Kevin Newell
05-02-2007, 06:25 PM
Some friends of mine, Leonard Phillips and Francisco Aguilar run a fishing fleet out of La Paz, Mexico called Baja Pirates of La Paz. The two of them have been prodding me for years to come down, visit, and do a little fishing. This year I decided it was time to even out my tan a little bit, so I decided to take them up on it!
My Dad and I went down last Wednesday, April 25 and came back on Monday. The weather was in the high 80’s during the day and low 70’s at night, with a slight breeze all day long which helped keep things comfortable.
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/otel_view.jpg
The Hotel Marina where we stayed was on the east end of La Paz and a short drive from where the boats are kept in Pichilingue. The Hotel sits right on the Bay of La Paz and has moorage where about 30-40 large yachts are kept.
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/emote_baja.jpg
A long drive over some rough dirt roads took us to one of the many remote beaches.
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/aja_shoreline.jpg
Baja California Sur is nothing but sand, rocks, cactus, and small shrubs. Once you look into the water though it is a totally different world. Very similar to looking into an aquarium, the water is extremely clear with 30 - 40 feet of visibility. We saw jumping Manta Rays daily; they would jump straight up and clear the water by ten or twelve feet! Sea Turtles, Moray Eels, tropical fish, coral, and the under-water life is unbelievable and is an absolute paradise for diving.
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/etting_bait.jpg
Every morning we would get 5 buckets full of "sardinas", which are Silver Sardines. These sardines are smaller than the ones that we are used to fishing with here in the NW. We fished them live with a small bait hook through the nose which allowed them to swim freely. We always knew when a big fish was about to strike because the little sardinas could be felt frantically swimming around trying to keep from being eaten!
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/ardinas.jpg
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/kipjack_tuna.jpg
Skip Jack Tuna! We caught 5 - 10 of these a day with most being released but some being kept by the captain. These small tuna are popular bait when trolling for Striped Marlin and other big pelagic species. They are extremely hard fighters for their size and loved the sardines!
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/ablo_and_trigger_fish.jpg
My friend Pablo, with a Clown Trigger Fish. The Triggers have very sharp teeth and just shred the bait often taking it off of the hook without the angler even knowing it. Willing biters and available in every color you can imagine these fish taste great and make incredible Ceviche! Ceviche is raw fish cooked/cured in lime juice and then mixed with onion, tomato, and celantro. I was hesitant to try it but once I did I couldn't stop!
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/rouper.jpg
My Dad with a grouper.
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/uillermo_and_cabrilla.jpg
Guillermo, our guide and captain for the first two day with a Cabrilla (Sea Bass).
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/evin_and_trumpet_fish.jpg
During the first day of fishing I don't think I reeled in the same type of fish twice! The variety of species is unreal! Here is a large Trumpet Fish with my sardina still in his mouth. For having such a weird body shape they actually do put up a decent fight.
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/ad_and_snapper.jpg
Dad with a large snapper.
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/evin_and_trigger_fish.jpg
Me holding one of the many trigger fish that we caught.
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/ad_and_trigger_fish.jpg
One of the bigger Trigger fish of the trip. Dad would drop his bait to the bottom and then reel it up with about 50 fish chasing it, he would then drop it back to whichever one looked the biggest!
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/elicans.jpg
The pelicans were cute and very unafraid of humans, but at the same time took every opportunity to steal our bait!
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/ad_and_porcupine_fish.jpg
A Porcupine puffer fish.
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/ad_and_pargo.jpg
One of several Pargo that we caught. This is another fish that makes great ceviche!
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/ish_on.jpg
Me fighting a big Rooster Fish that finally broke me off in the rocks.
We knew it was still a little early in the season but decided to take our chances and head out for Striped Marlin on Saturday. We struck out on the marlin but the sea was calm and we did raise a bunch of Wahoo but didn't manage to find any takers.
Visiting Baja was fantastic and a great way to get away from the rain and cold! I am planning on going back in July or August to get into the Dorado and Yellow Tail! The people in La Paz were exceptionally friendly to the gringos and I found the place kind of gets into your blood. I wasn't near ready to leave when Monday arrived and I'm looking forward to going back. Now it's off to Drano Lake and then estuary sturgeon in Astoria!
My Dad and I went down last Wednesday, April 25 and came back on Monday. The weather was in the high 80’s during the day and low 70’s at night, with a slight breeze all day long which helped keep things comfortable.
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/otel_view.jpg
The Hotel Marina where we stayed was on the east end of La Paz and a short drive from where the boats are kept in Pichilingue. The Hotel sits right on the Bay of La Paz and has moorage where about 30-40 large yachts are kept.
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/emote_baja.jpg
A long drive over some rough dirt roads took us to one of the many remote beaches.
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/aja_shoreline.jpg
Baja California Sur is nothing but sand, rocks, cactus, and small shrubs. Once you look into the water though it is a totally different world. Very similar to looking into an aquarium, the water is extremely clear with 30 - 40 feet of visibility. We saw jumping Manta Rays daily; they would jump straight up and clear the water by ten or twelve feet! Sea Turtles, Moray Eels, tropical fish, coral, and the under-water life is unbelievable and is an absolute paradise for diving.
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/etting_bait.jpg
Every morning we would get 5 buckets full of "sardinas", which are Silver Sardines. These sardines are smaller than the ones that we are used to fishing with here in the NW. We fished them live with a small bait hook through the nose which allowed them to swim freely. We always knew when a big fish was about to strike because the little sardinas could be felt frantically swimming around trying to keep from being eaten!
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/ardinas.jpg
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/kipjack_tuna.jpg
Skip Jack Tuna! We caught 5 - 10 of these a day with most being released but some being kept by the captain. These small tuna are popular bait when trolling for Striped Marlin and other big pelagic species. They are extremely hard fighters for their size and loved the sardines!
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/ablo_and_trigger_fish.jpg
My friend Pablo, with a Clown Trigger Fish. The Triggers have very sharp teeth and just shred the bait often taking it off of the hook without the angler even knowing it. Willing biters and available in every color you can imagine these fish taste great and make incredible Ceviche! Ceviche is raw fish cooked/cured in lime juice and then mixed with onion, tomato, and celantro. I was hesitant to try it but once I did I couldn't stop!
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/rouper.jpg
My Dad with a grouper.
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/uillermo_and_cabrilla.jpg
Guillermo, our guide and captain for the first two day with a Cabrilla (Sea Bass).
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/evin_and_trumpet_fish.jpg
During the first day of fishing I don't think I reeled in the same type of fish twice! The variety of species is unreal! Here is a large Trumpet Fish with my sardina still in his mouth. For having such a weird body shape they actually do put up a decent fight.
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/ad_and_snapper.jpg
Dad with a large snapper.
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/evin_and_trigger_fish.jpg
Me holding one of the many trigger fish that we caught.
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/ad_and_trigger_fish.jpg
One of the bigger Trigger fish of the trip. Dad would drop his bait to the bottom and then reel it up with about 50 fish chasing it, he would then drop it back to whichever one looked the biggest!
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/elicans.jpg
The pelicans were cute and very unafraid of humans, but at the same time took every opportunity to steal our bait!
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/ad_and_porcupine_fish.jpg
A Porcupine puffer fish.
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/ad_and_pargo.jpg
One of several Pargo that we caught. This is another fish that makes great ceviche!
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/ish_on.jpg
Me fighting a big Rooster Fish that finally broke me off in the rocks.
We knew it was still a little early in the season but decided to take our chances and head out for Striped Marlin on Saturday. We struck out on the marlin but the sea was calm and we did raise a bunch of Wahoo but didn't manage to find any takers.
Visiting Baja was fantastic and a great way to get away from the rain and cold! I am planning on going back in July or August to get into the Dorado and Yellow Tail! The people in La Paz were exceptionally friendly to the gringos and I found the place kind of gets into your blood. I wasn't near ready to leave when Monday arrived and I'm looking forward to going back. Now it's off to Drano Lake and then estuary sturgeon in Astoria!