They werent lit up and there wasnt any bait in sight, they were just following the ones that were actively feeding. Thanks guys! . In the bay, between 85 and 95 miles of mangrove-filled canals provide a seemingly endless source of light tackle fishing especially for groupers, snapper and snook. Magdalena Bay is the name for a 30-mile-long harbor with a collection of mangrove rivers and swamps near the bottom of Baja's Pacific Coast. Published August 28, 2017. The next morning, we ran 55 miles south in Enrique's panga to the estero that I believed to be Hoctor's spot. Smith believes that the marlin at the Finger Bank are harder to catch on fly than those at Mag Bay. A support team helps shuttle kayaks and anglers to the action surrounding Mag Bay. 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. 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 . It is one of the longest bays, it is considered the second largest in the Pacific. 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. It is one of the longest bays, it is considered the second largest in the Pacific. I hear waves hitting the side of the boat, birds calling out, radio chatter, Spanish being spoken rapidly. 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. The ridges, peaks, banks, and underwater structure outside of Magdalena Bay offer some of the richest fishing grounds in the world. 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. The closer the big fish get to the bait, the brighter they get with excitement. All transportation while on tour. package offer, etc.). . Sport Fishing Charters. 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. We werent fishing, but were chasing birds and bait instead. Smith has released more than 5,000 billfish on fly in his career. We build . And yes, the snook is too big to fit between the roots.. 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. The marlin pulled me through and over large bait balls, with frigate birds wheeling just overhead. 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. 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. Promnitz, Hobies director of fishing development, managed four releases (helped by strong arms and 100-pound braid). Any info would be greatly appreciated, Anyone, are there any cheap pangas run by Mexicans out in Mag Bay? Juan was fantastic and really went above and beyond to make sure our time there was special and unique. There is only one hotel for Magdalena Bay. 4 STROKE YAMAHA OUTBOARD. There was a small queue ahead of us, so we waited 20 or so minutes for each boat to be served. I take a deep breath, pull my mask down over my face, and slip over the side of the panga. : $675. How far out is the ridge? Mag Bay is the deep end of the pool. As you get closer, you can spot the marlins fins slicing the surface. The area erupts with outstanding action in 2019. All reservations for charter are considered tentative until 25% deposit is received. Fishing far offshore might take longer, particularly with a stiff headwind chop. Locally family owned and operated, "Proudly creating life-long memories" for more than 23,000 people in the past 40+ yrs. The Blue Water fishery is the stuff of legends, the heart of which is an area known as the Ridge. In 2018, Eli Martinez of SDMdiving.com set up a trip to Mag Bay for photographers. About. Explore Isla Magdalena Surfing SUP Fishing Kayaking Snorkeling Spear Fishing Hiking Beach Combing Clam Digging . How many fisheries in the offshore world allow you to first experience the angling, then immerse yourself in the water with your quarry? Cancn's up there somewhere. What else is out here? Magdalena Sport Fishing. Mag Bay Lodge is one of the few operations in the area that caters to anglers. And in the case of Mag Bay, the bigger that sense of adventure the better. On one day last year, they raised 143 marlin and released 50, all on fly tackle. For angler seeking some of the best fishing left on the planet and that appreciate remote and wild locations, this is your place. Id try to follow but had no chance to catch them unless they turned back our way. Not much, that is, aside from an annual explosion of sardines that attracts mobs of striped marlin, piles of wahoo . As I get closer, the bluewater world comes into focus. No one plans on hopping into town for supplies or entertainment, because it just doesnt exist. DAY TRIP 200 . What I mean is there shuttles rent a car or what transportation is there to get from airport to there and I offshore flyfish. Filter results by: Price per Day. full service galley A/C. Many regions of Baja waters still remain untouched by the tourists so you can land upon a lot of rare catch. Winning this round, Nick holds a handsome golden trevally that has taken the place of the snook and marlin we came to catch. All rights reserved. Copyright 2023 Marlin Magazine. Yet the vetting of anglers capable of the daily will and skill necessary to excel in these waters seems to happen organically. The road trip takes a few hours from the airports at La Paz, San Jose del Cabo, or Loreto. Guided Grey Whale Watching. Saltwater charters usually begin toward the end of October and run through January. The waters are teeming with fascinating marine life, and the Baja peninsula is primarily known as a fishing paradise. What was the point? he said. Any info would be greatly appreciated . It feels like the curiosity is mutual. You have contacted us immediately after booking with all the details of the other deal So, come out and say hi and let's set you up for visiting us in La Paz in 2023! 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. Bathroom and snack stop along the way. Find frigate birds low on the water and the stripeys are sure to be there. But know this: If youre thinking of just rolling down to DIY the bay, make sure you are highly competent in a boat. 755 Paseo Obregon. Our guests stay at the Mangrove Inn, a new facility located just outside the port town of Lopez Mateos. Guests chose between local panga rides to the mouth of the bay in search of whales or to a mangrove surrounding a local oyster farm. Winter fishing features "yellow tail" (jurel) and other species that usually are deep in the sea rocks. Four kayak anglers explore the rich offshore and inshore waters of Baja's Magdalena Bay. When the bite is on, Shafer will run the boat up from Cabo San Lucas, while Smith flies from his home in Florida to Cabo, then drives six hours to Puerto San Carlos where a local guide will ferry him out to the boat. Once at the grounds, the kayaks slide easily off the pangas low sides. Guided Beach, includes fly fishing guide, UTV rental, all fly fishing equipment and lunch: $575. He can probably set up anything. Jimmy is the guy! Behind me, Ricardo lets out a soft whistle that sounds just like a distant coyote. Drake Magazine Back Issue Content: 2020 Summer Stranded on Socotra, Stranded on Socotra, The Quarantine and John Prine, Tarpon, A Mexican Introduction Fall Winter . 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. But there really is no spot in the area for a base for a sport fishing operation. Small day pack or hip pack with any personal items. I could hear shouting across the waves, as other kayak anglers, rods bent over hard, were pulled in various directions. There are more fly anglers willing to travel now than ever before. Striped marlin gather in great numbers off Magdalena Bay during the fall and early winter, but its remote location, cutting deep into the mostly uninhabited Pacific side of the central Baja coast, keeps fishing pressure minimal. Just dont expect flats boats, perfect English, or guides with full fly boxes. Double Room: $80. MagBay lodge offers pickups, taxis from loreto, or car rentals are all options. The bay is obviously full of fish. Magdalena Bay. Jonathan. California fly angler wins conventional bass tourney. Magdalena Bay, Lopez Mateos, Baja. Copyright 2018 Baja Fishing Convoys - All Rights Reserved. Staying suspended in their time and place. Captain Aldo pulls me up easily, while Captain Ricardo nods and smiles knowingly. The multi-station layout on the Jarrett Bay 56 makes it a one-of-a-kind sportfishing boat. Thats the shortcut route; to boat down to the large mouth of the bay and then northwest to Thetis is more like 45 miles. The shoreline is home to hundreds of mangrove-lined channels and is a sight to behold. The area has numerous small commercial fishing villages where the expertise and fishing knowledge is passed down in families. 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. Fly anglers heading a few miles in any direction can find all sorts of species slicing through baits big and small. 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. Our next trip: October 20-25, 2022. The fishing in Mag Bay is diverse and plentiful. Brian J. Cantwell. Flyfishing is not remotely new to Mag Bay, but the current state of the sport absolutely is. You can leave out of Lopez Mateos or San Carlos depending who you fish with. . The following day, a strong tide is rapidly dumping out of the river were fishing, exposing a sandy beach. twin 500 hp john deere turbo diesel. Marco and others are finding a way to make both experiences happen safely and symbiotically. Eventually, the marlin would tire of the diver/sea lion combination and leave the area. Custom Fly Fishing Panga Package 7 days: $2950/person At The New Island Home, Includes air port transfers, lodging, and meals. Ramon . ADIOS LA PAZ CARNAVALE 2018! Max 4 anglers per cruiser. The Fishery: There are three separate fisheries accessible from the small Pueblo of Adolfo Lopez Mateos. I was traveling with retired Marine Col. Hunter Ledbetter who had a friend named Jim Korchinski who owned a charter boat in Cabo. Baja is well known as a great place to whale watch. Looking for someone to split boat 1st November. Ive been in the flyfishing industry my entire adult life, and I dont approach fish with trepidation. If even one of the four people in this panga had ever flyfished for marlin before, I would feel better. Magdalena Bay Previous Entry.