ANGLER BITEN BY RATTLESNAKE AT GONZAGA BAY

June 19, 2005, Doug Magee, Papa Fernandez, Gonzaga Bay, San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico Report:

Not much fishing to report from Gonzaga Bay. We have had a lot of hot west wind in the night. The water temperature is in the high 70s, and it is 77 degrees about 2 miles out. Fishing is a little slow. Only a few yellowtail were reported. The normal bass and triggerfish are there for the taking.

At mid night last night, we were awoken By Chichi Fernandez, to help a fisherman, Mike, from the U.S., that had been bitten on the foot by a rattlesnake while walking in his camp near El Faro.

He was driven by one of his party to San Felipe, which took 4.5 hours, the road is in very bad shape, to the St. James Infirmary, a relatively new hospital behind the main police station.

All of the staff there speak English and we have heard nothing but good reports from people who have used the facilities. The bite was a venomous bite. Mike is being transferred to the Hospital in Calexico.

There has been an abnormal amount of contact with the little critters this year. At this time the victim is doing well. Those remaining in camp, a father and son, are leaving to meet the victim and the driver in San Felipe this afternoon. For information on snake bites try sawyerproducts.com. They make an venom extraction device that should be in everyones camp gear.

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