BajaNomad - Renting a small boat for a week or two

Renting a small boat for a week or two

GD6511 - 7-16-2008 at 01:00 PM

Hi All:

I've enjoyed reading the forum. I'm hoping to fly to Baja next spring, rent a truck and get to see some of that beautiful country for myself. I'd particularly like to throw a boat on the truck and travel and fish the coast along the Sea of Cortez. Does anyone know if there are places that rent small boats and motors ( maybe 14 - 16 foot boat and 15-25 hp motor) for a week or two?

Any advice would be appreciated.

gnukid - 7-16-2008 at 01:30 PM

If you could rent a boat it would have to cost up to $100-200 a day. I have never seen abot for rent without captain. They can't trust you to go out to sea and make it back.

Wherever you go that is good to fish there will be fisherman and they will have a boat. You can pay them $150/day to take you fishing for an experience that will blow away any you could create on your own and you will be immersed in Baja's culture with the finest captains and new friends. So just pull up and go out with the guys. Usually you need to leave to fish at 5am or so so negotiate a day/night in advance. Moreover, you could buy a cheap car and boat but they would likely have mechanical issues and that would take more money and time.

I have done the math and its far more inexpensive to go out with local fisherman than to go by yourself and afterwards there is no clean up or strenuous effort to get the boat up the beach on top of your car again.

FYI fishing from shore is also quite good. Though be aware that springtime is not the best time of year for fishing. Its often windy in the afternoon.

Have fun and keep it simple!

805gregg - 7-16-2008 at 09:42 PM

Better to rent a boat in the place you are and when the weather is right. You don't want to tow someone elses boat in Baja.

Skipjack Joe - 7-17-2008 at 12:24 PM

I can understand the desire to rent a boat rather than be guided. And not for the economics of it. It's far more pleasurable to discover something than being led to it, no matter how well it's done.

To my knowledge there are no outfits akin to King Harbor or Santa Cruz wharf that are in the business of renting boats. Individuals will sometimes let you rent their boats if they know you well and trust your abilities. For the reasons stated by the above poster.

Pescador - 7-17-2008 at 02:10 PM

Skipjack has hit the nail right on the head. I have my own boat and would usually not even consider going out with a local unless it was for a trip or two to learn something of local conditions and areas. Half of the fun is doing it all by myself and I generally outfish the local guys seriously but then I have been doing this a long time. If I go out with a local, it is in my boat with my equipment. So while that works for Gnukid, it sure does not work for me. And it is not accurate that it is cheaper to go with a guide than it is to do it yourself. I fish approx 250 days a year and that would be in the neighborhood of $37,500. Don't tell my wife that.
Now that all said, Mexico is a whole different place and most of the guys, unless they know you pretty well, will not rent a boat or motor. Liability laws and matriculation on the boat is a real problem.

wilderone - 7-18-2008 at 09:37 AM

Maybe a small inflatable with a 2 hp would fit the bill. Manageable and not too expensive. Would be a fair weather boat - a lot of fun. Hire a panga for occasional more serious fishing days.

Martyman - 7-18-2008 at 10:40 AM

Punta Pescador, North of Las Barriles used to have a boat to rent. It's been a while though. They might have a web site??

GD6511 - 7-18-2008 at 01:30 PM

Wow. Lots of great replies. Thanks a lot, each of you. Learned more in the last two days than I did reading and internet searching for the last month.

Like Skipjack Joe and Pescedor mentioned, I kind of wanted the adventure and freedom of making my own way and fishing wherever I liked. But it doesn't look like my plan is do-able. I'm not surprised (although I sent an email to Punta Pescador asking if they rent boats, and I'll keep an eye out for a cheap inflatable). So, looks like I'll do what Gnukid and 805'er suggest, and find boats for hire while I'm there. I'm sure it will be a blast, and I'll get some experience. Maybe even figure out how to set up the boat thing for the next time.

Also, it sounds like I should come in the summer, not spring. Thanks again for the good advice. If anyone has any more I'd be glad to hear it.

if $2000 is cheap

woody with a view - 7-18-2008 at 01:45 PM

a friend has a 12' Avon inflatable with a 20 or 25 hp mariner. vests, foot pump, patch kit, oars, gas tank and carrying bag included.

motor and boat rinsed EVERY time.

[Edited on 7-18-2008 by woody in ob]

GD6511 - 7-21-2008 at 07:49 AM

Wish I could say that $2000 is cheap for me, but I can't. Thanks, though, that sounds like it would be ideal if I had more dough.

Gene

bigeye - 7-21-2008 at 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pescador
Half of the fun is doing it all by myself and I generally outfish the local guys seriously but then I have been doing this a long time.

That has to be one of the brashest statements I have ever read on a chat forum. How the heck would you know that? How many tournaments have you won? :lol:

Pescador - 7-22-2008 at 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bigeye

That has to be one of the brashest statements I have ever read on a chat forum. How the heck would you know that? How many tournaments have you won? :lol:

Youare absolutely right and when I reread that statement I felt it was a little brash too. What I was attempting to communicate is that for me fishing is not a pastime but a passion. I get very frustrated when I fish with most guides because they want to get you in the boat, go out and hook some fish and bring you back. On the other hand I opt to try new things all the time, I purchase the best equipment that I can afford,I fish at least 250 days a year, I check and study tide charts to see about the times when the fish predicitably are going to be the most active,I make it a point to try to understand patterns of migration and feeding habits of different species, I experiment with different baits to see which will trigger differing reactions with different fish, I study the Sea Surface Temps to see where temp breaks and chlorophyll may be the most active, I have spent up to 5 years developing a custom wrapped rod that has a very specific action for trolling or jigging, I usually am prepared with 6 or 7 different types of fishing gear from salt water fly equipment to high tech spin gear, I regularly subscribe to numerous publications and get most of the newly printed and relevant books, and so far I have been blessed with the health and fortitude to go the distance when that is the necessary ingredient.
That is not to say that the average guide in Mexico is not doing these things but his goal is much different. There are certainly a few who I hold in high esteem, one of which is San Marcos Mike, www.islasanmarcos.com who is an even more dedicated fisherman than I am, as well as Fred Archer from Cabo. And I am humble in my appreciation of the fact that I learn something new with every person I have the good fortune to fish with, but the blanket statement that started this thread was that you are way ahead to go with a local guide, and for me that would be giving up a large majority of what makes it exciting for me.

Skipjack Joe - 7-22-2008 at 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bigeye

Quote:

Originally posted by Pescador
Half of the fun is doing it all by myself and I generally outfish the local guys seriously but then I have been doing this a long time.

That has to be one of the brashest statements I have ever read on a chat forum. How the heck would you know that? How many tournaments have you won? :lol:

I always thought that most fishing tournaments are won by some lucky angler whose bait just happens to be taken by the largest fish in the group.

Fishing at it's best is a solitary experience. In my opinion.

bigeye - 7-22-2008 at 01:43 PM

Joe, I think Pescador explained himself pretty clearly in his second post.

However, the point of my question was to ask how he knew he outfished the local guys. Winning tournaments would be one way he could know.

I find it dangerous to fish by myself unless it is from shore.

Pescador - 7-23-2008 at 11:25 AM

Bigeye, I have numerous tournament wins under my belt but pretty much gave up the tournament scene because most of the tournaments in Mexico are specifically dedicated to one big fish for a one or two day event. There is not a lot of talent involved there beyond the basic knowledge of the area and species. If they had a tournament for yellowtail modeled after the bass tournament idea where the total catch (up to your limit) for a two day period , and based on total overall weight, was held, then you would truly be measuring the abilities of the anglers involved.
I truly love to fish offshore but I always have a VHF radio and a backup handheld. I thought I was pretty good about chasing fish until I heard of Bill Erhardt from Loreto who went from Loreto to San Carlos, Sonora, after he heard about the billfish biting there. That definately is my kinda guy and I hope I get the opportunity to fish with him one of these days.