Author: That Baja Guy-Gary Graham

A game changer is an event that alters your life’s path in an irrevocable way. During my lifetime there have been many – some so subtle that they were barely noticed – while others were such momentous events that they will never be forgotten. The following event began with a barely perceptible nudge – a gag gift – and the full ramification wasn’t discovered for several months. So begins my story. Sportfishing must have been in my DNA. My first fish, a surf perch, was caught on a single hook on a linen line, hand-dropped down between wooden planks into…

Mark your calendars and celebrate the momentous 70th Anniversary of the Fred Hall Shows. Visit Fred Hall Long Beach Show on March 2-6 and Fred Hall San Diego Show on March 17-20, 2016. Ram Ultimate Air Dogs will return! Kid’s Trout Fish free! Information packed seminars! BD is announcing their upcoming Fred Hall 2016 Digital Show Guide, a new tradition among these historic show events. The guide includes show specials, cool articles, featured products and much more. Stay tuned for more information. You won’t want to miss it! “Save the dates!” Fred Hall, the P. T. Barnum of Sport Fishing Fred…

Sign up now for IGFA’s Observer Training Course: IGFA OBSERVER TRAINING Upcoming Observer Training Courses March 5, 2016 – 11 am – 3 pm at the Fred Hall Show, Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach, California, USA What is Observer Training? The International Game Fish Association’s Observer Training allow offshore billfish tournaments the option of a 100% release format with trained and experienced observers on board to verify catches and educate anglers about IGFA rules. Having observers trained to identify billfish species and confirm the legality of catches under frantic tournament conditions virtually eliminates the need to bring dead fish to the dock for official scoring.…

Gary Sport fishing and dating had never worked for me. I wasn’t opposed to the idea; I even knew a few couples who fished together frequently and seemed to enjoy sharing their common interest in the sport, but I had never met someone that I was interested enough to invite. My first few Baja trips with Yvonne were more about sun and fun than fishing. We had ventured on several camping trips on various Baja beaches with our five kids which happened to include fishing.  These trips were filled with enthusiasm by all. Our first serious offshore fishing trip together wound…

Rancho Leonero John Ireland, owner of Rancho Leonero in East Cape, joined hosts Pete Gray and Rick Maxa on the “Let’s Talk Hookup” radio show recently. His voice was saturated with emotion as he described his first visit to the magnificent undeveloped stretch of Baja landscape which would become the “Ranch” more than 35 years ago. After that very first visit, when he explored every corner of the immense property – even snorkeling the shallow reef teeming with sea life – Ireland knew that somehow, some way, ultimately this corner of East Cape would be his. “The view from the…

Sportfishing Progress Thanks to SAC In 2014, the Mexican Government began implementing a number of policy changes regarding angler access, licensing and bag limits. In order to increase understanding and dialogue, the Sportfishing Association of California (SAC) led by President Ken Franke with Board approval, expanded SAC’s efforts to encourage ongoing communication and cooperation between the local governmental officials in selected cities in Baja and Mainland Mexico and sportfishing leaders. Before arranging for their first trip, the SAC team visited Mazatlán and Cabo San Lucas; then in May of 2014, the team led by Captain Ken Franke, SAC President, and…

Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot In October and November 2015, 385 teams competed in four sport fishing tournaments in Los Cabos for $5,239,700 in prize money. Some targeted billfish only, one featured yellowfin tuna and the other two featured billfish with gamefish divisions. The last of the four events, the 17th Annual WON/Yamaha Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot, attracted the largest number of teams and paid the second highest Jackpot with its “Fish hard, party harder” motto as the cornerstone for the event. As the teams assembled for check in, their “Team Spirit” wrapped in fervor and excitement was contagious. Veteran teams…