RAIN REPAIRS--Crews work to repair rain damage to Mex 1 between San Quintin and El Rosario during Mike Steele's trip to Bahia de los Angeles last week. Photo courtesy Mike Steele.

LOTS OF WASHOUTS FOUND DURING MEX 1
BAJA ROAD TRIP TO FISH AT L.A. BAY

Feb. 19-21, 2005, Mike Steele, Bahia de los Angeles, Baja fishing trip, Mexico:

We ran down for a short President's Day trip for fishing at Bahia de los Angeles (L.A. Bay) and to get out of the Rain. Four anglers left San Diego on Saturday morning, and arrived at Rueben Daggett's Camp at Bahia De Los Angeles at around 2:30 p.m. The roads were okay, inspections were more than usual (4) and there were about 5 areas of flash flood waters crossing the road 1-2 feet deep. The Mexican government is doing an excellent job of keeping that road healthy. I saw crews working Saturday and Monday covering potholes, etc.

I photographed one washout between San Quintin and El Rosario. There were at least 5 to 6 of these along the way on Saturday morning. El Rosario said they had 5 days of rain at that period, with 3 straight. When you see rain in that region like that, remember to watch out for those washes. The Catavina washes were also 12 inches deep and full of potholes. Road crews were very active. At one point there was a man standing in the middle of nowhere with a red flag just out of San Quintin, where the road runs along the coast. He was warning us of a 4 foot pot hole. On the return of the 21st, the hole was repaired and crews were working on other areas. Also look for rock slides. I did see a nice one covering one lane just past El Rosario.

We went fishing Saturday morning north of Bahia De Los Angeles at the Guadalupe Reef area. We fished in 200-300 feet of 59 to 60 degree water, with jigs only and boated 22 yellowtail. The fish were 15 to 20 pounds, most caught on chrome/green sardine Megabait and the 6X white with yellow/green was the hot item. These fish are not line shy and we farmed at least half a dozen. We chased birds, at one point seeing an area of boils 30 yards wide, while all five of us were hooked up with fish. It was an epic Bahia De Los Angeles fishing day. Even though Ruben was down with the flu, he still did his best and filled the boat with fish. We headed back at 12:30 not because they were not biting, but because we had no more room on the boat filling the bait tank with yellowtail.

It was a great day of fishing at Bahia De Los Angeles. We headed back into the rain with no major events.