Author: That Baja Guy-Gary Graham

Baja Yellowtail Striped Marlin, tuna and rockfish spice up the New Year’s sportfishing prospects from Ensenada down to Vizcaino Peninsula, while the striped marlin bite begins to slide downhill from the “Finger Bank” closer to Land’s End. That Baja Guy Que Pasa Yes! The rumors are true! Baja Yellowtail, Striped Marlin & Tuna Sportfishing Snow has fallen in Baja Norte as evidenced by this photo of the foothills at Bahia de Los Angeles. Tijuana Bull Ring No big bonito have been found recently, though there is a good chance that some are still around. They have been a few seen…

We have long believed ourselves very fortunate to have made so many friends along the way these past 50 years in Baja bytes and beyond, whether through fishing or any of our many other projects. There’s hardly a day goes by that we don’t communicate with some of you, whether by social media, phone calls or in person. We enjoy your friendship. You have made our lives interesting and exciting. And we look forward to sharing with you whatever Baja bytes has to offer in 2019. Happy New Year! That Baja Guy and his Gal (Gary & Yvonne) Que Pasa…

Glimmer Beacon – A Conservation Success Story A previous article regarded successful businessman Mike McGettigan in the early 2000’s who had dived and fished in the Sea of Cortez since 1972 and had watched the rapid destruction of the fisheries in the Sea in the 1970s and ’80s. These activities had spurred him to found SeaWatch, an organization to expose the destruction and illegal fishing practices. Red de Observatorio Ciudadano or ROC, the first citizen-driven vigilance in the Bay of La Paz that SeaWatch and NOS, a local NGO, started and funded in 2009, worked for just under two years cutting…

Van Wormer Resorts Welcomes You to Baja Nearly seven decades ago, in a remote area that time had forgotten, the East Cape area of Baja attracted the attention of a few fishermen. With its access to some of the most fertile waters in the eastern Pacific, tales were told of remarkable catches so close to shore it seemed impossible. The few fishermen became a trickle, attracting Western Outdoor News columnist Ray Cannon and Field and Stream writer Chris Dufrense. Hundreds of thousands of words later, the imaginations of many were fueled and a torrent of anglers began arriving in search…

https://www.bdoutdoors.com/merry-fishmas/ Que Pasa I just returned from a seven-day long-range fishing adventure to Guadalupe Island onboard the Shogun. In addition to great tuna fishing, the trip also included a stop at the remote lobster fishing village on the island, where some 53 of the residents are children. The boat’s owner, Frank LoPreste, got the name and age of all 53 of those children, and with the financial contributions of numerous San Diego boat operators, and the shopping efforts of Mrs. LoPreste, a huge pile of gifts was delivered – some were communal items like a heavy-duty volleyball set –…

Reports of rain from Loreto on down to East Cape remind us that we do have a winter in Baja. Not many anglers have arrived as Christmas looms ahead of us. They are probably doing a little last-minute shopping. For the few who are fishing, it’s bottom fishing on the west coast of Baja with an occasional yellowtail mixed in. Above Cabo San Lucas, on the “Finger Bank,” the reports continue to dazzle those willing to make the long run uphill … still double-digit releases. Closer to the tip there are a few billfish, plus at least one monster tuna…

Approximately 40 Gray FishTag Research Scientific Advisory Board Members, GFR Marketing Partners, scientists, marine researchers, hotel owners, fleet owners, captains, publishers, members of the press and staff were on hand when Bill Dobbelaer, President of Gray Fishtag Research, Inc., (GFR) opened the 4th Annual Gray FishTag Research Symposium on Dec. 7 at the Lighthouse Point Yacht Club in Lighthouse Point, Florida. Dobbelaer observed that he was “it was absolutely shocking, the number of folks present,” adding that “many had traveled thousands of miles from two continents to attend the event.” Continuing, he briefly introduced each participant, their background and their…

Que Pasa Striped marlin spotted off Ensenada? Yellowtail and grouper at Abreojos? And at Magdalena Bay, the stripers are still chasing baitballs with dorado and tuna joining in the chase. Above Cabo San Lucas, the Finger Bank is still the place to fish for double-digit billfish. While up in the Sea of Cortez the rain and wind come and go but dorado, wahoo and yellowtail ignore the weather and continue to bite from the tip to Loreto. Is it really December? Tijuana Bull Ring Rock fishing is still decent at the usual hard bottom spots off the Bullring. You might…

Monster yellowfin tuna, double digit striped marlin are already making this a special December for Baja Anglers. Add in giant snook at Magdalena and some roosterfish on the fly on Baja Sur beaches. Plus some winter dorado at Loreto makes this month a keeper already. What do you want for Christmas? Que Pasa The seizure of commercial fishermen and their panga recently that were capturing and killing marlin illegally at the Finger Bank by CONAPESCA (fish and game department) and the Mexican Navy. Our boats fishing the Finger Bank have seen several boats many times harpooning marlin and using…

Those who want to escape the shopping, sales and holiday bargains, fishing at Land’s End is on fire! A lot of nice-size tuna, some 200+ pounds; incredible wide-open action for striped marlin, not seen like this for many years on the Pacific Banks. And conditions couldn’t be nicer with calm winds. All the way from Mag Bay, to Finger and Golden Gate Banks, more than 20 marlin per charter was reported. Also, at Mag Bay, it was reported 6 of the biggest snook/robalo seen recently were caught and 6 were lost. Even with the North Winds, dorado up to 20-pounds,…

My first visit to Loreto nearly a half-century ago stimulated my life-long fascination with Baja that seems to be insatiable. Development in many of the more popular Baja destinations, i.e., Los Cabos and La Paz, seemed to explode over the years, while Loreto, the oldest city in Baja, seemed to take a slower, more deliberate growth path. Along with the six offshore islands in the Sea of Cortez, Loreto has been protected by the Federal Government since 2000 as the Bay of Loreto National Park, preserving it for future generations to enjoy. UNESCO further recognized Loreto as a World Heritage…

While most are thinking about turkey and stuffing, the striped marlin are still practically chewing the paint off the bottom of the boats at the Finger Bank above Land’s End with double-digit releases, along with a few dorado, yellowfin tuna and wahoo in the mix. It’s as good as Magdalena according to the locals. The Vizcaino Peninsula from Bahía Asunción to Abreojos is producing some variety to the expected yellowtail bite with an occasional wahoo or dorado. Then farther up into the Sea of Cortez, from East Cape to Loreto, the North Winds hamper the quality of the fishing trips.…

The largest sailing regatta on the West Coast, the Baja Ha Ha, gathered at the entrance of Shelter Island Harbor Basin, San Diego at 10 a.m. on October 29. Cmrd. Kris Szcechowicz, USCG Sector San Diego Prevention Department Commander fired the starting shot – a blast with the original America’s Cup starting gun from the stern of San Diego-based sportfishing boat Dolphin. kicking off the 750-mile voyage from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The participants were aboard the colorful parade of ships of all descriptions and lengths, with some members of their crew still dressed in their costumes…

Striped marlin are at the top of the heap this week with double digit-releases at both Magdalena Bay and down the Pacific side closer to Land’s End at the Finger Bank. Second to the top would be wahoo at Magdalena Bay where limits are common right now. Beyond that Ensenada, Loreto and East Cape are still enjoying the last gasps of the great fall season that was enjoyed this year. Take Our BD Member’s Survey for A Chance to Win https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/T5J9YQF Que Pasa WON Tuna Jackpot second highest turn-out yields record payouts Saturday evening saw the conclusion of the 20th…

From Ensenada past the Vizcaino Peninsula to Magdalena Bay and the Finger Bank above Baja’s tip, marlin fishing is excellent — if this is what winter is like…bring it on! Read on fellow anglers. Que Pasa The recent Pelagic Rockstar Tournament was an interesting prelude to the upcoming, larger WON Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot Tournament scheduled to begin on Thursday. At last report, the Tuna Jackpot had nearly 150 teams signed up already. With all the cow-sized tuna brought to the scale recently, their Weigh Station on the Malecon in front of Hotel Tesoro is the place to be Thursday…

Below the border on the Pacific Side cooling sea temperatures seem to be slowing the fall fishing. Particularly around the Coronado’s. Further sown the coast striped marlin at Magdalena bay are heating up on schedule. On the Sea of Cortez side , still good fishing at BOLA and on down the east coast of Baja. Van Wormers Tuna Shootout was a hit again this year with 46 teams participating. Bill fishing was slow for everyone as Cat 3 “Willa” stirred things up. Next week is the Inaugural Rockstar! Tuna Tournament presented by Pelagic November 2-4 in Cabo followed by WON…

In 2014, the Mexican government began implementation of policy changes regarding angler access, licensing and bag limits. In order to increase understanding of these changes and dialogue between Mexico and the U.S., the Sportfishing Association of California (SAC) led by President Ken Franke with Board approval, expanded their efforts to encourage ongoing joint communication and cooperation between the local government officials and sportfishing leaders in selected cities in Baja and Mainland Mexico. Before arranging for their first trip, the SAC team visited Mazatlán and Cabo San Lucas. Then, in May, 2014, the team led by Capt. Franke and including Kenia…

Bisbee Black And Blue 2018 On its current predicted track, Tropical Storm Vicente has the Bisbee Team looking over its shoulder in Cabo San Lucas. Although late in the year, it may cause some rain and wind mid-week. http://www.eebmike.com/ Monday afternoon there will be a Memorial at Baja Cantina to celebrate Bisbee Tournaments Founder Bob Bisbee’s remarkable life. https://www.bdoutdoors.com/bob-bisbee-srs-amazing-life/ Que Pasa LCO Day Two – 458-Pound Black Marlin crushes the competition by 3-pounds! The first black marlin to the scales, a 455-pounder, was caught by angler Luis Roman Duran Lopez, a local business man who owns a hardware store in…

Que Pasa Several storms in a row have taken their toll on Baja. By all accounts, Mex 1, from above Guerrero Negro to Ensenada, have the usual wash-outs. When the winds finally let up, the fishing on the Pacific side has been fair, and on the Sea of Cortez side, the winter winds are soon coming, and sea temps are cooling; so far, the one exception is around the tip. Tijuana Bull Ring Fair-to-good bonito fishing has been found in the flats under the birds, with schools popping up right outside the kelp line out to about 40 fathoms. Troll…

For more than a century the Tuna Club of Avalon has established itself a haven for ethical angling, spawning an impressive list of accomplished anglers in search of the challenges only found in big game sportfishing. It was officially founded June 15, 1898 by biologist, author and sportsman, Charles Frederick Holder and friends prompted by Holder’s June 1, 1898 historic catch of a 183-pound bluefin tuna after a four-hour struggle with rod and reel. He used a 7 1/2-foot rod, equipped with a “knuckle-buster” reel filled with 600-feet of 21-thread linen line and a leader made of piano wire. Holder…

UPDATE 10-9   3:20-pm In session of the State Council of Civil Protection in # LaPaz , it was reported on the follow-up and trajectory of # Hurricane Sergio , where it was agreed that starting on Thursday, October 11 and until further notice the ports are closed to all maritime navigation from Puerto Chale to Isla Natividad in the Pacific and from Tembabiche to Parallel 28, in the Gulf of California, likewise we follow the instruction of the president of the State Council, the C. Governor, Carlos Mendoza Davis, to move and incorporate us as representatives and liaison in the…

Hurricane Rosa threatens the Pacific coast of Baja and the wahoo bite takes off in Mag Bay and the East Cape in this week’s Baja Bytes fishing roundup. Que Pasa – Hurricane Rosa Threatens Cedros Island Send your good thoughts to Cedros Island. “Rosa” is now a tropical storm passing close by to the west of the Island. We had to cancel trips on Friday and for today (Monday), and get other clients out early over the weekend. Therefore, you need trip insurance, especially in the fall, my friends! They got a lot of rain overnight from Hurricane Rosa as…

A modest beginning by today’s standards, the Ehrenberg’s saga began four decades ago when Marco Ehrenberg’s father Peter, Sr., and his brother Peter, Jr. began Pisces Sportfishing in La Paz. It started with Karina, a 28-foot Uniflite-knockoff cruiser built in La Paz by Baja pioneer boat-builder, Mac Shroyer. The new business venture flourished and soon they added two more 28-foot cruisers to the fleet. Those became the gold-standard for sportfishing cruisers in Baja Sur’s fledgling sportfishing industry for several decades. As remarkable as it seems, two of those original boats, the Adriana and the Andrea, remain in service in the…

Que Pasa September in Baja lived up to its reputation for squirrelly weather again this week as rain squalls (not hurricanes) put a dampener on fishing for the better part of the week. By Friday, weather improved, and yes, the yellowfin tuna dominated catches from the tip to La Paz, while the upper part of the Sea of Cortez suffered more from a lack of interest than a lack of fish. On the Pacific side, from Magdalena Bay all the way up to Cedros, it was game on for wahoo, dorado and you guessed it — more yellowfin. Tijuana Bull…