That's My Story

WORKING THE SHORE – Published April 2005 – Western Outdoor News

I get asked all the time about surf fishing in my area. Being in La Paz, well, I have to couch my answer a bit. When I hear the question, I have to say “No, but….”

You see, mostly when I get asked that kind of question, I know that the person asking really envisions long stretches of pristine beaches with breakers and rocks and structure or sharp cliff drop offs. You know, they’re looking for the “picture book” Baja surf fishing. Can’t blame ‘em, because that’s usually what I envision too. But, where I am in La Paz, the bay isn’t exactly surf fishing heaven. It’s a big shallow sandy bay. It’s pretty to look at and makes for some great kayaking and many a Kodak moment, but it’s not exactly a prime surf fishing destination. However, there’s a lot of places in the Baja that really aren’t that great, at least not by traditional thought.

Take the guy who happens to just want to kill a little time with his spinning rod or baitcaster. He doesn’t want to travel way down the beach to the hot surf spot or maybe he’s stuck around a place where there’s nothing but man-made structure like a marina, docking area or there’s jet skis and tour boats blasting by. But, he’s jone-sing to squeeze in some water time before dinner; before the tour bus comes; before he has to go shopping with his wife for t-shirts for the grandkids. You know what I’m talking about.

The operative word here is “structure.” Look around you. If there’s water and structure, chances are there’s fish. My own epiphany took place a number of years ago, eating at a marina sea-side watering hole. Occasionally, I would hear a big “kersplash” and I was sure I could see dark shapes moving around under some of those mega-yachts. However, being in a big-city Mexico marina, often dark things floating in and around boats are best left alone! I was sure my polarized glasses and ears were being deceived by the hot sun and chilly doses of marguerites.
However, several days later, I was paddling into the marina on my kayak after an unsuccessful kayak fishing trip and happened to be dragging a silver spoon lazily behind the boat when “WHAM!” Fish on! Short fight and a 10 pound pargo later, I had dinner in the hatch.

That got me looking a little closer around some areas that I had previously ignored. I think it was Dick Gaumer, famous for working the bays and inlets of S. California who had told me once that a” marina is nothing more than thousands or pieces of structure.” There are pilings, ropes, debris, wrecks and other stuff in every body of water made by man. Each boat is nothing more than another piece of structure for fish to hide under. After Hurricane Marty hit La Paz several years ago, more than 100 boats were wrecked in one marina and many never really got fully salvaged. I have had diver friends of mine who do maintenance on boats tell me that some of those wrecks are turning into fish hotels with jacks, pargo, snapper and other species using them for cover.

I recently, had one fishing client of mine pull a 20 pound pargo out from under the docks and tell me he saw larger ones. It’s the same everywhere. There are countless days when I have not been able to go out when I’ve had a blast with a spinning rod and a spoon, crank bait, or popper and gone to town with roosterfish, jacks, barracuda and other species caught in and around the docks of Loreto, Cabo, La Paz, San Quintin and Santa Rosalie. It was a great way to kill a few hours although not your traditional “Baja surf fishing.”

Find the structure. Find the fish.

SIDENOTE: My amigo, mentor and fellow WON Baja editor, Gene Kira has recently acquired the rights to “The Unforgettable Sea of Cortez” his dynamite coffee table book about our predecessor Ray Cannon about the golden years in the Baja. This is a MUST book for any Baja nut and it’s filled with stories and those great old-time photos. The book went out of print and Gene has now acquired the rights to get it back on the shelves. I have bought several myself for gifts when it was last out. He’s looking for advance orders and can do it for $39.95. You really shouldn’t miss this. Gene can be reached at gene@mexfish.com or his website at http://www.bajadestinations.com/ .

That’s my story…
Jonathan