EXPLORING AND FISHING THE BAJA
BEACHES SOUTH FROM PUNTA BAJA

Feb. 8, 2005, Matt Quilter, Punta Baja Area, Baja California, Mexico:

I tagged along with some old friends who were trying to find waves on the coast in the area south of El Rosario. Alas, we found few waves, and even less fish. We explored numerous beaches and campsites from Punta Baja, Baja California, as far south as Campo Nuevo in the Punta San Fernando area. We got lost and found a decent break and nice camping down an arroyo somewhere near Agua Blanca.

We spent the next five days exploring numerous Baja arroyos and coves, all with almost identical reefs and beaches. I figured that as long as there was water, I could find a place to fish, but I was not able to find a single point with deep enough water to throw plastic, and the beaches were cobble and rock, and choked with seaweed and grass.

We managed exactly three barred surf perch. Luckily, we ran into Salvador, the jefe at Campo Nuevo, and he traded us some fish for some beer, so we at least had one killer batch of ceviche. He was on his way to El Rosario with his catch---a couple of white buckets filled with mostly sheephead, whitefish, and sargo, with one lonely calico bass.

Salvador works the Campo Nuevo fish camp, nice operation with about 10 pangas. Looks like they head way out to fish. I lost sight of them. I should have asked if they take gringos out for charter.

All this being said, we greatly enjoyed the area---decent camping, met lots of nice locals, and there is some surf potential on the right swell. We would go back.

I would like to correspond with anyone who has found somewhere to successfully shore fish in this Baja area, particularly somewhere to chuck plastic off the rocks into fishable water. Contact me at mazion@comcast.net for any ideas for future trips.