Mexico's Magdalena "Mag" Bay is among the best and most consistent sportfishing experiences in the world. full service galley A/C. It lasted for several hours, then suddenly everything stopped. Its normal for the whales to surround the boat, play around, and look you in the eye. . Catches Likely: Marlin, tuna, roosterfish, golden trevalle, pargo, snook, wahoo, dorado, bonita, jacks, and more. Hundreds of miles of Mangroves Inshore for countless species Whale watching has provided an alternative economy, and in some ways a different narrative, on Mag Bay. Our plan was simple. Outfitting on Mag Bay has increased over the years, and the business of guiding flyfishers seems to be on the upswing. La Paz - Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Suenos Bay/ Magdalena Bay Fishing Report from Tailhunter Sportfishing for Week of Feb. 24-March 4, 2018. . As I get closer, the bluewater world comes into focus. Magdalena Bay , 2/8/2023, National Geographic Sea Bird. 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. Some boats continue to rack up double and a . The engine that moved my kayak at several knots (enough to leave a wake) was a large striped marlin to which I was tethered with 50-pound braid and a 6/0 circle hook embedded securely in the corner of the fishs mouth. 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. Guided Panga, includes fly fishing guide all fishing equipment, bait, lunch and water. We can customize your trip to include both mangrove and blue water days. There were five of us on the trip and we had five days to chase bait balls. Calle Puerto La Paz 40, Bahia Magdalena, 23740 Magdalena Bay, B.C.S., Mexico. Looking for info on Lodgings and Panga rentals in Mag Bay for a few days in September. 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. Often there will be a half-dozen boats circling one bait ball. Several times the fish towed me over flashing silver scales adrift after the carnage of marlin attacks. 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. The bait moves as the marlin and occasional sea lion push it forward. 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. Juan was fantastic and really went above and beyond to make sure our time there was special and unique. The MagBay Advantage; About; Wholesale Registration; Dealer Locator; Product Catalog On morning number four of our trip, the cool bay air gives me goose bumps as we motor. Eventually, the marlin would tire of the diver/sea lion combination and leave the area. Promnitz said later he might have been close enough to cast a jig to them. You Save. 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. 4 People Minimum, 2 pangas (2 per panga) 7 nights 5 days fishing; Dorado, Tuna, Sailfish, Marlin, and even Wahoo likely on the Fly 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. We're hoping to fish for Wahoo. All rights reserved. Part of the issue with Mag Bay and cheap Pangas is that the Wahoo are about 40 miles offshore generally and in the pacific. Seen here is Marc Mills with a nice yellowtail. Incredible Striped Marlin Action in Magdalena Bay, Mexico. Any info would be greatly appreciated, Anyone, are there any cheap pangas run by Mexicans out in Mag Bay? . A series of sea mounts, pinnacles and banks, such as the Thetis and Potatoe Banks, hold huge concentrations of fish in the fall and spring as the species make their annual migrations. For fly fishing we have a custom panga package. twin 500 hp john deere turbo diesel. Marco and others are finding a way to make both experiences happen safely and symbiotically. 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. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Many are also reminiscent of North America. 888.752.2828; FREE DOMESTIC SHIPPING OVER $50; More. Tour will start at approx 7:30-7:45am . The area offers year-long fishing opportunities for anglers and is mainly a hotbed for deep-sea fishing. My head snaps around to locate it. Magdalena Sport Fishing! Survive, is what an angler does the first few minutes after hooking a striped marlin. The conditions of your booking with us still allow penalty-free cancellations and e invite you to reach out and give us a call or checkout more on the website. Day 1 - The tour departs at 6am from our office in the Cabo San Lucas Marina. Then the sleigh ride began. : $950. 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. A wider area we can now explore ! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Seven Store 2015-2017. 7 hrs whale watching and more. With options to fish in the Bay, inshore and offshore, you'll be sure to have an amazing time fishing Mag bay. Marco proudly operates Magdalena Bay Whales, but he may be in need of a name-change soon, as it seems flyfishing might play a more major role in his business. 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. 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. 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. Information on the bay, although always a little scarce, has become easier to find. The best time - season to fish Magdalena Bay it's from early June to late December. 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. The extraordinary display of so many striped marlin crisscrossing and on the hunt for prey was mesmerizing. Mag Bay also has some of the finest lodges, yacht charters, and tourism infrastructure in the country. Behind me, Ricardo lets out a soft whistle that sounds just like a distant coyote. 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. Boulevard marina esquina marlin 1 lote C9 Col. Centro Cabo San Lucas B.C.S Mexico 23450, The Most Popular Water Sports That You Must Try Once. Between these islands and smaller sand banks which . At one point, the crew in one panga shouted excitedly into the radio something about cow yellowfin swimming underneath the boat. Id heard stories about Mag Bays incredible striped marlin fishing from Smith and others for years, but not having a 60-plus-foot sport-fisherman at my disposal made it impossible to get there myself. Panga 23 Recreational Pleasure Refined Polished inner liner Under $17,000.00 + engine, includes global shipping. 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. . 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. On kayaks smaller than the big Pro Angler such as the Hobie Passport models from which two anglers fished you can straddle the vessel with your feet in the water to increase resistance. They claim that they could have caught more, but everyone got tired of rigging up flies! Within a couple of minutes of hopping into the kayak, a savage strike had ripped line from the spool. Throughout the years, many offered insights, stories and shared details about some of their favorite Magdalena Bay fishing holes: Gene . Larocque, the owner, uses 26-foot pangas as mother ships to transport kayaks, anglers and gear within and outside the bay. 60'x17' 1,250 gallon fuel capacity. How deep into the pool would you like to go? Captain Aldo pulls me up easily, while Captain Ricardo nods and smiles knowingly. 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. This same apex bait-crashing behavior also happens within the bay and rivers, when snook and their fellow predators are on the bite. For over 18 years, family-operated Mag Bay Tours (U.S. tel. He can probably set up anything. 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. Your email address will not be published. At Cabo San Lucas, the phenomenal billfish bite remains the highlight. Offshore Fishing. Mag Bay Lodge is one of the few operations in the area that caters to anglers. Cruiser rates vary. All camping equipment. Great, I think to myself. This means: It is for the same fishing charter, package and date(s), It has identical amenities attached (including the meal plan, cancellation policy, 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. Bathroom and snack stop along the way. It hits me with as much depth as the water beneath me. Trip Itinerary. The food is true Mexican cuisine with a varied and customized choice of meals that is included with your stay. Expert Crew with years of experience fishing the waters surrounding La Paz.. 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. Magdalena Bay. Prices per day vary but you would pay minimum of $650 for an offshore panga. The best out of 7 charter fishing deals in Magdalena Bay - enter dates to check availability . We all know that fishing in Mag Bay is world class. Even with the detailed maps, finding the entrance to the channel he described was difficult. The cold waters of the California Current and the warm waters of the Donaldson meet over this structure, trapping massive amounts of plankton and krill against the structure that forms the Ridge. Filter results by: Price per Day. Panga $450 - Unguided Light Tackle $750 - Guided Fly Fishing. Marlin Magazine may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. Hands down, it is my absolute favorite fishing destination and the crew, boats, and service provided just make it so much fun. The other deal is bookable online and is still available when we check. Marlin take turns tearing into a ball of bait the size of an SUV. . Just dont expect flats boats, perfect English, or guides with full fly boxes. Several times, they were following the same bait balls that we were and I could see the angler on the bow hook up with a fly rod. 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 . You can drive all the way to Mag Bay. 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. According tolocals, the rocks here once stood taller, before the Americans used them for target practice in the spring of 1908. 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. That creates truly special opportunities to experience packs of striped marlin in every direction and boiling at the surface, especially from a kayak. The Finger Bank is Mag Bay Lite. . That's our story! MAGDALENA BAY, Mexico Just off the bow of our 22-foot open boat what Baja fishermen call a "panga" a whale spout erupts . ADIOS LA PAZ CARNAVALE 2018! Yet the vetting of anglers capable of the daily will and skill necessary to excel in these waters seems to happen organically. I have been visiting mag bay since my youth. Our next trip: October 20-25, 2022. Hi, no Wahoo never come inside the bay. Custom Fly Fishing Panga Package 7 days: $2950/person At The New Island Home. Locally family owned and operated, "Proudly creating life-long memories" for more than 23,000 people in the past 40+ yrs. E: booking@magbaytours.com. Panga (Boat) Price: $595 for the whole day, price will include up to 6 adults. If even one of the four people in this panga had ever flyfished for marlin before, I would feel better. The vision is to share this Mag Bay fishing experience with the world. Flyfishing is not remotely new to Mag Bay, but the current state of the sport absolutely is. Sign in to get trip updates and message other travellers.. Loreto These are but a few samples available. I just want to go on a cheap $350 a day type of panga (ex: like in San Quintin, La Paz, etc). Magdalena Bay, or Baha Magdalena in Spanish, is a 50 km long bay, and about 200 km of lagoons and channels on the Pacific side of the Baja California Sur, in the municipality of Comond. Martinez had located lodging for us at the Hotel Alcatraz in Puerto San Carlos and secured a guide that ran a 25-foot panga. 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. A support team helps shuttle kayaks and anglers to the action surrounding Mag Bay. 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. My friend Nick and I shout with joy, accompanied by excited words in Spanish from our new friends. Deluxe Cruiser , fly fishing guide, all fishing gear, lunch, water and bait. It brings in some of the cleanest waters, fresh nutrients, and exotic fishing catch. The productive and healthy marine environment is an anglers dream come true! And in the case of Mag Bay, the bigger that sense of adventure the better. You can find a lot of middle-price-point opportunity, and for the West Coast angler, its a lot closer than trekking to the Caribbean. He and his crew load two kayaks aboard each panga and head for a destination determined by anglers' goals, the season and the morning's . A Bonnier LLC Company. The sea lions also were feeding on the bait when they werent nipping at the stripeys or growling at us. 8:30am Loreto bay and 9am Villas Del Palmar. 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. In the afternoons we still found the bait balls, but they were smaller and probably tired. Going on a whale watching tour in Loreto is a must-do! Smith believes that the marlin at the Finger Bank are harder to catch on fly than those at Mag Bay. The best fishing offshore is Aug through December, inshore . 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 . Get over here! Copyright 2023 Marlin Magazine. Please call for a quote. 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 . An anglers skill set and a sense of adventure still has to be there. He runs adventure trips all over the world to photograph everything from sharks to orcas to anacondas. We woke up to a ham-and-egg breakfast and to find that the crew had already caught a healthy supply of live bait. 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. These places in the bluewater world are teaming with life, and they showcase the dance on a daily basis between apex predators like billfish, sea lions, and anglers. 3 Full Days of Fishing. On the other side of the islands, some of the most productive banks provide world-class fishing of pelagic species in large quantities, where each year in November, a natural phenomenon known as the Marlin run gathers in large numbers. 2. I dont think we ever saw more than three sport-fishing boats in a day, but there was clearly a specific area where all the action was taking place. Drake Magazine Back Issue Content: 2009 Recession Fish Birth of a Fly Tyer Winter Reds Arizona Bass Night Stripers Stoneflies and a Girlfriends guide to Flyfishing. During our inshore days, we managed to catch many species fishing different areas in the bay. All rights reserved. We had a day or two to spare, so Korchinski offered to take us out on his 43-foot Riviera, Blue Sky. You can view the rates for lodging here: . 1). The shoreline is home to hundreds of mangrove-lined channels and is a sight to behold. "Get in! Casting into feeding blitzes is common in these inshore waters. Long walks on the beach in Southeast Florida. Fishing in Mag Bay. Seattle Times travel & outdoors editor. It is a type of fishing like you have never seen before. Bluewater in front of the bay holds striped marlin shredding bait and the occasional leader with their bills. Other than whale-watching, sportfishing is what sets Mag Bay apart. 30 kw generator. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. 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." 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. If you want to have a great time by the sea, Tag Cabo Sportfishing is your best bet. There was a small queue ahead of us, so we waited 20 or so minutes for each boat to be served. Bob Hoyt Mag Bay Outfitters He is on here as well. Striped marlin gorge on bait balls off far-flung Magdalena Bay, creating unparalleled action and record catch numbers. Calle Puerto La Paz 40, Bahia Magdalena, 23740 Magdalena Bay, B.C.S., Mexico. Silver Lining Kings. 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. Wed been researching and prepping for this trip for months, bringing enough gear to fish for whatever we encountered. I hop on a boat, shoot out in the morning, flip some baits around the red rooster III who just got there from a 3 day run. Thats all he likes to do, and he does it way better than anyone Ive ever fished with. By 3 p.m., seas were sporty and building. There are innumerable yacht charters that will literally make all heads turn to the dock. But know this: If youre thinking of just rolling down to DIY the bay, make sure you are highly competent in a 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. There were marlin everywhere, not just on the bait balls. 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. Once at the grounds, the kayaks slide easily off the pangas low sides. One of the best parts of traveling is the pleasant surprises that come along every trip. 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. Mag Bay Lodge is one of the few operations in the area that caters to anglers. Magdalena Bay fishing area weather was partly cloudy in the high-70s, with water temperatures at 67 to 73 degrees. Its simply incredible to witness. FULL DAY TRIP 280 . 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. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. This trip was a trip of a lifetime. You know fishing is good when it has come to strictly catch and release on wahoo and even tuna. Enjoying a succulent lunch in a . The diving is great! For more details on trip rules, cancellation and travel insurance visit our KNOW BEFORE YOU GO page. In short, a Puerto Vallarta fishing adventure is what angling dreams are made . It's normal for the whales to surround the boat, play around, and look you in the eye. Ive battled big tarpon, but this is new, and different, and on this morning the unknown has gotten to me. Wed jump in and the bait would quickly dash over to see if our boat offered any protectionwhich it didntthen they would take off again. From about 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., fishing 35 or so miles off Mag Bays southern entrance in Baja California, Mexico, four kayakeros released nine striped marlin. One problem I flyfish and got a guide already. Discover the amazing variety of fish Mag Bay has to offer! quantities. The closer the big fish get to the bait, the brighter they get with excitement. It is a place for fly anglers not in search of banner day after banner day, but in search of unique, memorable events. One of the most amazing sights at Mag Bay is watching hordes of striped marlin chase schools of Spanish sardines and tinker mackerel to the surface. A lively circle-hooked tinker mackerel is the perfect snack for a hungry striped marlin. We will match the rate of the other deal if the All National Parks & Biosphere Reserve access fees required by itinerary. We offer all inclusive trips so you have nothing to worry about except enjoying your vacation. So we hop out of the panga and begin casting a variety of sinking lines and Clousers into colliding currents. This luxury fishing yacht charter with a personal chef onboard cooking meals and 2 deckhands working alongside. Approx. Roosters are notorious for reluctantly coming to within landing distance of the beach or panga, only to run again - sometimes stripping as much as 300 yards of backing from the reel. 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. Guided Grey Whale Watching. The fish at Mag Bay are also well-fed, but the lack of boat harassment and sheer numbers of marlin make it an exceptional destination, especially for fly fishing. With such a vast area, and countless species, time typically becomes a limiting factor more so than lack of fish. Crispin Mendoza is the living legend of San Carlos, a small town near the bay. The bay is shel- tered from . These static bait balls provided the best photo opportunities. But there really is no spot in the area for a base for a sport fishing operation. Meet at Hotel Isabela's B&B at 7:00am. About. 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. What else is out here? Its a place for the most curious and adventurous people to be at. Help us make more videos by clicking the like button. 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. While whale watching remains the primary focus in all of Magdalena Bay, fishing in Puerto San Carlos and Lopez Mateos continues to be off the charts for the few anglers who would rather fish than watch. How many fisheries in the offshore world allow you to first experience the angling, then immerse yourself in the water with your quarry? One time the marlin had moved on and we floated with six sea lions and what was left of the bait ball for probably 15 minuteswhen a new batch of marlin suddenly appeared and everything started anew. Our contact during the booking process was Marco: he was flexible with our requests about . Next season there will be a fleet of 25-35 Boston Whalers and perfect American built accommodations available in MagBay. JavaScript is disabled. different, you still keep your existing reservation including the cancellation policy. Yea, that works for me! All transportation while on tour. I hadnt seen one of those reels in 30 years, so it was a bit retro but lots of fun. . Our guests stay at the Mangrove Inn, a new facility located just outside the port town of Lopez Mateos. I grabbed it, pushed off from the panga and pedaled hard as I free-spooled away from my lively 7-inch mackerel. Chapstick. But we never make it. Reservations can be made by contacting Cary or Erika at Success Sport Fishing - 760-230-6331. Thats the shortcut route; to boat down to the large mouth of the bay and then northwest to Thetis is more like 45 miles. Baja Flyfishing Co is excited to offer Lopez Mateos/Magdelena Bay as one of our destinations, providing access to several hundred miles of mangrove channels, pristine beaches and the fabled Thetis Banks. This is not a gentle bonefish lodge or an idyllic river with mountain backdrops. : $675. Standard operating procedure called for fishermen to simply sit in their pangas for the short ride. Everything worked out really well, and I wanted to let everyone know how much we appreciated it. The baitfish school together for protection; the ones on the outside are the first to get eaten, so naturally everyone wants to be in the center. The more I see this, the more I want to be back in the boat casting to them. The inshore waters that lay just beyond the barrier islands team with sierras, roosterfish, corvina, cortez halibut, pargo, grouper, yellow tail, skip jack, dorado, yellowfin tuna and wahoo.