BajaNomad

San Antonio Del Mar

vacaenbaja - 1-8-2013 at 02:52 PM

Does anyone know if this area is still any good for surf
fishing/ camping. Is the area safe or has it seen better days?
What can you expect to catch, and is there any lodging
available?

EnsenadaDr - 1-8-2013 at 02:59 PM

I lived there at one point. The houses are an older development, there is a sewage plant nearby. I think you have a pretty good view of the Coronado Islands, but it certainly isn't known for fishing or camping. My son still recommends Baja Malibu for surfing. Fishing would be better down near Ensenada, as well as camping. Punta Banda would be a good area for all three, with San Miguel in North Ensenada good for surfing. In my opinion, the waters are too polluted near Las Playas or San Antonio for fishing.

rts551 - 1-8-2013 at 03:46 PM

I believe he his talking about the San Antonio Del Mar down by Colonet. Surf/camp/and fish at least we did in the late 50's and early 60's. JAJA

vacaenbaja - 1-8-2013 at 04:00 PM

You are correct. I forgot about to mention the geographical location. You have to be careful of that in Baja, especially if the name is of a saint. A lot of old timers I have talked to said that that place was great back in the time frame you mentioned. However more than one had told me that they
never returned after having a bad experience. They said they did not feel safe. Any recent visitors know if it is worth
spending some time there?

[Edited on 1-8-2013 by vacaenbaja]

Ateo - 1-8-2013 at 08:09 PM

I camped there about 4 years ago. 4 days total. I remember a local Mexican showing us where the best camp spots were along a small cliff. We didn't know where the heck we were headed and he volunteered some local knowledge. Our reptilian brain saw this as a set up for him to rob us later that night. it never happened.

That was the only interaction we had with anyone other than ourselves. My feeling was that it is was close to town, and riff raff. But, we had a great time and had no problems.

There is surf but nothing to write home about. U2U me if you want more.

TMW - 1-11-2013 at 11:58 AM

I camped there the first of June, no problems. As you go in there are a couple of roads to the left just before going down to the right. Not sure if the last one or next to last. Anyway it will take you to the south end of the dunes. You'll pass a fenced area with buildings. As you get near the way you can drive up the hill and there is an out house and that area is good for camping. I don't know who owns or controls the area or if they charge for camping, I've never been asked to pay and I stay there every once in a while. Years ago there was a retired navy man who was the cook at the Palamar resturant in Santo Tomas. He told me if you wade out on either side of the water holes (the dark areas near the beach) almost chest deep and cast out as far as you can then slowly reel it in there is a good chance of getting halibut. I've tried it several times over the years and never caught a halibut there. Lots of surf perch from the beach.

At the north end of the dunes there was a Chinese Mexican named Tony and he would bring lobster around sometimes in a bucket to sell. Tony passed away several years ago and I don't know if any of his family still live there or not.

[Edited on 1-11-2013 by TW]

BAJABAILADOR - 1-11-2013 at 02:29 PM

Vacaenbaja I have had a place there since 93,I personaly have never had any problems.Surf fishing is great,motoroil grubs on carolina set up for perch,Krocs for halibut.
Tony's camp has fallen into total disrepair.Tony's camp was a great place with great people for years.Everyone there just left over time due to age,health or whatever.
Camp where TW said and don't worry about anything.Lotsa clamers always out at low tide,big pismos for $4 dz.

willardguy - 1-11-2013 at 02:39 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BAJABAILADOR
Vacaenbaja I have had a place there since 93,I personaly have never had any problems.Surf fishing is great,motoroil grubs on carolina set up for perch,Krocs for halibut.
Tony's camp has fallen into total disrepair.Tony's camp was a great place with great people for years.Everyone there just left over time due to age,health or whatever.
Camp where TW said and don't worry about anything.Lotsa clamers always out at low tide,big pismos for $4 dz.
yeah tony's camp looks a little distressed. whats the story with the homes being buried under the sand, no stopping it?
so where is your place, up on the bluff to the north?

TMW - 1-11-2013 at 04:28 PM

If you have any clothing or toys etc to donate the people at the church where you turn off the hwy will take them. I'm assuming of course the church is still in operation, it's been a couple of years since I've dropped by.

David K - 1-11-2013 at 07:58 PM

San Antonio del Mar (the one west of Colonet) was my dad's second fishing beach to go to in the '60's (the first being the lagoon north of Agua de Chale [Nuevo Mazatlan], now called 'Bahia Santa Maria')...

We would pass the Johnson Ranch (the first 'San Antonio del Mar') and near the dunes, take the road to the left that went south a mile or so around a really big dune to a camping area just above the beach. I liked sliding down that big dune!

I returned in 1980 or '81 with my girlfriend and an ATC 110... Riding down the beach towards Cabo/Punta Colonet (Colnett) I spotted a bottle with an orange paper inside closed by a rubber cork. It was a National Geographic Explorer ocean current questionnaire inside (in several languages). A few years later, a newspaper story told about it. It and many more were dropped off a charter boat near Los Angeles, by students. The bottles have been picked up all around the Pacific including China and Alaska making the circle complet, I recall.

vacaenbaja - 1-12-2013 at 01:26 PM

Thanks for all of the posts. I will give it a try if just to fish and
checkout what is left of the old Johnson place. Didn't someone a while back put up a post about visiting the Johnson place?

BAJABAILADOR - 1-12-2013 at 07:11 PM

Johnson Ranch is still working

David K - 1-12-2013 at 07:40 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by vacaenbaja
Thanks for all of the posts. I will give it a try if just to fish and
checkout what is left of the old Johnson place. Didn't someone a while back put up a post about visiting the Johnson place?


I bumped a couple up, I think it is the posts from mooboys you are thinking of? HERE: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=44858

BajaGringo - 1-12-2013 at 08:44 PM

I heard they had a few problems 5-6 years ago mas o menos but absolutely nothing recently....

BajaWarrior - 1-13-2013 at 07:38 AM

The Beach in front of Tony's camp was a favorite of mine for years many moons ago.

I'll throw some names out there to see if anyone remembers these people.

Reenee and Al who lived there full time and operated a small fish fry restaraunt only open for two years or so. They had a grown son Bert and he and Al fished the kelp beds just between Tony's Camp and Punta Colonet.

Then there was the couple who lived there part time. She was confined to a wheelchair after becoming paralyzed after an ATV accident on the dunes there at San Antonio del Mar.

Then Amador, he had the house just South of Tony's camp at the Beach access and would charge rent for Beach camping. Amador was always stinking drunk, always. He also owned a home along the highway just North of the San Antonio del Mar turnoff.

Then "Skeeter" and his wife Gloria and their friends. They owned property just North of Tony's camp along the bluff. They were each going to build homes there and rent out lots for homes. I actually thought of building there as the yearly lease was very low, they were just looking for someone to occupy the land with them. I learned later Skeeter passed away and things never really got off the ground except for one house low on the property.

The community on the hill just South of Tony's camp which I think would be Campo San Antonio del Mar was a Brick Fireplace Mason from San Diego. He had an "A" frame type house with a loft. The house had an awning on it like from the front of a restaraunt or hotel. He never really finished his project, each time I would do a drive by it always looked unoccupied and incomplete.

Occasionaly we would shoot out to town and have tacos or eat at Maguis restaraunt. She would make "Clams Ranchero" a type of soup which was very tasty.

[Edited on 1-13-2013 by BajaWarrior]