mountain dweller seeks help avoiding epic skunking in the salt

Where you will fish has a lot to do with it.
Generally speaking, salt water fishermen use convetional reels. 30-50 lb test and up. Trolling, jigging, or "flylinning" live bait. "Surface" fishing.
"Flylinning" simply means letting the bait fish swim freely with no or very little weight. Sometimes you cast it a little ways but mostly you just drop him over the side and let him swim. He will find a gamefish for you.
If you are casting from the beach then a spinning reel should work. 15lb test min.
You could cast iron from a spinning reel off a boat but then 30lb test min and that's a bit light.
There is also bottom fishing. A dropper loop for game fish, and a rock fish rig for other bottom dwellers. Heavy conventional reel with lots of line. Usually deep.
Others may chime in with lure selection etc.
If you want the fishing trip of your life go visit Juan and Shari in Bahia Asuncion. Now is best but I caught the last tuna of the year there at Christmas time. I think they were decent size bluefin 25-30lbs. I didn't use a spinning reel.
You might cast a spinning reel from a sandy beach there for halibut.

¡buena suerte!






[Edited on 10-26-2016 by fishbuck]

Quote: Originally posted by BajaBlanca

I second the motion to visit Shari and Juan in Asuncion and then come camp on the beach here in La Bocana too! Make sure you come and introduce yourself to Les and I (Blanca). Fishing happens to be really good this year due to warm water temps.

Quote: Originally posted by fishbuck

Where you will fish has a lot to do with it. Generally speaking, salt water fishermen use convetional reels. 30-50 lb test and up. Trolling, jigging, or "flylinning" live bait. "Surface" fishing. "Flylinning" simply means letting the bait fish swim freely with no or very little weight. Sometimes you cast it a little ways but mostly you just drop him over the side and let him swim. He will find a gamefish for you. If you are casting from the beach then a spinning reel should work. 15lb test min. You could cast iron from a spinning reel off a boat but then 30lb test min and that's a bit light. There is also bottom fishing. A dropper loop for game fish, and a rock fish rig for other bottom dwellers. Heavy conventional reel with lots of line. Usually deep. Others may chime in with lure selection etc. If you want the fishing trip of your life go visit Juan and Shari in Bahia Asuncion. Now is best but I caught the last tuna of the year there at Christmas time. I think they were decent size bluefin 25-30lbs. I didn't use a spinning reel. You might cast a spinning reel from a sandy beach there for halibut. ¡buena suerte! [Edited on 10-26-2016 by fishbuck]

Quote: Originally posted by edevart

I need some advice on a basic but functional. spinning rod and reel to bring to Baja this winter during a short three week overland trip down the peninsula. I'm a lifelong fly fisherman here in Colorado, who could tell you exactly what to fish and when in the Rockies, but who doesn't have much of a clue when it comes to fishing the salt of the Cortes or the Baja pacific, or fishing a spinning rod in general. I'm not asking for trade secrets or gps coordinates here, just any general tips you'd have on gear and techniques for fishing the salt for the occasional dinner fish while camping on the beach along the peninsula in December and January. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Quote: Originally posted by rts551

Quote: Originally posted by fishbuck   Where you will fish has a lot to do with it. Generally speaking, salt water fishermen use convetional reels. 30-50 lb test and up. Trolling, jigging, or "flylinning" live bait. "Surface" fishing. "Flylinning" simply means letting the bait fish swim freely with no or very little weight. Sometimes you cast it a little ways but mostly you just drop him over the side and let him swim. He will find a gamefish for you. If you are casting from the beach then a spinning reel should work. 15lb test min. You could cast iron from a spinning reel off a boat but then 30lb test min and that's a bit light. There is also bottom fishing. A dropper loop for game fish, and a rock fish rig for other bottom dwellers. Heavy conventional reel with lots of line. Usually deep. Others may chime in with lure selection etc. If you want the fishing trip of your life go visit Juan and Shari in Bahia Asuncion. Now is best but I caught the last tuna of the year there at Christmas time. I think they were decent size bluefin 25-30lbs. I didn't use a spinning reel. You might cast a spinning reel from a sandy beach there for halibut. ¡buena suerte! [Edited on 10-26-2016 by fishbuck] Depends Fishbuck. Lots of light tackle fishing with spinning rods from the beach or in the estros. nice corvine, halibut, croaker etc caught that way.

Quote: Originally posted by fishbuck

Quote: Originally posted by rts551   Quote: Originally posted by fishbuck   Where you will fish has a lot to do with it. Generally speaking, salt water fishermen use convetional reels. 30-50 lb test and up. Trolling, jigging, or "flylinning" live bait. "Surface" fishing. "Flylinning" simply means letting the bait fish swim freely with no or very little weight. Sometimes you cast it a little ways but mostly you just drop him over the side and let him swim. He will find a gamefish for you. If you are casting from the beach then a spinning reel should work. 15lb test min. You could cast iron from a spinning reel off a boat but then 30lb test min and that's a bit light. There is also bottom fishing. A dropper loop for game fish, and a rock fish rig for other bottom dwellers. Heavy conventional reel with lots of line. Usually deep. Others may chime in with lure selection etc. If you want the fishing trip of your life go visit Juan and Shari in Bahia Asuncion. Now is best but I caught the last tuna of the year there at Christmas time. I think they were decent size bluefin 25-30lbs. I didn't use a spinning reel. You might cast a spinning reel from a sandy beach there for halibut. ¡buena suerte! [Edited on 10-26-2016 by fishbuck] Depends Fishbuck. Lots of light tackle fishing with spinning rods from the beach or in the estros. nice corvine, halibut, croaker etc caught that way. Mag bay area maybe?

believe me....if you're a proficient fresh water angler, salt water fishing will be a slam dunk!

Quote: Originally posted by Skipjack Joe

Rod: Shakespeare Ugly Stik, 7 feet Reel: Penn or Shimano saltwater spinning reel Line: 12lb test Pline Sandy Beaches: Berkeley seaworms. Tie 8lb tippet to a swivel. Rocky Shoreline: Plastic grubs, Kastmasters, Krocodiles Lagoons: Plastic grubs, Kastmasters You're set! Thanks man! Leave the fly rods back home at first.

Quote: Originally posted by DavidT

Big Waters Edge is a great source of information. There is an ongoing thread on a fly fishing trip to Gonzaga Bay that you might enjoy. Bonus: Fish pron