Search top fishing charters in Magdalena Bay. You are using an out of date browser. After catching and mostly releasing many tuna, I dropped slow-pitch jigs during the afternoon in 200 or so feet to catch Pacific red snapper, gulf grouper and various small reef fish. While shots at multiple marlin are primarily what draws anglers to Mag Bay, its hardly the only outstanding opportunity here. What I found very interesting was that as I was swimming after the now-disappeared commotion, several striped marlin would come up to the surface and swim next to me. The plan was to run up beyond the feeding marlin and cast a live bait into the fray. This is not a gentle bonefish lodge or an idyllic river with mountain backdrops. Its all part of the adventure when kayak-fishing Magdalena Bay. Light jacket or sweater. The best fishing offshore is Aug through December, inshore there is pretty unique fishing year round. Rarely will they even be found within 15 to 20 miles of the mouth of the bay. Find frigate birds low on the water and the stripeys are sure to be there. The cold waters of the California Current and the warm waters of the Donaldson meet over this structure, trapping massive amounts of plankton and krill against the structure that forms the Ridge. The lodge is well maintained, has access to the swimming pool, hot tub, huge garage, workshop, tackle room, outside dining area, and more. We're hoping to fish for Wahoo. Thirty minutes later and its the post-release chatter, all high fives, and back slaps. Magdalena Bay is the name for a 30-mile-long harbor with a collection of mangrove rivers and swamps near the bottom of Baja's Pacific Coast. The sardine run is going to be extinct at this rate. The vision is to share this Mag Bay fishing experience with the world. Meet at Hotel Isabela's B&B at 7:00am. FishingBooker.com. The volume of commercial fishing in the bay can be overwhelming for some, yet eco-tourism and a mindset of supporting a healthy ecosystem has more than a foothold here. The ridges, peaks, banks, and underwater structure outside of Magdalena Bay offer some of the richest fishing grounds in the world. Nick answers my next question in the affirmative: Yes, John, thats a coyote trying to drag a giant snook into the mangroves. I dont want to spend a lot just to be on a huge/fancy boat ran by Americans. What makes the Magdalena Bay offshore fishing so astonishing is a convergence of conditions that occur in the fall. Martinez had located lodging for us at the Hotel Alcatraz in Puerto San Carlos and secured a guide that ran a 25-foot panga. Known locally as The Whale King, Mendoza is a pioneer of whale watching and sport fishing on the bay. Fish with us at the Lodge at Mag Bay. As mentioned, the main predators of the sardine include the Striped Marlin, sea lions and occasionally whales, which work as a team to corner and push the bait balls to the surface from the depth of the sea, a situation that takes advantage of the earwigs, pelicans and seagulls that attack from outside by launching themselves like rockets on sardines as part of the food chain. He and his crew load two kayaks aboard each panga and head for a destination determined by anglers' goals, the season and the morning's . Additional non-fishing guests may also be added to your room. What I like most about mag bay in general is the seclusion and peace. Help us make more videos by clicking the like button. However, I could see Shafers point: Too much chasing was going to have an effect on the fish. The bay is shel- tered from . Our stay at Magdalena Bay was both exciting and educational, but there was still more to come on this trip. This luxury fishing yacht charter with a personal chef onboard cooking meals and 2 deckhands working alongside. Filter results by: Price per Day. Larocque, the owner, uses 26-foot pangas as mother ships to transport kayaks, anglers and gear within and outside the bay. Looking for info on Lodgings and Panga rentals in Mag Bay for a few days in September. Looking out onto the Bay of Banderas, this town is finely positioned for inshore and nearshore fishing, with deepwater action on offer in the Pacific Ocean just a few miles out. Wed been researching and prepping for this trip for months, bringing enough gear to fish for whatever we encountered. A chain of islands that serve as a barrier protect the bay from the vast Pacific Ocean, creating an ideal environment for a large population of marine life, including the most popular species of sport fishing. Hes found that these striped marlin dont stay on the bait ball close to the boat, and the motor noise while maneuvering into position is counterproductive. The shoreline is home to hundreds of mangrove-lined channels and is a sight to behold. Close to 100 miles of mangrove-lined channels and shoreline encircle the area, and where the mangroves stop, the desert takes over. $1000 for a Cape Horn 27 and $1,750 for a Pro Cat 37. I wanted to take the time to give you some really good feedback on our trip with your team this year! The local panga fishermen are mad as h*ll that the sardine and marlin are getting fished out illegally with up to 14 large industrial size boats going out of Magdalena Bay every night, each boat harvesting 100 - 200 tons of fish. Mostly they are out on the Ridge. Its relative inaccessibility has allowed it to remain one of those rare places that time has virtually forgotten. Frozen in the blue quiet. The Finger Bank is so named because of three areas where the bottom rises from 3,000 feet to around 300; on the charts, they look like fingers. There, an old and battered but serviceable red Ford pickup backed a trailer to waiting boats (artisanal fishing pangas except for us) to be shuttled a mile or so over the sand and dropped in at a beach facing the Pacific. All National Parks & Biosphere Reserve access fees required by itinerary. 4 nights of lodging in Costa Baja Resort. Also, whats a good time (month) to fish Mag Bay? In 2018, Smith and Shafer spent 12 days in Mag Bay, releasing 317 striped marlin on fly. Nick Smith has been fishing Mag Bay for years. Staying suspended in their time and place. What I like most about mag bay in general is the seclusion and peace. Baja is well known as a great place to whale watch. MAGDALENA BAY, Mexico Just off the bow of our 22-foot open boat what Baja fishermen call a "panga" a whale spout erupts with an adrenalin-spiking "fwooosh." Guided Beach, includes fly fishing guide, UTV rental, all fly fishing equipment and lunch: $575. We build . You can leave out of Lopez Mateos or San Carlos depending who you fish with. The whales might even let you pat their backs if you seem friendly. Bob Hoyt Mag Bay Outfitters He is on here as well. Thats the shortcut route; to boat down to the large mouth of the bay and then northwest to Thetis is more like 45 miles. 4. B ottom and/or Deep Sea Fishing depending on the season and target species.. Yet the vetting of anglers capable of the daily will and skill necessary to excel in these waters seems to happen organically. We would have a few moments to snap photos before everything got out of range. from La Ventana around the waters off Cabo San Lucas and all the way up the Pacific Coast to Magdalena Bay - Wherever the fishing action is best. Is family owned & Operated "Proudly Creating Life-Long Memories" for morethan 23,000 people in the past 32 plus years .You will have the privilege to embark on a interactive adventure through the majestic ever glade waters of " Magdalena Bay" with father Crispin (Whale King) or one . Eventually, the marlin would tire of the diver/sea lion combination and leave the area. Captain Aldo pulls me up easily, while Captain Ricardo nods and smiles knowingly. The two "foundations" of Loreto's sport fishing are the "dorado" and the "yellow tail" (Seriola lalandi dorsalis). Four kayak anglers explore the rich offshore and inshore waters of Baja's Magdalena Bay. He knows fishing and is always ready. Located on the Pacific Ocean side of the Baja Peninsula, Baha Magdalena, or Mag Bay, is one of the most legendary yet remote fisheries in North America.This 30 mile long bay, famous as a home to the gray whale during its southern migration, is formed by two sandy barrier islands named Isla Magdalena/Isla Margarita and provides incredible inshore and offshore fishing. We spotted the frigate birds working the surface; when we got close, we could see the marlin in hot pursuit. You have contacted us immediately after booking with all the details of the other deal I hear waves hitting the side of the boat, birds calling out, radio chatter, Spanish being spoken rapidly. :). Other times, there was a guy on the bow with a spinning rod, throwing some kind of lurehe also was hooking up regularly. Ramon . 10:30-12:30 PM Tour. Check with locals or hire one of the guides on the bay to take you to the current hot spot or species. Fishing in Mag Bay. You know fishing is good when it has come to strictly catch and release on wahoo and even tuna. Huge fish boils are still the norm here, providing the fly fisher the opportunity to cast a fly in the churning waters with equal chance of catching dorado, tuna, wahoo or billfish. The Drake Magazine. On morning number four of our trip, the cool bay air gives me goose bumps as we motor. Casting into feeding blitzes is common in these inshore waters. Some of the thousands of fishing pelicans. Yet wed never read or heard any mention of golden trevally in Mag Bay until Nick held one in his hands. A series of barrier Islands form a complex of inter connected bays and mangrove channels that extends two hundred miles, north and South along the central coast of Southern Baja. Our plan was simple. Prices subject to change without notice. A wider area we can now explore ! Show map . Mag Bay Lodge is one of the few operations in the area that caters to anglers. Enjoying a succulent lunch in a . I hop on a boat, shoot out in the morning, flip some baits around the red rooster III who just got there from a 3 day run. It is a type of fishing like you have never seen before. The next morning, we ran 55 miles south in Enrique's panga to the estero that I believed to be Hoctor's spot. Or normally out of the bay? The Finger Bank is Mag Bay Lite. One time the marlin had moved on and we floated with six sea lions and what was left of the bait ball for probably 15 minuteswhen a new batch of marlin suddenly appeared and everything started anew. Crispin Mendoza is the living legend of San Carlos, a small town near the bay. Jonathan Roldan's. Tailhunter Sportfishing. But it is also the common name of the greater environment that surrounds it, including a series of massive barrier islands with their own bays and an active offshore ecosystem. Ricardo Villegas shows us the rocky point on the north side of the boca (Spanish for mouth of the bay). Soon, Nick calls out every anglers favorite two words. "Get in! About. An All Inclusive World Class Fishing Lodge in Magdalena Bay, BCS Mexico, That awkward snippet of time between Christmas and New Years is what I often refer to as the Skin Flap Days. Smith has released more than 5,000 billfish on fly in his career. These dramatic openings attract gamefish amidst spectacular surroundings boiler rocks, sheer cliffs and herds of sea lions. As I get closer, the bluewater world comes into focus. Its a place for the most curious and adventurous people to be at. If you go online searching for flyfishing or outfitting in Mag Bay, youll find some operations. On one day last year, they raised 143 marlin and released 50, all on fly tackle. Their main reason for heading south is to mate and give birth in the protected shallow lagoons in Baja. He can probably set up anything. The following day, a strong tide is rapidly dumping out of the river were fishing, exposing a sandy beach. Promnitz said later he might have been close enough to cast a jig to them. Our Packages are based on 2 Anglers, notice that this is a suggestion you can add Anglers, days or combine it with other locations. A surreal feeling begins setting in as the soft light of evening meets the low slack tide. The Life of Ryan. Magdalena Bay fishing area weather was mostly clear in the mid-90s, with water temperatures at 78 to 84 degrees. When we reached Thetis Bank, the crew put us in over an 80-foot high spot, though wind and currents quickly moved the kayaks off. In short, a Puerto Vallarta fishing adventure is what angling dreams are made . We work in partnership with ex-fishermen panga captains who turned to eco-experiences and have the knowledge and network to absolutely maximize your experience here. With options to fish in the Bay, inshore and offshore, you'll be sure to have an amazing time fishing Mag bay. Its easy to understand that the more remote a location is, the less fishing pressure it receives. The largest town along the bay, Puerto San Carlos, has a handful of hotels and restaurants and is a great base for whale-watching or exploring the bay. A lively circle-hooked tinker mackerel is the perfect snack for a hungry striped marlin. A spectacular example of what biologists call "island endemism," Isla Magdalena also offers solitude, bay and ocean recreation, bird watching, hiking and spectacular views, all while being within reasonable distance of pleasant accommodations in the bustling fishing village of San Carlos. The fishing in Mag Bay is diverse and plentiful. The appreciation for Mag Bay comes from the secrets she keeps. In the morning, the bait schools were bigger and were running together as a group, rather than trying to hide in a ball. I can deal with anything at all to get to the great fishing, but here the trip is simple, the place is fantastic, and the fishing is utterly ridiculous. Landing this exotic and surprising prize opened our imaginations. Hot b-fast, pre-pack lunch & cold beverage to-go. his Lodge was built nearly 30 years ago by some well respected Americans with a vision for fishing in Mag Bay that was far ahead of the time. Hundreds of miles of Mangroves Inshore for countless species But there is more to Magdalena Bay than the sardine run. This experience leads to an appreciation that goes beyond the norm, beyond expectation, and certainly beyond fishing trip.. Striped marlin are not easy to tease to the boat to begin with, and the ones at the bank seem to be well-fed and a bit more jitteryprobably because of the number of boats that chase them around. Winning this round, Nick holds a handsome golden trevally that has taken the place of the snook and marlin we came to catch. We all know that fishing in Mag Bay is world class. Dorado, Tuna, Sailfish, Marlin, and even Wahoo likely on the Fly Are Wahoo in the bay too? Any info would be greatly appreciated . The marlin pulled me through and over large bait balls, with frigate birds wheeling just overhead.