BajaNomad

Puertocitos to Gonzaga by small boat.

yakyak2010 - 6-21-2012 at 10:35 AM

We have a 16.50' Crestliner FishHawk with a 90hp outboard and we plan on launching at Puertocitos and head for Gonzaga (Papa's). Is there any thing to watch out for besides the wind? I don't know of any safe anchorages on the way down if the wind kicks up. Any input from anyone who has made that trip would be helpful. I'm guessing its probably about a 2 hour trip interupted by 3 or 4 hours of fishing. We'll probably fish Black Mtn. and maybe San Lusi on the way down. Thanks in advance for any info.
ps; any charts available for that area?

Hook - 6-21-2012 at 10:47 AM

I'd say the best description and "chart" of the area is still the Baja Boater's Guide, Vol. II by Jack Williams. No GPS coordinates and no chart with a compass rose, but he has good drawings of the anchorages; all are out at the Islas Encantadas. Huerfanito has a marginal N wind anchorage, Miramar (Muerto) has a decent N wind anchorage and San Luis has two decent S wind anchorages and one N wind anchorage.

woody with a view - 6-21-2012 at 10:50 AM

if you don't have a wind prediction site this one is pretty good:
http://www.sailflow.com/windandwhere.iws?regionID=130&re...

press the play arrow at the top of the graphic.

Alm - 6-22-2012 at 06:13 PM

sailflow.com with San Felipe as the closest point (right menu).

Or http://www.buoyweather.com/wxnav6.jsp?region=BA&program=... , just make sure you click TAD offshore as there is no marine weather forecast close to the shore.

But... I'm lost as to what the question was really about. Is it safe in this boat with this motor? Yes, if people use common sense. Has been safe for kayakers so far. With fishing it takes unpredictably long to cover any distance and Baja winds come and go quickly, can be safe at 7 am and unsafe at noon.

David K - 6-22-2012 at 06:18 PM

The coastline is populated and has a highway alongside much of it from PUERTECITOS to SAN LUIS GONZAGA... so stay close enough to shore to duck in if a wind comes up (but not too close to the rocky bottom)!

It is between PUNTA FINAL and BAHIA DE LOS ANGELES that is much more remote and without a parallel road.

chuckie - 6-22-2012 at 06:24 PM

It aint that far is it?

willardguy - 6-22-2012 at 07:55 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Ali]
sailflow.com with San Felipe as the closest point (right menu).

Or http://www.buoyweather.com/wxnav6.jsp?region=BA&program=... , just make sure you click TAD offshore as there is no marine weather forecast close to the shore.

But... I'm lost as to what the question was really about. Is it safe in this boat with this motor? Yes, if people use common sense. Has been safe for kayakers so far. With fishing it takes unpredictably long to cover any distance and Baja winds come and go quickly, can be safe at 7 am and unsafe at noon.
well not so safe for the elderly couple back in early april. 5 knots at 10:30, 30 knots at 1:30 no weather site predicted that. yup go early!

yakyak2010 - 6-22-2012 at 08:47 PM

I was only concerned with places to bail if the wind came up, and if there were submerged rock or seamounts like north on Isle San Luis

David K - 6-22-2012 at 11:00 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chuckie
It aint that far is it?


45 miles by road, so less by sea (if going in a straight line).

YAKYAK

captkw - 6-22-2012 at 11:37 PM

Hola,The wind will come up !! please tell us that u have some time on this boat and you have been on said boat around this area before ?? shootin blind is a bad way to finish !!BE SAFE !!.....K & T ..:cool:

Wind

bonanza bucko - 6-23-2012 at 08:11 AM

The trip from Puertecitos to Papa's at Gonzaga Bay goes down the coast that's called "the wind tunnel" because the West wind comes down the mountain sides by the sea at about 30+ knots most afternoons. If you make that trip in a small boat be completely ready to get to a safe beach fast. You should also make the trip as early in the morning as possible....the wind usually comes up in the afternoon about 1530 to 1600.

Avoiding rocks in a small boat should be done by giving the islands a wide berth....a chart isn't gonna help you much because of the range of tide....22 feet...so the rocks are gonna be out of the way at high tide and ready to sink you at low tide.....I'd take it pretty easy.

It isn't fun to remember but your rout to Papa's will be past the place where the Erick sits on the bottom with 7 guys still in it a year later....sunk by a big wind that came up fast and without notice.

BB

yakyak2010 - 6-23-2012 at 11:53 AM

Thanks bucko

Cypress - 6-23-2012 at 12:16 PM

Good luck! Shouldn't be a problem if the motor keeps running and you're not hit with any freaky weather conditions.

Alm - 6-24-2012 at 01:30 AM

Like people said - wind forecasts in SOC don't work over short periods and short distances (your case). Can be calm in San Felipe and windy in your location. Forecasts are only good for big picture, like "mostly calm" or "mostly El Norte" around this or that town for the next few days.

redhilltown - 6-24-2012 at 11:52 PM

As stated the wind is unpredictable but time of year can at least narrow it down a bit as to when you are doing this trip...if now or soon thereabouts one word comes to mind: hot!!! I have done the route in a much smaller boat with a much smaller motor but in some ways that is safer in that we just can pull in anywhere and drag it up on the rocks. From Bufeo to El Faro/Fernadez is probably the most rocky stretch where you can't do much of anything. Some of the canyons just south of Black Mountain are the worst wind tunnels (hot winds west to east) and the early morning advice is the best. Good Corvina grounds from Black Mountain south...chrome Krocs or scampi plastics. Trolling some feathers or Rapalas on the south side of San Luis usually turns up something. "The Baja Catch" is a great resource for the area!

yakyak2010 - 6-25-2012 at 06:26 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by redhilltown
As stated the wind is unpredictable but time of year can at least narrow it down a bit as to when you are doing this trip...if now or soon thereabouts one word comes to mind: hot!!! I have done the route in a much smaller boat with a much smaller motor but in some ways that is safer in that we just can pull in anywhere and drag it up on the rocks. From Bufeo to El Faro/Fernadez is probably the most rocky stretch where you can't do much of anything. Some of the canyons just south of Black Mountain are the worst wind tunnels (hot winds west to east) and the early morning advice is the best. Good Corvina grounds from Black Mountain south...chrome Krocs or scampi plastics. Trolling some feathers or Rapalas on the south side of San Luis usually turns up something. "The Baja Catch" is a great resource for the area!

Thanks just the type of info I was looking for.

woody with a view - 6-25-2012 at 06:37 AM

like everyone else has said, the wind sites will give you an idea of if/when. we were at BOLA a month ago and it said wind on tuesday. well, the wind never came up and my wife wanted to go fishing at 11am. we went south in the truck for the day. by 3pm it was ROARING and didn't stop for 30 hours.

i was glad i had some idea it was coming.

Marc - 6-25-2012 at 07:08 AM

Baja Boaters guide is good. Also Charlie's Charts. Both have good graphics. The wind is your enemy.

Black Mtn

mcfez - 6-25-2012 at 07:29 AM

There is a very small cove on the south side of Black Mountain, access for your craft would be easy......if careful. Wind protected.

I'll have a few more coves south of that for you later tonight when I am at my own PC.