No one plans on hopping into town for supplies or entertainment, because it just doesnt exist. Drake Magazine Back Issue Content Winter 2019. When we arrived, there were several other boats on the horizon and it wasnt hard to figure out where the fish were. Please call for a quote. 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. Their main reason for heading south is to mate and give birth in the protected shallow lagoons in Baja. Mag Bay also has some of the finest lodges, yacht charters, and tourism infrastructure in the country. But there really is no spot in the area for a base for a sport fishing operation. Get the Most Wahoo Possible in One Fishing Trip (more). There were marlin everywhere, not just on the bait balls. For many years the only sport fishermen that dropped a hook in these waters arrived by long range charters out of San Diego California. Doing battle with a striped marlin from a kayak typically results in a sleigh ride. Shades of blue mix with seasonal browns and greens where the desert meets the saltwater within the calmer main bay. 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. Nick Smith has been fishing Mag Bay for years. Because his goal is to release as many billfish as possible without permanent injury, the single hook is key: It wont impair the marlins ability to breathe or feed like a double-hook rig can. 7 hrs whale watching and more. The return trip took us perhaps 20 additional minutes when the wheel bearings in the old trailer failed halfway across the sand. Fly Fishing for Marlin in Magdalena Bay Mexico The Importance of Estimating a Sport Fishs Size and Weight, Marlin Expeditions Offers Light-Tackle Paradise in Guatemala. The more I see this, the more I want to be back in the boat casting to them. Hands down, it is my absolute favorite fishing destination and the crew, boats, and service provided just make it so much fun. 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. Magdalena Sport Fishing! . Offshore - The Reel Baja 888.752.2828; FREE DOMESTIC SHIPPING OVER $50; More. This group of men and woman did not build the Lodge for a business, but rather for their friends, family, etc and they kept the Lodge low profile for many years. 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. DAY TRIP 200 . 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. 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. It lasted for several hours, then suddenly everything stopped. 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. Magdalena Bay , 2/8/2023, National Geographic Sea Bird. 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. 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. 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. 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. Bring in 5 Wahoo, a few tuna and dorado and head home for a Wahoo Ceviche dinner! . Then the sleigh ride began. 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. These dramatic openings attract gamefish amidst spectacular surroundings boiler rocks, sheer cliffs and herds of sea lions. 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. 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. . One of the best parts of traveling is the pleasant surprises that come along every trip. The bay itself is as vast as it can get and has a feeling of wilderness. Flies are cast in the general direction of these rocks while the outgoing tide makes a massive rip a half-mile wide. All camping equipment. Magdalena Bay fishing area weather was mostly clear in the mid-90s, with water temperatures at 78 to 84 degrees. . Cancn's up there somewhere. You can drive all the way to Mag Bay. 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. Hi, no Wahoo never come inside the bay. A Bonnier LLC Company. Some offshore destinations also require a boat ride across a sandy peninsula. 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. . Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico Kayak Fishing Adventure > Events It is a place for fly anglers not in search of banner day after banner day, but in search of unique, memorable events. 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. The in-water viewpoint was very interesting. 8:30am Loreto bay and 9am Villas Del Palmar. On other trips, he had watched dozens of marlin finning on the surface as they cruised slowly downsea. A series of barrier Islands form a . A support team helps shuttle kayaks and anglers to the action surrounding Mag Bay. What else is out here? 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. A longtime light-tackle angler says few things compare with taking a blue marlin on the fly. Also, whats a good time (month) to fish Mag Bay? Saltwater charters usually begin toward the end of October and run through January. The kayakers were brought offshore on pangas but fought the fish on their own. I imagine that the upwellings push the bait to the surface and thus the marlin follow close behind. With options to fish in the Bay, inshore and offshore, you'll be sure to have an amazing time fishing Mag bay. Our 24 ft panga is for 2 anglers is $400 per day. The bay is shel- tered from . Deluxe Cruiser , fly fishing guide, all fishing gear, lunch, water and bait. It is protected by two islands - Isla Magdalena to the north and, Isla Santa Margarita to the south. During our inshore days, we managed to catch many species fishing different areas in the bay. FishingBooker.com. Fishing in Mag Bay. Full service of our Adventure Consultants. We all know that fishing in Mag Bay is world class. The sardine run is going to be extinct at this rate. You are using an out of date browser. What I like most about mag bay in general is the seclusion and peace. The plan was to run up beyond the feeding marlin and cast a live bait into the fray. I found spinners with 20- and 30-pound braid perfect for throwing poppers or Sebile Stick Shadds worked back fast and hard. Staying suspended in their time and place. We build . From dawn til dusk. . Great, I think to myself. You have contacted us immediately after booking with all the details of the other deal Throughout the years, many offered insights, stories and shared details about some of their favorite Magdalena Bay fishing holes: Gene . I grabbed it, pushed off from the panga and pedaled hard as I free-spooled away from my lively 7-inch mackerel. Korchinski had been toying with the idea of running up to the Finger Bank, some 60 nautical miles north of Cabo. Some of the thousands of fishing pelicans. We had two different captains, both were knowledgeable and informative. Time and tide now allow ! Magdalena Bay Whale Sanctuary Tour from Cabo San Lucas I even caught one on a Penn Senator 113. In 2018, Eli Martinez of SDMdiving.com set up a trip to Mag Bay for photographers. It is a long run from the launches out of the bay. We hopped out and lifted the bow while the driver pulled the truck away, unhooked the trailer and soon arrived with another old trailer. 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. Mag Bay Lodge is one of the few operations in the area that caters to anglers. Striped marlin gorge on bait balls off far-flung Magdalena Bay, creating unparalleled action and record catch numbers. By Robert Reid. You Save. Aldo may be the best captain I have ever fished with. On one day last year, they raised 143 marlin and released 50, all on fly tackle. I have been visiting mag bay since my youth. Four kayak anglers explore the rich offshore and inshore waters of Baja's Magdalena Bay. :). Our next trip: October 20-25, 2022. The best out of 7 charter fishing deals in Magdalena Bay - enter dates to check availability . Whale watching sessions by Panga. What was the point? he said. Often there will be a half-dozen boats circling one bait ball. The boat is top class, also used for deep-sea fishing, well equipped, and seaworthy. Magdalena Bay: Mercurial World review - poolside pop with seductive Bathroom and snack stop along the way. 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. Magdalena Bay Whales - Your Adventure Our Passion . Survive, is what an angler does the first few minutes after hooking a striped marlin. Gathering my thoughts and my breath, I start to move, swimming toward a grey shadow. But there is more to Magdalena Bay than the sardine run. Behind me, Ricardo lets out a soft whistle that sounds just like a distant coyote. 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. Casting into feeding blitzes is common in these inshore waters. 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.. : $675. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Seven Store 2015-2017. calm waterways of a . Filter results by: Price per Day. Are Wahoo in the bay too? For a fly angler, there is great appeal in the unknown. Its one of Bajas last frontiers, but there are few other places on Earth where so many billfish congregate so predictably. Not much, that is, aside from an annual explosion of sardines that attracts mobs of striped marlin, piles of wahoo . 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. Check with locals or hire one of the guides on the bay to take you to the current hot spot or species. For more information about the optimal seasons to visit Baha Magdalena, as well as the sport fishing options available and other more specific details, click on the link below. But know this: If youre thinking of just rolling down to DIY the bay, make sure you are highly competent in a boat. Infante stuck a Daiwa Saltiga lever-drag reel in my face. 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 best time - season to fish Magdalena Bay it's from early June to late December. 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. Required fields are marked *. The Fishery: There are three separate fisheries accessible from the small Pueblo of Adolfo Lopez Mateos. And in the case of Mag Bay, the bigger that sense of adventure the better. Panga (Boat) Price: $595 for the whole day, price will include up to 6 adults. From there we start the 6 hour drive up north to Magdalena Bay, during which we pass through Todos Santos, La Paz and Constitucion. 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. 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 . 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. 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. mag bay | Tailhunter Fish Report Between these islands and smaller sand banks which . . By 3 p.m., seas were sporty and building. On morning number four of our trip, the cool bay air gives me goose bumps as we motor. Everything worked out really well, and I wanted to let everyone know how much we appreciated it. The multi-station layout on the Jarrett Bay 56 makes it a one-of-a-kind sportfishing boat. Magdalena Sport Fishing. Next season there will be a fleet of 25-35 Boston Whalers and perfect American built accommodations available in MagBay. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Its easy to understand that the more remote a location is, the less fishing pressure it receives. There is only one hotel for Magdalena Bay. . My imagination is already running full speed when I look across the river and cant believe what I see. 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. 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. Jonathan Roldan's. Tailhunter Sportfishing. FULL DAY TRIP 280 . Panga 23 Recreational Pleasure Refined Polished inner liner Under $17,000.00 + engine, includes global shipping. The boats that overnighted at the bank reported 30-plus releases a day. length:7.25m/23 feet 8 inches - width 1.78m/ 5 feet 8 inches weight 1500 lbs / Made from Fiberglass. The Drake Magazine. Soon, Nick calls out every anglers favorite two words. Wed been researching and prepping for this trip for months, bringing enough gear to fish for whatever we encountered. The afternoon was filled with searching for wildlife from the bow as National Geographic Sea Bird navigated Canal de Soledad. This past su. 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. This is familiar; this pull, this need to clear my line rapidly. Panga $450 - Unguided Light Tackle $750 - Guided Fly Fishing. We work closely with a group of local panga drivers who know these waters like the back of their hands. My head snaps around to locate it. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. MAGDALENA BAY TOUR. All rights reserved. Tour will start at approx 7:30-7:45am . Copyright 2017 - bajaflyfish.com - All Rights Reserved. Nearby, Promnitz and Mills found good action on yellowtail to 25 pounds in mid-depths, fishing speed jigs. 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 . Its normal for the whales to surround the boat, play around, and look you in the eye. 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. I was traveling with retired Marine Col. Hunter Ledbetter who had a friend named Jim Korchinski who owned a charter boat in Cabo. You can leave out of Lopez Mateos or San Carlos depending who you fish with. The road trip takes a few hours from the airports at La Paz, San Jose del Cabo, or Loreto. 3 Days Fishing Pro Cat 36 5 Nights Lodge, 3 Days Fishing Cape Horn 28 5 Nights Lodge. 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. We are in the Bahia San Francisco, not to be confused with the Bahia San Francisquito, there is the Bahia de Los Angeles and in general the names here are very Christian: Isla Espiritu Santo, Bahia Concepcion, Santa Maria, Magdalena Bay, Isla Angel de la Guardia, Asuncion, Todos Santos. 1. If youre lucky, you might even get your hands on some Spotted Bass, Dog Tooth Snapper, Halibut, Snook, Corniva, and Grouper. 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! 1-2 Day Whale Watching Tours Magdalena Bay - Sea Kayak Adventures Captain G, for example, starting driving a fishing panga 42 years ago when he was 12 years old. Magdalena Bay (often called Mag Bay by Americans, but according to the professor we heard lecture that is not preferred by Mexicans) is a gigantic natural harbor at 25 miles N-S and 13 miles E-W with multiple good anchorages. Many regions of Baja waters still remain untouched by the tourists so you can land upon a lot of rare catch. Guides here are well versed in spin and baitfishing, but not so much with flyfishing. In addition, Loreto's waters are home to other species like snapper and seabass, all year long. Bluewater in front of the bay holds striped marlin shredding bait and the occasional leader with their bills. 4 People Minimum, 2 pangas (2 per panga) 7 nights 5 days fishing; It may not display this or other websites correctly. We woke up to a ham-and-egg breakfast and to find that the crew had already caught a healthy supply of live bait. We have extreme fishing for Wahoo, Tuna, Marlin, Dorado and more coupled with an amazing atmosphere in a relaxing lodge environment. From Cabo, its an 18-hour trip at a fuel-saving 9 knots. Looking for info on Lodgings and Panga rentals in Mag Bay for a few days in September. Magdalena Bay - Success Sport Fishing Fishing the two broad bay mouths through which the Pacific ebbs and floods is not to be missed, either, as long as a kayakero is prepared to pedal hard against strong currents. This is the tour you came so far for ! But its a short season, and for many locals, the whale-watching jobs end far too soon. Id try to follow but had no chance to catch them unless they turned back our way. 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. But we had a great morning with yellowfin tuna small to maybe 20 pounds and skipjack. 3. As usual, the whales did not let me down. The Lodge at Mag Bay offers a truly extraordinary experience. Guided Grey Whale Watching. . The productive and healthy marine environment is an anglers dream come true! 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. It feels like the curiosity is mutual. In short, a Puerto Vallarta fishing adventure is what angling dreams are made . Information on the bay, although always a little scarce, has become easier to find. Other options are available. MagBay lodge offers pickups, taxis from loreto, or car rentals are all options. I dont want to spend a lot just to be on a huge/fancy boat ran by Americans. 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 . Other times, there was a guy on the bow with a spinning rod, throwing some kind of lurehe also was hooking up regularly. Our SUV is bouncing along the dirt moguls of a dark road . If you prefer to Fly Fish from Our ProKat or CapeHorn please just refer to standard offshore packages for pricing. The Charms of a Desert Island: Isla Magdalena - Baja Bound Insurance If you find your deal on another fishing website at a lower rate, contact ourcustomer careteam. Prices per day vary but you would pay minimum of $650 for an offshore panga. 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. . Grey Whale Watching Tours Baja California Sur The dorado . View map . Published August 28, 2017. Close to 100 miles of mangrove-lined channels and shoreline encircle the area, and where the mangroves stop, the desert takes over. We had a day or two to spare, so Korchinski offered to take us out on his 43-foot Riviera, Blue Sky. Ive been in the flyfishing industry my entire adult life, and I dont approach fish with trepidation. Flyfishing is not remotely new to Mag Bay, but the current state of the sport absolutely is. Magdalena Bay; La Paz; Blog; Boat Specs Solid reinforced fiberglass hull. The best boats in the area equipped with 4 . quantities. What I mean is there shuttles rent a car or what transportation is there to get from airport to there and I offshore flyfish. According tolocals, the rocks here once stood taller, before the Americans used them for target practice in the spring of 1908. 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. Cabo Fishing rentals/ Cabo fishing Charters. Any info would be greatly appreciated, Anyone, are there any cheap pangas run by Mexicans out in Mag Bay? Our stay at Magdalena Bay was both exciting and educational, but there was still more to come on this trip. The waters are teeming with fascinating marine life, and the Baja peninsula is primarily known as a fishing paradise. All rights reserved. Guided Panga, includes fly fishing guide all fishing equipment, bait, lunch and water. 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. The experience is both fascinating and intriguing. 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." 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. Magdalena Bay wahoo fishing in consistent fall bite; 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.". Mag Bay Magic - The Drake Magazine When we were dumped back in the water, we still had another hour or so run out to the fishing grounds. We're hoping to fish for Wahoo. Double Room: $80. The Best Snorkeling Experience in Magdalena Bay - Magdalena Bay Bright blue silence. The bay is obviously full of fish. LOCATED IN SMALL FISHING VILLAGE OF LOPEZ MATEOS AND LORETO 760-908-BAJA Bob's cell . Show map . I wasnt alone in this contest. Yea, that works for me! MAGDALENA BAY, Mexico Just off the bow of our 22-foot open boat what Baja fishermen call a "panga" a whale spout erupts . Marlin Magazine may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. La Paz - Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Suenos Bay/ Magdalena Bay Fishing Report from Tailhunter Sportfishing for Week of Feb. 24-March 4, 2018. . 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. Whale watching in Mexico's Magdalena Bay | Audley Travel 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. What I found very interesting was that as I was swimming after the now-disappeared commotion, several striped marlin would come up to the surface and swim next to me. Those who know me, know that fishing is my life. The whales might even let you pat their backs if you seem friendly. A remote, isolated bay that sits some 120 miles north of Cabo San Lucas, there is not much in this part of the Baja. A barbless hook also will usually fall out within a few hours. His captain was Juan Jose Abaroa Flores, who ran the Mucho Loco for the Rolling Stones for many years back in the 1980s. Contact Jimmy Camacho from Jimmys Sportfishing. 4) The Panga brings the kayaks out to the location so they are ready when we arrive in the boat. This experience leads to an appreciation that goes beyond the norm, beyond expectation, and certainly beyond fishing trip..