BAJA PANGA TRIP OUT OF LA BOCANA TO FISH AROUND PUNTA CHINA

Nov. 11, 2004, Paul Montgomery, Punta China, Puerto Santo Tomas, Mexico Fishing Trip Report:

Tom Kingsley and I just spent five days at La Bocana, south of Puerto Santo Tomas, and the weather and the fishing were both very cooperative. We mainly fished an area of the Baja California coast around Punta China and on one day as far south as Punta San Jose for lots of quality reds and lingcod, some large whitefish. and a couple of grande sheephead.

We went down there on Friday and fished until Tuesday this week. We fished about 2 to 3 miles off Punta China and Punta San Jose in 120 to 200 feet of water. We fished several spots south of Punta China I had never tried before. Some of them had lots of quality fish and some of them held nothing that wanted to eat. Lots of rocks at all the spots we stopped on. Trying to use iron became an exercise in frustration and very expensive, so we pretty much stuck to bait.

Most days we trolled back with Rapalas and Yo-Zuris and picked up a few bonito in the 5 to 6 lb class. We used cut-up giant squid and mackerel for the rockfish.

We went out with Jorge Kamel and Ramon, both local pangueros. The road into Puerto Santo Tomas was in fair to poor condition. You can make it OK if you take it easy but I wouldn't recommend anyone driving it at night.

Overall it was a great trip. I didn't get a water temp. but it was fairly cold, probably mid 50's.

(See "Mexico Fishing News" online for current fishing reports, photos, weather, and water temperatures from Puerto Santo Tomas and other major Mexican sportfishing areas. Vacation travel articles, fishing maps and seasonal calendars, and fishing related information for Puerto Santo Tomas may be found at Mexfish.com's main Puerto Santo Tomas page.