This is not a gentle bonefish lodge or an idyllic river with mountain backdrops. Mag Bay Lodge is one of the few operations in the area that caters to anglers. Get over here! It may not display this or other websites correctly. 2. La Paz - Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Suenos Bay/ Magdalena Bay Fishing Report from Tailhunter Sportfishing for Week of Feb. 24-March 4, 2018. . Staying suspended in their time and place. The boats that overnighted at the bank reported 30-plus releases a day. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. And in the case of Mag Bay, the bigger that sense of adventure the better. As I get closer, the bluewater world comes into focus. But we never make it. Casting anything you want all day long and hooking wahoo, giant tuna, dorado, marlin one after another on every cast. Video by Spencer Millsap. Several times the fish towed me over flashing silver scales adrift after the carnage of marlin attacks. He runs adventure trips all over the world to photograph everything from sharks to orcas to anacondas. Its simply incredible to witness. Magdalena Bay fishing area weather was mostly clear in the mid-90s, with water temperatures at 78 to 84 degrees. 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. You know fishing is good when it has come to strictly catch and release on wahoo and even tuna. 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. When we reached Thetis Bank, the crew put us in over an 80-foot high spot, though wind and currents quickly moved the kayaks off. Sport Fishing Charters. Any info would be greatly appreciated . A chain of islands that serve as a barrier protect the bay from the . 888.752.2828; FREE DOMESTIC SHIPPING OVER $50; More. . When we arrived, there were several other boats on the horizon and it wasnt hard to figure out where the fish were. I grabbed it, pushed off from the panga and pedaled hard as I free-spooled away from my lively 7-inch mackerel. But there really is no spot in the area for a base for a sport fishing operation. Other times, there was a guy on the bow with a spinning rod, throwing some kind of lurehe also was hooking up regularly. Once at the grounds, the kayaks slide easily off the pangas low sides. A series of barrier Islands form a complex of inter connected bays and mangrove channels that extends two hundred miles, north and South along the central coast of Southern Baja. As you get closer, you can spot the marlins fins slicing the surface. Silver Lining Kings. View map . Boat Specs - Success Sport Fishing | Fishing, Spearfishing, and Surfing Trips . Once relaunched, we encountered a northwest wind, not yet brisk but enough to promise a slow, bumpy ride. 8:30am Loreto bay and 9am Villas Del Palmar. The Fishery: There are three separate fisheries accessible from the small Pueblo of Adolfo Lopez Mateos. 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. A barbless hook also will usually fall out within a few hours. 202/642-6386) has been leading whale-watching experiences. Great, I think to myself. Magdalena Bay Whales - Your Adventure Our Passion . 8:15-10:15 AM Travel to Magdalena Bay. There was a small queue ahead of us, so we waited 20 or so minutes for each boat to be served. Then the sleigh ride began. What I like most about mag bay in general is the seclusion and peace. Captain G, for example, starting driving a fishing panga 42 years ago when he was 12 years old. BD Outdoors began as a forum-based fishing community to connect saltwater anglers and provide a home to share the latest fishing reports and news. For more details on trip rules, cancellation and travel insurance visit our, Roundtrip professional ground transfers from and to the Loreto airport. Private TOUR. Baha Magdalena is a protected bay on the Pacific coast in Baja Sur. E: booking@magbaytours.com. FishingBooker.com. 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. From there we start the 6 hour drive up north to Magdalena Bay, during which we pass through Todos Santos, La Paz and Constitucion. Runs a panga from Mag Bay. different, you still keep your existing reservation including the cancellation policy. Top to bottom everything was amazing. In the smaller boat, we could run ahead of the bait/bird/marlin frenzy and hop into the water. His captain was Juan Jose Abaroa Flores, who ran the Mucho Loco for the Rolling Stones for many years back in the 1980s. Engines start at USD 8500.00 for a two stroke E Tec, or USD 9500.00 for a four stroke Yamaha. 6) Fish the grounds for 5 to 6 hours and return home. 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. If you have always wanted to fishing in Mag Bay, there is no better option. 8:00 AM - Meet at Sea and Land Office. I was traveling with retired Marine Col. Hunter Ledbetter who had a friend named Jim Korchinski who owned a charter boat in Cabo. modifications. Other than whale-watching, sportfishing is what sets Mag Bay apart. the Magdalena Bay offshore striped marlin show continued into January, much to the amazement of the locals. There also were two small center-console outboard boats fishing in our vicinity. 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. The appreciation for Mag Bay comes from the secrets she keeps. www.tailhunter.com Mexico Office: Tailhunter Sportfishing. 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. 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. Dorado, Tuna, Sailfish, Marlin, and even Wahoo likely on the Fly Prices per day vary but you would pay minimum of $650 for an offshore panga. Its all part of the adventure when kayak-fishing Magdalena Bay. It's a gorgeous place to visit for the pristine beaches, mangroves, and sardine runs. A half-dozen marlin were below, attacking the bait within a few feet of our group. Anywhere from 40 to 120 miles depending on where you leave from and what part you travel too. . Discover the amazing variety of fish Mag Bay has to offer! Over summer 2021, weve caught a whole lot of, Well, we have delayed our Mag Bay fishing reports once again, and for that we apologize. 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 . One problem I flyfish and got a guide already. Full service of our Adventure Consultants. . All rights reserved. I stayed with Wilber, and he and his son will take me out in his Panga at first light. MagBay lodge offers pickups, taxis from loreto, or car rentals are all options. Mag Bay is offers super size fish options. Small day pack or hip pack with any personal items. Cruiser rates vary. Bathroom and snack stop along the way. This group of men and woman did not build the Lodge for a business, but rather for their friends, family, etc and they kept the Lodge low profile for many years. 4-day fishing adventure in Quepos Costa Rica. 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. Trip Itinerary. 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. Sunglasses. A longtime light-tackle angler says few things compare with taking a blue marlin on the fly. Sun protective clothing and hat. The sea lions also were feeding on the bait when they werent nipping at the stripeys or growling at us. 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. 60'x17' 1,250 gallon fuel capacity. A spectacular example of what biologists call "island endemism," Isla Magdalena also offers solitude, bay and ocean recreation, bird watching, hiking and spectacular views, all while being within reasonable distance of pleasant accommodations in the bustling fishing village of San Carlos. The food is true Mexican cuisine with a varied and customized choice of meals that is included with your stay. 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 . Full services of our Adventure Consultants. We have extreme fishing for Wahoo, Tuna, Marlin, Dorado and more coupled with an amazing atmosphere in a relaxing lodge environment. Fly anglers heading a few miles in any direction can find all sorts of species slicing through baits big and small. A chain of islands that serve as a barrier protect the bay from the vast Pacific Ocean, creating an ideal environment for a large population of marine life, including the most popular species of sport fishing. Driving in the natural scenery along Bajas mountain range we take you to Magdalena Bay to take pleasure and admire one of the most exceptional grey whales encounters; where we get close to experience them onboard a full-equipped, open boat "Panga.". 30 kw generator. 1). Cancn's up there somewhere. Yea, that works for me! At one point there were almost 20 marlin around and below me, casually swimming along. But really, 200-plus-pound fish on 40-pound braid? Tour will start at approx 7:30-7:45am . There is only one hotel for Magdalena Bay. With options to fish in the Bay, inshore and offshore, you'll be sure to have an amazing time fishing Mag bay. Ive caught many good fish in many places from kayaks over the decades, but none offered the level of satisfaction of my first Magdalena Bay marlin. Just dont expect flats boats, perfect English, or guides with full fly boxes. What to target, and where, within the greater Mag Bay system, are decisions that might leave anglers second-guessing over a vast expanse of quiet water. What I mean is there shuttles rent a car or what transportation is there to get from airport to there and I offshore flyfish. This trip was a trip of a lifetime. Gathering my thoughts and my breath, I start to move, swimming toward a grey shadow. LOCATED IN SMALL FISHING VILLAGE OF LOPEZ MATEOS AND LORETO 760-908-BAJA Bob's cell . If you find your deal on another fishing website at a lower rate, contact ourcustomer careteam. Saltwater charters usually begin toward the end of October and run through January. ADIOS LA PAZ CARNAVALE 2018! This spectacle varies from year-to-year but can often reach truly amazing proportions in October and November when the volume of baitfish appears, attracting large schools of billfish - mostly striped marlin - but additional . Calle Puerto La Paz 40, Bahia Magdalena, 23740 Magdalena Bay, B.C.S., Mexico. No one plans on hopping into town for supplies or entertainment, because it just doesnt exist. Its all about getting there in this case, to Thetis Bank, about 30 miles off the northern part of Mag Bay. 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. Light jacket or sweater. But we had a great morning with yellowfin tuna small to maybe 20 pounds and skipjack. Be Sure to Check Out MAG BAY LURES with MAG BAY LODGE which is where we stayed and who organized this whole beautiful trip for us! This luxury fishing yacht charter with a personal chef onboard cooking meals and 2 deckhands working alongside. Professional naturalist and bi-lingual guides. I never fished Mag Bay, but I want to soon. Thirty minutes later and its the post-release chatter, all high fives, and back slaps. Not much, that is, aside from an annual explosion of sardines that attracts mobs of striped marlin, piles of wahoo . 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. The best time - season to fish Magdalena Bay it's from early June to late December. Rumor has it that the record for conventional tackle releases at Mag Bay is close to 200 striped marlin in one day, which pretty much sums up this amazing fishery. What was the point? he said. 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. 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. B ottom and/or Deep Sea Fishing depending on the season and target species.. Flyfishers will come to have a deep love and appreciation for Magdalena Bay, but not for the reasons we normally expect from a fishery. There were five of us on the trip and we had five days to chase bait balls. I have been visiting mag bay since my youth. The grounds we fish at are completely loaded with Wahoo, Dorado, Tuna . Or, you could be left shaking your head at the fish-filled mayhem that can turn on at any moment. MAGDALENA BAY, Mexico Just off the bow of our 22-foot open boat what Baja fishermen call a "panga" a whale spout erupts . Baha Magdalena is a protected bay on the Pacific coast in Baja Sur. data-event-category="Navigation header guest", Full list of top fishing charters in Magdalena Bay, FishingBooker has a Shopper Approved rating of 4.8/5 based on 25793 ratings and reviews. Many regions of Baja waters still remain untouched by the tourists so you can land upon a lot of rare catch. :). Guaranteed hookups on striped marlin during the season Then marlin happens Music is played loud over a marlin bite. For angler seeking some of the best fishing left on the planet and that appreciate remote and wild locations, this is your place. He knows fishing and is always ready. We're hoping to fish for Wahoo. The bay is obviously full of fish. 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. The return trip took us perhaps 20 additional minutes when the wheel bearings in the old trailer failed halfway across the sand. Offshore Fishing. Our journey to Thetis had us leaving the lodge in two pangas at dawn for a 15-minute ride to a launch point of sorts on a shallow beach. In the afternoons we still found the bait balls, but they were smaller and probably tired. 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. Prices subject to change without notice. The road trip takes a few hours from the airports at La Paz, San Jose del Cabo, or Loreto. Copyright 2017 - bajaflyfish.com - All Rights Reserved. Its not a place to learn flycasting; its a place where knowing how to manipulate 500-grain sink-tips is just as important as knowing how to move big poppers on floating lines. Its a place for the most curious and adventurous people to be at. We would have a few moments to snap photos before everything got out of range. How many fisheries in the offshore world allow you to first experience the angling, then immerse yourself in the water with your quarry? 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. 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. From Cabo, its an 18-hour trip at a fuel-saving 9 knots. ith time one of the founders unfortunately passed and the remaining owners decided to partner up to open up the lodge to some lucky tourists. . Camera (get ready for some superb images!) All meals and beverages as indicated on the itinerary. Each winter, adventurous tourists come to meet and touch grey whales that have come en masse to get their offspring through the first few months of life. The best fishing offshore is Aug through December, inshore there is pretty unique fishing year round. The best fishing offshore is Aug through December, inshore . Magdalena Bay is a gorgeous place to visit just for the pristine beauty, mangroves and giant sand dunes of the outer islands. The volume of commercial fishing in the bay can be overwhelming for some, yet eco-tourism and a mindset of supporting a healthy ecosystem has more than a foothold here. Those who know me, know that fishing is my life. 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. It's normal for the whales to surround the boat, play around, and look you in the eye. 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. It is not an easy sport by nature, and when you add an environment that is full of opportunity, yet as challenging as the sport itself, then flyfishing goes beyond sport and into crazy worlds where fish light up, cannon balls get lodged into rocks, and anglers can feel their heart and hands charge with anticipation. By Robert Reid. Then, quiet. If you just want grouper, yellowtail and those type fish then pangas are no problem. . Sign in to get trip updates and message other travellers.. Loreto Im on! His ten-weight is buckled in a perfect inverse curve to his smile. Incredible Striped Marlin Action in Magdalena Bay, Mexico. We woke up to a ham-and-egg breakfast and to find that the crew had already caught a healthy supply of live bait. We have two well-equipped sport fishing boats, as well as multiple pangas (covered or non-covered), depending on where you want to go and what you want to catch. I feel the grab on my second cast. Catches Likely: Marlin, tuna, roosterfish, golden trevalle, pargo, snook, wahoo, dorado, bonita, jacks, and more. his Lodge was built nearly 30 years ago by some well respected Americans with a vision for fishing in Mag Bay that was far ahead of the time. Magdalena Bay is the name for a 30-mile-long harbor with a collection of mangrove rivers and swamps near the bottom of Bajas Pacific Coast. Our SUV is bouncing along the dirt moguls of a dark road . 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. All National Parks & Biosphere Reserve access fees required by itinerary. That's our story! 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. You can leave out of Lopez Mateos or San Carlos depending who you fish with. Jimmy is the guy! The multi-station layout on the Jarrett Bay 56 makes it a one-of-a-kind sportfishing boat. Additional non-fishing guests may also be added to your room. Or, at least those lucky enough to find us and have the opportunity to enjoy Magdalena Bay fishing and all the beauty it has to offer. Eventually, the marlin would tire of the diver/sea lion combination and leave the area. 5) Clients board the kayaks at the fishing grounds with full bait tank. In 2018, Smith and Shafer spent 12 days in Mag Bay, releasing 317 striped marlin on fly. Situated on a secluded arm of the Bay the Inn offers six waterside bungalows. Call or email us for pricing on other customized options. The whales might even let you pat their backs if you seem friendly. Nick gets pulled slowly down the beach before putting the screws to whatever hes hooked, stopping it just before the sandy shore merges into a mangrove wall. 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. Double Room: $80. We're hoping to fish for Wahoo. The other deal is subject to the same booking conditions youve opted for with Huge fish boils are still the norm here, providing the fly fisher the opportunity to cast a fly in the churning waters with equal chance of catching dorado, tuna, wahoo or billfish. But yea, there are some local captains that would love to get ya out there. With such a vast area, and countless species, time typically becomes a limiting factor more so than lack of fish. That begs some explanation. Hes a perfectionist: Every leader is tied to IGFA specifications, with a 20-pound-test tippet and 12 inches of shock leader. Chapstick. The area erupts with outstanding action in 2019. 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. . But know this: If youre thinking of just rolling down to DIY the bay, make sure you are highly competent in a boat. Custom Fly Fishing Panga Package 7 days: $2950/person At The New Island Home. What I found very interesting was that as I was swimming after the now-disappeared commotion, several striped marlin would come up to the surface and swim next to me. The fish push the bait to the surface, then attack it from below. Captain Aldo Atonto tells us the fish will be up within the hour. Hundreds of miles of Mangroves Inshore for countless species For a fly angler, there is great appeal in the unknown. Flyfishing is not remotely new to Mag Bay, but the current state of the sport absolutely is. We anchored in Man Of War Cove. Day 1 - The tour departs at 6am from our office in the Cabo San Lucas Marina. Mexico's Magdalena "Mag" Bay is among the best and most consistent sportfishing experiences in the world. The bay itself is as vast as it can get and has a feeling of wilderness. Offshore vs. Inshore Fishing in Cabo San Lucas: Which is Right for You? Thats the shortcut route; to boat down to the large mouth of the bay and then northwest to Thetis is more like 45 miles. 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. (more). If you are approaching from the north, the drive . The Location and Accommodations: Lopez Mateos is still a very remote part of the Baja and as such is a long ways from the bustle of Cabo and La Paz. Winning this round, Nick holds a handsome golden trevally that has taken the place of the snook and marlin we came to catch.
