That's My Story

PHOTO 1: Fishing in the fall can lend itself to alot of variety with inshore fishing. Offshore fishing can be even more spectacular!

THE UNEXPECTED FALL

Originally Published in Western Outdoor News the Week of Oct. 6, 2009

I’m sitting here looking at some of the gloomiest Baja weather I’ve seen in a long time. Short of a hurricane coming in, this reminds me of summer days in Southern California when the marine layer just hangs over the beaches. Supposedly sunny beach days like the type you see in all the Chamber of Commerce ads are just dreary grey. The water and sky are the same color that you can’t tell where one ends and the other begins.

And that seems to be the gist of weather this fall here in Baja. Weather patterns are all askew. Bright sunshine one day and rainy tropical day the next. Calm waters one day then furious winds from all directions the next. Incredible humidity and no sun is interrupted later in the week with freaky thundershowers.

I think, so far, this has been the oddest fall in my 15 years down here in Baja.

From our own experiences as well as communicating with other operators and friends in Baja, the fishing appears to have reflected that as well. I think the word is “streaky.”

Normally, the fall is some of the best time to be in Baja. Balmy weather and afternoon breezes are the norm. Humidity is down. Storms season, at least by October, is largely past. It’s cooler than the summer, but the ocean can be bath-water warm and clear scuba-diver clear!

Likewise, it’s prime-time fishing as well. There’s a reason that so many of the major fishing tournaments take place in the fall. It’s probably the most popular time for fishing as well. Not vacationing. Fishing!

The big blue and black marlin kings prowl the waters during this time. The fat growler tuna come up from the deep canyons. Schools of dorado forage voraciously. Wahoo roll onto the high spots with trophy roosterfish marauding along the white sand beaches.

This year, it seems things are topsy-turvy. Billfish can be hit-or-miss. They are on fire one week then AWOL the next week with seemingly no change in conditions. Same for the dorado and tuna. They crash for several days then disappear to who-knows-where or go completely lockjaw ignoring baits tossed right in front of them. A wide-open wahoo bite one day turns into the desert the next day? Where’d they all go?

Roosterfish that were terrorizing the baitfish along the beaches suddenly turn to…sierra? Wait a minute. Sierra normally don’t show up until the cold waters of winter roll into the Sea of Cortez. What are sierra doing here? So are pargo and cabrilla which are normally taken in cooler waters.

Go figure. That’s the Baja and, although you may not get the weather or the species you had anticipated, it’s part of the adventure.

It’s unpredictability, especially this season is also part of the attraction. So, the marlin doesn’t hit your trolled feather, you may end up with the largest dorado you’ve ever taken. The roosters are gone, but you had never gotten 20 sierra in a day on light tackle either. Those high spots that usually hold the wahoo, might just produce a big fat 80 pound amberjack or dog tooth snapper instead. That’s what makes it fun.

And the weather, just roll with it also.

If it’s windy, adjust. Another good reason for the windbreaker. If it’s too rough outside, fish inshore. Or, know that this is a transitional time as we approach the winter months. The winds will blow a day or two then diminish for a few days.

I always bring a light windbreaker any time I am on the ocean anyway. Bring one down now. It’s light and doesn’t take much room. Or, in a pinch, grab a plastic trash bag and cut out a hole for your head and two for your arms. You’re covered if it rains. You’re good to go!

It usually doesn’t rain long anyway. You can often see storms coming if you’re on the water and literally watch columns of dark water coming from the approaching clouds. Of course, don’t take chances if it’s a serious storm.

But, if it’s just a little tropical blow, sometimes it is so distinct, you can actually drive around it. Rain will fall in one spot but 10 yards away, not a drop! Or, you get wet for 10 minutes…enough to wash the sweat and sunscreen off of you and blood off your arms, then the sun comes blazing again.

The unexpected is part of the Baja adventure!

Jonathan Roldan is the Baja Editor and his column appears every other week. He can be reached in La Paz at: riplipboy@tailhunter-international.com