BajaNomad - LA Bay in May?

LA Bay in May?

tyguypb - 5-6-2014 at 12:54 PM

Has anyone fished Bahia de Los Angeles in Mayo?

I have heard some mixed reviews and i am sure it depends on the year and of course the given day you happen to be out there... But does anyone have any general fishing knowledge of the Area in the Month of May?

Thinking about heading down there in a few weeks and looking to log a little Baja time before heading up to Washington for the summer.

Also, Does anyone have any reliable contact information for Pedro Torres of Congrejos? I have been failing at getting a hold of the man...

Thanks for any and all information!!

-Tyler

24baja - 5-6-2014 at 12:59 PM

Bahia in may can be fabulous yellowtail fishing just depends o the year as you said. Right now the sqiud are hitting the beach so that is a plus.

Pacifico - 5-6-2014 at 01:08 PM

Yellowklr had this contact info for Cangrejos in another thread: 200 124 9254

May can be great fishing in BOLA; it is when the yellowtail really start to show up!

Good luck!

55steve - 5-6-2014 at 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by soulpatch
I've been in May when they just start showing up and it can be great.

The home guard jurel are always there but those aren't the ones boiling on the surface.

I have never had an issue, regardless of month, catching enough fish to eat or put on the smoker for a few days, though, unless the wind is howling.

The nearer to the end of May you get the better it will be.

This has been my experience as well.

I'm currently getting all my gear ready to head down real soon - not sure when but at least I'll have no excuses when it's time!

Bob53 - 5-6-2014 at 01:56 PM

There have been very few trips that I haven't caught yellowtail in May over the last 35 years. But there are several other species that are there if the yellows haven't shown up yet. Weather should be very nice too. I'll be down there at the end of May.

woody with a view - 5-6-2014 at 02:25 PM

we'll be there 2nd week of june. we went last mid may and caught some small YT at coronadito. others killed it.

OCEANUS - 5-6-2014 at 02:52 PM

Memorial weekend two years ago was all time. 30-40# class yellows boiling out in front of the house. Last year, we got completely skunked for the same weekend - and we fished hard from Punta Remedios to Bahia San Rafael.

Just last month, we trolled and caught several 20# yellows outside of Animas. Based on that experience (which has not happened in a while) this could be another good year.

El Camote - 5-6-2014 at 03:00 PM

What's the chances of whale sharks in the bay mid June? Too soon?

Hook - 5-6-2014 at 03:03 PM

The first two weeks in June are more reliable, IME. Less chance of strong winds, too. But I've only fished there about five times in that general time period, so others are more knowledgeable than me.

BTW, how many contestants is Guillermo getting in his Mem Tourney these days? Or is it still going?

I would also add that by the 3rd week in June, it's getting too hot at night for anything but an air conditioned motel room. That's a bummer, given how nice it is to camp out on the beach, outside of town. I remember being in BOLA twice from late June to the 4th of July where some nights it never got below 95 F with a strong wind off the desert.

[Edited on 5-6-2014 by Hook]

Alan - 5-6-2014 at 05:04 PM

I agree with Hook that USUALLY the first two weeks in June are more reliable as I used to run down every memorial weekend and it always seemed that the YT always went stupid right after I left though I always picked up a few. This year could be different. At least it was here in La Paz. This year most of the YT moved north by the end of Feb.

55steve - 5-6-2014 at 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by El Camote
What's the chances of whale sharks in the bay mid June? Too soon?

Before I retired, we used to go down the 3rd week of June and have seen whale sharks upon arrival one time a couple years ago. It pretty much depends on several factors with bait/water temp being the most critical.

vacaenbaja - 5-6-2014 at 05:22 PM

I always go down there on Memeorial weekend, but not for the fish. As others have said a couple of weeks into June is much better for fishing. The weather however during
Memorial day is just great for lying about in a beach front hamock cold drink in hand watching all the birds do the fishing. BBq for dinner, afterwards a bonfire with Azteca de oro brandy,
Pyrat rum, a good cigar and Los Panchos playing in the backgound on a star filled night.
Of course we bring our fishing gear on the pretence of
going fishing. Heck We even look up Rafa to fish with for at least one day. But more to spend some time out on the water
joking with Rafa and perhaps catching a fish or two. Rafa always manages to get us at least one big one no matter how slow it may be.

woody with a view - 5-6-2014 at 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vacaenbaja
I always go down there on Memeorial weekend, but not for the fish. As others have said a couple of weeks into June is much better for fishing. The weather however during
Memorial day is just great for lying about in a beach front hamock cold drink in hand watching all the birds do the fishing. BBq for dinner, afterwards a bonfire with Azteca de oro brandy,
Pyrat rum, a good cigar and Los Panchos playing in the backgound on a star filled night.
Of course we bring our fishing gear on the pretence of
going fishing. Heck We even look up Rafa to fish with for at least one day. But more to spend some time out on the water
joking with Rafa and perhaps catching a fish or two. Rafa always manages to get us at least one big one no matter how slow it may be.

sounds like paradise.....

Tbone - 5-7-2014 at 06:08 AM

We saw several whale sharks end of may last year.

Hook - 5-7-2014 at 08:16 AM

Looks like water temps around BOLA are in the 62-64 range. But it appears the water is very dirty; very high chloro counts. There does appear to be some that might be 66-67 below Alacran or even down by Animas. A little bit cleaner down there, too.

But things can change fast in high tidal areas like BOLA............good and bad.

Are you towing a boat down? If so, I trust you have read about the infamous winds. Possibly the most dangerous winds in the whole Sea, when it gets going. Get informed about it and know where to go if it comes up while you are out. Dont fight them; hunker down. I would always bring extra food and water if I was going out to La Guardia, or even north to Remedios in case I had to ride out a blow for a day or so.

Also some dangerous wash rocks around that need to be researched. Then, there's the tidal range if you are anchoring out at night.

I guess what I'm saying is that BOLA is not a place for the uninformed boater.

Bob53, check your u2u, please.

Martyman - 5-7-2014 at 09:25 AM

I'll be heading down to bola in 2 daze. I was going to go from Ensenada on May 11 but that is the day of the NORRA race doing the same stretch. I will hunker down and go a day after.
When people say that the "squid are hitting the beach" what does that mean? Halibut should be getting going also.
I'm taking my wife for the first time. I hope all my girlfriends will have left the pad from the last time I was down :lol:

What tequila should I bring this time???

24baja - 5-7-2014 at 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Martyman
I'll be heading down to bola in 2 daze. I was going to go from Ensenada on May 11 but that is the day of the NORRA race doing the same stretch. I will hunker down and go a day after.
When people say that the "squid are hitting the beach" what does that mean? Halibut should be getting going also.
I'm taking my wife for the first time. I hope all my girlfriends will have left the pad from the last time I was down :lol:

What tequila should I bring this time???

Martyman what I mean about the squid is that the are chasing the bait up and beach themselves and to us that means good fishing good bait and good eating. We tend to have really good yt fishing when the squid are plentiful. . Connie

Alan - 5-7-2014 at 12:22 PM

Bring tequila to Mexico? I have never heard of such a thing! Once I am south of the border my choice is always Julio

Martyman - 5-7-2014 at 01:21 PM

You're right Alan. I was unclear. I always get tequila in Mexico. I "bring it down" from Ensenada to my place in Bahia.
Connie-we'll see you down there. Oso...right?

elgatoloco - 5-7-2014 at 01:59 PM

Does the wind blow in Bahia?

Third week of March we were headed home from whales and stopped to spend the night in Bahia de Los Angeles. We had been there numerous times over the years and had experienced the north winds and the south winds and the east winds. None of that this trip. The WEST winds on the other hand...........WOW. That was the strongest wind I have ever experienced in Baja, including the time our tent was blown off the beach at Requeson back in the 90's. I was reminded of when Doc Abraham told us the west wind was the killer wind.

24baja - 5-7-2014 at 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Martyman
You're right Alan. I was unclear. I always get tequila in Mexico. I "bring it down" from Ensenada to my place in Bahia.
Connie-we'll see you down there. Oso...right?

Thats right oso and birdie see you on the water and maybe at bobs for a beer or twelve! :yes:

woody with a view - 5-7-2014 at 04:23 PM

we can't wait to put some faces to the names....

willardguy - 5-7-2014 at 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by elgatoloco
Does the wind blow in Bahia?

Third week of March we were headed home from whales and stopped to spend the night in Bahia de Los Angeles. We had been there numerous times over the years and had experienced the north winds and the south winds and the east winds. None of that this trip. The WEST winds on the other hand...........WOW. That was the strongest wind I have ever experienced in Baja, including the time our tent was blown off the beach at Requeson back in the 90's. I was reminded of when Doc Abraham told us the west wind was the killer wind.

those are the infamous "elephant winds". if you see a cloud formation over the mountains to the west that resemble an elephants trunk, GET YOUR FEET ON DRY LAND IMMEDIATELY!

redhilltown - 5-7-2014 at 11:22 PM

Quote:

We were camped north of Bahia de Los Angeles the second weekend of April and it was just as bad..brutal..50 mph winds from the west...easy...another shredded canopy and eating some gritty sand laced Leopard Grouper that we were able to catch when the winds died down from one direction before howling from another. Miserable miserable conditions.

And...I am ready to go back NOW!!!!!!! :tumble:

Hook - 5-8-2014 at 06:33 AM

And if it was that bad on land, imagine being out in a boat during that.

I swear I've seen six foot waves with an interval of about three seconds, at times.

redhilltown - 5-8-2014 at 11:45 PM

I have been on some late afternoon swells Hook but nothing like what you mention. That is the Cortez...one day absolutely as calm as a lake and the next...so dangerous as to defy description. Even when calm you keep an eye on the horizon but those off shore winds... yikes.

elgatoloco - 5-9-2014 at 12:11 AM

Micro climates in Baja fascinate me. We were in Bahia for less then 24 hours this trip and when we left Hwy 1 we stopped to stretch our legs and pee in a pothole

. The weather was calm, sunny and warm. We had a group of newbies so we stopped at the lookout coming in to town and it was comical because you could hardly stand up after getting out of the car to take a photo it was blowing so hard. We went into town checked into hotel and then we took a drive south of town with wind blowing dust and sandblasting vehicles. By the time we got down to Gecko there was very little wind at all. Looking back up into town the sea was still white caps and on our return to town it seemed it was blowing even harder then before. On the trip we spent time in San Quintin, Gurerro Negro, San Ignacio, San Ignacio lagoon, Catavina, and Rosarito area over one week. We experienced the gamut weather wise. Never a dull moment in Baja. :cool:

Hook - 5-9-2014 at 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by redhilltown
I have been on some late afternoon swells Hook but nothing like what you mention. That is the Cortez...one day absolutely as calm as a lake and the next...so dangerous as to defy description. Even when calm you keep an eye on the horizon but those off shore winds... yikes.

This was in the slot between the entrance to Don Juan and Isla Cabeza de Caballo. I stuck my nose out of Don Juan to see how bad it was, after taking shelter in there in a Mako 220 I used to own.

durrelllrobert - 5-9-2014 at 08:33 AM

Those west winds even cause the 107 foot Tony Reyes to take shelter till they blow over.

redhilltown - 5-9-2014 at 11:31 PM

Seriously, is there anything worse than chasing your canopy and half your camp down onto the slippery rocks at 3 a.m.?????

chuckie - 5-10-2014 at 04:52 AM

Yes...doing it in a Colorado blue norther, with a foot of snow on the ground..

redhilltown - 5-10-2014 at 10:31 PM

You win!

Hook - 5-11-2014 at 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by redhilltown
You win!

LOL! Anyone camping in a tent ON a foot of snow wins the Darwin Award in my book.

I was once backpacking in the Sierra Nevadas in late May when a foot of snow unexpectedly fell (~11,000 feet, with thunderstorms) but our tents were the only spots that were on soil. We high-tailed it; worried that we might have difficulty finding the trail if more fell.

Snow camping is not on my bucket list............