Trailer boating Baja

Gregotis98 · 09-30-2003, 08:41 PM

I'll never get the chance to but would love to read about how to do it. Does anyone know of any books?

Pilar · 09-30-2003, 09:01 PM

Greg, tallk to 'Puffin', he has been there and done that just this last spring with Jim Moore and a 14ft Whaler for a month. They caught Dorado a hundred yards off the beach in the Bay of the Dead. Also he had a really good book to show him how. E-mail me for the number.

Gregotis98 · 09-30-2003, 09:09 PM

I'd really like to take my boat rather than a Whaler that way I'd be able to sleep on it also. I don't know if it's even possible to launch a boat that size off the beach though. I sure wish this was possible, but I'm sitting here wearing a shirt I spilled gas on a day ago, if that shows what sort of motivation I have.

Freakwater · 09-30-2003, 09:41 PM

Try a book called, "The Baja Catch". That book filled me dreams for several years. Never got there........someday....

Freak

corrirod · 09-30-2003, 09:48 PM

Check this site out. It also has some other books listed below this one:

Boating Baja

Fishmstr · 10-01-2003, 06:10 AM

Gregotis,

Ditto the Baja catch...it is the bible for skiff fishing in Baja. I've been going down the past 6 years with my tin boat and it is awesome. You just can't beat camping on the beach with your boat moored in front of you, eating fish tacos and drinking pacificos.
There are plenty of places to launch a bigger boat in Baja (I think you have a 20 + footer, right?). Bay of LA has launch ramps, so does Punta Chivato, Mulege, Loreto, Puerto Escondido, La Paz. I believe folks launch boats off the beach in the east cape with tractors. You can take a big boat down there, but in my opinion it would be a tough trip. The road are very narrow with absolutely no shoulders (my brother jokes that they determined the width by setting a beer can between two semi's!). Then there is gasoline...only the big towns have gas (no gas in bay of la) and it is expensive. Finally, most of the fishing is fairly close and a big boat is not necessary.
However, go if that's all you have. It is a wonderful place. The culture is great and the people very friendly. Email me if you want to know more about insurance, etc...

lat,
steve

Pilar · 10-01-2003, 06:16 AM

Greg, Jon is going back and taking 'Puffin' this time. That is the main reason he upped his fuel to 160 total. They plan on camping in the boat and working down the inside of Baja with the boat.

The book is pretty cool, don't know the name but written by some guys who go down every year, beach camp and fish. They've covered the whole thing both coasts, where to camp, what kind of fish where and the whole nine yards. There is even a section in the book on common tourist scams to avoid. My favorite scam is not resetting the counter on the gas pump before the next guy uses it or ever. A 60 gallon fillup for the volkswagon .... Hmmmm..

I'll get the name and post it here. They planned their whole trip with this book and it was the first time they had gone there. Near Bay of the Dead is a new marina and resort, "giggling Marlin"? I think and they made friends with the owner.

Most beaches in the area they fished are pretty steep and hard sand and they had no trouble launching or retreiving.

Miss B Haven · 10-01-2003, 06:23 AM

Gregotis- I've got a copy of "Baja Catch". All trailer boating, launches (mostly beach), places to camp/stay, supply avail, fish and methods.
You're welcome to borrow it. Lemmee know and I'll bring it to the TA meeting Friday if you're going.

Kerry · 10-01-2003, 06:27 AM

Do you guy's know what they use to catch Yellow Tail. Thanks

skein · 10-01-2003, 06:41 AM

Seems like an inflatable like a Zodiac would be a good ticket for working your way down Baja. Easy to launch, easy to transport, easy on fuel, and no trailer required. They're stable, seaworthy, blah, blah, blah.

Anybody tried one of them on an adventure like this?

Skein

Longhunter · 10-01-2003, 07:25 AM

Powells Books has a used copie for $9.95

http://www.powells.com/search/DTSear...=62&Search.y=6

corrirod · 10-01-2003, 08:15 AM

The biggest key to that trip is preparation. You need to take spares of everything that has the greatest tendency to breakdown. The gear that takes the biggest beating will be the boat trailer itself. You will need to take more than one spare tire, several spare sets of bearings, and lots of grease. Those roads can be pretty rough and you'll want to do a lot of ongoing preventative maintenance both coming and going.

Of course spares for the motor like belts, hoses, plugs, wires, etc., are also mandatory. The last thing you want to do is tote your boat thousands of miles and not be able to use it.

I used to drive down the mainland of Mexico from Arizona and that was hard enough on my gear but doing it from Oregon will only double the possibility of a breakdown. That being said though, I'd love to make the trip because the fun you'll have down there is well worth the effort!

Margaritas and Senoritas! Oh wait, I'm married now. Solamente(only) margaritas and mas(more) margaritas!

Miss B Haven · 10-01-2003, 08:22 AM

And do NOT travel at night. Other than the cows (with BIG horns) on the roads, the locals drive with their lights off half the time. [img]graemlins/stupid.gif[/img] If you do have to drive at night, wait somewhere until a big semi goes by and use him for a cow catcher.

Gregotis98 · 10-01-2003, 07:57 PM

Thanks for the input, I might even change this gas soaked shirt now and start reading for the trip.

Salmonator · 10-01-2003, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gregotis98:
but I'm sitting here wearing a shirt I spilled gas on a day ago, if that shows what sort of motivation I have.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">That is a classic

Pilar · 10-01-2003, 09:51 PM

Hey Joe, good to see you bud.

Gregotis, where's your ol lady? Day old gas soaked shirt. ROLFMAO!!!

Costalot · 10-02-2003, 03:28 PM

Gregotis98
I was going to do the same thing next year. You will need ins. from Baja for your truck and boat. You can find info on the net.

fishwhenican · 10-02-2003, 05:24 PM

I made my first trip last year, down to San Lucas cove. San Lucas cove is about 600 miles south of the border. 34 hours of drive time. You can launch a 20' boat there, but only at high tide. Most people use smaller 12-16' tin boats.

Baja Catch was a very good book. You can alo find books and fishing info on the following sites. Amigos de-Baja web site is now down, but a lot of people are using http://www.sport-fish-info.com/dcfor...in/dcboard.cgi also try www.bajalinks.com www.bajasundog.com

The roads are narrow, 9' lanes, not a problem as long as you drive it like a paved road in the woods and the expectation that you will meet a truck in the next corner and the truck will be across the center line. I took my Camper (8.5' wide) and 8' wide boat. Next time I won't take the camper (too hot on a few nights to sleep in) but it did make the trucks stay in their lane.

Some people do take inflatables, but you need to rig up rodholders and a live bait tank. We did well on yellowtail in late June with live bait. We would catch our bait at first light then proceed to the yellowtail spot. We also caught Dorado, and I hooked a marlin one day.

We had a blast!!! In fact I would be interested in talking to anyone who might want to go early next summer. Pacifico $1.60 per 6 pack

[ 10-02-2003, 06:30 PM: Message edited by: fishwhenican ]

Sailfish · 10-03-2003, 08:03 AM

Hey Greg,
Got your message last night, bummer about the skunking on Tues. I have a copy of The Baja Catch that Dave gave me a few years back as well as a copy of RV Baja which has some good info. Give me a buzz if you want to borrow them.