BajaNomad

Islas Encantadas

barcodemarco - 4-29-2017 at 09:19 AM

Hello,

Anyone had the chance to fish these Islands north of the Midriff? I usually go fish BOLA but wanted to try something different this fall. Was looking to camp nearby to launch a car-topped boat. Any reports/suggestions on fishing and or camping locations.

Thanks in advance

David K - 4-29-2017 at 09:31 AM

El Huerfanito is a place to camp right by the northernmost of the Enchanted Islands. La Poma (good restaurant) and Campo PuntaBufeo (motel) are other beach camp options north of Gonzaga. See my trip report for Jan. and Mar. for more data and photos.

Km. 133.5 is the road to La Poma, restaurant, camping palapas, lots for lease. Camping is $10 US and the owner will add the tarp to the frame when you arrive. Good idea to preserve the life of the tarps.












My lunch was great... halibut! With beer + tip, 300 pesos

I was at La Poma from 11:30-12:37 Sunday. The only customer.
The owner is the brother of the owner of Punta Bufeo, which has a small motel and landing strip for pilots... 2 kilometers south. They are related to Papa Fernandez, as well.

PUERTECITOS TO GONZAGA BAY:


The water temperature changes with the amount of sea water mixing with the hot sulfur water. Low tide= too hot, high tide= too cold!


The launching ramp, just past the hot springs on the point, is the other attraction at Puertecitos. There are palapas but no rooms any longer. The gas station was open.








Isla El Huerfanito, the Little Orphan Island... set off away from the other Enchanted Islands.


Not much for camping offered.




Was actually not bad, I was shown the inside too. $30/night.




Km. 143




I had dinner here... cabrilla... was great and only US $7 or 98 pesos (=$5).


Thursday afternoon.

[Edited on 4-30-2017 by David K]

willardguy - 4-29-2017 at 09:35 AM

stick with BOLA!

barcodemarco - 5-6-2017 at 08:11 AM

Thank you David for the information and pictures. That looks like a great beach to camp and launch my boat.

barcodemarco - 5-6-2017 at 08:12 AM

Anb I'll be sure to leave a couple fish for you Williardguy!

willardguy - 5-6-2017 at 10:25 AM

Quote: Originally posted by barcodemarco  
Anb I'll be sure to leave a couple fish for you Williardguy!


hey marco, you might have noticed a lack of glowing fish reports from this area, I get that you want to try a new area....but these islands have seen a ton of pressure for decades, not that LAbay hasn't but from a fish catching standpoint, I'd stick with BOLA, thats all! good luck!:yes:

barcodemarco - 5-12-2017 at 10:44 AM

Sorry, based on your handle I assumed you were just being sarcastic. Do you live down there? I did think that the lack of reports was unusual but figured it was maybe lack of access or just out of favor for whatever reason.

Gene and Neil give it a glowing report in "Baja Catch" but maybe they have been heavily fished since? By the way, I wouldn't fault you for protecting a good fishin hole!

David K - 5-12-2017 at 02:42 PM

Gene and Neil fished a loooong time ago. One of Gene's last projects along with his great history book (The Unforgettable Sea of Cortez) was MexFish.com web site. There, he posted fishing reports and fish ID photos.

norte - 5-12-2017 at 02:58 PM

does the A/C work at night?

dizzyspots - 5-12-2017 at 03:44 PM

The Huerfanito beach is ALL marble, rocks and even bigger rocks...almost got a 4wd Tundra stuck...just on the approach to the " naked palapa?"...launch ramp has a huge bump in the middle...we pulled out...he graciously refunded our $$ and simultaneously asked "going to Gonzaga?"

JZ - 5-12-2017 at 04:16 PM

Keep going to Gonzaga.

BigBearRider - 5-12-2017 at 04:32 PM

The area around Puertecitos and El Huerfanito has always looked very barren to me. I understand some people like it, but it hasn't attracted me. At least not yet. Maybe I'm missing something.

barcodemarco - 5-13-2017 at 09:39 AM

Thanks All. Sounds like I should rethink this.

DavidT - 5-13-2017 at 10:22 AM

Check your U2U.

JZ - 5-14-2017 at 01:27 PM

Quote: Originally posted by BigBearRider  
The area around Puertecitos and El Huerfanito has always looked very barren to me. I understand some people like it, but it hasn't attracted me. At least not yet. Maybe I'm missing something.


You aren't.

cbuzzetti - 5-14-2017 at 08:47 PM

Fall is the time to be there. (Gonzaga) I have had mixed results fishing there. I have caught small yellowtail, large Sierras, bonito, cabrilla, barracuda, spotted bay bass and other smaller fish.
It is a great spot for a small boat. Launch at the south end of the bay. It will start you closer to the action.
There are some great coves you can get back into with almost any boat.
I have also snorkeled with whale sharks in the fall here.
I did fish the islands north of Gonzaga (Encantadas) with poor results.
We trolled the rapalas as described in the Baja Catch book.
Go have fun!

bajaric - 5-15-2017 at 06:40 AM

I'm familiar with that general area, as far as camping it is buggy and often windy. There is an night time offshore wind specific to Huerfanito / Cinco Islas that sometimes arrives around midnight, rising from flat calm to howling gusts blowing straight out to sea, you have to experience it to believe it, as I have twice out of the eight times I stayed there. This is due to several large arroyos that terminate in this area. Long pants and socks will help with the nasty no see ums but you will usually return scratching at a few insect bites no matter what precautions you take. enjoy!

[Edited on 5-15-2017 by bajaric]

redhilltown - 5-18-2017 at 05:38 PM

Like Bajaric, I have chased my canopy out to sea when those winds have picked up in the middle of the night...slept in my truck and I would SWEAR five huge guys were shaking it and pushing on it. But for a small boat and just to bop around it is a great area. Just watch the winds (which is tough because it is the offshore winds you don't have much time to react to...onshore you'll see the rippling on the horizon.) A few chunks of squid and you'll always be able to get a delicious Trigger dinner...tough to beat for ceviche.

hombre66 - 5-18-2017 at 06:46 PM

Wish I'd known about La Poma last winter. I had UtoU'd DK about the area and was informed that Huerfanito was the only $10 deal in the vicinity. La Poma looks way nicer for $10 camping. Fishing , of course only rendered dinky bay bass and triggers. Pressure is maximum. Saw so many boats out there.

David K - 5-18-2017 at 07:11 PM

Quote: Originally posted by hombre66  
Wish I'd known about La Poma last winter. I had UtoU'd DK about the area and was informed that Huerfanito was the only $10 deal in the vicinity. La Poma looks way nicer for $10 camping. Fishing , of course only rendered dinky bay bass and triggers. Pressure is maximum. Saw so many boats out there.


The La Poma sign was added or replaced before my March trip. Did not see it on the New Years trip. No sign, no drive in.

NoBu22 - 5-24-2017 at 11:10 PM

I should take note of this place too. thanks for the insight.

David K - 5-25-2017 at 08:05 AM

The owner of La Poma (a relative of Papa Fernandez, and related to the Punta Bufeo owner) wants to build homes and lease lots... the camping thing may only be temporary until he achieves that goal. He has heavy equipment there now grading for the first home which he is building as a spec home to encourage future sales.

SDROB - 5-25-2017 at 02:18 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
The owner of La Poma (a relative of Papa Fernandez, and related to the Punta Bufeo owner) wants to build homes and lease lots... the camping thing may only be temporary until he achieves that goal. He has heavy equipment there now grading for the first home which he is building as a spec home to encourage future sales.


That's correct. The owner is the grandson of Papa Fernandez his name is Luis and his brother Miguel, is the owner of Punta Bufeo.

The spec house is for my friend Bob. Ive been fishing this area for some time now and the fishing there can be hit or miss. Unfortunately for me it's often miss. This place has seen too much pressure from the net fisherman that are there and it only has gotten worse with commercial fishing being closed down in San Felipe.
It is very sad to see the sea life getting wiped out due to irresponsible management of these natural resources. Sad indeed!

David K - 5-25-2017 at 02:33 PM

Quote: Originally posted by SDROB  
Quote: Originally posted by David K  
The owner of La Poma (a relative of Papa Fernandez, and related to the Punta Bufeo owner) wants to build homes and lease lots... the camping thing may only be temporary until he achieves that goal. He has heavy equipment there now grading for the first home which he is building as a spec home to encourage future sales.


That's correct. The owner is the grandson of Papa Fernandez his name is Luis and his brother Miguel, is the owner of Punta Bufeo.

The spec house is for my friend Bob. Ive been fishing this area for some time now and the fishing there can be hit or miss. Unfortunately for me it's often miss. This place has seen too much pressure from the net fisherman that are there and it only has gotten worse with commercial fishing being closed down in San Felipe.
It is very sad to see the sea life getting wiped out due to irresponsible management of these natural resources. Sad indeed!


Wow, small world... and welcome to Nomad! Thanks for confirming what I posted. Fishing is so '80s' now... the future for tourism is more vacation homes, backcountry exploring, and off-roading or other (non-fishing) water sports, I think.

freediverbrian - 5-25-2017 at 03:43 PM

I was told by Luis at La Poma that all the land from Papa's north to Cinco Islas is owned by a descendant of Papa.

[Edited on 5-25-2017 by freediverbrian]

willardguy - 5-25-2017 at 03:55 PM

Quote: Originally posted by freediverbrian  
I was told by Luis at La Poma that all the land from Papa's north to Cinco Islas is owned by a descendant of Papa.

[Edited on 5-25-2017 by freediverbrian]


that would be Papa's daughter "La Chuca" I believe. (Francisca)

fishbuck - 5-26-2017 at 01:15 AM

That place looks very nice. And a runway too. Those islands look like good dive spots.
Now if they still had fish...

SDROB - 5-31-2017 at 10:53 AM

Quote: Originally posted by freediverbrian  
I was told by Luis at La Poma that all the land from Papa's north to Cinco Islas is owned by a descendant of Papa.

[Edited on 5-25-2017 by freediverbrian]



Yup that's right. All family owned.