VILLAGE OF LOPEZ MATEOS AND LORETO "Olivia" 22 LA PAZ PANGA . MAGDALENA BAY WHALES (Puerto San Carlos) - Tripadvisor East Cape - Baja Flyfishing Company 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. All rights reserved. My friend Nick and I shout with joy, accompanied by excited words in Spanish from our new friends. Our guests stay at the Mangrove Inn, a new facility located just outside the port town of Lopez Mateos. Magdalena Bay - Success Sport Fishing I even caught one on a Penn Senator 113. . The ridge consist of a long range of mountains with many peaks coming up to 100 ft or so. JavaScript is disabled. The Finger Bank is Mag Bay Lite. The area erupts with outstanding action in 2019. The following day, a strong tide is rapidly dumping out of the river were fishing, exposing a sandy beach. Calle Puerto La Paz 40, Bahia Magdalena, 23740 Magdalena Bay, B.C.S., Mexico. Locally family owned and operated, "Proudly creating life-long memories" for more than 23,000 people in the past 40+ yrs. All rights reserved. Chapstick. The multi-station layout on the Jarrett Bay 56 makes it a one-of-a-kind sportfishing boat. FishingBooker.com. Magdalena Bay | Travel Blog Loreto Whale Watching Tours and Cruises | Wild Loreto Tours modifications. Other options are available. Often there will be a half-dozen boats circling one bait ball. Enjoying a succulent lunch in a . A remote, isolated bay that sits some 120 miles north of Cabo San Lucas, there is not much in this part of the Baja. 10%. You know fishing is good when it has come to strictly catch and release on wahoo and even tuna. It took me about two minutes to sign up for the expeditionfinally, I was going to Mag Bay. Mag Bay is almost the same size as San Francisco Bay. 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. 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. We woke up to a ham-and-egg breakfast and to find that the crew had already caught a healthy supply of live bait. Sign in to get trip updates and message other travellers.. Loreto Mag Bay offers a sweet blend of elegant modern lines and the rustic California flare. I found spinners with 20- and 30-pound braid perfect for throwing poppers or Sebile Stick Shadds worked back fast and hard. Mangroves and sand dunes ring the inner bays and are the hunting grounds of predatory fish, including big snook, grouper, and, apparently, golden trevally. 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. 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. These videos do not represent "great fishing trips" but rather just the everyday sport fishing here in Mag Bay. 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." The central Baja region is home to Wahoo, Yellowfish tuna, Wahoo, and Dorado. Jonathan Roldan's. Tailhunter Sportfishing. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. 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. Baja is well known as a great place to whale watch. Boat Specs - Success Sport Fishing Our contact during the booking process was Marco: he was flexible with our requests about . Max 4 anglers per cruiser. The bite for three hours was as hot as it gets for three anglers fishing a seamount 75 miles off Costa Rica. In the afternoons we still found the bait balls, but they were smaller and probably tired. Copyright 2018 Baja Fishing Convoys - All Rights Reserved. A series of barrier Islands form a . Rarely will they even be found within 15 to 20 miles of the mouth of the bay. If you are approaching from the north, the drive . In addition, Loreto's waters are home to other species like snapper and seabass, all year long. 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. Fishing Magnificent Mag Bay - Anglers Journal - A Fishing Life He can probably set up anything. So we hop out of the panga and begin casting a variety of sinking lines and Clousers into colliding currents. From there we start the 6 hour drive up north to Magdalena Bay, during which we pass through Todos Santos, La Paz and Constitucion. Thirty minutes later and its the post-release chatter, all high fives, and back slaps. There is nowhere else like it on Earthyou just have to figure out how to get there. The bay itself is as vast as it can get and has a feeling of wilderness. Thats all he likes to do, and he does it way better than anyone Ive ever fished with. Magdalena Bay Previous Entry. 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. Seattle Times travel & outdoors editor. Yet the vetting of anglers capable of the daily will and skill necessary to excel in these waters seems to happen organically. The excellent fishing also continued inside the bay for . 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. E: booking@magbaytours.com. 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. Copyright 2023 Marlin Magazine. Any info would be greatly appreciated . 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. Some of the thousands of fishing pelicans. Nearby, Promnitz and Mills found good action on yellowtail to 25 pounds in mid-depths, fishing speed jigs. One month too long? - Loreto Forum - Tripadvisor Crispin Mendoza is the living legend of San Carlos, a small town near the bay. Staying suspended in their time and place. 755 Paseo Obregon. Fishing far offshore might take longer, particularly with a stiff headwind chop. With options to fish in the Bay, inshore and offshore, you'll be sure to have an amazing time fishing Mag bay. 8:30am Loreto bay and 9am Villas Del Palmar. Fly anglers heading a few miles in any direction can find all sorts of species slicing through baits big and small. Custom Fly Fishing Panga Package 7 days: $2950/person At The New Island Home. We're hoping to fish for Wahoo. Prices subject to change without notice. There is no dependable water source in the region, which has greatly restricted development; there are also no big-boat marinas, very few hotels and a minimal supply of reliable fuel. In Mexico's stunning Magdalena Bay, humans and whales meet up 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. Magdalena Bay: Mercurial World review - poolside pop with seductive With such a vast area, and countless species, time typically becomes a limiting factor more so than lack of fish. The other deal is bookable online and is still available when we check. 30 kw generator. In the event of cancellation notice must be received in writing by the spot holder or charter master 180 days . Our next trip: October 20-25, 2022. Contact Jimmy Camacho from Jimmys Sportfishing. It is one of the longest bays, it is considered the second largest in the Pacific. Looking out onto the Bay of Banderas, this town is finely positioned for inshore and nearshore fishing, with deepwater action on offer in the Pacific Ocean just a few miles out. Panga (Boat) Price: $595 for the whole day, price will include up to 6 adults. 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. 15. Then, quiet. 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. On other trips, he had watched dozens of marlin finning on the surface as they cruised slowly downsea. How deep into the pool would you like to go? Mag Bay will give up nothing easy, but for anglers willing to put in the time, money, and casts, the payoffs can be fantastic. If you are coming from a cruise ship we meet you at the Loreto Marina. The bait fish congregate as do the predators that hunt them. 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 . 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. Its all part of the adventure when kayak-fishing Magdalena Bay. Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico Kayak Fishing Adventure > Events Close to 100 miles of mangrove-lined channels and shoreline encircle the area, and where the mangroves stop, the desert takes over. 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. . Fly Fishing for Marlin in Magdalena Bay Mexico From dawn til dusk. For more details on trip rules, cancellation and travel insurance visit our, Roundtrip professional ground transfers from and to the Loreto airport. Martinez had located lodging for us at the Hotel Alcatraz in Puerto San Carlos and secured a guide that ran a 25-foot panga. 10:30-12:30 PM Tour. As you get closer, you can spot the marlins fins slicing the surface. His captain was Juan Jose Abaroa Flores, who ran the Mucho Loco for the Rolling Stones for many years back in the 1980s. Best Baja Whale Watching: Laguna San Ignacio and More Time and tide now allow ! Marco proudly operates Magdalena Bay Whales, but he may be in need of a name-change soon, as it seems flyfishing might play a more major role in his business. There was a small queue ahead of us, so we waited 20 or so minutes for each boat to be served. We have extreme fishing for Wahoo, Tuna, Marlin, Dorado and more coupled with an amazing atmosphere in a relaxing lodge environment. Find frigate birds low on the water and the stripeys are sure to be there. On morning number four of our trip, the cool bay air gives me goose bumps as we motor. Whale watching has provided an alternative economy, and in some ways a different narrative, on Mag Bay. Mag Bay Lodge is one of the few operations in the area that caters to anglers. 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. The two "foundations" of Loreto's sport fishing are the "dorado" and the "yellow tail" (Seriola lalandi dorsalis). These dramatic openings attract gamefish amidst spectacular surroundings boiler rocks, sheer cliffs and herds of sea lions. Ensenada winter panga fishing for bottom species Round trip transfers from Loreto, the closest airport, are in our listed package prices. If you find your deal on another fishing website at a lower rate, contact ourcustomer careteam. We all know that fishing in Mag Bay is world class. There also were two small center-console outboard boats fishing in our vicinity. Expert Crew with years of experience fishing the waters surrounding La Paz.. Gathering my thoughts and my breath, I start to move, swimming toward a grey shadow. different, you still keep your existing reservation including the cancellation policy. As mentioned, the main predators of the sardine include the Striped Marlin, sea lions and occasionally whales, which work as a team to corner and push the bait balls to the surface from the depth of the sea, a situation that takes advantage of the earwigs, pelicans and seagulls that attack from outside by launching themselves like rockets on sardines as part of the food chain. There are more fly anglers willing to travel now than ever before. A prime example: Magdalena Bay, on the Pacific coast of Mexicos storied Baja Peninsula. 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 . . 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. 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. With options to fish in the Bay, inshore and offshore, you'll be sure to have an amazing time fishing Mag bay. MagBay lodge offers pickups, taxis from loreto, or car rentals are all options. It hits me with as much depth as the water beneath me. Possibly reel in until you give up for the day. I wasnt alone in this contest. Flies are cast in the general direction of these rocks while the outgoing tide makes a massive rip a half-mile wide. Roosterfish - The Reel Baja BD Outdoors began as a forum-based fishing community to connect saltwater anglers and provide a home to share the latest fishing reports and news. Behind me, Ricardo lets out a soft whistle that sounds just like a distant coyote.