fishmaster
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Playa Cocos/San Bruno Trip/fishing report
Greetings,
Just a quick short report here, writing up a more detailed report.
We crossed Mexicali W. on Dec. 28th and had no problems. Got briefly checked at border with agent looking over my boat registration and searching the
camper/boat. Got prepaid FMM stamped quickly at 5:30 am. Stopped at the bank on the way out of town to get Pesos and headed S on the 5. Truly
impressed with the 5. The new section from Gonzaga to the 1 was as good as any U.S. highway. Stoked they even fixed those nasty vados near
Puertocetos. The rest of the 1 was in great shape with only a few rough spots. No problems at any of the check points. We wore our masks and no one
said one thing about COVID. They did check my temp. at the N/S border, but not my buddy. The riskiest part of the entire trip, from a COVID
perspective, was shopping at Costco before I left. That was pure insanity!
We arrived in Santa Rosalia about 3:30 pm and stocked up on groceries and beer. The wind was up, so we decided to head to Playa Cocos to hide from
the wind. Not may folks on the beach, with Gary being the only full-timer and a couple other overnighters and day use folks here and there. 15 of
the 20 palapas remained empty most days. We got our choice to the best one. We stayed 5 days and, even with El Norte cranking, were able to fish
each day until noon. We caught all sorts of different fish throughout the bay, including spotted rose and Amarillo snapper, triggerfish, rooster
fish, corvina, Sierra, green jack, jack crevalle, African pompano and a couple more I'm forgetting. Had a great time hanging out with Gary and
enjoying the "Baja beach life"!
With the wind finally laying down, we headed up to our friend Grant and Dar's place in San Bruno. We had excellent yellowtail fishing for 4 days at
Isla San Marcos, averaging about 5 yellowtail per day. Most fish were caught slow trolling live mackerel, a new method for me (we usually catch them
drifting Macks and on iron). We caught so many fish that we were able to can 50 pints! That will get us through the winter.
The wind came back up and we headed back to Playa Cocos. Rinse and repeat over the next 4 days and then we head back to San Bruno to finish up our
trip. A couple rough days out at the island for our last two days of fishing, but the excellent YT fishing made our effort pay off.
We felt VERY COVID safe in Mexico. Almost everyone was wearing masks where they should have been. Stores required you to wear masks. Gas station
attendants wore masks. Hand sanitizer was readily available. Plus, the Mexicans we spoke to were incredibly gracious we were there to spend some
money. Many folks are hurting.
Left at 6 am and headed N. We reached the border about 4 pm and were looking forward to an easy crossing. In our complacency of spending an easy 3
weeks around Mulege, we forgot to wear masks while driving in Mexicali (we did on the way down). Folks warned us, so it was our own fault for
forgetting. This was my first time crossing N at Mexicali and, in typical Mexico fashion, they were doing construction on the border crossing and the
detour signs were inadequate. I remember folks saying not to follow the Google directions as it sends you to the Sentri line, so we got lost a few
times. Perfect opening for Policia to pull us over. Officer take my license and says he is going to give us a ticket for not wearing masks while
driving. I've been pulled over by Policia a half dozen times over 20+ years and learned (from chat boards) to not play their game, don't offer them
money and agree to go to the station to pay the fine...they eventually let you go. That was the plan this time until he asked my friend to get out of
the truck and the officer's eyes brightened (here comes his big pay day) when he noticed my friend wearing a leatherman. Officer gave me back my
license, took my friends and said he was going to arrest him for carrying a concealed knife. At that point, I didn't feel comfortable calling his
bluff on my friend . Long story short, my friend handed over all his cash, $380,
(not sure why he had it all on him???) and, after getting directions from the kind officer, we were off to the border crossing. Long line and we
finally crossed a little after 5. Fortunately, the border agent took pity on us and we didn't get sent to secondary. A few lessons learned and
others reinforced.
All in all it was a fantastic trip and I am counting down the days until I can again return to The Baja!
best fishes,
Steve
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Arturo1
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Good to know, I wasn’t aware of having to wear mask while driving.
Is that only in Mexicali? I couldn’t imagine wearing my mask all the way down to Santa Rosalia. But I’ll do it if necessary.
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ligui
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Location: Fraser co.
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Mood: love Baja !
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Great trip report  . Was wondering how you canned up the fish you caught
?
Thanks ligui
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fishmaster
Junior Nomad
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We brought our canning stuff with us, plus our friend has a place in San Bruno. Canned YT is really good!
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TMW
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Next time call his bluff on the Leatherman, that BS. $380 made his day.
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fishmaster
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I didn't feel it was my position to call his bluff when it was my friend who was at risk. Turns out (looked it up), it is illegal to carry a
concealed knife in Mexico. 5 years in prison! It was still total BS, but lesson learned. No more pocket knives or leathermen on your person when
traveling in Mexico.
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fishmaster
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Quote: Originally posted by Arturo1  | Good to know, I wasn’t aware of having to wear mask while driving.
Is that only in Mexicali? I couldn’t imagine wearing my mask all the way down to Santa Rosalia. But I’ll do it if necessary.
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I think it is a policy throughout Mexico, but only a concern in towns with crooked Policia (eg. border towns).
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medium Cool
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sounds like an awesome trip, that north side of San Marcos has always been worth the effort. that sucks about the 'shake down'
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HeyMulegeScott
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Location: Orygone/Mulege
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Glad you enjoyed your visit down here. Any pic?
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fishmaster
Junior Nomad
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Finally finished the video of our trip.
https://youtu.be/56kMQFtSOvY
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Nice video... fish I.D. and Pink Floyd music, too!
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motoged
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I have always carried a Leatherman tool in my tank bag.....a jefe at a military checkpoint at south end of Bahia Concepcion seemed quite interested
in it....but didn't say anything about it.
I was under the impression blade length is the issue.
Any factual info on that ?
My research indicates carrying any knife may be considered as a concealed weapon and one can get up to 5 years jail time.
Better to lug around a 14" machete.
[Edited on 2-15-2021 by motoged]
Don't believe everything you think....
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BornFisher
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Awesome vid! Who needs Cedros isl when there is San Marcos?
Nice release, nice work on the triple!
"When you catch a fish, you open the door of happiness."
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Allwaters
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Dang, if that was $380 US that would suck big eggs in my book. I would have called BS on that and if he had offered $20 US would probably gotten the
same result. The cops especially near border crossings are predatory and rely on this dirty business of scare tactics, on the same note I would not
want to spend ANY time whatsoever in a hotel like the one just outside of Santa Rosalia. Best not to carry too much cash at border crossings or at the
very least not admit to having that much onboard. After loosing my wallet as well as all my cards and cash on this trip I will try to do just so as
well as be totally patient fully lawabyding and politically correct near borders, you are essentially just a sheep in line and open to an attack. They
don't pay cops much (I spoke with one getting fish donations at a boatramp) that hasn't been paid for two months due to covid bs) and so they rely on
this shakedown income. The talk is that in some major towns peeps have to wear masks in their own cars by themselves... this to me is stupid and I
have not done so anywhere in Baja on this trip but it may give them a reason for a shakedown...
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Allwaters
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Probably more like made his whole month!
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Hook
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Wearing a Leatherman on your belt is CONCEALED?  
Well, anyone who has traveled in Mexico for any length of time knows that the letter of the law has no meaning against a willful policeman.
But your story does have one possible lesson. NEVER HAVE ALL YOUR CASH IN YOUR WALLET. I assume the 380 was the amount he had in his wallet. Carry an
amount that you are willing to give up, in the face of a mordida. It should be enough to make it worthwhile to the police but not enough to really
hurt you. IMO, an equivalent to around 50.00US will usually work.
Keep the rest in a concealed money belt or underwear or somewhere else well concealed in the vehicle. But not in your personal belongings, which could
be subject to search.
When we are traveling in Mexico for distances, with cash, my wife always carries the cash in her bra. As the vast majority of cops are male, they
aren't likely to do a strip search on her for a traffic infraction.
[Edited on 2-19-2021 by Hook]
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BajaParrothead
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Fun video, thanks for taking the time!!
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fishmaster
Junior Nomad
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Yea, I'm not sure what my friend was thinking having his money belt on him. The officer found it when he frisked him. He's done a bit of traveling
and knows better, just a lapse in thinking. As I mentioned, I didn't think it was my position to call the officers bluff when he was threatening to
arrest my friend. After he took his license (and gave me back mine), it was up to my friend to decide what he was going to do. I was not going to
pay him for the mask infraction, but we did make ourselves a target.
I do strongly encourage folks to get good maps of the crossing and make sure you know how to find it without Google maps or your vehicles navigation
system. Both were wrong on our approach.
Even with the mordida, vacationing in Baja is a very cheap vacation
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BajaBlanca
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Great trip report but how I hate those mordida's now that I know better.
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