BajaNomad - Fishing and Camping in Gonzaga Bay??

Fishing and Camping in Gonzaga Bay??

SoCalAl - 2-5-2007 at 06:13 PM

Planning on making a trip there in late March...
Is this a good time and is there good fishing off the beach?
What about camping accomidations?
How many spare tires should we take if we plan to drive through to Highway 1?
SoCalAl

fishinsteve - 2-6-2007 at 03:14 AM

I will be down in that area at the end of feb. so I'll give a report around mar. 3rd or 4th

Steve

Capt. George - 2-6-2007 at 03:52 AM

posts 1

hey Steve, welcome aboard. hope you enjoy the Nomads!

Capt George

fishinsteve - 2-6-2007 at 04:57 AM

Thanks

SoCalAl - 2-6-2007 at 08:17 AM

thanks,
I will look forward to it...
SoCalAl

tripledigitken - 2-6-2007 at 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SoCalAl
Planning on making a trip there in late March...
Is this a good time and is there good fishing off the beach?
What about camping accomidations?
How many spare tires should we take if we plan to drive through to Highway 1?
SoCalAl

So Cal Al,

We were in Gonzaga last March. Daytime temperatures were in the high 60's to low 70's, nightime low 50's. It was beautiful. However it did blow a gale all night. Be sure to take protection from the wind. We used our shade tarp as a wind block.

Camping is great at Rancho Grande (south end of beach). Each site has a palapa with a construction type outhouse 100 ' away. I think the cost was about $10.

We didn't fish there that trip, but in trips past I have caught Trigger fish from shore with silver spoons and frozen squid. they are hard to clean, but some of the best tasting fish in Baja.

If your tires are 80% of new or better you shouldn't have a problem if you keep the speed down. Beautiful drive, one of my favorite stretches to drive in Baja. Have fun.

Ken

[Edited on 2-6-2007 by tripledigitken]

[Edited on 2-6-2007 by tripledigitken]

rancho grande.jpg - 41kB

SoCalAl - 2-6-2007 at 09:27 AM

Ken,
Beautiful Picture and thank you for the info...
SoCalAl :coolup:

Camp and fish Gonzaga Bay in March

bonanza bucko - 2-6-2007 at 09:54 AM

We have a house at Alfy's at Gonzaga Bay....for the last 30 years. In March you will have the temps described above but you should be ready for wind. March and April are the windiest months. Also avoid the place during the week before and after Easter. The camp grounds get really crowded with people for Mexicali, Tijuana, Ensenada and San Felipe who get the week off....it varies which week they are there. Easter this year is on 8 April so you might be ok the last week of march.

The fishing in March is gonna be for Trigger off the beach. If you can get a boat you could go for bass and maybe other fish out by the island.

SoCalAl - 2-6-2007 at 10:18 AM

Hmmm. what about in June...late June or early July..? How is the weather then and the fishing??
Thanks for any info.. :?:

David K - 2-6-2007 at 10:30 AM

Al, here are some camping options (with a look from space of each):

Papa Fernandez' has a beach for camping over the hill from the restaurant (John Wayne and Papa photo inside) and homes... It's on the outside side of Punta Willard from the bay: Papa Fernandez'

Alfonsina's has a nice restaurant and motel (if it's too windy to camp), otherwise it is private homes along a beautiful beach.... they have the Pemex station on the main road.Alfonsina's

Rancho Grande has palapas on the beach, just south of Alfonsina's (see photo in post by Ken)... they have the store (some groceries, liquor, maybe ice, gasoline if Pemex is closed, tires repaired in back) on the main road. Rancho Grande's Palapas

Campo Beluga has nice palapas and reported to be a really good place, nice owners... perhaps a restaurant is open now? It is a mile+ south of Rancho Grande. Campo Beluga

Punta Final is private homes, at the south end of the big bay (Ensenada de San Francisquito, but usually called 'Gonzaga' too)... Camping nearby on nice beach. Punta Final

When you click on the links (for Google satellite images), enlarge the new window, and click on 'Link to this page' to make the image 'full size', clicking on the left arrow next to the image will enlarge the photo even more.

There is 'open' camping between Beluga and Punta Final or north of Papa Fernandez'... other campos north of Gonzaga Bay, as well!

It is a great place... It's where I got my first taste of Baja in 1965!

Photo taken last November at Alfonsina's:

[Edited on 2-6-2007 by David K]

1106 242r.JPG - 49kB

David K - 2-6-2007 at 10:32 AM

June and early July are awesome! We have been there on July 4th weekend it was great... the water is warm like a bathtub, even at night... fun!

SoCalAl - 2-6-2007 at 11:33 AM

Thanks David,
Like always great info and it sounds like June and July are better time to visit, now the only question is what kind of fish are plentiful during these months... I assume corvina and halibut are there year round as well as the trigger fish and bass but what about other species???
Al

larry - 2-6-2007 at 11:33 AM

Campo Beluga is the place---better maintained than Rancho Grande and further from the few houses that are there.

David K - 2-6-2007 at 11:50 AM

Check out Baja Mur's home page: http://hometown.aol.com/murcarver/extreme/index.htm

David A. - 2-6-2007 at 12:24 PM

SoCalAl, I have one of your fishing rods and reel in my garage. I believe you or one of your friends left it in the boat. You know where it is. Maybe we can meet during one of our vacations. :yes:

SoCalAl - 2-6-2007 at 01:39 PM

Hi David A,
Juan has been asking me for that pole and reel and I told him I did not have it.. I guess I know where it is at now, hehehehe.. That's Juan though, the only reason he does not forget his head is cause it is permanately attached to his body.. :lol:

We always poke fun at him for this where ever we go and his bad habbit has caused him to loose a few things. The trip before the one we took last year, he lost a spear, hahaha.
Thanks for letting us know and I hope you are in town, which I believe you will for the last week of June or maybe the 2nd week in July.. I am trying to organize my self on this trip cause it will have a few kids and dads coming along..

Thanks again,
SoCalAl

gonetobaja - 2-6-2007 at 04:47 PM

SoCalAl,

We are the only licenced guide service working in the Gonzaga Bay area, we can pick you up in front of Alfonsinas. 500per day gets a fully licenced and legal 22ft Montery that can take out 3 people to the Enchanted Islands for the day. We get Yellowtail, White Sea Bass, Grouper, and Snapper pretty much year round.

try drifting squid or yo-yo spoons. If you are going to fish the islands bring big gear 80-100lb.

GTB
http://www.gonetobaja.com

Gonzaga Bay

bonanza bucko - 2-6-2007 at 05:59 PM

I agree with the June-July stuff above. The wx gets pretty hot in August but even then it's fine if the usual breeze is off the ocean. If the wind shifts from the mountains, however, it's time to sit the water with a Pacifico until it cools off.

The ony shore fishing that is good is on the point north of the cantina and against the rocks of Willard Island or off the beach at Papa Fernandez. There are some good spots in coves further up the coast but you would need a local to show them to you and keep you from getting stuck in the sand.

The best fishing is in the Islas Encantada...off the beach at Punta Bufeo and north or Papa's. The islands are called Enchanted because the fishing is so good...seiners can't get in there because of the rocks.

You really need a boat for good fishing there.

Expect hot weather

Skipjack Joe - 2-6-2007 at 06:18 PM

Daily temperatures will be over 100 by the end of June. Plan ways to stay cool before departing.

Mike Supino - 2-6-2007 at 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bonanza bucko
I agree with the June-July stuff above. The wx gets pretty hot in August but even then it's fine if the usual breeze is off the ocean. If the wind shifts from the mountains, however, it's time to sit the water with a Pacifico until it cools off
You really need a boat for good fishing there.

The end of August 2006 it was OVER 90 degrees BEFORE sun-up.

Minnow - 2-6-2007 at 08:12 PM

I think both of the picture links below were from March in Gonzaga. If that helps?

David A. - 2-7-2007 at 06:07 AM

SoCalAl, You know where we will be on the first week of July. Stop in and say hi and pick up that rig.

David K - 2-7-2007 at 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Minnow
I think both of the picture links below were from March in Gonzaga. If that helps?

Check your links Tom... not working.

roy747 - 2-7-2007 at 10:49 AM

Link not working Tom.

DirkEXC - 2-7-2007 at 11:45 AM

I got it to work once, grat pictures from the plane, sunk boats ect but then it I tried again and it said the transfer rate was exceded. maby iif a couple of oictues were taken out it would work. viva Baja, Dirk

Minnow - 2-7-2007 at 02:35 PM

If more than a couple of people try to view them at once it shorts out. Sorry. :?: