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defrag4
Senior Nomad
Posts: 536
Registered: 2-5-2011
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Newbie to Baja, looking to fish
Hopefully heading down to Baja in the next week or 2. Want to get some good fishing in. I grew up in Florida and am familiar with our style of
surf-fishing.
Usually a ~10ft heavy pole, double-dropper rig and a pyramid weight of around 1-3 oz depending on waves. We dig up some sand fleas or cutbait and
sling it out there then bust out the beers and wait
Sound about right for Baja?
I also have a smaller rig (7ft mid-heavy) for flats/inshore fishing that I am going to bring along.
I believe we will be sticking mostly the the Eastern shores.
Heres a nice Redfish I caught in the flats off of Floridas east coast, I miss fishing back home, this Northern California fishing is way to cold for
me!
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dtbushpilot
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3290
Registered: 1-11-2007
Location: Buena Vista BCS
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Mood: Tranquilo
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Your setup and technique sound perfect frag. When you say Eastern shores where specifically do you mean? Most areas have variations in equipment and
technique that work well locally (just like everywhere) If you can narrow down some specific areas there will probably be some "local experts" that
can give advise.....
BTW, nice redfish and welcome to Nomads.....dt
"Life is tough".....It's even tougher if you're stupid.....
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64855
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Surf fishing was one of the main draws for my family to go to Baja in the 1960's.
The prize surf fish for us is the California Corbina and two varieties of Croaker (Yellowfin and Spotfin). Caught close in, under the breakers on all
sandy Pacific side beaches as well as the upper Sea of Cortez on incoming tides... cut bait, mussels, clams being the primary bait.
Photo from 1967, at Bahia Santa Maria (nothing there back then), 23 miles south of San Felipe. Pair of corbina...
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64855
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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On the Pacific side of Baja... 76 miles south of Ensenada, turn west at Colonet to San Antonio del Mar...
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Russ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6742
Registered: 7-4-2004
Location: Punta Chivato
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Welcome! I think you'll have a great time. Your tackle should cover most of the fishing conditions in Baja. As dtbushpilot mentioned let us know where
you'll be headed and someone will lend a hand on what setups work in the area. You'll probable be pressed for time to see what Baja has to offer so
mention what you'd like to see and do and you'll get a lot of really helpful advice here.
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64855
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Here's a closeup of a corbina... it has a bottom facing mouth with a barb on the chin... excellent eating... best time of year to catch is late summer
& fall.
The croaker, also a bottom feeder, makes a croaking sound out of the water like a frog or pig! The Yellowfin croaker is called a 'boca dulce' by the
locals. Here on Nomad, 'Woody' has caught what may be the world record spotfin croaker... See his and other Baja fish varieties on http://www.MexFish.com
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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Hola Defrag and a big ole baja style hearty welcome to this forum.
If shore fishing is your thing...come on out to Asuncion...it is going off right now...wide open bite at dusk for nice corbina, yellowfin croaker and
halibut. It's a gas and fun to fish alongside the locals right in front of the campground.
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BigOly
Senior Nomad
Posts: 523
Registered: 10-1-2010
Location: Los Barriles, Bandon
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Mood: Easy Birder
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Or if you travel south to the tip of Baja you may catch something like this roosterfish I caught right off the beach.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64855
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Awesome photo!
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defrag4
Senior Nomad
Posts: 536
Registered: 2-5-2011
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great photos!
Were not sure on our destinations yet, pretty much going to figure it out as we go in true adventure fashion. Your place looks great Shari, we might
stop by we shall see!
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mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
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I'll assume you meant Sea of Cortez side
The fishing is great on the Sea. This is my main area for fishing. I do lots of rock and surf fishing. Boating out is good way too....if you have the
time and patience.....otherwise rent a panga for the day ($70.00 per person)(somewhat). I tell you to rent a boat because ramps are far and few on the
Sea.
Ten foot rod is not my prefers. I go with 3-5 rods of various length and flex strength pending what hole I am at and the wind conditions. My favorite
is the seven footer with 40 pound test line. Use a steel led if you are going after Trigger fish. Sinkers....no. Too much loss from the cobble stone
and rock of Baja (unless you are in a boat). We use finely manufactured ROCKS! Yes....I said rocks. Try before laughing.....
Do not leave home without this bible!
"The Baja Catch"
http://www.amazon.com/Baja-Catch-Fishing-Camping-California/...
Does it work, the info from this book? Yes.....I have duplicated the exact set of of the gear / boat and have stories to tell.......
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=48739#pid5615...
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=48757#pid5616...
Start fishing at Puertecitos and NOT north of this town (it stinks). Work you way down to Gonzaga Bay.
BEST MADE BAIT SECRET:
Best fish to use for making your bait, in this order:
Spanish mackerel
Sand Crab
Mussel
Claim
Shrimp
Start with a box of kosher salt. Do not use iodized salt. Select a container with a flat bottom suitable for the size bait you want to
cure.....Mayonnaise jar works great too BTW. Place twice the thickness of salt in the bottom as the thickness of the bait to be cured. If your bait is
1 inch thick, put 2 inches of salt in the bottom. Place the bait on the salt followed by another layer of salt over it the same depth as the starting
layer. DONT GO CHEAP ON THE SALT! You can continue building layers a bait and salt until all the bait is covered in salt. Do not seal the container.
If you want to cover it just place a towel over the top. It needs to be exposed to the air to dry out. Seal before you go on your vacation...it be
fine by then. Unseal when vacation is over.
Small pieces of shrimp can cure in a day or so. Whole fish can take several weeks. It all depends on how much of the raw meat is exposed to the salt.
All the moisture has to be drawn out of the bait by the salt before it will be cured. That’s why a whole fish can take so much longer.
The bait stays on the hook....really nicely. It almost tough to get on the hook in matter of fact :-) Less bait being stolen......if any!
It's a knock out - got you boy - yahoooooo bait!
A true story:
Learned this bait trick, down in Point Mugu , Santa Monica Mountains ocean side, in the late 70's. Old man Murf was living in a beat up station
wagon...living off his catch and I assumed pension money. He was on the road for a long time...Point Mugu he was there for several years. We saw him
every week end. Just a Irish of a guy. Lonely. Shaved needed. Wash clothes needed. I caution my first born about him.
He taught me how to surf fish...and boy did he! I never seen Surf Perch so big....Buttermouths....oh Gods! Without this bait...I caught zip. With
it....whoa.
Old man Murf would fry the fish on his green camp stove...placed on the tailgate. Cooked to perfection! One night there as he was cooking, I asked him
just what did he do for a living...he looked at me with a embarrassing smile and said "I was the VP of Firestone! Yes...it was true for I checked it
out.
Anyhow...enjoy the bait secret. Older it gets ....the better. Keep reading the fishing post here...I am bout ready to drop a secret fishing hole
location that will blow your socks off :-) The big ones....
Now...really important:
Rid the brown outfit you are wearing in the picture you posted. You look like a Game Warden! 
Good fishing to you Sir.
[Edited on 2-8-2011 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.
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Spearo
Nomad
Posts: 153
Registered: 11-30-2010
Location: Moscow, Idaho and Pescadero, BCS
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We use spectra braid with a flourocarbon leader attached with a 14 turn albright. Lots of terminal tackle as you will be sacrificing that to the sea
gods. I also pack a 5 ft cast net for making bait.
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ddawson
Nomad
Posts: 103
Registered: 9-6-2010
Location: Hilo
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BigOly
Or if you travel south to the tip of Baja you may catch something like this roosterfish I caught right off the beach.
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BigOly, that's an epic rooster!
To the OP, I would suggest that you head far South. Here is my catch from New Years Eve 2010 off the beach in Cabo (Pacific Side).
My setup is a 7ft Seeker MH rod with a spinning reel spooled w/ 40lb spectra and 25lb flouro topshot.
I would suggest getting a Baja Catch book. There is a lot of good info. You might also want to look on youtube for how-to and technique videos for
Baja. I have seen footage of guys using bigger poles in the surf line with great results.
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Cypress
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7641
Registered: 3-12-2006
Location: on the bayou
Member Is Offline
Mood: undecided
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defrag4, Welcome aboard! Those reds are sure fun to catch, also to eat. Spent the better part of Dec. and Jan. fishing the marsh country down in MS,
lots of reds and specs. Looking forward to your fishing report.
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BigOly
Senior Nomad
Posts: 523
Registered: 10-1-2010
Location: Los Barriles, Bandon
Member Is Offline
Mood: Easy Birder
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ddawson, You were fishing the same place I was. Just 8 or 9 years apart. I was fishing alone and my wife was watching from the Sol Mar. After
about an hour of fighting this fish(20lb line and about 3 feet of 60lb leader) and one of Jeff Clauson's Rangers, I had gathered an audience from the
bar. The surf really came up and I about drowned trying to revive the fish but it didn't make it. I'm so sorry for that but I gave it to the "crew"
that worked there so it didn't go to waste. A magical day of fishing. 3 or 4 roosters all over 30 pounds. Jacks up the ying yang and my arms were
about to fall off. Oh, and a sierra they weighed at the restaurant the guys said weighed 17 lbs! Gee maneeze. Almost a world record! Never saw
anything like it before or since. And did I say?? I was fishing all alone.
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mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by ddawson
| Quote: | Originally posted by BigOly
Or if you travel south to the tip of Baja you may catch something like this roosterfish I caught right off the beach.
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BigOly, that's an epic rooster!
To the OP, I would suggest that you head far South. Here is my catch from New Years Eve 2010 off the beach in Cabo (Pacific Side).
My setup is a 7ft Seeker MH rod with a spinning reel spooled w/ 40lb spectra and 25lb flouro topshot.
I would suggest getting a Baja Catch book. There is a lot of good info. You might also want to look on youtube for how-to and technique videos for
Baja. I have seen footage of guys using bigger poles in the surf line with great results. |
Oh Yes! That's a catch ddawson!
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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defrag4
Senior Nomad
Posts: 536
Registered: 2-5-2011
Member Is Offline
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Thanks for the info guys, all packed up and ready to head down tomorrow!
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mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by defrag4
Thanks for the info guys, all packed up and ready to head down tomorrow! |
So........
Where you heading?
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Reel???
Dawson......what kind of reel are you using????
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defrag4
Senior Nomad
Posts: 536
Registered: 2-5-2011
Member Is Offline
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No set destinations yet, Keeping it open to be a true adventure.
LA Bay, Bahia Asuncion, Bahia Concepcion, La Paz, Who knows, We are planning to be down there for about 2 weeks and going to take it easy. Primarily
camping in the truck/tent and fishing/eating as we go.
Always open to suggestions!
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