| Pages:
1
2 |
bynro
Newbie
Posts: 3
Registered: 12-14-2013
Member Is Offline
|
|
Okie Landing
I was wondering if anyone had any photos of "Okie Landing" from back when it was in operation. It was approximately 25 miles south of Puerticitos.
Always been curious about those foundations there. Thanks!
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64855
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
See what I can dig up tomorrow... for now, by searching Nomad I found some old maps and a recent photo, I had posted before:
In the 1960's I remember cabins on those slabs, and there was an ice house in the side of the cliff (for storing fish until the next truck arrived).
[Edited on 10-27-2021 by David K]
|
|
|
Pablito1
Junior Nomad
Posts: 64
Registered: 4-24-2011
Member Is Offline
|
|
The first time that I went by Okie's landing was 1967. We were in a 1966 Volkswagen bug in route to Papa Fernandez camp to do some diving. I do not
remember any cabins there but maybe I just don't remember. The only activity there that I ever saw was in about 1970 we stopped for a driving break
and 3 Mexicans had a tarp rigged up for a shade. Under the shade was 16-17 turtles and they were waiting for the truck to come and haul them to the
market.
Some days later these same people showed up at Papa's camp with more turtles.
Shi Shi Fernandez told me that Tony Reyes was the person that put in those cement floors but I don't know the time frame for that.
Regards, Pablo
Semper Fi
|
|
|
willardguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6451
Registered: 9-19-2009
Member Is Offline
|
|
by gene kira
By about 1960, Tony was sending out as many as 70 anglers on a good Saturday, and he had also opened an ultra-remote fish camp at Okie Landing, 70
miles down the blistering hot desert coast. In those days, Okie Landing was a punishing eight-hour drive from Puertecitos, but the skiff fishing was
worth it for nearby totoaba, black sea bass, and other species. Tony poured the six concrete slabs that are still visible there today, built some
cabanas and a ramada, and stored ice in a hole that he dug into the mountain.
By 1962, Tony’s life was finally settled enough so that he married his wife of the last 42 years, the former Lolita Montez, of Bahia de los Angeles.
But there were still difficulties ahead. Okie Landing closed about 1973, as the very rough road deteriorated into truly impossible ruts, and the
fishing within range of Tony’s small skiffs thinned out. Tony kept going by partnering briefly with Gustavo Velez in a long range boat business, and
then chartering his own larger shrimp trawlers for trips into the Midriff.
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64855
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
I was thinking last night that I don't remember seeing any activity there on my trips of '74 and '75, so Gene's history seems right on. Thanks!
I heard a story that there was no name for the place originally, but the first group of gringo fisherman to stay there were from Oklahoma... or they
invented the name Okie Landing, so Tony used that...???
|
|
|
willardguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6451
Registered: 9-19-2009
Member Is Offline
|
|
hey bynro, scroll down to the bottom of this page and you'll find some great old photos of okies. https://www.wonews.com/t-OtheSpotFeature-Totoaba-BillBeebe-0...
BTW, the word on the beach is this will be the year we'll see a open totuava fishery!
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64855
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
Very cool photos ... used to be a WON subscriber... thank you for the link.
|
|
|
Pablito1
Junior Nomad
Posts: 64
Registered: 4-24-2011
Member Is Offline
|
|
In the early 1980s I was with one of Papa Fernandez's grand sons and we were north of San Luis Island. He saw a panga in the distance that belonged to
his friend so we went to talk to the guy. This guy was running a long line and in his boat was the largest totoaba that I have ever seen. The fish was
at least 6 feet long.
Regards, Pablo
|
|
|
brewer
Nomad
Posts: 419
Registered: 1-4-2011
Location: BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Grateful
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by willardguy
BTW, the word on the beach is this will be the year we'll see a open totuava fishery! |
Someone else mentioned this too. Where did you hear it from?
|
|
|
brewer
Nomad
Posts: 419
Registered: 1-4-2011
Location: BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Grateful
|
|
Classic days. The ice cave was essential. Those fish go bad fast in the heat. Thanks for the post.
|
|
|
bynro
Newbie
Posts: 3
Registered: 12-14-2013
Member Is Offline
|
|
Those are great, any more?
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64855
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
The link from willardguy beats what I was going to post... but I am glad my memory of the ice cave was correct... I was just a little kid! On Cliff
Cross's 1970 map, he has it already abandoned. Maybe on the way out or seasonal?
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64855
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
Here's one taken in July, 2011:
|
|
|
bynro
Newbie
Posts: 3
Registered: 12-14-2013
Member Is Offline
|
|
Everything beat what you posted DK.
Thanks for the link to the photos Willard Guy, Those are the only pictures I've seen of the camp in operation,
I was hoping there would be a few old guys still around that fished there back in the day. Maybe not?
|
|
|
mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
Member Is Offline
|
|
David...........from what I have been reading about this "Ice" cave......the ice was brought in from across the border. Far back during ww2..... there
is writings of hauling ice down to San Felipe and further......."they began their own business by hauling ice from across the border and transporting"
from Randy's site http://www.blueroadrunner.com/aboutsf.htm
So it took forever to reach the Okie Landing back in the day.....just how did they get the ice there, your knowledge or your thoughts.......
Also.....that cave still there? I have been there a few times and never saw it....
Great maps DK
[Edited on 12-16-2013 by mcfez]
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
|
|
|
Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: optimistic
|
|
I went by Okie's Landing in 1963 on our way to Gonzaga, and I don't recall any activity at that time, but the structures were up at that time if I
remember correctly.
DK I love your maps and historical references, and your pictures------many thanks!!!
Barry
|
|
|
durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7393
Registered: 11-22-2007
Location: Punta Banda BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: thriving in Baja
|
|
Some more early totoaba history
www.mexfish.com/mexi/mexi/af051209/af051209.htm
Sometime in the early 1920s, a few American sport anglers had begun testing the waters around San Felipe, and in 1923, the first recorded totoaba--two
fish--were exported to the United States.
In the beginning years of the San Felipe totoaba trade there was simply no market for the huge, six-foot-long carcasses left over after the buche
(air bladder) had been cut out, dried and exported to China. The fish were left in haystack-sized piles to rot in the sun. When the smell and flies
became intolerable, the fishermen and their families would simply move down the beach and set up a new camp.
Word got out about the enormous piles of wasted fish (due to the removal of the buche). Soon thereafter, buyers from the United States reached San
Felipe in ice trucks specially equipped to make the 125-mile open desert crossing from the U.S. border at Calexico.
In the winter of 1924-25, 170,000 pounds of fish were hauled north to the Southern California market. The totoaba were bought on the beach for as
little as five cents per fish, and sold at a tremendous profit.
A commercial catch of enormous totoaba at Bahia San Luis Gonzaga, Baja California, Mexico. From left to right, Tony Reyes,
Gorgonio Fernandez, and his son, Chi Chi Fernandez, c. 1954. --Reprinted with permission from The Unforgettable Sea Of Cortez.
[Edited on 12-17-2013 by durrelllrobert]
[Edited on 12-17-2013 by durrelllrobert]
Bob Durrell
|
|
|
willardguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6451
Registered: 9-19-2009
Member Is Offline
|
|
take a look at the above photo then take a look the statue of chi chi. it was on the san felipe malecon but moved to the harbor after the new malecon
fell into the sea during the big storm/high tide!
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64855
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by bynro
Everything beat what you posted DK.
Thanks for the link to the photos Willard Guy, Those are the only pictures I've seen of the camp in operation,
I was hoping there would be a few old guys still around that fished there back in the day. Maybe not? |
Sorry, I do try...
|
|
|
neilm81301
Nomad
Posts: 134
Registered: 3-21-2012
Member Is Offline
|
|
Can you get in there from the 'new' road?
From the INEGI topo, it looks like about N 30°05' - around the northing of Isla Muertos - is the recently improved road to Gonzaga very far removed
from the one shown on the old maps?
Might be a place to camp - patio slabs and all!
Neil
[Edited on 12-17-2013 by neilm81301]
|
|
|
| Pages:
1
2 |
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
