BajaNomad

Long Range Boats From San Diego Fishing Baja Sur Pacific Coast

bill erhardt - 11-4-2011 at 07:02 AM

There are now a handful of fishermen in small private boats who venture out Boca de Soledad or the Entrada at San Carlos to fish the Ridge off the Baja Pacific coast. For decades, however, Thetis Bank and the storied marlin "pile-ups" in the fall, the Tuna Banks south on the Ridge where "cow" yellowfin tuna forage, and the high spots holding rampaging wahoo have been the private domain of the long range fleet out of San Diego and the occasional big sportfisher making the trip down the coast to Cabo. Although some fishermen in private small boats are now making the trip outside to share the bounty, about half of the times I have fished the Ridge over the past few years there have been only long range boats present, or none at all.

Here is a sample of the long rangers I have found at the high spots at first light after a long run out of the boca or Entrada, usually anchored up just where I wanted to make the first pass. Although soaking bait shoulder to shoulder with a boatload of new best friends is not my cup of tea, they do make for pretty pictures:

Shogun

shogun.jpg - 40kB

bill erhardt - 11-4-2011 at 07:06 AM

Qualifier 105

Q.jpg - 41kB

bill erhardt - 11-4-2011 at 07:07 AM

Red Rooster III

RR.jpg - 37kB

bill erhardt - 11-4-2011 at 07:09 AM

Vagabond

vagabond.jpg - 32kB

bill erhardt - 11-4-2011 at 07:11 AM

Polaris Supreme

polaris supreme.jpg - 35kB

bill erhardt - 11-4-2011 at 07:13 AM

American Angler

AA.jpg - 38kB

bill erhardt - 11-4-2011 at 07:15 AM

Intrepid

intrepid.jpg - 30kB

bill erhardt - 11-4-2011 at 07:17 AM

And sometimes, nobody else at all.....

pacificsr.jpg - 40kB

Howard - 11-4-2011 at 07:33 AM

Nice pictures but if I wanted to look at pictures I would go to the library! :biggrin:

WE WANT AND NEED A FISH REPORT!!

bill erhardt - 11-4-2011 at 07:43 AM

Howard.....Well, if that's what you need here's one from yesterday:

http://www.bdoutdoors.com/forums/baja-mexico-fishing-reports...

Curt63 - 11-4-2011 at 07:55 AM

Great post Bill.

I read all your posts carefully. Good stuff.

Keep em comin!

Howard - 11-4-2011 at 08:18 AM

Thanks Bill, that go me going along with my morning coffee.

Heading down to La Ventana tomorrow to see if there are some tuna around and just maybe some Hoo's.

Where you were fishing for the Wahoo's, how long a run is it from shore and do any Panga's venture out that far? I am one of those boatless people who rely on Panga's and friends who want there gas paid for. (hint, hint)

these were possibly hauled out or through that area

tripledigitken - 11-4-2011 at 08:54 AM

San Diego June 14, 2009

bill erhardt - 11-4-2011 at 09:06 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Howard
Where you were fishing for the Wahoo's, how long a run is it from shore and do any Panga's venture out that far? I am one of those boatless people who rely on Panga's and friends who want there gas paid for. (hint, hint)


Howard.....Where I was fishing was about 50 miles from the launch ramp in Lopez Mateos. 9 miles north up the estero to Boca de Soledad, out the boca and west.
Occasionally a panga makes it out that far, but it's a long panga ride, usually directly into whatever seas there are. One day last week there was a party from Loreto out there in a panga. I think they caught 2 wahoo. The Loretanos initially contacted Ruben Duran who made arrangements for his son Ernesto to take them out, at no small inconvenience since Ernesto had a prior obligation. Then, without notice, they booked Sergio, another local captain who used to work for MBO and now works out of his own panga which is bigger than the one available to Ernesto. That particular party should plan on fishing again with Sergio, or somebody else, on any future trips to Mag Bay, because I don't think that Ruben or Ernesto will have the time to accommodate them anytime soon.
Lance Peterson, a flyfishing guide from the East Cape, is the only fisherman I know who regularly fishes on the Ridge in a panga on his trips north, and Lance is a bit of a masochist.

wessongroup - 11-4-2011 at 09:11 AM

Thanks Bill, brought back some great memories ... of fishing ... and all the rest which goes with one of these trips... :):)

Howard - 11-4-2011 at 09:38 AM

In order for me to go 50+ miles in a Panga on the Pacific side there better be some mermaids serving cold Pacifico's. I guess this will be be put back on the bucket list.

Really appreciate the report and feedback. When are you coming back to Loreto so I can buy you a beer?

Alan - 11-4-2011 at 11:43 AM

Great pic's Bill. I just returned from an 8 day on the American Angler. No big tuna this trip and only 2 hoos but great yellowtail fishing with a handful of 30-40# YFT and 64 BFT. Yes, BFT on the Ridge in Oct. Who would have thought.

DianaT - 11-4-2011 at 11:50 AM

Love the photos!

Pompano - 11-4-2011 at 12:26 PM

Grreat pics, Bill. Yesterday I had lunch at Fisherman's Landing...(got me some new tackle!)....and I usually sit where I can look out on the charter boat fleet. All those big boys are familiar sights to me. I might take some 'in the marina' pics and post here for you to compare. "At Sea" will always be best, though.

I would be having a snack at the marina right now...but it's raining coronas and pacificos here in 'sunny' San Diego.

bill erhardt - 11-4-2011 at 12:42 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Alan
Great pic's Bill. I just returned from an 8 day on the American Angler. No big tuna this trip and only 2 hoos but great yellowtail fishing with a handful of 30-40# YFT and 64 BFT. Yes, BFT on the Ridge in Oct. Who would have thought.


Alan.....The photo above of the American Angler hoisting anchor at the 23s was taken Monday of last week, October 24. You may have been aboard? Do you see yourself lounging on the deck with coffee? If you were on that trip you may have seen Soledad circling around your boat before the AA moved off the high spot looking for hoos as I was.

Pompano - 11-4-2011 at 01:03 PM

Bill..I found some in my laptop photos..not this year, but close enough.
Looks like June of 2010.



















Of course, there are side benefits to the marina views and tackle. Great seafood eatery close by at Pt. Loma Seafoods. Eat in a scenic setting, try not to feed the seals, sea lions, gulls...and DO feed any hungry-looking senoritas.







Hey..anybody want half a sammy and a couple sushi rolls?

desertcpl - 11-4-2011 at 01:17 PM

my favorite place

Alan - 11-4-2011 at 05:58 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bill erhardt
Quote:
Originally posted by Alan
Great pic's Bill. I just returned from an 8 day on the American Angler. No big tuna this trip and only 2 hoos but great yellowtail fishing with a handful of 30-40# YFT and 64 BFT. Yes, BFT on the Ridge in Oct. Who would have thought.


Alan.....The photo above of the American Angler hoisting anchor at the 23s was taken Monday of last week, October 24. You may have been aboard? Do you see yourself lounging on the deck with coffee? If you were on that trip you may have seen Soledad circling around your boat before the AA moved off the high spot looking for hoos as I was.
No, I was there on the Monday before. I would have seen the Soledad because given the time of year and the area I was in, I was definitely looking for you! We got back to San Diego early on the 20th and a friend drove me to the border so I could catch a Volaris flight to La Paz.

woody with a view - 11-4-2011 at 06:01 PM

hey Bill, next time you see the RR tell Capt Andy that Woody said hi. we were high school buddies.

bill erhardt - 11-4-2011 at 07:01 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Alan
Quote:
Originally posted by bill erhardt
Quote:
Originally posted by Alan
Great pic's Bill. I just returned from an 8 day on the American Angler. No big tuna this trip and only 2 hoos but great yellowtail fishing with a handful of 30-40# YFT and 64 BFT. Yes, BFT on the Ridge in Oct. Who would have thought.


Alan.....The photo above of the American Angler hoisting anchor at the 23s was taken Monday of last week, October 24. You may have been aboard? Do you see yourself lounging on the deck with coffee? If you were on that trip you may have seen Soledad circling around your boat before the AA moved off the high spot looking for hoos as I was.
No, I was there on the Monday before. I would have seen the Soledad because given the time of year and the area I was in, I was definitely looking for you! We got back to San Diego early on the 20th and a friend drove me to the border so I could catch a Volaris flight to La Paz.


You probably know this, but the Vagabond and the Success are operating out of San Carlos. You can book a trip, climb aboard in Mag Bay, and be fishing the Ridge the next day, if you want to avoid the trip up and down the coast.

Alan - 11-5-2011 at 09:44 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bill erhardt
You probably know this, but the Vagabond and the Success are operating out of San Carlos. You can book a trip, climb aboard in Mag Bay, and be fishing the Ridge the next day, if you want to avoid the trip up and down the coast.
No I didn't. What a great idea! The two day run to get to the Ridge is a pain and San Carlos is closer to my place in La Paz than San Diego is from my home in the states. I'll do a search for their websites.