BajaNomad - San Quintin in April

San Quintin in April

mirko - 1-14-2013 at 11:13 PM

I am pretty much commited to a trip to San Quintin for the first week in April. It's the only time I have until late summer and even then, summer is pretty crowded.

I would like recommendations on places to stay, places to eat, things to do, and good fishing operations. Also, what is fishing likely to be during that time of year. We don't mind bottom fishing.

Recommendations on route to take? Which border crossing?

I'm a La Paz freak but a newbie on San Quintin.

Thanks in advance,

Mirko

PS. Regarding border crossing. We are leaving from Orange County CA. We should all have our passport cards by the time of the trip.

[Edited on 1-15-2013 by mirko]

mulegejim - 1-15-2013 at 05:52 AM

I drive from San Clemente several times a year to Mulege crossing at San Ysidro then Mex-1 south. Easy drive to San Quentin from the border. On the return I will let others comment who have passport cards. I have used Tecate to cross heading north but just got a Sentri card so will now come back through either TJ or Otay. Have a great trip. Jim

[Edited on 1-15-2013 by mulegejim]

[Edited on 1-15-2013 by mulegejim]

durrelllrobert - 1-15-2013 at 12:02 PM

You can get your fishing liscence at the New Baja Tourist office building on the right side of highway about 4 miles before you get to San Quintin.

This fish report is from Pete Hillis reporting out of Pedro's Pangas, San Quintin, Baja Mexico for the weekend ending 5/6/2010.

We had eight boats out this weekend. Winds blew up to Friday but died down for the weekend. Still no yellowtail but big bonita, Humboldt squid, and over limits of large rock cod.

Thanks.

Pete Hillis
Pedro's Pangas
San Quintin, Baja Mexico

This is old report but typical for that time of year. I always go out with this guy at $220/day: http://www.pedrospangas.com/

I always stay at Old mill motel since it's right next to launch ramp so you don't have to haul your gear far. This is my TripAdvisor report:
My wife and I just took a quick fishing trip down to San Quintin Baja CA.
We stayed at the Old Mill Hotel which just recently reopened under new ownership. We were very impressed witheverthing about it. The new owner was very cordial and even offered us a beer upon check in. The rrom was completly renovated, immaculate, had very hot water and every switch and plug worked, which is unusual for a lot of places down there. The daily maid service was great as well. Our room was only $42/night and very large (about 15 x 20) and the bathroom, with a 4' x 6' shower was also huge (about 15 x 10). The Old Mill restaurant next door, which is no longer part of the hotel, had great food and drinks at reasonable prices. Other nearby restuarants with good food that we ate at are Jardines Baja and Celito Linda.

Room Tip: Stay in the newly remodeled section (or the new addition for more$)

Ateo - 1-15-2013 at 12:13 PM

That new tourist booth that Durrell mentioned is a gold mine. Stop in and get to know them.

TonyC - 1-15-2013 at 06:27 PM

that time of the year is bottom fish, but you never know. you may get lucky with a wsb, or some homeguard yt. pedros, jaime garcia, juan, and kelly will all get you fish. i'm heading down march for some bottom fishing.

places to stay, Bob Robert covered it. if you want to stay by the beach the santa maria (use to be los pinos) is the place i would stay, but it's about 15 mins to molino viejo (old mill). something to do besides fishing. check the oyster farms, and drive the beach from the santa marie hotel to el socorro. bring some light tackel, and fish the incoming tide from the surf. have fun.

David K - 1-15-2013 at 06:41 PM

The Mision Santa Isabel restaurant on the east side of the highway, just north of San Quintin is very good.

liknbaja127 - 1-15-2013 at 08:35 PM

Jardines! If you can get a room, Very clean, Lot's of hot water, niceplace!
GREAT food next to hotel. for res. hotel-jardinesbaja.com.

redhilltown - 1-16-2013 at 12:26 AM

I have fished with Captain Juan Cook the last few years and really enjoy his company and knowledge and he is just as passionate about bottom fishing (which some "pros" might mock) as he is bringing in 50 lb white sea bass with the best of them. He posts on Bloody Decks and I think it has his contact info...if not I can get you an email.

The Old Mill hotel is great but I think the same owners as before...they just took a break for a while. Nancy and...Bob? Either way just park where you are supposed to or he'll growl at you...then give you a beer. It's nice since it is right next to the boat ramp.

TMW - 1-16-2013 at 10:23 AM

The Old Mill is owned by the guy that owns the tomato farm and packing plant a little further down, Los Pinos, I think it's called. Also owns the Mission Santa Maria hotel and the Mission Catavina hotel. Rodriguez I think is the name. I was also told he is pardnered with the former President Calderon in the Old Mill and maybe the hotels too.

liknbaja127 - 1-16-2013 at 07:52 PM

TW, The old Mill is owed by the Rodriguez's, The resturant part.
Jim, is or was the owener of the hotel. that was in november.
things do change!

BajaGringo - 1-18-2013 at 08:41 AM

Fishing:
Lots of good captains in San Quintin - Juan is probably the best overall among them.

For a place to stay:
I send folks to Jardines as it is hard to find nicer people than Guillermo and Carmen and with such an inviting atmosphere.

Breakfast:
Restaurant Bar Quintin, Mision Santa Isabel, El Viejo San Quintin

Tacos on the fly:
Fish Tacos Marshall

Dinner:
Jardines, El Molino Viejo, Mision Santa Isabel

willardguy - 1-18-2013 at 10:13 AM

I guess you can file this under the "gosh I miss the good ol days" rant, but those of us who remember the old mill long before the al gaston era, this chain link fence around the motel is just wrong! :mad:

David K - 1-18-2013 at 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by willardguy
I guess you can file this under the "gosh I miss the good ol days" rant, but those of us who remember the old mill long before the al gaston era, this chain link fence around the motel is just wrong! :mad:

The Old Mill, when it wasn't so old... back in the flour making days!

[Edited on 1-18-2013 by David K]

Old Mill.jpg - 45kB

DavidE - 1-18-2013 at 01:50 PM

A related question if I may...

How does the hotel Cielito Lindo fare these days?

The rooms?

The restaurant?

The tarifas?

The overall experience?

Gracias!

rts551 - 1-18-2013 at 02:10 PM

Is this your photo? or should there be credit given to someone else?

Quote:

Originally posted by David K

Quote:

The Old Mill, when it wasn't so old... back in the flour making days!

[Edited on 1-18-2013 by David K]

TMW - 1-18-2013 at 02:25 PM

We had dinner at Cielito Lindo Saturday before new years, excellent fish veracruz style. There were maybe 6-8 people in the resturante. Didn't see a lot of vehicles.

mtgoat666 - 1-18-2013 at 02:33 PM

Quote:

that's a really ugly fence! :barf:

David K - 1-18-2013 at 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rts551
Is this your photo? or should there be credit given to someone else?

Quote:

Originally posted by David K

Quote:

The Old Mill, when it wasn't so old... back in the flour making days!

The photo I posted has been posted years ago here on Nomad... The source was named back then... but since you are interested in it and missed the previous time I shared it, here are the details again. (This was just a quick reply to someone else's thread on the subject, had it been a new topic with new to Nomad photos, I would have given all the details, as I typically do):

It is from the 1971 La Siesta Press book 'Towns of Baja California' by David Goldbaum, a reprint of his report made in 1918.

Here is a better view of the Flour Mill at San Quintin Bay, nearly 100 years ago...

rts551 - 1-18-2013 at 02:58 PM

Thanks.. and sorry, I really don't go back and look at your old posts.

Quote:

Originally posted by David K

Quote:

Originally posted by rts551
Is this your photo? or should there be credit given to someone else?

Quote:

Originally posted by David K

Quote:

The Old Mill, when it wasn't so old... back in the flour making days!

David K - 1-18-2013 at 03:05 PM

No worries... any photos I took will be in color, I am not that old! :lol:

willardguy - 1-18-2013 at 07:57 PM

can someone photoshop a silver taco in the foreground? now that would be a davidk pix! :lol:

fishbuck - 1-19-2013 at 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ateo
That new tourist booth that Durrell mentioned is a gold mine. Stop in and get to know them.

Is there a new tourist booth there? Or is it the building that's been there for a while?

David K - 1-19-2013 at 03:51 PM

Wow, Fishbuck is BACK!!!! :bounce:

TonyC - 1-19-2013 at 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fishbuck

Quote:

Originally posted by Ateo
That new tourist booth that Durrell mentioned is a gold mine. Stop in and get to know them.

Is there a new tourist booth there? Or is it the building that's been there for a while?

mike, how are you bro.? it seems to be close most of the time i've drove pass it in the past, but starting to see it open more often. i had issues with a doctor in SQ, and without the help of Tomas who works there....well, let's just say it was getting ugly. thank you senor tomas.

Hook - 1-19-2013 at 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Wow, Fishbuck is BACK!!!! :bounce:

Almost three years between posts. WOW!

First Bruce Leech, then M, jeans and now Fishbuck.

Who's next............DAVE?????????

I miss Dave's irreverent humor. Willardguy is a distant second. :lol:

Skipjack Joe - 1-19-2013 at 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fishbuck

Quote:

Originally posted by Ateo
That new tourist booth that Durrell mentioned is a gold mine. Stop in and get to know them.

Is there a new tourist booth there? Or is it the building that's been there for a while?

Lazarus !

fishbuck - 1-20-2013 at 12:37 PM

Hi everyone!
Thank you to BajaNomad for letting me back on the board.

I have been lurking daily so I have been following all the action very closely.

It's been a busy couple of years for me and I recently relocated to Everett, Wa. for my carreer with the Boeing Company.
So instead of being near the Baja border I am near the Canada border. So no more quick weekend trips to my fishcamp at SanQ and that hurts a little.
I guess I'll need to fly down from Seatac and rent a baja car.
Everett is an interesting place and it's going through a post logging boom and trying to reinvent itself. The last paper mill closed a few months after I got here but I think at one time there were several. Still some log rafts coming down the rivers like the old days.
The Boeing plant here is amazing. It is the largest building by volumn in the world. Four major airplanes are built in it. They include the 747, 767, 777, and the new 787. All in one gigatic building. Mind boggling.

Anyway, glad to here that the San Quintin tourist office is open more regularly and I'll start planning a trip there to buy my fishing license for this year.
For a hotel I recommend Villa San Quintin right off the main highway. Very clean and comfortable with a great restuarant and room service. Fairly quiet and close to most everything.
I love Jardines restuarant and especially the bar. I've stayed at the hotel a few times and it's ok. Beautiful grounds.

So keep living the dream my fellow Nomads and get all the Baja you possibly can. And if you are lucky like me you will have Baja in your heart and nothing can ever take that away.

Cheers

Fishbuck

[Edited on 1-20-2013 by fishbuck]

DENNIS - 1-20-2013 at 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fishbuck
Hi everyone!
Thank you to BajaNomad for letting me back on the board.

Mikey......So good to see you. :yes:

woody with a view - 1-20-2013 at 12:47 PM

glad you're back, Buckles!

mirko - 1-20-2013 at 03:23 PM

My plans have evolved from considering it to going to San Quitin for sure. Leaving 3-30, back in Orange County on 4-3 or 4-4.

I appreciate all the input regarding food, fishing and things to do. I just spoke to a friend who is retired from CA government service and he has an abalone farm only 15 minutes north, so we will be touring that. My understanding is that he does it just to help the local economy.

Any continued input is appreciated. This seems so smooth that I think I'll do it more. My wife and I do La Paz every year, which is much more cosmopolitan. I think I'll do San Quintin as a guys trip for a while.

Thanks again

fishbuck - 1-21-2013 at 09:06 AM

Are you taking about Ron BajaGringo? He has an interest in Abalone farming out on San Martin Island.

mirko - 1-21-2013 at 12:21 PM

No, I'm talking about someone else.