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Baja (La Paz - Mexico)

5K views 7 replies 4 participants last post by  Eddie 
#1 ·
Board Members,

I'm getting the chance to attend a conference in La Paz, Mexico during mid June (14th - 20th). I am going ostensibly to present some work, but the real reason that is motivating me is to go fishing. I have never been there before and was hoping that someone could fill me in a little about what species to expect, cost to rent a panga, and recommended gear to take. I have a ten weight now, and could build an 11/12 before I go.

Any help is appreciated.

Pete
 
#2 ·
La Paz! When I lived out west this area was known as a place to go chase a different kind of tail
Here's a neat link for <!--http--><a href="http://math.ucr.edu/ftm/bajaPages/LaPaz.General.html#Section7" target="_blank"> general information,</a><!--url--> <!--http--><a href="http://www.trybaja.com/lapaztourism/" target="_blank"> tourism, </a><!--url--><!--http--><a href="http://www.laconcha.com/fishcrt.htm" target="_blank"> seasonal fishing info </a><!--url-->, and one for <!--http--><a href="http://www.bajatravel.com/yellowpages/index.html" target="_blank"> fishing charters </a><!--url-->. More focused is <!--http--><a href="http://cgi.aros.net/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/sanbachs/mexico5.cgi/City=LAP" target="_blank"> La Paz specific activities </a><!--url-->.

<center>*** <!--http--><a href="http://www.fishbaja.com/lapazframe.html" target="_blank"> BEST LINK </a><!--url--> ***</center>

<center>
<font size="1">
La Paz Tourism</font><!--1--></center>

<center>(Of course we'll expect a full report upon your return!)</center>
 
#4 ·
I have fished out of La Paz a bunch of times. I love that place. Most of the panga captains are not well versed with fly fishing and it can be frustraiting (especially if you don't speak spanish). To them, flyfishing is insane. My buddy Jim lives in town during the summer, and he takes people out to flyfish.I think you would do well to give him a call. Even if you don't go out with him, he is very helpful and has been fishing there for years. His#520-325-8358.
I fish out of Las Arenas, about 45min. south east of La Paz. The fishing can be excellent. Dorado will be your main target but you might come across bonita, sailfish, striped marlin, blue marlin, and from the beach roosterfish and jack crevalle.
Billfish are a lot of time/work for furtive results, but like stealhead, the payoff can be big. Dorado are god's gift to the flyfisherman. Roosterfish are like permit(holy grail), and jacks and bonita don't get any respect, but will put a smile on your face every time.
For billfish you need a#12+. For big dorado(30#) a #11 is good. A #10 will be good for most every thing, and a#8 is fun on the beach. I like the clear intermediate lines( "tarpon taper" ). For reels it's been said a thousand times"strong smooth drag" and a couple of hundred yards of backing (I like to have a few hundred for pelagic fish). Unfortunately these reels are expensive, but this is what tibors and abels are made for. Nothing less will take care of you. I think that Trey Comb's book Blue Water Flyfishing is the best place to start.
If you have never caught a pelagic fish, there is nothing that compares.
 
#5 ·
Eddie -

Great to have your feedback in the forum! I've got a signed copy of Trey Comb's book, it's a beauty. After the treatise of steelheading he did in the preceding book(s) I was glad to shake his hand and talk about fishing for a while in the Kingdome (Seattle) where I bought his book. The section on pacific ocean salmon is cool too, although the big pelagic species sure put the possibilities of flyfishing to the extreme.

As you know we really enjoy atlantic bonito (sarda sarda) on flyrods on the new england coast. Using 9wt class rods, they are a great fight and fine table fare. A lot of guys don't even need charcoal or a match (sushi!) for this wonderfully textured and flavored fish.

I've done dorado off the Florida coast on the fly, but the sailfishing was done with conventional tackle. Did the bait and switch to huge 'cuda over offshore the wrecks with the fly, that was fun.

Pete -

Take lots of pictures!

Juro
 
#6 ·
Eddie, Bruce and Juro,

Thank you for taking the time to provide the links and the info. I'm going to start doing a little homework on the trip and I will certainly take some pictures when I go.

Roosterfish are a blast I guess and I'm hoping to get a crack at Dorado. I'm not too jazzed about renting the big boasts, as I prefer to stick with the pangas and hit the nearshore opportunities. I'll be bringing the 10wt and maybe building a bigger rod - if my wife doesn't shoot me first. She came home the other day and I was elbow deep in rod-finishing epoxy - didn't expect her home for lunch, Doh!

here she comes now, gotta go ;-(

Pete
 
#8 ·
Pete, a few more thoughts on La Paz:
You can get a panga out of any of the big hotels like Los Arco and La Perla or you can go to a stand on the malacon. A day will cost $170. plus bait(which you will need to keep the fish at the boat).My friend Jim charges the same but he includes bait, lunch and beer.Can't beat that. I don't know if the prices will be affectedby the new gas prices.
The boats are in Las Arenas and typically you will leave town before sunrise and be home at around 3 in the afternoon. 45min. in the car is better than an hour pounding in the boat. The best fishing is often off of Isla Ceralvo.
Blue water is 20min. off the beach, and you can catch anything out of a panga. Speaking of the beach, the fishing can be excellent there as well and Jim also does wade trips.
If you want to do a twilight trip out of La Paz, I have heard that can be good. I don't know of any good beach fishing in town.
After a hot day fishing there is an excellent juice/icecream shop on the malacon. There is also an ecellent taco stand(scary but taisty)around the corner from there.
Some good web sites to check out are Amigos de Baja, and Gary Grahm's Baja on the fly. Both are a must to keep track of what's going on.
You might want to bring along some leadcore for the tuna.
That's all I can think of for now, Eddie.
 
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