Positive Developments in the Northern Sea of Cortez

This press release details some of the efforts in the Northern portion of the Sea of Cortez to reduce impacts to the critically endangered Vaquita. These tiny porpoises (less than 5 feet long) are only found in the upper Sea of Cortez and fewer than 600 remain - some estimates place the total population at slightly over 200 (vaquita.org). Efforts to protect them should have added benefits of rebuilding fisheries in the region.

Mexico Works to Protect Endangered Sea of Cortez Porpoise
Monday, December 29, 2008
Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources

During the first two years of government, President Felipe Calderón's administration assigned over $174 million pesos to promote actions to protect the vaquita porpoise, $157 million of which were allocated to conservation and technological and productive reconversion, and $25 million to actions to preserve biodiversity in the Vaquita Sanctuary.

Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada explained that these resources have enabled 836 boats to stop fishing in the Protection Polygon and engage in other kinds of activities, and permitted the cancellation of 1,044 fishing permits, making 1,200 square kilometers of the Vaquita Sanctuary free of fishing and incidental capture.

These activities have been carried out in addition to the inspection and surveillance work undertaken on a permanent basis by the Naval Secretariat and the Federal Environmental Protection Bureau.

The government official added that the National Institutes of Ecology and Fishing engage in experimental work to test new, alternative forms of fishing that will not harm the vaquita and protect the environment. These include the prototype of a light drag net, a net enabling larger species to escape and traps for catching scale fish and shrimp.

As part of Semarnat's commitment to ensure the care and protection of endangered species, Elvira Quesada reported that the Acoustic Monitoring Cruise Ship recently observed a group of vaquitas on the coast of the state of Sonora, a crucial phenomenon, since there have been no records of the mammal in this part of the Upper Gulf of California for the past ten years.

The monitoring, carried out by Mexican, U.S., Canadian, English, German and Japanese experts, showed that the pod of porpoise detected is in good health and has not registered a decline in its population, estimated at 150.

He explained that the cruise ship's crew includes researchers from the Marine Mammals' Program of the National Institute of Ecology (INE); as well as specialists from the Southwest Fisheries Science Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Marine Fisheries Center (NMFS).

He said that at the request of fishermen from San Felipe, and with the help of INE personnel, discussion and analysis workshops were held in the municipalities of San Felipe, Golfo de Santa Clara, and Puerto Peñasco (all in the Upper Gulf of California), where it was agreed that fishing activities would have sustainable planning, with ecological equilibrium for a period of 50 years.

Lastly, the Semarnat director said that joint work is being carried out with the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fishing and Food; the governments and universities of the state of Baja California and Sonora; the Intercultural Center of Studies of Deserts and Oceans; and Pronatura to ensure that the pledges made are shared by the three orders of government and the scientific community, in order to advance towards the conservation and recovery of the species.

Ocean Oasis

Its been snowing off and on all week here in Southern Oregon. I really would like to be somewhere warm with big fish but for now this great video will have to do.

El Mogote Development

Although the fishing is not very good along El Magote, the long sand spit that protects La Paz, it is (was?) a beautiful place with potential as a fishing spot. Netting has taken a big toll along El Magote and I'm sure pollution from the city hasn't helped.

It is a great spot for kayaking and bird watching. Unfortunately, it as been subject to one of the most ill conceived development projects around. Barely rising above high tide and made of sand held together by vegetation including extensive mangrove forests, the long finger of El Mogote provided the frame to the spectacular sunsets the the La Paz Malecon is known for.

There is a website documenting some of the problems with this development:

Badwishtobuyparaiso.org

The real creepy thing about the El Paraiso development is the level of green washing in their marketing. They brag about a "certification" by Audubon International - NOT the well known and respected Audubon Society. Audubon International uses the name of the famous birder and conservation organization to provide green cover to the golf industry!

Their poor choice of location and deceptive advertising should serve as a warning to the future of this outfit. Likely, it will remain as another half built Baja development disaster with serious lingering environmental and for those that spent their money here economic damage.

Action Mexican Senate

Sorry, I've been a little busy this month and haven't had time to post. Hopefully, I can get more desitination and how-to stuff up early next year.

This article was posted on the ESPN webpage on December 10, 2008.

Billfish Foundation Study Generates Action in the Mexican Senate

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A recently released economic study commissioned by The Billfish Foundation (TBF) on the billion dollar-plus annual impact sport fishing brings to Mexico's greater Cabo San Lucas/Los Cabos region, has caught the keen attention and responsive actions of two of Mexico's senators.

Citing TBF's research on the value of sport fishing to the economy of Baja California Sur and all of Mexico, Senators Luis Coppola Joffroy and Humberto Andrade Quezada have placed upon the floor of the Mexican Senate an ambitious effort to utilize sport fishing as an economic development tool for all of coastal Mexico.

Of immediate importance is a proposal to amend Mexico's national fisheries law to specifically state that marlins, sailfish, swordfish, rooster fish and dorado are to be used exclusively for sport fishing and that these species may not be sold, even if taken as by-catch by commercial fisheries. Recent attempts by Mexico's fisheries agency, CONAPESCA, to establish liberal by-catch allowances for billfish, dorado and other species have drawn sharp criticism from sportfishing and conservation organizations.

"Once passed into law this clarifying language should prevent bureaucrats in CONAPESCA from ever again tampering with Mexico's historically profound sportfishing conservation regime," said Dr. Russell Nelson, TBF's chief scientist. The action was based off the comprehensive 126-page research study conducted in 2007 and 2008 to estimate the dollars, jobs and tax revenues created by anglers focusing on Baja Sur's "sport fishing triangle" showing the enormous effect sport fishing tourism brings to the area. The region includes the Los Cabos communities of East Cape, San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, all once small fishing locales.

In recent years, the region has become a major North American tourist destination driven heavily by its world-class striped marlin fishery. In turn, sport fishing has also become a major provider of jobs — over 24,000 — and has brought a huge revenue stream of dollars into Mexico's economy.

Nelson, along with Guillermo Alvarez, TBF's Mexican conservation director said information was needed to communicate the importance of the Los Cabos fisheries to its local, state and national leaders.

Headquartered in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., The Billfish Foundation works with governments worldwide advancing the conservation of billfish and associated species to improve the health of oceans and regional economies. It has been assisting in the Baja Sur region since 2002.
Besides Mexico's state and federal government officials, TBF President Ellen Peel said the report was distributed to industry and academic interests in Mexico as well. The results will also be presented before the national Chamber of Commerce in Mexico City in January.

The study showed in 2007, 354,013 people, most all of them international visitors, fished in Los Cabos. While there they spent an estimated $633.6 million dollars for lodging, charter boats, food, transportation, tackle, fuel, and more. These expenditures started a series of cascading economic effects in the local economy, creating: 24,426 jobs, $245.5 U.S. million in local and federal tax revenues, and $1.125 U.S. billion in total economic activity.

Additional benefits accrued were Los Cabos angler expenditures generating an added $145 U.S. million to Mexico's Gross Domestic Product; 10,469 additional jobs created elsewhere in Mexico and $75 U.S. million in taxes added to the federal coffers.

But the area has long attracted the interests of Mexico's "fishing mafia," and illegal foreign commercial long-liners and netters in the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California) waters and Pacific Ocean coasts.

Nelson said 88 percent of international anglers who have fished in Cabo said they would be less likely to return if they knew the commercial harvest of billfish increased.

The report revealed the most targeted species of interest for sport fishermen were dorado (also known as dolphinfish and mahi-mahi) registering nearly 95 percent with a success catch rate of over 81 percent. Marlin were second at nearly 90 percent with a success rate of over 82 percent and tuna were the third most popular at over 86 percent with a 75 percent success rate among the 10 species listed.

Juvenile dorado and tuna are also part of the food chain for the migrating billfish. The dorado, a species that under Mexican fisheries law is supposed to be strictly relegated for sport fishing, has for years attracted the interests of illegal commercial fishing. A highly controversial new regulation — NOM-029 — allows for the "incidental" harvest of billfish, dorado and other species within Mexico's 24 year-old conservation zones.

Recent seizures of illegal dorado catches in double digit tonnage have also produced headlines in Mexican newspapers and attention to its commercial fishing mafia.

Multiple tons of the illegal dorado catches, intentionally mislabeled, have crossed into the United States by semi-tractor trailer trucks through Arizona (Nogales) and California (Tijuana).
"This destructively affects fishing resources and the millions in tourist dollars that also support sport fishing such as catch-and-release for striped marlin in the region," said Nelson.

"This has been an up-and-down year for TBF in Mexico," said Ms. Peel," but we have ended 2008 with a huge success. Dr. Nelson's work with our economic study and Alvarez's commitment to unyielding advocacy before the Mexican government has turned the tide."

"Senators Coppola and Andrade should be hailed as true leaders in Mexico as they both clearly see that promoting sustainable development based on carefully managed sport fishing tourism is an economic and ecological win-win situation for that nation," emphasized Peel. "These two men are fighting for the region's life blood that is within the marine waters of the region — to destroy this resource would be economic suicide to thousands of jobs in Mexico."

The Cabo research study was produced by Southwick Associates, Inc. of Fernandina Beach, Fla., Nelson Resources Consulting, Inc. of Oakland Park, Fla. and Firmus Consulting of Mexico City, Mexico.

Submersable in the Sea of Cortez

This sounds like a fun project. It would be a blast to take a spin in this thing. Its also good to hear that they found some healthy fish populations.

Click here to go to the original article.

Expeditions Reveal Gulf of California’s Deep Sea Secrets, As Well As Human Imprints

Scientists from Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego returning from research expeditions in Mexico have captured unprecedented details of vibrant sea life and ecosystems in the Gulf of California, including documentations of new species and marine animals previously never seen alive. Yet the expeditions, which included surveys at unexplored depths, have revealed disturbing declines in sea-life populations and evidence that human impacts have stretched down deeply in the gulf.

In one expedition, researchers Exequiel Ezcurra (adjunct professor at Scripps Oceanography and former provost of the San Diego Natural History Museum), Brad Erisman (Scripps postdoctoral researcher) and Octavio Aburto-Oropeza (graduate student researcher) traveled on a three-person submarine to explore marine life in the Gulf of California’s deep-sea reefs and around undersea mountains called seamounts.

The DeepSee submersible gave the researchers unique access to environments below 50 meters (164 feet), depths virtually unknown in the gulf because of their inaccessibility below scuba diving levels.

“Our investigation resulted in many new discoveries, which included new species of invertebrates and possibly fishes,” said Erisman. “Similarly, we collected and observed species that had not been recorded in the gulf, had never been observed alive or had never been observed at such depths.”

“The synergistic collaboration between Scripps researchers and the San Diego Natural History Museum was the driver of this wonderful endeavor,” said Ezcurra. “We were able to raise the funds for the boat and the DeepSee submersible in record time, allowing us to invite some of Mexico’s top marine scientists to join the team. The long tradition of binational cooperation nurtured by the museum in its 134 years of life was instrumental in this collaborative development.”

Scientists at universities in Mexico are now conducting detailed genetic and morphological (form and structure) investigations to determine the species status of various animals.

But along with the excitement of discovery came disturbing signs of human impacts in the gulf’s depths, and, in particular, signals that overfishing has decimated ecosystems. Large schools of fish documented in earlier expeditions at locations such as El Bajo seamount have vanished. The researchers also say depths at comparable areas, such as Cocos Island off Costa Rica, reveal much more marine life and healthier ecosystems than those studied in the Gulf of California that are impacted by fishing and pollution.

“The human impacts in shallow areas have been well documented, but our observations make it clear that we are reaching down deeper and modifying the deeper ecosystems and their communities as well,” said Aburto-Oropeza. “We have lots of evidence of ghost nets with trapped animals at many depths, along with pollution, including beer cans, in each deep location we studied.”

The researchers hope their findings will reach beyond scientific circles and be incorporated into conservation and management plans to restore healthy marine-life populations and promote sustainable fisheries in the gulf.

Although the evidence of human encroachment was plentiful, the researchers also traveled to remote locations where sea populations thrived, destinations where human impacts are reduced or virtually non-existent. Such was the case at Las Animas, a seamount tucked halfway between Loreto and La Paz. At its location buffered from urban impacts, Las Animas suffers minimally from fishing and human activities.

There the researchers found booming fish populations, an extraordinarily rich variety of red snapper species, unique shrimp species and possibly new species of sea urchins and cucumbers.

During a separate expedition completed in October, Erisman and Aburto-Oropeza studied marine life at Cabo Pulmo, a protected national park near the southern tip of the Baja peninsula. Here again the researchers documented a “biodiversity hotspot” with thriving fish populations and a rich mix of sea life in the absence of human environmental pressures. They witnessed large tiger sharks, now a rarity in Baja California.

Erisman and Aburto-Oropeza say Las Animas and Cabo Pulmo, contrasted by the relatively depleted sea life witnessed at locations such as El Bajo, are examples of “shifting baselines,” the concept promoted by Jeremy Jackson, director of the Scripps Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation, and others. The term describes the deterioration of standards and failing to realize how much has changed over years and generations.

“At Las Animas and Cabo Pulmo, we have seen that if you leave areas without human pressure, the elements of the environment will allow them to rebound to a previous, more healthy ecosystem state,” said Aburto-Oropeza.

“These expeditions far exceeded what we expected,” said Erisman. “From the first dive, the results escalated in success as I witnessed a hundred times more organisms than I expected. It was amazing and we are excited about the possibilities.”

The custom-built DeepSee submersible, owned by expedition co-leader Steve Drogin, a San Diego photographer and marine explorer, allowed the scientists to survey marine life with its 360-degree-view glass dome. The researchers concentrated on marine life between 50 and 300 meters (164 and 984 feet), although DeepSee is capable of reaching 475 meters (1,500 feet).

Another startling discovery came in September on a separate expedition when Drogin and his colleagues discovered a hydrothermal vent just south of Loreto at a depth of 450 feet. Drogin reported dramatic views around the vent and water temperatures reaching 266 Fahrenheit degrees (130 degrees Celsius).

“It felt to me like walking into the middle of a forest fire, with flames shooting out. It was very dramatic,” said Drogin.

Abreojos and La Bocana

I wanted to post a couple of random links on the greater Abreojos and La Bocana region.

View Larger Map

La Bocana is a long skinny bay with Punta Abreojos to the Southeast and the town of La Bocana to the Northwest. There is little information on the area on the web but here's a couple interesting links.

I haven't been to this place and their webpages are a little sketchy but the price and location are right:
La Bocana Bed and Breakfast

These guys are gear anglers but their report gives an indication of some of the action that is available.
La Bocana Fishing Report from 2005

Here's a good run down on fishing in Estero Coyote at Campo Rene (east of Abreojos) by Doug Pierson who I met at Campo Rene where he generously showed me the basics of fishing this bay.

Doug's Estero Coyote Advice

And if you are interested in what all thise birds are here's a place to start:

Bird paper on Estero Coyote and Bocana

Oregon Needs Your Help

Since so many of my readers are in Oregon I wanted to post this important link to the CaddisFly's Oregon Flyfishing Blog:

Oregon Fly Fishing Blog joins Trout Unlimited and other conservation groups in opposition to the WOPR

Its hard to preach conservation in Mexico when we are not doing such a good job here at home. I encourage everyone, especially people from Oregon, to go to this link and send a message to our governor.

Great Link for Surf Fishing

Check out this link to a thread on the Southern California Surf Fishing discussion boards. You have to register but this thread is worth it and runs through everything you need to know to catch fish with a fly in the Pacific surf.

Marketing Baja

Here's a photo of the Beach at Coronado Island one of my favorite spots in Loreto Bay National Marine Park. The shallows that stretch from this beach over to the mainland can hold rooster fish and I have done well along this reef before but have also found plenty of nets here as well. There always seems to be something around at least a few barracuda or giant needlefish.

In continuation of my last post, I wanted to connect the articles on the poor tourist season in Loreto and the continued promises of the vultures bent on turning every beach into yet another "luxury" development. Forgive, my rant but I was heart broken to hear that a few of the timeshare sales people have migrated north from Cabo San Lucas and infected Loreto.

Check out this Baja Nomands forum for some of the ongoing discussion regarding the Mission Hotel. This cool hotel on the water front has been sitting abandoned and thrashed since the mid-1990s. Its a great spot, with the exception of the all night parties on the malecon on weekends, and I've always thought it could be great once again.

I copied this picture from the Baja Nomad Forum taken by Don Alley earlier this month.

The slick La Mission webpage says "Grand Opening November 2008" - you can even make reservations for next week!

Here's what it looks like on the their webpage:

So now in quiet little Loreto we have:

• annoying timeshare sales on the streets and in restaurants
• the failed promises of the Loreto Bay development
• word of large exclusive developments planned at San Bruno
• the beach closed off at Ensanada Blanca
• more marketing talking about sustainability in a place with limited fresh water
• and much, much more - San Basillo? Agua Verde? Conception Bay?

And here's the link that set me off to finally begin writing about this subject:

JW Marriott First Residential Development Comes to Baja, Mexico

Does this sound like a recipe for success? Loreto is an anglers town. No matter how many slick artist's renderings and fancy web pages are produced you can't change the fact that its hard to get to, there is limited water, the cold north wind blows all winter long, and in the summer its stifling with desert heat and Sea of Cortez humidity.

More to come...

News From Loreto

I don't know what species this fish is but I caught a few from the marina in Loreto last January. Anybody have any idea what this is? The weather was terrible and I only got out one day with my buddy Francisco. We managed to catch a few pinto bass, pierna, and a lupón. The lupón or scorpionfish has venomous spines - watch out!!! I didn't get a picture - overall it was a slow trip for fishing during a slow time of year. The highlight was the big international Sea Turtle Conference.

But I am rambling...

I wanted to post about Loreto today because of the following articles published in the El Sud Californiano on the 12th and 13th of November:

El sector hotelero atraviesa por una de sus peores crisis: Pellegrino
12 de noviembre de 2008
Javier Chávez Davis

Loreto, Baja California Sur.- El sector hotelero loretano está atravesando por una de sus peores crisis, así lo reconoció el presidente de la Asociación de Hoteles de este destino, Pascal P. Pellegrino, quien reveló que en las últimas semanas la ocupación ha disminuido históricamente a un 30%.

Entrevistado por este diario, señaló que desde el pasado mes de septiembre la baja afluencia de turismo se ha dejado sentir de forma drástica en esta ciudad.

Indicó que sin duda alguna la crisis económica que está azotando a Estados Unidos afecta de manera directa a Loreto y a sus principales empresas turísticas, pues un gran porcentaje de los visitantes proviene de la Unión Americana.

Pascal P. Pellegrino comentó, que a diferencia de otros años los hoteles de esta localidad están presentando una disminución del 60% en sus niveles de ocupación, agregando que esto mantiene en alerta a los empresarios y buscan urgentes soluciones al panorama.

Dijo que es difícil realizar una predicción de lo que pasará en los próximos meses, pero dejó entrever que el panorama no es alentador para la hotelería loretana.

El sector de la pesca deportiva vive unos de sus peores momentos
13 de noviembre de 2008
Raúl Villalobos Davis

Loreto, Baja California Sur.- El sector de pesca deportiva en el puerto de Loreto está viviendo una de sus peores épocas en muchos años, debido a la baja en la afluencia de visitantes, que se presentó durante la temporada de pesca deportiva de verano. Lo anterior nos lo han hecho saber trabajadores del mar que se dedican a la pesca deportiva en este puerto, quienes nos comentan que los resultados no fueron nada buenos.

Por lo que se espera un difícil año para los miles de ciudadanos que dependen de esta actividad en el puerto de Loreto, recalcando en este sentido que fueron muy pocos los visitantes que arribaron al puerto para disfrutar de la pesca deportiva. Las causas de esta baja en la afluencia de visitantes a ciencia cierta no las sabemos, manifiestan, ya que escuchamos muchos comentarios en torno a este asunto.

Cabe mencionar que durante las pocas ocasiones que salimos al mar obtuvimos buenas capturas, pero el haber tenido una excelente pesca de nada sirvió.

Desafortunadamente para los cientos y cientos de familias loretanas que dependen directamente de la pesca deportiva en el municipio de Loreto, este ha sido uno de los años más malos que se han tenido, por lo que sólo esperan poder soportar esta mala racha que está teniendo el sector.

Basically the first article says that hotel occupancy rates are way down and have dropped even farther in recent weeks. Given the current state of the US economy it is no surprise that things are slow in a place so dependent on tourists from the US. The second article talks about the bad sport fishing season - not the catch but the low number of anglers in town. A variety of sources have reported one of the best seasons in recent years for fish numbers and Pam from the Baja Big Fish Company reports that they had their busiest season ever. So its hard to know what to make of this. I guess the right business model targeting the right clientele succeeds.

I remember being in Loreto in January of 2002 and the emptiness of the bust that followed 9/11 in a tourism dependent town.

However, I wonder how much of the lack to anglers has to do with the continued decline in inshore fisheries. When pitching an article to an east coast-based editor of a major flyfishing magazine a couple of years ago he asked about declines in the fishery and said that a number of people had told him that things weren't as good as they used to be. We had a great conversation on the subject and he ended up publishing my story.

Don't get me wrong -I think the fishing is still good here in season and can be outstanding if you hit the right day. I still rate two back-to-back days in Loreto one August as my best fishing days ever. But its really hard to convince people when airline tickets from the west coast are $600+ and the nets and hooka divers continue to pound the reefs and inshore waters.

I'll write more on the recent changes to Loreto and why I think Loreto is being marketed to the wrong crowd in my next post.

Road to Abreojos

Since I've been writing about Abreojos a little lately I thought I would post a couple more pictures.

Here's what the last part of the road looks like:

Its really hard to get a good photo of the washboard that forms on these roads but it was only medium bad this day. Depending on when the last grader came through it might be smooth sailing or a kidney jarring crawl. The pavement is getting closer to town and its not that far on the gravel anymore. The road is flat and straight. The biggest danger here is driving too fast and loosing control or colliding with an oncoming vehicle. Although these roads can be hard on vehicles many locals drive regular cars without any problem.

This sign marks the turn off to Abreojos. Continuing straight leads to La Bocana and points west. Campo Rene is a few miles before town. Note that the blue sign at the bottom offers a reward for a lost license plate - a victim of the washboard road. I've watched screws in my dash spin out as we bumped down the road. Fortunately, after a few weeks of salt spray from the Pacific and nothing will rattle loose anymore.

Turtle Conservation Story

This is a cool article about some of the Sea Turtle work going on in Baja. It was first published in 2005. I've been thinking about posting it for a while. Since I just wrote about Abreojos and my buddies Javier Villavicencio and Isidro Arce are in the article I thought it might be a good time to add the link.

Javier and Isidro are great guys and have done much for their community. Their exploits include starting a Water Keepers group for Punta Abreojos, hosting surfing competitions, helping secure a Marine Stewardship Council Sustainable Certification for their local lobster fishery, managing a sea turtle monitoring program in Estero Coyote, capturing one of the most notorious turtle poachers in Baja, and they still mange to work full time as commercial lobster fishermen. I'll have to post more about them another day.

Punta Abreojos and Campo Rene

View Larger Map

The region west of Laguna San Ignacio has been one of my favorite parts of Baja for some time now. A lot of our travels have been in my non-air conditioned truck. The cool breezes of the Pacific Coast have provided relief from the heat and humidity of the Sea of Cortez on many trips.

The small community of Abreojos provides basic supplies. The town is prosperous due to its careful management of its Lobster and Abalone fisheries. Its not easy to get here - you can drive in but there is no bus service. Private planes can land at the airstrip next to the town (watch out for baseball games) or at Campo Rene. If you are adventurous you could take the bus to San Igancio and ask around for a ride.

The best fishing is in the late summer or early fall. The fly angler must be self sufficient. As far as I know I may be the only person to fly fish here. I would love to hear from anyone else who has tried.

Campo Rene located a few miles from town at the mouth of the mangrove-lined Estero Coyote has basic rooms and slightly salty somewhat hot showers for about $15 US/night. They also have a restaurant and bar, kayaks, peddle boats, and a boat ramp.

The mangrove-lined estero is loaded with fish but the fishing may be impacted by gill netting in the spring. Birds, clams, and sea turtles are abundant in the area and there are plenty of coyotes around as the bay's name suggests. The bay holds sand bass, snook, and sometimes halibut. At the entrance of the bay I've caught roncador (yellow finned croaker), corvina, surf perch, and plenty of highly toxic bullseye puffer fish. Pangas are inexpensive and target yellow tail, yellowfin tuna, dorado, and giant black bass that range up to 300+ pounds. Larger halibut can be found beyond the break at the main surfing point.

The mangrove channels of Estero Coyote and Estero La Bocana are great areas for kayak fishing.

Lobster, abalone, and oysters are available but be careful the cooperativa that manages these fisheries fiercely protects them from poachers. They can be purchased in season from the cooperative in Abreojos.

It can be windy and cool here so come prepared. If the Pacific fog rolls in things can be damp in the mornings.

I wrote about Campo Rene a little in my earlier post:

Baja Lunch

The Good Life

Its all about the lifestyle. I realized I haven't posted a photo in a while and things have been getting way too serious around here. If you look very closely you can see me fishing off the rocks below.

This is a great spot where we lived just north of Cabo San Lucas on the Pacific Coast. The fishing was sketchy due to the big surf and onshore winds that blew every day. However, we saw many marlin and sailfish jumping from our porch. We also saw a big hammer head shark swim by right in front of the rocks where I liked to snorkel when the surf wasn't too rough!!! Turtles nested on the beach here and obviously the dog liked the place.

PROFEPA Checking Licenses in Loreto

According to the Sud Californiano last saturday, PROFEPA (the Mexican agency in charge of fish and game enforcement) will be setting up permanent inspections of fishing licenses and marine park permits. The article is a little confusing stating that there will be different schedules at the marina, on the islands, and in the bay. However, it seems that they are threatening greater enforcement so buy a license, preferably localy, and support FONMAR!!!!

For more information on FOMAR check out my earier post on Fishing Licenses.

Personal de PROFEPA revisa las embarcaciones particulares
El Sudcaliforniano
25 de octubre de 2008

Raúl Villalobos DavisLoreto, Baja California Sur.- Con la finalidad de verificar y comprobar que tanto prestadores de servicios turísticos, como propietarios de embarcaciones particulares cumplan con sus obligaciones establecidas por la ley, personal de PROFEPA en Loreto lleva a cabo operativos de revisión de manera permanente.

Dichos dispositivos de verificación se están llevando a cabo en diferentes horarios, tanto en las instalaciones de la dársena de este puerto, como en las islas o en la bahía de Loreto. Uno de los principales puntos que se están checando es que los pescadores cuenten con sus licencias de pesca correspondientes y sus boletos del Parque Marino Nacional Bahía de Loreto, así como los permisos que les autorizan la prestación de servicios en el área.

Cabe destacar, nos comentaba Rodrigo Ureñas, titular de las oficinas de PROFEPA en Loreto, que estos requisitos son de gran importancia para disfrutar de las bellezas naturales del lugar y su excelente pesca deportiva.

Al mismo tiempo se está verificando que las embarcaciones de prestadores de servicios turísticos y particulares cuenten con su documentación en regla, por lo cual a aquellas personas que son sorprendidas realizando actividades dentro del parque sin cumplir con lo establecido por la ley, se está procediendo a levantar las actas correspondientes y ser turnadas ante la autoridad competente, comentó finalmente.

Reminder - Send your letter to Senator Coppola

I just wanted to remind all you readers out there that there is an important opportunity right now to help defeat the Shark Norma. Head to the Sea Watch Webpage and send a letter today. There are several templates you can personalize or you can write your own. Below is what I just sent:


Distinguished Senator Coppola,

I am writing to express my concerns regarding the Shark Norma (NOM029-PESCA-2006). I am a Conservation Scientist and sport angler who has been visiting your magnificent state for over 20 years. I am the host of a Baja California Flyfishing Blog (http://bajaflyfishing.blogspot.com/) and have written several feature articles on flyfishing in the Loreto area for several widely read magazines including Flyfisherman (http://flyfisherman.com/mca/rnloretosotherseason/).

Unfortunately, during my two decades of visiting Baja California Sur I have witnessed a dramatic decline in reef dwelling and near shore fish species. The continued decline of these species has resulted in a major loss to the sport fishing industry of the region. Given the declines in the inshore and reef fisheries, protection off shore species including dorado and marlin is critical to the survival of the jobs and income that sport fishing brings to the region. The commercialization and exploitation of dorado and marlin under the Shark Norma and the 30% bycatch agreement will devastate the communities including Loreto that depend on sportfishing.

Rather than allow liquidation of the last fish stocks in the Sea of Cortez, I hope that the Shark Norma will be eliminated and that protections for reserved sport fish species will be restored including the 50 km limit for large commercial ships. I am a strong supporter of catch-and-release sportfishing as an alternative to destructive fisheries practices and am saddened to see the continued decline of the Sea of Cortez.

Sincerely,
Richard Nauman

New Alaska Flights to Loreto

Starting November 9 Alaska Air will be increasing the number of seats between LAX and Loreto. Flights on Sundays and Thursdays will be with the bigger 737-400s and Tuesdays and Fridays will be on the 70 seat Canada Air Regional Jets.

Maybe with the additional seats the prices will come down a little. The fares I have seen lately between LAX and LTO are about $450 round trip!

Yellow Fin Croaker

A recent scientific paper provides and interesting review of the Roncador (Yellowfin Croaker in English).

Demographic Parameters of Yellowfin Croaker, Umbrina Roncador (Perciformes: Sciaenidae), From the Southern California Bight

Check out my post from last July for a picture of a good sized Roncador

For those of you who are not into reading the whole article the sections most relevant to the fly angler include:

"A recent assessment of fishes just beyond the surf zone (5-14 m deep) found that yellowfin croaker was the most abundant species on the southern California mainland and third most abundant at Santa Catalina Island (Pondella and Allen 2000). Yellowfin croakers have a chin barbel and an inferior jaw typical of soft benthos foragers. Thus, it is not unexpected that previous investigators described this species as preferring shallow sandy substrates, embayments (Skogsberg 1939, Horn and Allen 1985), and especially the surf zone, and it has also been noted around rocks (Feder et al. 1974). Despite its relatively high density, widespread presence in the easily accessible nearshore environment, and importance in recreational fisheries, there is a paucity of life history information about this species."

"On average, yellowfin croaker were 101 mm SL during their first year and 170 mm SL during their second year. Growth began to slow in their third year (mean = 188 mm SL) as they became reproductive."

"The oldest specimens were two 15-yr-old males caught at Santa Barbara Island (13 June 2006; 395 mm SL) and Belmont Shores (28 February 1995; 313 mm SL). The largest yellowfin croaker (420 mm SL) was caught at Palos Verdes on 3 June 2003. This fish was 7 yr old. The tail had been eaten, and we estimate that the TL would have been 510 mm based on conversion equations in Table 1."

"Recruitment was not clearly correlated with SST (r = 0:535, P = :060) and has significantly declined since 1993 (r = 0:832, m = -412:8 +- 86:9, P = :0008)."

"Given that yellowfin croakers have a relatively high annual mortality rate (A = 0:45), individuals older than 15 yr are likely to be extremely rare; we found only five individuals older than 11 yr among the 1,209 fish in the study. As an evolutionary strategy, it appeared that rapid growth and early maturity were necessary to offset this relatively high mortality of both males and females."

"They occur in all nearshore subtidal habitats and are generally wary of scuba divers. Single yellowfin croaker can be observed regularly on cobble and soft-bottom areas near reefs during the night at Santa Catalina Island. They appear to be nocturnal foragers (Hobson et al. 1981), and anecdotal observations indicate that they may make forays into reef habitats."

"In warmer years and seasons, catch was greater near the surf zone, but during colder years the number of entrapped fish increased offshore, indicating that temperature may be one cue yellowfin croaker use for onshore/ offshore movement."

"With such dramatic variations in indicators of adult stock, juvenile recruitment, spatial distribution, and a reproductive strategy that may employ group spawning, we recommend a cautious management approach for this fishery species."

Turtle Mortality in Magdelena Bay

While it may seem strange to some that I post sea turtle conservation links on a fly fishing board, I think that there are important links between inshore fisheries and turtles in Baja California Sur. The same nets and long lines that kill turtles have severe impacts on the fisheries in mangrove lagoons and near shore waters. And besides sea turtles are cool, beautiful, interesting organisms and seeing them is always a highlight to any fishing trip and parth of the Baja experience.

Hoyt and company are doing great work and finding positive solutions that will help protect turtles and fisheries for the future.

Link to story

Study finds high mortality of endangered loggerhead sea turtles in Baja California

Along the southern coast of Baja California, Mexico, scientists have been counting the carcasses of endangered sea turtles for a decade as part of an effort to assess and eliminate threats to loggerhead sea turtle populations. Their findings, published this week, are shocking: almost 3,000 sea turtles were found dead along a 27-mile stretch of coast during a five-year period from 2003 to 2007.

Led by Hoyt Peckham, a graduate student at the University of California, Santa Cruz, the study underscores the enormous impact of bycatch (marine life accidentally killed by fishing operations) on sea turtles. Bycatch and, to a lesser degree, poaching are both significant threats to the survival of the endangered Pacific loggerhead sea turtle population, Peckham said.

"We saw what are apparently the highest documented stranding and fisheries bycatch rates in the world," he said. "But the high bycatch rates offer us all an unexpected conservation opportunity. By working with just a handful of fishermen to diminish their bycatch, we can save hundreds of turtles."

Peckham and his coauthors, whose findings appear in a special bycatch issue of Endangered Species Research, are working to increase awareness of the problems facing sea turtles in Baja California Sur. They hope this report will encourage Mexico's government agencies to finalize creation of a refuge that protects turtles and encourages sustainable fishing in the area.

"We have counted so many dead turtles. We have piles of data on thousands of carcasses. What we need now are conservation actions and viable solutions," said Wallace J. Nichols, research associate with the California Academy of Sciences and a coauthor of the paper.

The authors partnered with local fishermen not only to assess bycatch but also to increase awareness of its far-reaching effects and work toward ending the threat.

"Once they are aware of the ocean-wide impacts of their local bycatch, fishermen often strive to fish more cleanly by switching to different techniques, target species, or areas," Peckham said. "As a result, stranding rates were down in 2008."

In addition, local fishermen are working with the Mexican government to designate a sea turtle refuge that would officially protect an area the researchers identified as a "hotspot" of turtle bycatch.

Conservation tourism offers another potential solution to these problems by giving fishermen an alternative to dwindling, inefficient fisheries, Peckham said. Through training and a steady tourism market, many fishermen and former poachers have come to value sea turtles more highly alive than dead, because conducting tours can yield more income than fishing, he added. One organization that has promoted ecotourism in this area is the Ocean Conservancy through its SEE Turtles program. The program links travelers with critical sea turtle conservation sites so that vacation dollars can both protect the sea turtles and enhance the livelihood of community residents who protect them.

North Pacific loggerhead sea turtles travel more than 7,000 miles from Japan to Baja California Sur to feed and grow in nearshore waters, spending up to 30 years there before returning to Japan to breed. The number of nesting females in Japan has declined by 50 to 80 percent over the past 10 years, Peckham said.

In addition to Peckham and Nichols, the authors of the new study include Tim Tinker, adjunct professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UCSC; David Maldonado Diaz and Alexander Gaos of Grupo Tortuguero, a nonprofit conservation group based in La Paz; and Volker Koch and Agnese Mancini of the Autonomous University of Baja California Sur.

More on Norbert

Here is some raw video footage from Puerto San Carlos shot by AP. As some of my readers know my house has been leveled not by a hurricane but by a bad cold that we all have. I'll post more on this storm as we feel better.

Norbert Hits Hard

Norbert was a fairly narrow storm. The part of the storm with hurricane force winds was only about 75 miles across. The Internet chatter sounds like the gringo communities in Mulege, Loreto, Todos Santos, etc... were largely spared. Unfortunately, the Sud Californiano is reporting massive damage in several communities.

The Sud Californiano reports that more than 90% of the homes in Puerto Alcatraz and Bahía Magdalena were destroyed - the paper used the verb "arrasar" meaning demolished, leveled, or flattened. More than 3,000 people are in shelters.

My young son just woke up so I have got to run but I'll post more later.

Two more boat busted in Loreto

While we wait for news on the effects of Hurricane Norbert I thought I would pass along more good news from Loreto Bay National Marine Park. The title of the article below roughly translates as "Operations of Profepa shows results". Profepa is the Mexican agency in charge of enforcing fish and wildlife laws.

According to the article two boats, one fishing with divers and harpoons and the other using nets near the islands, both in Loreto Bay National Marine Park, have been detained.


Dan resultados operativos que realiza la Profepa
El Sudcaliforniano
7 de octubre de 2008

Raúl Villalobos DavisLoreto, Baja California Sur.- Es muy importante reconocer que gracias al esfuerzo coordinado del personal de Profepa, Secretaría de Marina y PMNBL, en la realización de operativos de sobrevigilancia se están obteniendo excelentes resultados. Así lo dio a conocer el director del Parque Marino Nacional Bahía de Loreto, Everardo Mariano Meléndez, quien reconoció la excelente disposición tanto del personal de Profepa como de la Secretaría de Marina, para llevare a cabo esta labor de manera coordinada entre dichas dependencias.

Los resultados no se han hecho esperar, primeramente se detuvo una embarcación realizando actividades de pesca con arpón, y la semana pasada otra embarcación realizando actividades de pesca con redes de encierre en las costas de las islas.

La embarcación que fue sorprendida realizando dicha actividad lleva por nombre San Eusebio, con matrícula 0302473313-9, por lo cual fue retenida precautoriamente.

Las autoridades que llevaban a cabo dicho operativo levantaron las actas administrativas correspondientes ante los hechos en mención, para turnarlas ante quien corresponda con la finalidad de que se le dé el seguimiento legal a dicho trámite. Quedando la embarcación, artes de pesca y el producto bajo resguardo para que se continúe con las diligencias del caso y se determinen las sanciones correspondientes.

Stop the Shark Norma

Here is something you can do to help stop the Shark Norma and save the dorado and bill fish of the Sea of Cortez from the long line fleet.

Sea Watch - Make a Difference

A couple mouse clicks and a moment of your time will help make a difference!!!

Norbert Arrives

Hang on everyone!!!

According to the National Hurricane Center Hurricane Norbert has sustained winds of 105 mph with higher gusts. Ciudadad Constitution, Ciudad Insurgentes and smaller towns of the Municipo of Comondu don't really need this after all the flooding associated with Tropical Storm Lowell last month.

The flat lands of the Magdelena Plain are prone to flooding. After this storm it will be several days before the highway between La Paz and Loreto is open. The power station at Puerto San Carlos is right in the path of this storm so their may not be electricity for a while.

I'll post more information as I get it.

The Baja Big Fish Company web page will have Loreto information as soon as the power and Internet come back on.

Although it is a little south of the storm path the Telmex web cam in La Paz might have some interesting images in the morning.

¡Cuidado Amigos!

Hurricane Norbert

Here we go again! This one looks like it could get big. Currently a category 3 hurricane, Norbert is predicted to build to a category 4 and then weaken before making landfall. The predicted path has been steady for the last few days. Everyone between Abreojos/Mulege and Cabo San Lucas should monitor the situation and get ready. I'm adding a link to the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration's Hurricane Preparedness web page to my link list.

Shark Fishers Try to Reel in Cash - Turn to Conservation

The following article is from National Geographic News:

Lorne Matalon

September 30, 2008

Israel Ritchie, known as Tolon, is a 37-year-old shark fisher from López Mateos, Mexico.

His family has hunted sharks off the Pacific side of the Baja California peninsula for generations, selling the meat these days for around U.S. 70 cents a kilogram (2.2 pounds) and the shark fins for 50 to 100 U.S. dollars a kilogram.

But relying on shark for an income puts Tolon in a precarious place.

The highly prized fins usually end up in soup that can sell for as much as a hundred dollars a bowl in China, the U.S., and elsewhere.

Groups like Iemanya Oceanica say education is key to protecting Mexico's sharks.

They emphasize that sharks play a critical role in marine ecosystems, ensuring the long-term health and stability of fisheries and, in turn, economies.

Sharks are top predators, which means they maintain checks and balances on other species by feeding on sick or weak fish, seals, and other marine life. But sharks are slow to breed and are being overfished.

In the absence of sharks, populations of certain other species can mushroom, depleting some marine regions of resources needed to sustain ecosystem balance.

Tolon and 30 other fishers in his community are helping Iemanya Oceanica track the size and species of sharks in the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California, the two bodies of water divided by the Baja California peninsula.

They continue to hunt Galápagos, hammerhead, blue, and whalesharks, but make sure to release pregnant and young animals, Tolon said.

Iemanya Oceanica's executive director Laleh Mohajerani said involving fishing communities in research is an important conservation tool.

"What we want to do is give the fishers ownership over the management of their resources," said Mohajerani, whose work is funded in part by the National Geographic Society's Conservation Trust. (The National Geographic Society owns National Geographic News.)

"By logging their catches, they see in an even more direct way how far the shark stocks have fallen."

"It has not been easy," she added. Some fishers are resistant to ending their harvest of sharks now for a possible payoff later.

Sustainable Economies

Peter Klimley, a shark expert based at the University of California, Davis, believes groups like Iemanya Oceanica can succeed if indigenous fishers start to see sharks as a renewable resource, and if certain areas become off-limits to fishing.

"What makes the decline so poignant is that there's so much interest in ecotourism to dive with them," said Klimley, who has received funding from the National Geographic Society's Expeditions Council for his own research on hammerhead sharks.

"We're in a transition where people are beginning to see these animals as something beautiful."

The economic transformation has worked in several Mexican seaside communities that used to rely on hunting sea turtles but have now switched to ecotourism.

Local shark fisher Tolon is hoping to set an example by diversifying his business.

"We hope to preserve our communities by doing this," Tolon added. "But we need help from our government to build an infrastructure for tourists—to convert our boats, build campgrounds, motels, and restaurants."

He'd also like to sell his catch directly to people in Mexico City.

"We'd make more money that way. But we haven't yet organized to do that."

Patrolling the Seas

Some species would benefit from being on government lists of protected species.

In 2007, for example, the Mexican government placed the great white shark on a list of protected species. It is now illegal to reel in the great white, once one of the fishers' prized catches because of its size.

But Klimley and Tolon agree that classification won't change the situation without patrols, similar to the way Mexico assigns patrols to protect sea turtles.

They recognize that patrolling beaches where female turtles spawn is a far easier task than sending naval patrols to protect the shark habitat in the waters that flank the Baja California peninsula.

Even so, Tolon said, "within five years, we'll have a disaster in the coastal communities without vigilance. We need those patrols. Without them, we'll soon be lost, in spite of the best efforts of those who are helping us."

New Bahia de Los Angeles Book

This great new reference is available on line:

Bahía de los Ángeles: recursos naturales y comunidad. Línea base 2007

This book provides detailed information on the geology, cultural history, and terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems of the area around Bahia de los Angeles. Chapters focused on whale sharks, fisheries data, sport fishing, and conservation are included.

Although it is written in Spanish, each chapter provides an abstract in English at the end and there are plenty of photos.

Hot Action in Loreto

Fishing in Loreto for dorado and sailfish has been hot this summer. Pam at the Baja Big Fish Company finally posted a fishing report and it looks like things have been fun.

Henry Collard, FONMAR, and a Flurry of News Articles

The situation with the Shark Norma and the three ships busted in Baja waters over the last few weeks has been generating a lot of press. Some of the articles I have been reading include:

Mexican 'Fishing Mafia' Charged for Catching Sportfishing Reserved Species

Baja bust nets 10 - 12 tons of dorado

Mexican "fishing mafia" tagged for three illegal catches

Conservation efforts of The Billfish Foundation in Baja region beginning to pay off

Illegal fishing has had a phenomenal season, too

Impuestos "subsidian" la pesca furtiva - Taxes subsidize illegal fishing

Que se reparta el producto decomisado

"A pesar de que el propietario del producto, Henry Collard, quien es al parecer el presidente de la Cámara de la Industria Pesquera con sede en Mazatlán, Sinaloa, de manera prepotente intentó intimidar vía telefónica al encargado de CONAPESCA, Enrique Zapata, diciéndole que era amigo del Comisionado de Pesca, Ramón Corral, no logró su objetivo y le fue asegurado el producto y las embarcaciones."

Saquean nuestros mares

Marlin Magazine and others picked up this story.

Some important articles from El Sud Californiano regarding the Shark Norma and Henry Collard include:

Continúa la lucha contra la NOM-029

La NOM-029 pone en riesgo la subsistencia de la pesca deportiva y regional: ANR

Reconoce Billfish Foundation lucha por conservar picudos

Van por 3 mil toneladas de picudos

Depredan picudos al amparo de la NOM-029

Good News / Bad News

I've had a busy week and have not been able to post even through there is a lot to write about.

First the Bad News:
An article in the LA Times this week is reporting that the Shark Norma (NOM-029) was amended his month to allow up to 30% bycatch of species reserved for sport fishing. This awful law has taken a turn for the worse and uses shark fishing as a smoke screen to bring large ships into previously closed areas including the Sea of Cortez and strip mine the last viable populations of sport fish. Unless stopped this law appears headed to destroy the sport fishing based economy of Baja California Sur.

Bad News for Anglers and Game Fish in Mexico

But there is some good news out there:
The SeaWatch.org webpage is back up and provides a lot of valuable information in their fight to save the fish of Baja's waters. I recommend that everyone read this webpage, educate themselves, and support this outfit.

Mexico does not have to continue down the path to fisheries destruction. Belize recent made catch and release mandatory for bonefish, permit, and tarpon. For more information check out the This is Fly Blog. Belize is a small poor country but they see long term economic value of these sport fisheries.

¡Viva México!

Today is Mexican Independence day. Throughout the country there will be many great parties that started yesterday and went all night. I'm disappointed to be missing out on all the fun. Its sort of like a wild New Years and 4th of July party crossed with a rock concert all done Mexican style.

At 11:00 pm last night President Calderon gave the traditional "grito" or cry to the crowd gathered in the Plaza de la Constitución. The shout of ¡Viva México! and the ringing of the bell commemorate Padre Hidalgo's call from the church tower that signaled the start of the revolution.

¡Mexicanos, vivan los héroes que nos dieron Patria. Viva Hidalgo, viva Morelos, viva Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez! ¡Viva Allende. Viva Aldama y Matamoros! ¡Viva la Independencia Nacional! ¡Viva México! ¡Viva México¡ ¡Viva México!"

Even though it was a rainy night it looks like everyone had a good time in Mexico City.



Mark your calenders-2010 is Mexico's bicentenial. It should be a fun party plus the fishing is fantastic this this time of year.

La Paz Fishing Video

I was just checking out the AEG Media web page and found this video:

Casting Shooting Heads

Many anglers new to Baja Fly fishing struggle casting the lines commonly used here. Dan Blanton gives a great explanation of the technique used to cast lines on his web page:

The Shooting Head Casting Basics

Jim Teeny has a good video on his page that is also useful.

It is not difficult to cast the heavy sink tip shooting heads but I strongly recommend practicing on the water before your first trip. It is much harder to learn standing on a rocking deck with fish crashing all around you.

Minerva Smith and the Shark Norma

I first ran across Minerva's shop about a number of years ago after breaking my only saltwater flyrod on my first day of a baja trip. I'll save the story for another day but the short version is that I got tossed in the beach break at La Playita just east of San Jose Del Cabo. It was basically impossible to find fly gear in Baja back then. The next day we were headed to La Paz. Someone, I don't remember who, suggested Minerva's shop in Cabo San Lucas. So we took the western route to La Paz and stopped in. To my relief leaning in the corner with a more than fair price was a G-Loomis 10-weight. I still have that rod and fish with it regularly.

But.... the reason I was rambling about Minerva was that I wanted to post a link to this Baja Road Trekker column and her fight against the Shark Norma.

FONMAR

The following was copied from a thread on the Baja Nomads Forum posted by Don Alley - it is an email update from The Billfish Foundation:

"What Your Fishing License Fees Can Do

Illegal Fishing Bust in Mag BayCommunity based enforcement efforts supported by The Billfish Foundation (TBF) through the Baja California Sur Center for Marine Protection and funded by the recreational fishing license fees paid to FONMAR have resulted in three recent seizures of illegally harvested dorado. TBF was instrumental in getting FONMAR established so that angler's license fees would go directly to assisting conservation and protection of the fish resources.

Three weeks ago, a vessel was seized in Loreto and, this past weekend, two boats owned by commercial longline king Henry Collard were seized and charged with illegally harvesting dorado while using a shark permit in Magdelena Bay. Collard, a prominent representative of commercial fishing interests, was reported in El Sudcaliforniano to have threatened fisheries enforcement agents that he "is a personal friend of Ramon Corral and you can't do this to me!" This statement does not do much for Corral's already tainted image by accusations of wrong doing by his own Conapesca personnel.

Corral is the head of Mexico's fisheries agency CONAPESCA and has been an unyielding supporter of the shark Nom-029 that attempted to allow the "incidental" harvest of billfish, dorado and other species within Mexico's 24 year old conservation
zones.

Apparently the recent interest of U.S. enforcement officials in the import of illegally caught dorado has persuaded CONAPESCA that they need to concede TBF's position that there is no basis in Mexican law to allow bycatch in the conservation zones and enforce the federal fisheries law," said TBF President Ellen Peel. Full details of the story will follow in the upcoming issue of Billfish magazine."

The Economic Value of Sport Fishing

Tropical Storm Lowell has decayed into a troical depression, turned east and is now headed towards La Paz. It should provide some rain and not much else.

I just found this great study organized by the Bill Fish Foundation:

Socio-Economic Study Completed in Mexico: Sportfishing Brings in Big Bucks

The full report is available at:

The Economic Contributions of Anglers to the Los Cabos Economy

Para leer el resumen ejecutivo del estudio socioeconómica en español, por favor clic aqui.

Tropical Storm Lowell

Although it is dying fast over the relatively cool Pacific waters, Tropical Storm Lowell appears to be headed straight for Magdelena Bay. The region is just drying out from Tropical Storm Julio and could really use a break. Stay out of the arroyos for the next few days and be prepared!

More Dorado Poaching

As predicted by many, the new fishing regulation known as the shark norma or NOM-029 that opened waters with 50 km of the coastline to commercial long-line fishing for sharks is being used as cover to fish for species reserved for sport fishing such as dorado and bill fish.

Today's Sud Californiano leads with the headline Saquean Nuestros Mares or "They are Looting our Sea"

El Sudcaliforniano

7 de septiembre de 2008

Gustavo Alonso Alvarez

Baja California Sur.- Un segundo barco fue detenido en Puerto San Carlos por la tarde del viernes 5 al encontrársele 5 toneladas de dorado, especie reservada para la pesca deportiva, la embarcación de nombre "Ellen" es al parecer propiedad de la misma empresa mazatleca a la que pertenece "Mildred", barco también detenido el viernes con 8 toneladas de dorado.

Al parecer los barcos tiburoneros siguen enfocándose a la pesca de especies reservadas al amparo de su permiso, lo cual demuestra que tanto la NOM-029 como la determinación de aplicar un 30% de pesca de acompañamiento para tolerar la pesca de otras especies, como el dorado, no están funcionado de la forma deseada, o bien, la vigilancia sigue siendo insuficiente.

El "Ellen" se dice que es propiedad de una persona con el nombre de Henry Collard, de la empresa "Odemaris" con sede en Mazatlán, Sinaloa; "Ellen" traía 5 toneladas de dorado y una de tiburón, evidentemente la pesca de acompañamiento fue la de tiburón.

Si se aplicara la tasa de incidentalidad, por la tonelada de tiburón pescada, el "Ellen" tenía derecho de traer consigo poco más de 300 kilos de dorado, no 5 toneladas. El caso del Mildred es similar, pues para las 12 toneladas de tiburón que traía tenía derecho a un máximo de 4 toneladas de dorado y no 8.

Esta información fue proporcionada por pescadores de la zona y ayer sábado no fue posible confirmarla con el personal de guardia de la CONAPESCA, que al parecer se mantenía en operativo en puertos y mar, de modo que los datos son extraoficiales.

Carmen Island Ferry

This video was posted by Pam from the Baja Big Fish Company last year. It still cracks me up. It really captures the Baja style well.

Palmas Altas Hotel

I wouldn't recommend this place for everybody. If you're uptight, trying to impress people, or looking for luxury go somewhere else. But if you are looking for a place to stay in Loreto and all you need is a clean place to crash for a reasonable price the Hotel Palmas Altas is it. As a hot weather bonus they have good air conditioning and a small pool. Surprisingly, most moderately priced hotels in Loreto do not have a pool.





The two slightly funky modular buildings have about 25 rooms - I have never found the place crowded although in the summer it can be popular with vacationing Mexican families. The back of the municipal auditorium is across the street so if there is an event you will hear it. The walls are somewhat thin so if you are bothered by noise this might not be the place for you. The rooms are inexpensive, about $25 US/ night, but small. A National Geographic photographer I met at the pool was renting two rooms for the summer - One to sleep in and another as an office.

Hotel Palmas Altas
Blvd Adolofo Lopez Mateos
Tel: 01152 (613) 135-1429

Loreto Fishing Map

Here's a map I put together a while ago showing the northern fishing spots where many of Loreto's dorado are caught. The locations in red also produce jurel (yellow tail) and other species although pangas rarely venture to the outermost spots during the rough winter conditions.

Catch and Release at Ranch Leonero

I see too many Internet pictures of bill fish hanging by their tails looking sad and half rotten in the hot sun. While checking out Rancho Leonero's webpage I was glad to see the following statement on their fish report page:

"In order to discourage our guests from killing bill fish just for the sake of a photo, we only display photos of marlin or sailfish that have been released after the photo was taken. We highly encourage our guests to preserve the future of this great fishery by releasing all healthy marlin and sails. Thanks."

I have never been to this East Cape resort but look forward to visiting one day. There are so many great tasting fish in Baja California there really is no need to kill bill fish, rooster fish, or sharks.

So as we say here at El Moscero - Por favor ¡Suelta lo!

Captain Eulogio Davis

One of my goals with this blog is to promote guides who are willing to release fish. Captain Eulogio Davis in Loreto is a fun, easy going guy, who really knows how to catch fish. I was happy to see the following review of his services on the Baja Nomad Forums today:

"...my wife had NEVER been fishing before and requested a patient captain.

...I was not really expecting a whole lot in the way of catching fish as the moon had been full the night prior. We headed out on Eulogio's panga. After making bait we drove to the fishing grounds. He explained to us what we were going to be doing.

After an hour or so, we caught our first fish, a smallish dolphinfish. I did not want to retain any fish and requested that the captain release it if he did not want it. No problem. He let it go. During the next two hours or so we continually hooking into, landed and released dolphinfish. We ended up keeping two that had been gut-hooked. After catching around (and releasing) another 3 fish I was pretty happy with the venture. My wife had caught and released a similar number. But Eulogio kept looking and did not seem at all to be in a hurry to get back into port. I had explained to him that I was more of a species fisher than one interested in size or prestige. He looked for billfish and other species but was unable to get any to bite. But he tried. Patiently.

Finally at around 1 pm I told him that I was happy and wanted to head back. He told me he did not mind staying out. When I assured him we had had our fill of fishing and were quiet happy, he drove to port. It was very obvious to me that this man loved his job, enjoyed helping clients and was out to give his clients a quality, fun-filled experience. I was impressed with his demeanor and willingness to honor what I wanted to do. I have had significant problems in the past with captains that practically refuse to release anything but he was not at all like that.

... As a person who has fished all over the world, I was very impressed... I plan to return to Loreto next year."

Note that dolphin fish is the english name for Dorado.

You can find out more about Eulogio on the Baja Big Fish Company's Web Page.

If you would like to recommend a conservation oriented captain who is willing to release fish send me an email at bajaflyfishers@yahoo.com or leave a comment here on the blog and I'll add him to my list.

More on Tropical Storm Julio

Although this is a fly fishing blog I am posting information on the damage caused by Tropical Storm Julio to keep Baja lovers informed what is happening to the great people who live here and to let anglers know that they should be prepared for tropical weather from late August to the middle of October.

The good news is that Loreto appears to be bouncing back quickly with little more than a few sunk pangas at the marina. The kids returned to school today and clean up has begun on the beaches. During storms like this one, every piece of trash in the arroyos gets washed out to sea. Much of it ends up on the beach. The muddy trash strewn water tends to shut down fishing for a few days until the water clears. After that the remaining trees and other debris floating around can hold a lot of dorado and the fishing can really turn on.

The bad news is Mulege, Ciudad Constitution, and Ciudad Insurgentes were hit hard. The river in Mulege flooded badly with water levels approaching the flood following Hurricane John in 2006. El Sud Californiano reports that 120 Mexican and 200 foreigners homes were damaged by the flooding.

This picture of the river in Mulege was on the front page of today's El Sud Californiano.

Ciudad Insurgentes was flooded badly and according to the paper over 500 families lost their homes with widespread damage as you can see in the photo from the Sud Californiano below.

Puerto Lopez Mateos and San Juanico are inaccessible by road and I assume that many other of the more remote areas may be inaccessible for a while.