Ricardo Villegas shows us the rocky point on the north side of the boca (Spanish for mouth of the bay). I hadnt seen one of those reels in 30 years, so it was a bit retro but lots of fun. The boat is top class, also used for deep-sea fishing, well equipped, and seaworthy. There are more fly anglers willing to travel now than ever before. 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. 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. For over 18 years, family-operated Mag Bay Tours (U.S. tel. 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. Other times, there was a guy on the bow with a spinning rod, throwing some kind of lurehe also was hooking up regularly. 7) 3 days offshore one day inshore. Nick answers my next question in the affirmative: Yes, John, thats a coyote trying to drag a giant snook into the mangroves. These are commercial fishing villages, where local knowledge is passed down from father to son. Reservations can be made by contacting Cary or Erika at Success Sport Fishing - 760-230-6331. It is such a large area, with so many species and migratory aspects to the fish, thatunless you were to fish 12 months a year, through all the tides, moons, and weatherit would be nearly impossible to figure out this fishery. In the morning, the bait schools were bigger and were running together as a group, rather than trying to hide in a ball. In 2018, Eli Martinez of SDMdiving.com set up a trip to Mag Bay for photographers. I just want to go on a cheap $350 a day type of panga (ex: like in San Quintin, La Paz, etc). There was a small queue ahead of us, so we waited 20 or so minutes for each boat to be served. 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. Cruiser rates vary. The food is true Mexican cuisine with a varied and customized choice of meals that is included with your stay. This would mean a five-hour run, and we would have to leave the dock by 4:30 a.m. Ledbetter and I jumped at the chance and we found that the long run was not a problem at allwe simply hopped in the bunks and went back to sleep. Or normally out of the bay? Contact Jimmy Camacho from Jimmys Sportfishing. From there we start the 6 hour drive up north to Magdalena Bay, during which we pass through Todos Santos, La Paz and Constitucion. (8 with children) maximum. I put a foot in the middle of the kayak and in one quick motion swiveled to plop my butt down on the seat as Larocque leaned over the side to click a Mirage pedal-drive unit into its slots. For more information email us at tagsportfishing@gmail.com or click on the link Mag Bay fishing trips. Bring in 5 Wahoo, a few tuna and dorado and head home for a Wahoo Ceviche dinner! He can probably set up anything. Thirty minutes later and its the post-release chatter, all high fives, and back slaps. 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 remote, isolated bay that sits some 120 miles north of Cabo San Lucas, there is not much in this part of the Baja. 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. Other than whale-watching, sportfishing is what sets Mag Bay apart. But we had a great morning with yellowfin tuna small to maybe 20 pounds and skipjack. Guided Beach, includes fly fishing guide, UTV rental, all fly fishing equipment and lunch: $575. $0 - $400 $400 - $600 $600 - $800 $800+ Magdalena Bay: 7 fishing charters available . Marlin take turns tearing into a ball of bait the size of an SUV. The productive and healthy marine environment is an anglers dream come true! Best time to visit. I stayed with Wilber, and he and his son will take me out in his Panga at first light. The ProKat seemed to be in good working order along with all the fishing gear. Ive battled big tarpon, but this is new, and different, and on this morning the unknown has gotten to me. Its easy to understand that the more remote a location is, the less fishing pressure it receives. 3 Full Days of Fishing. 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. It hits me with as much depth as the water beneath me. We watch a reel getting emptied and watch the fish leap, flip, and dive. The Finger Bank is so named because of three areas where the bottom rises from 3,000 feet to around 300; on the charts, they look like fingers. Custom Fly Fishing Panga Package 7 days: $2950/person At The New Island Home, Includes air port transfers, lodging, and meals. The fishing in Mag Bay is good all year round, just depends on what you want to catch! Dorado, Tuna, Sailfish, Marlin, and even Wahoo likely on the Fly Call or email us for pricing on other customized options. MAGDALENA BAY, Mexico Just off the bow of our 22-foot open boat what Baja fishermen call a "panga" a whale spout erupts . This experience leads to an appreciation that goes beyond the norm, beyond expectation, and certainly beyond fishing trip.. 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. Please call for a quote. These boats have to be self-sufficient and will spend their evenings anchored down at one of the three acceptable anchorages. We had a day or two to spare, so Korchinski offered to take us out on his 43-foot Riviera, Blue Sky. About. Top to bottom everything was amazing. Magdalena Bay fishing area weather was partly cloudy in the high-70s, with water temperatures at 67 to 73 degrees. 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. Prices per day vary but you would pay minimum of $650 for an offshore panga. : $675. 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. It was probably the most incredible experience Ive ever had on the ocean, being able to see them from the stealth of a kayak that left them unaffected by my presence.. During the calving season, the gray whales migrate to the Baja waters, and so do humans. You can drive all the way to Mag Bay. 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. 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. . You are using an out of date browser. Flies are cast in the general direction of these rocks while the outgoing tide makes a massive rip a half-mile wide. Lopez Mateos/Magdalena Bay . Our stay at Magdalena Bay was both exciting and educational, but there was still more to come on this trip. Your staff could not have been nicer, the fishing was insane, and the captains were amazing. Its relative inaccessibility has allowed it to remain one of those rare places that time has virtually forgotten. Seattle Times travel & outdoors editor. For more details on trip rules, cancellation and travel insurance visit our KNOW BEFORE YOU GO page. You, Its been a crazy year for humans but for fish its been just fine. Even with the detailed maps, finding the entrance to the channel he described was difficult. Magdalena Sport Fishing! On morning number four of our trip, the cool bay air gives me goose bumps as we motor. 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. The sight of multiple tall dorsal fins cutting through bait schools is enough to get any anglers heart racing. Those who know me, know that fishing is my life. Calle Puerto La Paz 40, Bahia Magdalena, 23740 Magdalena Bay, B.C.S., Mexico. From October to December of each year, gigantic bait balls congregate miles off the coast of the bay, creating one of the most amazing shows the Pacific Ocean has to offer. We hefted the bow to accommodate the new trailer he backed down, and soon we were again in the water, on the inside, headed back to the lodge under the rising full moon. 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. e invite you to reach out and give us a call or checkout more on the website. For a fly angler, there is great appeal in the unknown. 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. You Save. Flyfishers will come to have a deep love and appreciation for Magdalena Bay, but not for the reasons we normally expect from a fishery. If you are coming from a cruise ship we meet you at the Loreto Marina. 2. Mag Bay offers a sweet blend of elegant modern lines and the rustic California flare. Show map . What else is out here? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Seven Store 2015-2017. Its a place for the most curious and adventurous people to be at. 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. . Everything worked out really well, and I wanted to let everyone know how much we appreciated it. That creates truly special opportunities to experience packs of striped marlin in every direction and boiling at the surface, especially from a kayak. Fishing in Mag Bay. Silver Lining Kings. 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. Approx. But I wait. MAGDALENA BAY TOUR. Smith designed the boat specifically for long-range trips: 2,300 gallons of fuel, two generators, two watermakers, and backups for pretty much everything. Magdalena Bay fishing area weather was mostly clear in the mid-90s, with water temperatures at 78 to 84 degrees. Mag Bay Lodge is one of the few operations in the area that caters to anglers. But there is more to Magdalena Bay than the sardine run. We work closely with a group of local panga drivers who know these waters like the back of their hands. The in-water viewpoint was very interesting. Tour will start at approx 7:30-7:45am . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. You may be in the surf one day, taking waves to the chest, and the next morning you could be pulling hard on a 14-weight. The more I see this, the more I want to be back in the boat casting to them. This means: It is for the same fishing charter, package and date(s), It has identical amenities attached (including the meal plan, cancellation policy, Thanks guys! Captain Aldo Atonto tells us the fish will be up within the hour. The conditions of your booking with us still allow penalty-free cancellations and La Paz - Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Suenos Bay/ Magdalena Bay Fishing Report from Tailhunter Sportfishing for Week of Feb. 24-March 4, 2018. . We will match the rate of the other deal if the 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. I pushed up the lever drag on the Daiwa Saltiga and came tight immediately. The sea lions also were feeding on the bait when they werent nipping at the stripeys or growling at us. On other trips, he had watched dozens of marlin finning on the surface as they cruised slowly downsea. It is one of the longest bays, it is considered the second largest in the Pacific. All rights reserved. Get in touch now. 202/642-6386) has been leading whale-watching experiences. 6) Fish the grounds for 5 to 6 hours and return home. 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.