edevart
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mountain dweller seeks help avoiding epic skunking in the salt
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.
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fishbuck
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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]
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck
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BajaBlanca
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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.
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fishbuck
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December or January I recommend going as far south as you can. Try this site if you haven't already.
http://www.bdoutdoors.com/forums/forum/baja-mexico-fishing-r...
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck
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fishbuck
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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. |
I like your webpage Blanca!
I really need to visit your area. Was there once many moons ago.
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck
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rts551
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| 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.
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Martyman
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Dec and Jan can be kinda slow. If fishing from shore you might want to try some bait if casting lures isn't working.
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mtgoat666
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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| 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. |
You are a fly fisherman, so I suggest you take fly fishing gear. Flyfishing, have caught grouper from the shore in the lagoons, and caught much shore
fishing beach breaks and rocky/cliffy shores. Use 8, 9 or 10 weight rod, and in almost all cases you want your fly to sink to near bottom.
If you want to get lost in lots of fishing talk about shore salt water fishing, just google it up (google salt water fly fishing for san diego and
baja), and try bloodydecks website.
For shore fishing you dont need a license. If you get in any type of boat you need a license.
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DavidT
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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
David
Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.
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weebray
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"Here's a little tip that I would like to relate...." Drive in to the center of any town or village in Baja California or Baja California del Sur.
Ask where the fish market it. Go there. You will be able to catch there cleaned beautiful fish fillets of a number of species depending on the day.
You will be shocked at how inexpensive they are. You will not be skunked I guarantee.
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fishbuck
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| 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?
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6699
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| 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? |
Lots of places between Mag Bay and Laguna Manuela (Jesus Maria).
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fishbuck
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Good tip thanks
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck
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willardguy
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believe me....if you're a proficient fresh water angler, salt water fishing will be a slam dunk! 
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Skipjack Joe
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Posts: 8084
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Location: Bahia Asuncion
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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!
Leave the fly rods back home at first.
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edevart
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Location: Medio Camino
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| 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. |
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Skipjack Joe
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Since you U2U'ed me here are some more tips to help you along:
Pacific Beaches:
Look for beaches with long gentle slopes and fish the last half of an incoming tide. Spring tide is best. Fish on days when the surf is small. They
will stay outside when the surf is bug. A 60 foot cast is sufficient when they're in. Catch: halibut, yellowfin croaker, corbina.
Cortez rocky shore:
Cobblestone areas for spotted bay bass. Ricky points for triggerfish. Look for giant boulders dropping off with deep ledges. You will also find
cabrilla and lady fish at such places.
Pacific lagoons:
Access from shore is difficult due to mangroves. Need to find openings. Look for large beds of eelgrass and you will get spotted bay bass and some
halibut. Find the main channel and you will get corvina and spotted bay bass. Each lagoon has a main channel which drains it. This is where the gold
is.
[Edited on 10-27-2016 by Skipjack Joe]
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redhilltown
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Location: Long Beach, CA
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Some other thoughts. It may be blasphemy to some but now and then you just want dinner so bring a bag of frozen squid. On the Cortez side use the
squid with a small hook and Triggers will be your dinner...might want to google as to how to clean them but eating wise it doesn't get much
better...if going down south on the Cortez side you'll could still have some fresh ceviche fixins and Trigger is the bomb for that. Chrome Krocodiles
are your friend as to the best all around lure from shore...the Baja rocks can really rip your line up so I like to use 20-25 lb test but your results
may vary. Spotted Bay Bass may be the majority of your catch from shore depending on where you are but they are delicious for tacos etc...Corvina are
often the biggest and best "shore" fish for the Upper Cortez...and once again, eating wise it doesn't get much better. The back half of a rising tide
is best for them.
And you said you'll be camping on the beach so beware at night! Before going to bed coyote proof your camp! Make sure all food and water is safely
tucked away. After you have done that, check it again to make sure! They are thirsty...and hungry...and smart. Have fun!
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Udo
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One of the Big Water's Edge heavyweight fisherman lives in Bahia Asunción (Rossman). He has caught everything on his kayak. And all of his buddies as
well.
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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DJL
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You can find everything you need to know on this page -
https://www.facebook.com/bigbajaadventure/
D.~
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