QUINTIN BUS HAUL--Steve McNamara of Paso Robles and Mel Holk of West Covina with some nice albacore caught during a charter bus trip to San Quintin organized by Steve Barstow of the Sportsmen Pub in Paso Robles. Photo courtesy Steve Barstow.

GREAT ACTION FOR BUS GROUP INCLUDES OFFSHORE ALBACORE TUNA

June 29, 2004, Steve Barstow, Sportsmen Pub, San Quintin fishing, Baja California, Mexico:

The Sportsmen Pub Group from Paso Robles, CA, returned from San Quintin Tuesday night, 6/22/04 after two days of great fishing. The group of 18 fishermen traveled from Paso Robles by bus, with pick up spots in Southern California, directly to San Quintin.

We used 6 boats from San Quintin’s Pedro’s Pangas. In addition to the usual abundance of Red Rock Cod, Ling Cod, Calicos, and Yellowtail, our group landed over 30 albacore, all over 25 pounds. The largest, a 40 lb Albie, was caught by Gerald Ho, (with the help of Joe Win!). Everybody caught fish!" The group stayed at the Old Mill Resort, enjoying the usual congenial hospitality of Nancy and Jim Harer. "Even though the wind came up Sunday early afternoon, we still caught several limits. The water temps were in the low 60’s. Monday the seas were very calm. Over half of the Albies were caught Monday."

"In the years I have been doing these trips, this has to be one of the best!" For information on future all-inclusive trips, contact me at

1-800/894-7239 or SportsmenPub@Charter.net

I used a charter company out of Clovis (Fresno suburb) called Cloud 8 Travel. This is the first time I have used them and I was extremely happy. Great, comfortable and big bus with VCR and restroom. The trip I set up included R/T transp from CA to San Quintin with beverages and snacks on the bus, three nights at the Old Mill, San Quintin, two days fishing (Pedro's Pangas), a banquet the last night with gift certs (Big 5) door prizes and group T-Shirts. I charged $495/person dbl+ occupancy.

We left Paso Robles at 4AM Sat 6/19, made pick ups in La Crescenta, Mira Loma, Elsinore and Temecula. We made a couple of other stops for smoke breaks. We arrived in San Quintin approximately 4:30PM, got situated in our rooms, then the bus took us down to Cielito Lindo for dinner. Sunday we had 6 boats on the water and caught limits or near limits of rock cod, ling cod and a few albacore. Sun night we bussed to El Jardines de Baja for dinner.

Monday the water was flatter with less wind and our group boated over 30 albacore, several yellowtail and again limits of the reds and lings with a few calicos, sandies, whitefish and barries mixed in. Monday night we did our banquet at Don Eddies and just had a great time.

Everything worked out without any hitches. I am just amazed that San Quintin hasn't developed into a much bigger, glitzier destination than it has. These bus trips are great for the folks who are hesitant about driving south of the border, or who are by themselves and who just like the camaraderie of the common interest group.

We left San Quintin just after 5 AM Tues and stopped in Ensenada for breakfast. Instead of going through the mob scene at the San Ysidro crossing, we tried Tecate. This was the first time I had brought a bus through Tecate. It was so much easier and faster getting back accross. Coming home was very uneventfull.I will be hosting a free fish fry at my bar, The Sportsmen Pub, 622 12th St., 805/227-4463 in Paso Robles on July 25.

When Jerry and I head to Loreto tomorrow, we are going to go into LA Bay on Thurs so I can check it out as a possible destination for bus trips. My next trip to San Quintin will be August 14-17, and will be the same deal as the one just taken. For info, I can be contacted at 800/894-7239.

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