BajaNomad

BOLA

GATO - 1-16-2018 at 11:30 AM

Trying to plan a fishing trip to BOLA this year. Hear summer time is the best fishing time (Yellowtail, Dorado, etc) but can be hot and humid. Can anybody get me some feedback? Never been so sorry if the questions seem a bit silly.

Are there hotels there that have A/C? (I don't need anything fancy)
Hotel prices for a room that sleeps 3 or 4?
Do I need to reserve hotels rooms or can I just show up?
Do I need to reserve fishing boats in advance or just show up?
What does a panga/super panga/cruiser cost per day?
Does BOLA has reliable gas and electricity?

If people could give me your advice and suggestions that would be great! I've driven down many of times just never been to BOLA so the driving part I've got covered.

C205Driver - 1-16-2018 at 11:41 AM

bahiadelosangeles.info

JZ - 1-16-2018 at 12:11 PM

You can just show up for hotel and boats.

Costa del Sol is the best hotel. Great food. Rooms are about $65. AC in the summer. Two queen beds per room.

Secure parking for bikes, etc., in a court yard and you can put them right near your room. You always meet interesting people there.

GATO - 1-16-2018 at 12:17 PM

Thanks JZ for the feedback. That's what I was looking for, people's personal experience.

Any idea what a panga/super panga/cruiser goes for? Or are they negotiable?

woody with a view - 1-16-2018 at 12:22 PM

$350 for a reliable capt. all the way to $200 for a driver.

David K - 1-16-2018 at 12:27 PM

Some answers from my experience:
1) Summer is a great fishing season. Yellowtail (jurel) is king.
2) You can try to reserve, but showing up is not dangerous in summer. There are so many lodging options (if you are not really fussy). Costa del Sol is a top rated motel but the Los Vientos hotel has had new, positive feedback. Look at the info web page provided. Las Hamacas, Villa Bahia, Daggett's, and the original place from the 1950s, Casa Diaz are all possible and there are more... like Guillermo's...

The fishing guide questions I will pass to a Nomad who uses them. I am an off roader and history buff when in Baja.

Yes, gas is reliable (unless they run out, lol... but that is now rare with two Pemex stations there).

Power is now 24/7 in town and a few miles towards La Gringa.

If you want photos of places to stay there, I took several last year... See my Trip #1 report here on Nomad.

[Edited on 1-16-2018 by David K]

JZ - 1-16-2018 at 12:46 PM

Quote: Originally posted by woody with a view  
$350 for a reliable capt. all the way to $200 for a driver.


Don't think it is near that much.

$200 will get you by.

motoged - 1-16-2018 at 01:11 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Doesn't the abbreviation "L.A. BAY" sound better than "BOLA" for the beautiful Bay of Angels, Bahía de los Angeles? ....


NO !!!!:O:O:O

David, please do not anglicize the Mexican name...I am surprised you are inclined to suggest that change....call it what it is....not some gringo shorthand.....:light:

C205Driver - 1-16-2018 at 01:55 PM

Have stayed at Villa Vita a few times, good English, bar, pool, restaurant, A/C, walk to stores & restaurants, secure storage & low cost fishing/ whaleshark swimming trip... Very satisfied with entire package, YMMV......

bkbend - 1-16-2018 at 03:51 PM

Some hotels can full in the summer, it's too hot to camp. Most have AC, check the website listed above, and most will charge a little more than other small towns in Baja. Both stations have gasoline but have, in the past, run out at the same time. Only one carries diesel and they don't seem to order until they're dry so there are more occurrences of it not being available. Fill when you get to town, not when you want to leave. The best (and highest priced) captains will be booked ahead most of the summer. You will probably find only super pangas and the hotel you stay at can help with finding a boat.

basautter - 1-16-2018 at 07:06 PM

I have always stayed at Guillermo's. Huge rooms and a great location. Plus they have a restaurant and will arrange fishing trips. I have also stayed at Daggits on the other end of town. Not as nice, and no restaurant. They are cheaper and will also arrange fishing. Have fun!

Tioloco - 1-16-2018 at 07:22 PM

Depends on what you prefer, but my 1st choice is Guillermos. Hard to beat being on the beach and they have a really good restaurant/beach bar. Plus, you can launch your boat there or just have your panguero pick you up/drop you off at your hotel. Villa Bahia is quirky, but has a great beach and you can use their kitchen to cook. Larry & Raquels is a cool place if you like rustic.

David K - 1-16-2018 at 07:31 PM

Is Larry and Raquel's in business without Larry and Raquel? There was no signage anymore along the La Gringa highway.

bkbend - 1-16-2018 at 08:30 PM

It's open. Ruth, who ran it for Larry, is still there running it for his heirs and makes a mean margarita. Rooms and a restaurant open for dinner. She's been working on stabilizing the second floor and the restaurant and deck no longer bounce. She hopes to keep working on it so the second floor rooms can once again be rented out.

motoged - 1-17-2018 at 12:05 AM

Use your imagination...;)

Alm - 1-19-2018 at 01:44 PM

Daggetz has A/C, must be cheaper than Costa. Nothing fancy or even what would qualify as "nice" but reasonably priced. As all Ruben's projects. Strictly a cash-flow machine. On the beach, but windows are facing sideways/south - not to the beach. View of campers/tents/RV parking, and there is a good chance that some of them will be running generators - no electricity for those. He has pangas for fishing tours as well.

Anybody with a boat and working motor is a "fishing guide", in this village with no jobs. You won't have problems finding somebody. Prices vary wildly.

[Edited on 1-19-2018 by Alm]

BigBearRider - 1-20-2018 at 09:54 AM

Quote: Originally posted by motoged  
Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Doesn't the abbreviation "L.A. BAY" sound better than "BOLA" for the beautiful Bay of Angels, Bahía de los Angeles? ....


NO !!!!:O:O:O

David, please do not anglicize the Mexican name...I am surprised you are inclined to suggest that change....call it what it is....not some gringo shorthand.....:light:


Isn't "BOLA" already anglicized? "BdLA" may be the Mexican abbreviation for Bahia de Los Angeles.

motoged - 1-20-2018 at 10:46 AM

I just call the place by its name....Bahia de Los Angeles ...:light:

willardguy - 1-20-2018 at 10:59 AM

Quote: Originally posted by motoged  
I just call the place by its name....Bahia de Los Angeles ...:light:


right....a hundred miles south of "bahia san luis gonzaga":rolleyes:

del mar - 1-20-2018 at 11:12 AM

LAbay or Gbay works fine by me!;)

bajabuddha - 1-20-2018 at 11:19 AM

BOLA or "Bay of Los Angeles" is the correct translation from Spanish to English. LA Bay is on the Pacific side and about 500 or so miles north of there. :smug:

woody with a view - 1-21-2018 at 08:08 AM

BdeLA

Alan - 1-21-2018 at 09:22 AM

I used drag my boat to fish Bola every Memorial Day weekend before I retired. I would camp out at Daggetts and launch each morning at Guillermos. The fishing was always "okay" but invariably it seemed I was always about 2 weeks early every year when the YT would just go stupid, wide open.

I would recommend planning a trip for mid-June, book a room at Guillermos and reserve his son Igor Galvin as your panguero. He has a super-panga and is IMO the best guide in Bola and speaks English like he grew up in SoCal.

I did this very trip about 3 years ago. Igor asked if we wanted quantity or quality. We opted for quality and headed south, flying right over shoals of smaller YT. Set up on a stone down toward Refugio and pulled limits of Big YT and WSB.