December 28, 2009

Tying the Bimini Twist and Finishing with a Surgeon's Loop

OK, I admit I normally just use 10 or 20 lb Fluorocarbon tied to a stiff but section for a leader. When I need a fancy bite tippet I get out one of the pre-made leaders in my bag that I bought at a shop.

One day I will sit down and learn how to tie the Bimini twist. This video gives a good view of how it is done.


December 11, 2009

Loss of top predators causing surge in smaller predators, ecosystem collapse

Loss of top predators causing surge in smaller predators, ecosystem collapse

The article discussed in this link points out the importance of protecting big predators. Release those sharks and billfish!!! Don't even drag them into the boat for a photo.

December 2, 2009

Mexico Renames Cerralvo Island for Jacques Cousteau

Check this out:
President Calderón has renamed Cerralvo Island - The new name is Isla Jacques Cousteau.
And just in case you missed the news CIBNOR, one of the Universities in La Paz, now hosts a joint French-Mexican marine observatory named for the the famous French explorer.

December 1, 2009

Proposed Loreto Park Plan

Pam at the Baja Big Fish Company has posted the proposed management zones for the new 5-year plan for Loreto Bay National Marine Park.
The success of the proposed management plan will depend largely on enforcement and participation by all park users. While I am sad to loose Puerto Escondido, I think the No Take Zones, if enforced, will provide space for fish populations to recover and should provide for excellent fishing in the surrounding areas in the future.


Red = no fishing zone - this includes no catch and release

Exclusion Zone I - No gill netting or collection netting.

Exclusion Zone II - Commercial fishing with net size 4 or greater October through February.

Exclusion Zone III - Netting Sierra Mackerel is allowed.

Exclusion Zone IV - Confinement netting of Yellowtail is allowed by methods of with net size 5 or greater (no distinction of seasons are defined)

Green = enclosure netting is permitted.

Extraction of ornamental fish that are used in the aquarium trade is permitted in zones I through IV.

November 5, 2009

Huricane Jimena Relief Efforts in Lopez Mateos

I just found this webpage documenting recovery efforts in Lopez Mateos.

Alaska Airlines Fare Sale

Alaska Airlines has fares to Mexico on sale until November 17th.


The prices are good for travel through March 17, 2010 with a few black out dates around the holidays.

October 8, 2009

Nice Photos on Gary Bulla's Discussion Board

Check out these photos from a June trip to Cerralvo Island and Punta Arena just south of La Paz. That looks like a fun trip!

Reports from the fall trip look pretty good as well.

September 17, 2009

Hooked Up?

In addition to the dangers of line burns (see this post from last February) and Tequila overdoses, Baja flyfishing has other risks.

Casting big, weighted flies from the bow of a small boat in the never cooperative wind has its dangers. I have only been hooked by smaller trout flies but have been smacked in the face by big saltwater patterns. I think it's just a matter of time before tragedy strikes.

I always wear eye protection, including clear polarized lenses for low light situations, and try to remember to pinch down the barbs on my flies. Fortunately, even in the smaller communities there is at least one medical person who has PLENTY of experience removing hooks.

I found this article on the web that summarizes the basics of hook removal quite well.

September 16, 2009

¡VIVA MEXICO!

Today is Mexican Independence Day. México is 1999 years old. Last night President Calderon gave the traditional cry of ¡VIVA MEXICO! and rings the bell at the National Palace remembering Padre Miguel Hidalgo's call to revolution September 16, 2009.

Today is a huge national holiday and many businesses will be closed.

Enjoy the party everyone!

September 11, 2009

Recovery efforts in the Bahia Magdalena Region

I am forwarding the following message from ProPenisula. This group has done much great conservation work in the Bahía Magdalena region and is worthy of your support.

Your Help is Needed to Rebuild Baja Sea Turtle Communities Destroyed by Hurricane Jimena

Last Monday Hurricane Jimena slammed into the Bahía Magdalena region of the Baja California peninsula. There were no fatalities, but the majority of homes and infrastructure in the region were destroyed or severely damaged.

The Bahía Magdalena region is critical for sea turtle conservation as a hotspot for both loggerhead and black sea turtles. Conservation heroes from the communities of San Carlos, Puerto Magdalena, Puerto López Mateos, and San Lázaro have been our conservation partners for many years and have made great progress in protecting sea turtles. Many of these friends and their families lost their homes to Hurricane Jimena and they now need our help.

Victor de la Toba, lighthouse keeper of Cabo San Lazaro, and veritable loggerhead conservation hero, hunkered down with his wife Maricel and their children in their home in Lopez Mateos during Hurricane Jimena. Soon after the hurricane’s eye passed their roof was torn off – while they were inside. They took refuge in the Proyecto Caguama research station for the rest of the storm and came away unscathed. Their house, though still standing, is unlivable.

Julio Solís, a local fisherman who founded and now directs Magdalena Baykeeper in San Carlos, and his family have also been uprooted. Two thirds of Julio’s home was torn apart when Jimena made landfall.

A new roof for Victor costs $500. Rebuilding Julio’s house will cost $2,000. Our target is to swiftly raise funds to help these and other families rebuild their lives.

You can help by making a tax-deductible donation to the Pro Peninsula Fund at The Ocean Foundation today. Click here

and please note ‘Hurricane Fund’ in the comments section of the donation form. If you would like the funds to go to any family in particular please contact us directly.

Many thanks,
Mark Spalding, President, The Ocean Foundation
Kama Dean, Program Officer, Pro Peninsula Fund at The Ocean Foundation
Aarón Esliman,Executive Director, Grupo Tortuguero
Hoyt Peckham, Director, Proyecto Caguama
Wallace J. Nichols, Co-Director, Ocean Revolution

More information on Hurricane Jimena and the destruction:
http://www.mexidata.info/id2402.html
http://www.oem.com.mx/elmexicano/notas/n1310350.htm

Please note: all funds raised will go to Jimena relief for families in affected areas.

September 10, 2009

Jimena Relief Efforts

There are a lot of photos and other information on Jimena's damage out there on the web but I did want to share a few things.

EcoMujeres in Mulege supports a bunch of good projects but my favorite is EcoAmigos kids group. They have posted a good summary of the hurricane's imapcts on Mulege and a how you can help page.

J Nichols has a first hand report from Puerto Lopez Mateos from Chris Pesenti and Chuy Lucero on his blog.

This video shot along the Malecon in Loreto shows the force of the hurricane. Note that these waves are only from the outer bands of the hurricane and Loreto is relatively protected by the islands.


September 8, 2009

Jimena's Aftermath


This satellite image taken as Hurricane Jimena passed over Mulege says it all. On the Pacific side Puerto San Carlos and Puerto Lopez Mateos were badly damaged with many homes destroyed. Some reports say as many as 90% of the buildings in Puerto Lopez Mateos were destroyed. For the thrid time in four years Mulege is badly damaged by flooding from a hurricane with a "J" name (John in 2006, Julietta in 2008, and now Jimena in 2009). Santa Rosalia is also badly damaged.

September 2, 2009

Comondu and San Carlos Hit Hard

Unfortunately, San Carlos and the Municipo of Comondu have been severely affected by Hurricane Jimena. According to El Sud Californiano, Ciudad Constitution was hit by strong winds that lasted for seven hours.

Photos

From El Sud Californiano:
El huracán Jimena devasta Comondú

As of 2:00pm PDT today the eye is over the mountains east of Conception Bay and appears headed for Mulege. Expect major flooding in all the arroyos. I hope the people that live in the mountains made it to shelter. I have heard nothing from Loreto and Mulege - with the damage at San Carlos where the electricity is produced I'm sure the power is out.

Good News / Bad News - Jimena


Well the good news is that Huricane Jimena went up the Pacific side and spared the towns along the Gulf of California and has lost a lot of strength. The sustained winds have dropped to 90 miles/hour with stronger gusts. The bad news is that it made land fall as a category 2 storm near Puerto San Carlos. Hopefully, the fish camps on the barrier islands around Magdalena Bay were evacuated. The current prediction is for the storm to make landfall again near San Juanico. I have not seen any reports for the Pacific Coast yet. The many small communities along the coast are likely badly impacted. I will report more as I get information.

September 1, 2009

¡Jimena Se Acerca!


Here's the front page of today's El Sud Californiano. This storm looks serious. The current projection has the center of the hurricane coming very close to Bahia Magdelena early tomorrow morning and making landfall near Laguna San Ignacio on Thursday morning.

A small shift to the east could send the storm into Todos Santos or a shift to the west could make things a lot easier. Either way this storm will bring much needed rain - likely too much rain that will cause widespread flooding. Roads will not be passable for sometime after the storm passes.

Stay out of the arroyos!!!

August 31, 2009

Hang on Cuidad Constitution - Jimena Viene

Hang on folks!

The satellite image of Hurricane Jimena was taken at 2:30 pm local time (1:30 PDT).


The track looks very similar to Tropical Storm Julio that blasted through the area almost exactly one year ago. Unfortunately, while Julio was a tropical storm, Jimena is a Class IV hurricane and is nearly a Class V. With 155 mile per hour winds damage will be widespread. The storm will bring much needed rain to break the drought in Baja California Sur but expect widespread destructive flooding throughout the peninsula.


To see what a relatively weak tropical storm will due check out my blog posts from Julio.

Stay safe everyone!!!


HURRICANE JIMENA ADVISORY NUMBER 13
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP132009
200 PM PDT MON AUG 31 2009

...JIMENA ALMOST A CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE...

A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE BAJA CALIFORNIA PENINSULA FROM BAHIA MAGDALENA SOUTHWARD ON THE WEST COAST...AND FROM SAN EVARISTO SOUTHWARD ON THE EAST COAST... INCLUDING CABO SAN LUCAS. A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN 24 HOURS. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION.

A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE BAJA CALIFORNIA PENINSULA NORTH OF BAHIA MAGDALENA ON THE WEST COAST TO PUNTA ABREOJOS...AND NORTH OF SAN EVARISTO TO MULEGE ON THE EAST COAST. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS.

INTERESTS ELSEWHERE IN THE CENTRAL BAJA CALIFORNIA PENINSULA AND IN WESTERN MAINLAND MEXICO SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF JIMENA.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR NATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE.

AT 200 PM PDT...2100 UTC...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE JIMENA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 18.5 NORTH...LONGITUDE 109.2 WEST OR ABOUT 305 MILES...495 KM...SOUTH OF CABO SAN LUCAS MEXICO.

JIMENA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 10 MPH...17 KM/HR...AND A TURN TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST WITH A GRADUAL INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT DAY OR SO. ON THE FORECAST TRACK... JIMENA WILL BE APPROACHING THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE BAJA CALIFORNIA PENINSULA ON TUESDAY.

REPORTS FROM AN AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT INDICATE THAT THE MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 155 MPH...250 KM/HR... WITH HIGHER GUSTS. JIMENA IS A CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE...AND VERY NEAR THE THRESHOLD OF CATEGORY FIVE STATUS. SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN STRENGTH ARE LIKELY DURING THE NEXT DAY OR SO...BUT JIMENA IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN A MAJOR HURRICANE UNTIL LANDFALL.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 45 MILES...75 KM...FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 140 MILES...220 KM.

THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE REPORTED BY THE AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER PLANE IS 931 MB...27.49 INCHES.

JIMENA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAIN ACCUMULATIONS OF 5 TO 10 INCHES OVER THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE BAJA CALIFORNIA PENINSULA AND PORTIONS OF WESTERN MEXICO DURING THE NEXT 2 DAYS...WITH POSSIBLE ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 15 INCHES.

A DANGEROUS STORM SURGE ALONG WITH BATTERING WAVES WILL PRODUCE SIGNIFICANT COASTAL FLOODING ALONG THE BAJA CALIFORNIA PENINSULA.

...SUMMARY OF 200 PM PDT INFORMATION...
LOCATION...18.5N 109.2W
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...155 MPH
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NORTHWEST OR 315 DEGREES AT 10 MPH
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...931 MB

AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 500 PM PDT FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 800 PM PDT.

August 26, 2009

Theft at the Oasis in Loreto

Hey Folks,
Remember to be careful while you are out having fun. I normally would not post this but I have heard of similar incidents at the Oasis Hotel in the past. Times are hard right now for people in tourist dependent communities like Loreto so take a little extra care with your valuables. The following message is from Russ S. and was originally posted on Dan Blanton's forums:

I've been hesitant to post this because I don't want to be a downer and frankly I consider it an absolute anomaly, but I wouldn't feel right if I said nothing and it happened to someone else.

When we got back to our room Thursday from fishing I couldn't find my everyday sunglasses. I leave them in my Arizona Cards hat next to the TV. I went to lunch, asked around and nobody had found them. Got back to the room, took a 2 hour siesta and then woke up to do more looking.

When I opened the top drawer below where my hat was I discovered my envelope hidden under my clothes had been cleaned out, $250 in cash. I discovered later they also took my cellphone.

Everyone agrees this is the first such incident they can remember and I am feeling more embarrassed than anything, my passport was there too so I'm lucky they didn't take that. the room was locked when we left but when they clean the rooms they often open several at a time so we assume someone ran in and grabbed my stuff because it was so close together. Eric and GES didn't have anything taken.

I filed a police report in town the next day but don't expect much from that. They banned the kids from the beach the next day for caution. I have no idea who did it but if it was one of the kids I'm hoping the others will speak up since if they don't, they're all out of a job.

The nice lady at the front desk told us it takes her 20 days of work to earn that much money so you can see why in a bad economy someone might do that. I split my money up so I only lost half and I feel pretty stupid for leaving it like that but I've never had such an issue at the Oasis and I'm pretty sure it was an anomaly.

But I just wanted to let others know for future trips.

So remember to take a few extra precautions and enjoy your trip. Its easy to let your guard down when vacationing in a relaxed place like Loreto.

August 21, 2009

I wish I was here!

I realize I haven't been posting much and I'm getting light on the fishing and heavy on the conservation side so here is a fun shot from the beach on Coronado Island in Loreto Bay National Marine Park. Roosterfish hunt these flats - although as with the other inshore species not in the numbers they used to. This is one area that the new park management plan should protect from the gill nets.

August 20, 2009

Project Pangas

Pangas is not only the name of my favorite style of fishing boat it is also an acronym for Pesca Artesanal del Norte del Golfo de California – Ambiente y Sociedad.

This project looks great - it is a great model for action that could easily be replicated in the southern part of the Gulf of California.

August 3, 2009

Earthquakes near Bahia de Los Angeles

Four strong earthquakes shook the Bahia de Los Angles area between 10 and 11 am local time this morning. Early reports indicate that little damage occurred and there are no reports of injuries.

This map from the USGS shows the location of the epicenters south and northwest of Angel de la Guardia Island just offshore from Bahia de Los Angles. Link to map


The magnitudes and time of each event were:

5.8 at 10:55 am
6.9 at 10:59 am
5.0 at 11:33 am
5.9 at 11:40 am

June 21, 2009

Pescadores Vigilantes

This article is from the Eco Alianza de Loreto's webpage. Its is great to see the Loreto sport fishing community organizing to protect the resources. While relatively new, Eco Alianza is making things happen.


Fisherman's Watch Group Formed in Loreto

On June 1, 2009, the foundation for “Pescadores Vigilantes” (vigilant fishermen) was established in Loreto, BCS. To address issues concerning conservation of the fishing industry and the National Marine Park, local commercial and sport fishermen were invited to a meeting sponsored by Eco-Alianza de Loreto. Participation was strong as over 100 responses were received by the organizers.

The meeting was held at Mediterraneo Restaurant to coincide with the celebration of Mariner’s Day. Laura Escobosa, the Director of Eco-Alianza, was introduced by Pam Bolles of Baja Big Fish, who expressed her thanks for organizing the event. The purpose of the evening was to communicate the need for the fisherman to work together to protect the sea and thus their livelihood. Fishing is one of the economic pillars in the community of Loreto, and protecting the sea must be seen as “good business” by everyone. The meeting was designed to create solutions that will insure the stability of the local industry.

Conservation regulations are in place in the Loreto National Marine Park, but there is little enforcement and insufficient resources to protect the area. Local fishermen complain of the fleets from Sinaloa that drain the resource without permit or conscience, but there seems to be no one to stop them. Loretano commercial and sport fishers pay fees and licenses that are not charged to those from outside areas. American sport fishers are often overloaded with guests - and fish without permits that local charter companies are required to purchase. The system is unjust and not well managed.

Pescadores Vigilantes is designed to address these issues. Acting as one, instead of isolated voices, is it hoped the local fisherman will be able to increase the weight of their ideas and establish a more powerful position in the future of their industry.

At the heart of the formation of the group is a vehicle for reporting illegal activities. One of the previous stumbling blocks has been a fear of identification and possible retribution, but hannels are now in place to provide complete anonymity. Fishermen can make a simple phone call or visit the office of Eco-Alianza to report illegal activities, with complete assurance that their names will never be revealed.

Protection of the Park and its resources is everyone’s responsibility – those who live in Loreto and those who visit. But it is the fishermen, who are on the water daily, who must assume a leadership role.

The Park and all its beauty cannot defend itself against human intrusion as evironmental abuses such as dumping of trash, oils, paints and other waste products – both at sea and on land – threaten the health of the marine life. As the sea becomes over-fished and polluted, the ecosystem will collapse, and the economic effects on Loreto will be devastating.

To further support the Pescadores Vigilantes, Eco-Alianza pledged to develop a clearly delineated map of fishing zones and no-take areas, plus produce a simple version of current regulations and guidelines inside the park, using information from the recently generated “Ordenamiento Pesquero”.

The meeting provided an opportunity for the fisherman to share their ideas and develop an on-going dialog. Ms. Escobosa sat with several of the attendees after her presentation, and listened to their questions and suggestions.


They expressed a willingness to help with surveillance, but more than that, they wanted their voices to be taken into consideration when decisions about the future of Loreto are made. As fishermen, they understand their importance to the tourist economy.

Some of their other ideas included having a booth at the Marina open from 6 AM to 6 PM where visitors could purchase FONMAR fishing licenses and CONANP bracelets. Currently, nothing is available until after 9 AM.

There was an extended conversation about limiting the number of fishing permits that are available. If the number were fixed, that would limit outside fishing interests from taking from the park. Permits could then be sold or inherited by relatives. This is a technique that has been proven to work as a conservation tool in Canada and Alaska.


Some of the fishermen in attendance included: Loreto Velis Murillo, Alejandro Davis, Victor Manuel Villalejo, Ramon Mayoral Baeza, José Luis Davis Meza, and Octavio Acosta.

It is hoped that different leaders in the community will emerge after the event, and that strategies can be developed to strengthen the fishing sector. A follow up meeting is planned in three months.


June 7, 2009

Loreto Bay Company - It looks like this is the end

The breaking news this weekend is that Loreto Bay Comapny has closed their office in town, stopped construction, and the hotel, golf course and other hospitality services are suspended until further notice.

The Loreto Bay websites
LoretoBay.com and LoretoBayNews.com both have been replaced by this letter:

Loreto, BCS, June 6, 2009

Dear Homeowners,

TSD Loreto Partners, S. en C. por A. de C.V. (the “Company”) regrets to inform its clients and stakeholders that, due to the challenging situation in the international real estate and financial markets, all operating and construction activities for Loreto Bay
(the “Project”) will be suspended.

To assist in securing new equity funding and a long-term suitable buyer for the Project the Company hired Cushman & Wakefield. Several potential buyers and investors have visited the Project over the last few months, yet in the context of the current economic crisis and credit shortage, the Project has been unable to secure a buyer or new investor.

We regret to inform you that until new funds are secured, as of June 7th, 2009 all hospitality related operations will be suspended and as of June 8th, 2009 all construction related activities will be suspended.

Please note that all homeowners with a home under construction, and all other homeowners will receive further information as it becomes available.

Best regards,
Embree C. "Chuck” Bedsole
Interim President
TSD Loreto Partners, S. en C. por A. de C.V.

The Inn at Loreto Bay web page is down (discoverloretobay.com). If you have reservations you may want to give them a call and see they have to say.

Pam Bolles in Loreto reports that the Loreto Bay office next to the Mission closed up this week, the signs were painted over and she saw workers removing furniture and fixtures.

People are posting breaking news at the Silver Creek web page. I'll post more information as I get it.

Although I had high hopes in the beginning, it quickly became obvious back in 2004-2005 that this project was questionable a best. When it appeared that much more money was being spent marketing to gullible Americans and Canadians than on building infrastructure, sustainable or otherwise, I became concerned. And when Loreto was temporarily overrun with brand new Mexico experts who had learned everything they knew about Loreto from LB sales material I knew it was doomed.

As the "I got burned" in Mexico stories hit the press remember that it was a team of Americans and Canadians who took the money and ran. Ironically, the Loreto Bay development was started on land that was part of an earlier failed development - Nopolo. Maybe I'll write something about that story one day.

For now at least if you are nostalgic for the LB marketing dream check out explorelorteobay.com. It likely won't be up much longer.

June 1, 2009

Baja Sur's Senators Fight to Protect Sportfishing

Mexico's Senators Applaud TBF's Efforts on Sportfishing/Conservation Bill; Continue to face strong opposition from commercial fishing lobbyists

MEXICO CITY, Mexico – Though backed with a stronger sportfishing/conservation bill currently on the Senate floor in Mexico City that would close major loopholes in the current law, its proponents now face opposition from political and commercial fishing interests pushing legislation to open the dorado fishery more.

For over two decades dorado (also called dolphinfish, mahi-mahi or goldmakrele) along with billfish (striped marlin, sailfish, etc.), tarpon and roosterfish have been regulated as sport fish in Mexican waters. But a controversial directive, 15 NOM-029 also known as "Shark Norma," authorized by Mexico's fisheries agency CONAPESCA in May 2008, allows for the "incidental" harvest of billfish, dorado and other species within Mexico's conservation zones. The area has long attracted the illegal fishing interests in the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California) waters and Pacific Ocean coasts and tons of illegal dorado shipments into the United States.

Based on a multi-year socio-economic study by The Billfish Foundation (TBF), the new conservation bill was introduced by Senators Luis Alberto Coppola Joffroy and Humberto Andrade Quezada with endorsements by Sen. Jaime Rafael Díaz Ochoa, Sen. Luis Fernando Rodríguez Lomelí and Sen. Emma Lucía Larios Gaxiola. In March it received unanimous support by the Congress of the Mexican State of Baja California Sur (BCS).

But members of Mexico's PRD (Party of Democratic Revolution) political faction countered by introducing an initiative to allow dorado to be harvested by commercial fishermen contrary to the law that regulates dorado, billfish and other species as sport fish only.

In turn Coppola and Andrade, both members of the conservative National Action Party (PAN) brought to the Senate floor in May a proposed "agreement with arguments" against the dorado commercial fishery. It too received the Senate's full support in late May.

For both of their conservation initiatives the senators used TBF's study that revealed sportfishing tourism added over $630 million dollars annually directly to the BCS economy.

Study: 24,000 jobs created in Los Cabos region; one billion dollars in economic activity

The study led by TBF Science Director Dr. Russell Nelson and Rob Southwick, Southwick & Associations, Inc., revealed 354,013 people fished in Los Cabos in 2007, most all of them international visitors spending an estimated $633.6 million (U.S.) dollars for lodging, charter boats, food, transportation, tackle, fuel and more. Positive cascading economic effects in the local economy included the creation of 24,426 jobs, $245.5 million (U.S.) in local and federal tax revenues, and $1.125 billion (U.S.) in total economic activity. Visitors who fish there provided an estimated 24.1 percent of the total Los Cabos economy the report disclosed.

Specific waters includes the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico coasts 50 miles out and an additional large area off Cabo that extends about 150 miles north and south and 100 miles out from the coast. Coppola's bill would clearly eliminate the commercial market's sale and the possibility of any bycatch exceptions for billfish, dorado, tarpon and roosterfish protected by the existing conservation zones.

Original bill may sit through the summer

But that bill will likely sit until after a summer-long recess in August, when the three year terms of the PRD's lame-duck congressmen end and the new congressmen's terms begin.

"Before the 'war' can be won, i.e. the passage of the Coppola's bill for sportfishing and conservation, he must wait for the 'battle' to be won," characterized Guillermo Alvarez, TBF's Mexican conservation director, of the situation. "We hope over the summer Senators Coppola and Andrade can gain even more support among other lawmakers in the 31 states of Mexico."

In a letter thanking TBF President Ellen Peel, a spokesman for the two senators wrote, "Mexico can not afford to divert from its sport fish conservation tradition and we will not tolerate this (commercial harvesting of dorado, etc.) to happen."

"In difficult times - as we are going through because of the influenza outbreak - competitiveness lies on sportfishing as TBF's economic research shows," stated Joel Macias de Lara who coordinates the senator's advisory group.

Wire service reports in late May announced Mexico was spending $90 million to attract tourists after the severe fallout of visitors led by the news on the country's flu epidemic. Because of the flu Los Cabos saw several major tournaments postponed or cancelled.

"TBF's recent socio-economic study in the Baja Sur region of the country makes clear that billfishing is an important economic stimulus to the nation, therefore billfish, dorado and other species important to anglers should be protected," said Ms. Peel.

"The Billfish Foundation applauds Senator Coppola for his two current initiatives now in Congress. He once again is demonstrating his strong commitment to good conservation and a strong economy. Senator Coppola understands that good conservation pays. Many areas in Mexico are famous and were economically strong not too long ago because of sportfishing. But if the fish important to sportfishing are allowed to be sold, then anglers and their dollars will go to other nations to fish. TBF urges the Senate to join forces with Coppola for the good of the country, its economy, the fish and the ocean."

To read Senator Coppola's bill and proposal in Spanish, please click here. A translated English version will be posted upon completion. Please click here to read a letter thanking TBF's efforts.

This article is from the Billfish Foundation

May 24, 2009

Leopard Grouper in Loreto

With the start of the management plan revision for Loreto Bay National Park I thought it would be good to post a link to this important paper on Leopard Grouper:

Viability Analysis of Reef Fish Populations Based on Limited Demographic Information

Despite the title this relatively straight forward scientific paper documents the condition of Leopard Grouper in Loreto Bay National Park. While the populations of fast growing, migratory, yellowtail, dorado, and sailfish appear to be maintaining decent populations and produce outstanding sport fishing opportunities, the inshore reef dwelling fish are vulnerable to sport fishing and are devastated by netting.

The new management plan needs to protect Leopard Grouper and other depressed populations from consumptive use. Its a perfect opportunity to experiment with no-take catch and release areas to provide for continued sport fishing - the economic base of Loreto, while rebuilding populations. Obviously, elimination of inshore gill netting in these depressed populations is key to preventing further declines.

May 20, 2009

Baja From Space


This photo was taken this week from Space Shuttle Mission 125 to the Hubble Telescope. Click on it to see the full sized version. The clouds really show the cool Pacific waters that extend from Tijuana to Magdelena Bay this time of year. As temperatures on the Gulf of California soar things on the Pacific side stay significantly cooler.




May 18, 2009

Rivers of a Lost Coast

I saw this movie last Saturday night in Ashland. I realize it is not about Baja but I was so moved by the film and its message is so powerful that I encourage everyone to see it.

Anyone who values great fishing or just appreciates the beauty and spectacle of anadromous fish should see the footage in this film from the 1950s on rivers like the Russian and San Lorenzo - formerly great steelhead runs now reduced to a faint shadow of what once was. Hopefully the call to protect and restore what we still have will resonate with audiences everywhere.

Special thanks to Will at the Ashland Fly Shop for hosting the event!

May 12, 2009

More on Loreto Management Plan

Pam from the Baja Big Fish Company provides the following information from Loreto Bay National Park regarding the planning process:

The following is an invite to the conservation sector of the park management plan revisions:

I hereby send you greetings. We write for two reasons: first, to present the final report of the first phase of consultation which is a "map" of the actors and relevant issues regarding the general objective of the
Loreto Bay National Park.

The second reason is to invite you to participate in the second phase of the participatory process of the parks revision management plan. To begin, it consists of the first CONSERVATION sector reunion. The meeting is to review the Management Program of Loreto Bay National Park and will be held on Saturday May 16, from 9 am to 3 PM at the Universidad Autonoma de Baja California Sur Campus Loreto (Paseo Pedro Ugarte s / n Col. Missionaries zip code 23880) and we want you to join us for making this process an enriched one.


The objectives of the meeting are:

1. Validate the document with the actors
2. Obtain more proposals in order to elaborate the new management program
3. Begin to explore a possible representative for the whole Conservation sector.

After the first reunion, we will resort to a technical committee in order to present our CONSERVATION opinion on the legal and technical feasibility of the proposals that emerge from the sectorial meeting.

After the participatory process, a second sectorial meeting will be held in June where we will resume the results given by the technical committee, the proposals will be further reviewed, and we will start introducing the negotiation process. The third phase of the process has a negotiation workshop and a plenary session in July where all the sector proposals will be presented together. The last phase is a final plenary meeting in September where we intend to reach a final agreement for the new management program that will be used in the next five years.

For us and for the success of the process is very important to have your valuable presence at all stages and we hope to confirm your attendance at the first sectorial meeting in May. Please contact us for any information. Telephone:
Mexico
, 55 5286 6440, Loreto, 613 135 0477.

Email: lina@sociosmexico.org,
jportilla@colaboracioncivica.org,
emariano@conanp.gob.mx.

Thanks.

****************

These meetings are open to the public including visitors and foreign residents.

The sector meeting for commercial fishing is from 9am to 3pm at UABCS Loreto on thursday May 14th

The sector meeting for the sport fishing is from 9am to 3pm at UABCS Loreto on Friday May 15th.

Again the second phase of sector meetings will be in June. The final plan will be in place January 2010.

Loreto Bay National Marine Park to Write New Management Plan

This week the managers at Loreto Bay National Marine Park held public meetings to gather information as they begin writing a new management plan for the park. We will be following the process closely and providing input as the plan is developed.

Comenzó programa de manejo del Parque
Nacional

El Sudcaliforniano

11 de mayo de 2009

Raúl Villalobos Davis

Loreto, Baja California Sur.- Este sábado con una conferencia de prensa y reunión donde estuvieron diversos sectores relacionados con el Parque Nacional Bahía de Loreto, dio inicio el proceso de revisión del programa de manejo de esta área natural protegida. Dicho evento estuvo presidido por el alcalde de Loreto, Yuan Yee Cunningham y el director del Parque, Everardo Mariano Meléndez, acompañados por representantes de diversas instituciones que se están involucrando en esta labor.

Uno de los principales puntos que se dieron a conocer es que dicho trabajo está dando inicio y este tendrá que ser una labor de todos los sectores de la sociedad, donde tendrán la oportunidad de participar con sus propuestas y puntos de vista, durante la presente semana están dando inicio una serie de reuniones con diversos sectores, como pescadores, habitantes de comunidades rurales, empresarios y desarrolladores turísticos, autoridades y en
general toda la ciudadanía, donde se habrá de exponer los diversos puntos de
vista rumbo a la conformación del programa de manejo o sobre las modificaciones
que se requieran.

De tal forma que el programa de manejo deberá contar con el consenso de los ciudadanos y reflejar las necesidades de todos, mediante un cuidado, manejo y aprovechamiento de los recursos naturales de manera sustentable.

Cabe mencionar que esta revisión del programa de manejo también servirá para dar a conocer si el mismo ha funcionado y cumplido con los objetivos para lo que fue creado, o bien existe la necesidad de prácticamente eliminarlo y hacerlo nuevo en su totalidad para bien de todos y principalmente para la salud del Parque Marino Nacional Bahía de Loreto. Este es un proceso donde todos debemos estar presentes y contribuir.

From the El Sudcaliforniano.

May 9, 2009

Taking the bus


Many Americans think travel on the bus in Mexico involves old, broken-down school buses crammed with sweating uncomfortable people and at least a few farm animals. Nothing could be farther from the truth. In Baja California fleets of modern, comfortable buses, many manufactured by Mercedes-Benz, cruise the highway. Movies are shown on computer screens that fold down from the ceiling and about every two hours they stop for a break at a station with food and drinks available.

The seats are large and comfortable with plenty of leg room - I'm a big guy and am comfortable. The buses are well air conditioned and sometimes chilly. Its good to bring a sweater or blanket especially for overnight trips.


One of the major lines is ABC. Their gigantic ABC Plus buses are a familiar sight to those who have traveled the high way. Their web page is in Spanish and a little confusing but usable. Note that they offer a 10% discount for round trip tickets and have a frequent traveler plan.

April 25, 2009

New Loreto on line news site

I just found this Loreto online new site that may be of interest. I'll add the link to my list.

Radar Politico

April 17, 2009

Take Marlin off the Menu

The Take Marlin off the Menu campaign's webpage posses the question:

If you saw lion or tiger for sale in a restaurant or grocery store would you buy it?

The obvious answer for most people would be no. Its time to start thinking of marlin in the same way. Populations of these magnificent top predators are depleted by overfishing, deserve protection, and contain high levels of toxic mercury. It's time to get them off the menu.

Fortunately, the International Game Fish Association, the National Coalition for Marine Conservation, and the Billfish Foundation have teemed up to create this new campaign:

Take Marlin off the Menu

How you can help

Lets do our part and ensure healthy marlin populations for the future!

April 16, 2009

Good news From BCS State Congress

Study by The Billfish Foundation used as basis to reinforce Mexico's fishing laws

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla, USA — A move to strengthen fishing and conservation laws in Mexico's waters gained major support by all political parties late last week in a vote by members of the Congress of the Mexican State of Baja California Sur (BCS).

Backed by a socio-economic study from The Billfish Foundation, the BCS members voted unanimously to take a position of support for federal legislation to toughen commercial fishing laws through a bill recently introduced by Senators Luis Alberto Coppola Joffroy and Humberto Andrade Quezada.

The action among the members was remarkable in that it marks the first unification across political party lines to support this conservation effort that would protect its economically rich sport fisheries, especially in the Los Cabos region of the BCS.

The bill would clearly eliminate the commercial market's sale and the possibility of any bycatch exceptions for billfish, dorado, tarpon and roosterfish protected for sportfishing by existing 50 mile conservation zones.

To support their legislation Joffroy and Quezada used documents which cited results of TBF's study released last fall that revealed sportfishing tourism to be adding over $630 million dollars annually directly to the BCS economy.

The TBF 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 positive cascading economic effects in the local economy which included the creation of 24,426 jobs, $245.5 U.S. million in local and federal tax revenues, and $1.125 U.S. billion in total economic activity.

Visitors who fish there provided an estimated 24.1 percent of the total Los Cabos economy the report disclosed.

The legislative action is particularly significant in light of the fact that the BCS Governor has not been supportive of strong conservation initiatives and the BCS Congress is dominated by members of the PRD party (Party of Democratic Revolution). Coppola and Andrade are in the conservative National Action Party (PAN).

"TBF is greatly encouraged by this demonstration of strong bipartisan support for these important billfish conservation efforts in Mexico," said its Chairman John Brownlee, "and we are pleased that our research has demonstrated how good conservation and sportfishing opportunities can bring new wealth and sustainable job opportunities to all of Mexico's coastal communities."

Senator Coppola said he was pleased that all parties at the local BCS State Congress are now endorsing his initiative which speaks of how much impact the evaluation by TBF of the economic importance to Los Cabos and BCS had on the Senate." But the solidarity in the BCS may need to be carried even further.

The Senate legislation supported by Coppola and Andrade faces some opposition in the form of an alternative proposal, supported by commercial fishing interests that would provide complete protection to these resources in the waters off of BCS while allowing expanded commercial harvest in the rest of Mexico.

"The idea of protecting highly migratory billfish off Los Cabos and killing them elsewhere along Mexico's coastline is not supported by any biological or economic data," TBF scientist Dr. Russell Nelson explained. "Fish killed off Acapulco will forever be lost to the Los Cabos fishery. We have developed a bioeconomic model that shows this action would create losses of over $425 million a year and 18,000 jobs to the BCS economy and far greater economic losses to Mexico as a whole." The specific waters for the Coppola/Andrade action before the Mexican legislature includes the Pacific and Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico coasts 50 miles out and an additional large area off Cabo that extends about 150 miles north and south and 100 miles out from the coast.

Nelson said hopefully this legislature will close any loopholes. 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.

The area has long attracted the illegal fishing interests in the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California) waters and Pacific Ocean coasts and illegal shipments into the United States.

Intentionally mislabeled, multiple tons of the illegal dorado catches, 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.

Nelson concluded, "We need to unite behind the fact-based legislation introduced by Senators Coppola and Andrade and supported by many others from all political parties and create a future where the economic development potential generated by good conservation policies and sport fishing tourism can benefit all the people of Mexico."

From espn.com

April 7, 2009

Sting Rays and Semana Santa

With Easter this next Sunday Semana Santa should be in full swing on the beaches of Baja California. If you are uptight or like even the slightest amount of privacy this is not the time for you to go beach camping. However, if you want to imerse yourself in Mexican vacation culture this is the time. The beaches around Bahia Conception and La Paz are typically PACKED with families. There won't be room for a back cast and if you park to close to the water you may not be able to get out until the party ends sometime next week. Many Mexicans love to go camping at the beach and this is the big annual beach week. Plan accordingly!!!

Spring also brings large numbers of Sting Rays to shallow waters around the peninsula. While found year round in Baja waters they move to the shallows in March and April to mate. Shuffle your feet to avoid stepping on them. I wear Patagonia Marlwalkers and avoid wading in areas with high concentrations of Rays.

Although I've never been hit myself, I've witnessed the aftermath of more than one sting and it looks painful to say the least. Infection can be a serious problem so I recommend seeking competent medical advice. Fortunately, all the local doctors have treated many of these injuries and it won't cost too much.

For a classic Sting Ray tale check out Skipjack Joe's story on the Baja Nomad Forums.

For more information on Sting Rays check out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sting_ray

http://www.clubcruceros.org/StingrayInjuries.html

http://www.elasmodiver.com/Chasing_Rays_in_Baja_Article.htm

March 16, 2009

Below the Birds

Here's a fantastic video that shows what is happening under those birds that we spend all day chasing. There is much to be learned from the appearance and behavior of bait fish under attack. The slow motion near the end is especially informative for the fly tier. Watch the marlin slice a sardina in half and incorporate some red into those patterns!


March 14, 2009

Mulege Snook

Over on the Baja Nomads forums there is talk of snook in the Mulege "River":

Mulege Snook

Sounds like a decent fishery is developing after the post hurricane work done along the flooded arroyo mouth. There is even a mention of a broken 8 weight rod! The Mulege area suffers from high levels of gill netting an shrimp trawling and the resident fishery is in fairly bad shape. As long as the gill nets stay out of the river this could develop into something. We'll keep our eyes on it.

Please do your part to protect this fishery and release all fish. I think given the sanitation problems along the river it would be fairly questionable to eat fish from this small estuary so let them grow!!! There is plenty of other great tasting fish to eat.

February 26, 2009

Cabo Pulmo

Sorry I haven't posted much lately. Things have been busy and the fishing has been slow. I was checking out Sea Watch's webpage and found this video of Cabo Pulmo national Marine Park:


Because commercial and sport fishing are outlawed in the park - and apparently the rules are enforced here - the place is loaded with fish. I've been told that divers regularly spot rooster fish over 100 pounds inside the park. Maybe that's just a fish story but last March my buddy Baja Dave brought back pictures of 50+ pound roosters from Bahia Frailes immediately south of the park boundary.


Everyone should check this place out and see what the Sea of Cortez can be like for more information see:
http://www.cabopulmopark.com/pdfs/cabopulmo.pdf
http://www.cabopulmopark.com/index.html

February 1, 2009

An old book

The other day I was poking around in the library for something to read while I wait for warmer weather. I stumbled across an old 1974 copy of Lefty Kreh's Fly Fishing in Saltwater. Out of curiosity I checked it out to see what things were like back when I was still focused on bluegill fishing with a push button Zebco road and reel. Interestingly enough little has changed over the 34 years and just about everything in this book is still relevant to the modern saltwater fly angler.

I really liked a couple of parts of this book. But before I get carried away with this ramble I want to remind my readers that I still fish in fresh water and even chase trout from time-to-time. However there is something about the salt, especially the tropics, that appeals to me - I guess its the difference between a soft piece of classical music and ear splitting heavy metal or flying a kite compared to riding in an F-16 at full throttle or maybe you could say its like a tea party contrasted with Carnaval in Rio. Lefty puts it a little more plainly opening the book with a chapter on the appeal of Saltwater Flyfishing and sums it up well:

"...these things have to be experienced. Once they are, the freshwater angler is never the same."

and concludes the chapter with:

"You need not justify the lure of saltwater fly rodding to those who have tried it.

His second chapter contrasts the salt to fresh water and discusses things like big guys getting drug the length of a boat and 50 lb line snapping. I think he could say it a little more clearly - in warm salt water, big strong fish can really do some damage to the angler and their gear.

For example check out this video by Loreto Pam - just fast forward to about 2:50 and check out that line burn.




The sea is full of dangers not found in other waters. Last winter I was out and caught a smaller fish with little fight right on the bottom in about 35' of water. I hauled it up and asked Francisco what it was - he called it a "Lupon" - he seemed a little surprised when I pulled out my pliers to release it myself. He said something about not touching it. Fortunately, before I got too carried away I realized that I had caught my first scorpion fish and asked for some help with the release. These fish have poisonous spines an should not be handled - seek medical care if you make the mistake that I almost did.

Sandy and muddy bottoms in Baja often have sting rays hidden on them. Wear good shoes an shuffle - watch out in bays especially in the spring time. Beware of the razor sharp blade on the gill cover of the snook and obviously practice caution around the bill of a marlin and the teeth of a shark.

My favorite part of Lefty's book, one that you would never find in a fresh water angling book is a table titled "Guide to the dangers of handling fish" that includes a list of species, specific dangers, and how to hold and release them. Its worth a look for everyone headed south. There is also a table that breaks down fighting a large fish and what to do in specific situations.

I think I need to track down the 2003 version of this book!!!

January 29, 2009

Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

OK - its not about Baja but Back Country Hunters and Anglers in a fantastic organization protecting our quality opportunities to hunt and fish here in the USA. Check out their new video and consider joining.


January 28, 2009

Common Sense

Here's an article I found in the El Sudcaliforniano. Basically it says that a local conservation organization, Grupo Ecologista Antares, has called for a moritorium on commercial fishing when fish are concentrated in spawning periods. Species like Cabrilla and Yellowtail form large dense schools where communal spawning and egglaying take place.

Protecting spawning schools of fish from commerical fishing - especially in a National Park - seems like common sense to me.

Propondrá GEA que se vede la captura de algunas especies
El Sudcaliforniano
26 de enero de 2009
Javier Chávez Davis

Loreto, Baja California Sur.- Para evitar el saqueo de especies marinas en épocas de reproducción, el Grupo Ecologista Antares (GEA A.C.) propondrá a las autoridades que se vede la captura de algunas especies en un periodo de entre tres y cinco semanas en ciertas zonas del Parque Nacional Bahía de Loreto.

El presidente de esta organización no gubernamental, Fernando Arcas Sainz, señaló que entre las especies que sufren los estragos de la pesca comercial en época de apareamiento están las siguientes: cabrilla, garropa, pargos, caracol burro, madre perla, almeja chocolate y burra.

Detalló que en los meses de abril y mayo, por ejemplo, muchos pescadores loretanos acostumbran capturar gran cantidad de cabrilla, sin saber que la alta presencia de estos peces en algunos puntos, se debe a que están llevando a cabo su proceso de apareamiento, y si se les pesca pues se interrumpe el proceso de reproducción, poniéndolas en grave riesgo.

GEA lleva está llevando a cabo en este momento un estudio para ubicar las fechas y puntos de agregación reproductiva de varias especies marinas, con el objetivo de dar a conocer la importancia de que tengan la oportunidad de multiplicarse.

La veda que propondremos pretende resguardar básicamente a ejemplares que son de mucho interés para la explotación comercial, principalmente cabrilla y pargo,
indicó.

January 24, 2009

Loreto ¡Toros!

Fishing from the marina break wall in Loreto is hit or miss. Normally I only catch trumpet fish but on occasion a school of something interesting shows up. In the spring I have seen good sized Cortez halibut in the marina, in the summer barracuda cruise the outer wall and in the past sierra have showed up before sunrise. The sierra haven't been around in a while lost to the pervasive gill nets - hopefully better park management will bring them back.

One August me and Dave found a school of large Toro (Jack Crevalle) off the tip of the break wall. It was a classic bad luck turns out to be good luck story. A day that started in disappointment turned into an outstanding day.

We had been hitting a hot dorado bite offshore but one morning we got up to hard rain. I heard it roll in during the night. Before first light we drove down to the marina through the flooded streets.



Disappointed we consulted our guide and decided not to go out given the poor and possibly dangerous conditions created by the remnants of a tropical storm. It was warm so we ended up hanging out at the marina for a while before heading to breakfast.

Without much to do, in the August heat we weren't going for a hike in the desert, we ended up wandering back to the marina. There a couple of young guys had found the Toro and were catching them with live Jurelitos (baby yellowtail) that they snagged. The Toro were so abundant that getting bait was more difficult than catching Toro. There must have been hundreds of them because a live Jurelito drew an immediate, explosive hit when cast to the school.

We spent a great afternoon hanging out with the local kids and catching Toro and I ended up buying a round of popsicles from the paleta cart.


Be careful when flyfishing at the marina as the locals don't expect that long back cast over the walkway and tourists can be distracted - I'd hate to hook someone with a 2/0 clouser minnow!!!

As you can see from the photos the weather cleared. We ended up taking an afternoon run out to the dorado spots and found some amazing fishing along with a little tequila drinking but I'll save that story for another day.

January 7, 2009

Forgotten Shrimp


This is a killer pattern - I found it a long time ago. I think it was on the Internet but have long forgotten its origin. I included it in an article I wrote for Saltwater Flyfishing Magazine - I didn't have a name for it and ended up calling it the Forgotten Shrimp. One day I hope I find its originator and can give them credit.
I tie it fairly small in sizes from 2 to 6. The basic pattern is:
Tail - chartreuse bucktail and crystal flash
Head - chartreuse ultrachenille
Eyes - Red glass beads on heavy monofilament with melted ends to hold the beads on
Body - chartreuse estaz
Back - Green fish skin with silver flakes
Rib - monfilament tied over body
I like to fish this fly on a fast sink tip line often as a trailer to a heavier weighted fly. It has been productive in a variety of areas. It is my favorite fly for fishing the mouths of Pacific side esteros on outgoing tides. In places like Estero Coyote near Abreojos the outgoing tide races through the narrow mouth and creates a river-like environment. I often high-stick this fly much like I would fish a beadhead nymph on the Deschutes River.

January 1, 2009

Marlin Article

This article in yesterday's LA Times Outpost blog provides a good discussion of some the potential impacts of sport fishing on marlin as they stack up off the west coast of Baja Sur in the fall.

Fishing for marlin and other species can be excellent from Bahia Magdelena South in the fall but anglers should use restraint. Flyfishing with a properly sized rod should minimize the frequency of gut hooked fish and allow for a quick fight and release. Keep the fish in the water - avoid the temptation to drag it over the rail for photos. In my experience fish get gut hooked mostly when bait fishing and allowing the fish to swallow the bait.


Anglers' high marlin catch in Cabo San Lucas raises concerns
1:34 PM, December 31, 2008
Pete Thomas

Outposts has been touching on the phenomenal marlin bite at the Golden Gate Bank north of Cabo San Lucas on the Pacific side of the Baja California peninsula.

Just how good has the bite been?

Tracy Ehrenberg of Pisces Sportfishing boasts of the capture of more than 7,000 striped marlin this season, and of a 98.6% release rate. This is just from her fleet, so the overall tally must be incredible.

"After talking to captains with more than two decades' experience, they agreed that they have never seen fishing so good so long in one location," Ehrenberg reports.

Perhaps. But there's a troubling trend off Land's End. Crews aboard the top boats have been aggressively trying to out-perform one another, catching and releasing marlin as fast as they can, striving to make theirs the high boat for a given day.

Captains too. The more marlin flags they fly, the bigger their reputations become.
One-day, single-vessel counts have been as high as 30. When the marlin are bunched up that tightly they simply become too vulnerable.

Undoubtedly, many stripers die after being released. Certainly, most of those that are gut-hooked perish. If you've caught lots of marlin, you've seen at least a few disgorge their entire stomachs during the battle.

Out of curiosity, I asked Michael Domeier, president of the Marine Conservation Science Institute, to comment on this phenomenon. The researcher e-mailed back this morning:


"Most anglers believe that the stomach throwing is a natural event and that the
everted stomach is retracted/swallowed after release. It's possible that billfish have evolved a mechanism for disgorging prey items that they wish they hadn't eaten, or get rid of bones from large prey (bones may be hard to digest)."

"After about a decade of studying billfish with satellite tags, I can say that a disproportionate number of marlin that have thrown their stomachs die after release. I can't say exactly why these fish die, but I have a hypothesis: Fish that are captured with a thrown stomach have been gut hooked and gut hooked fish often die."

"I think the hook actually pulls the stomach out; when the hook/stomach reach the mouth the hook can lodge in the mouth. I have a picture of a black marlin that I took in Australia, the fish is jumping, the stomach is out and the hook can be seen in the corner of the mouth. When you zoom in on the head you can clearly see a tear in the stomach. I tagged the fish and it died."

Thankfully, marlin are now dispersing from the Golden Gate. But they'll be back next winter. Hopefully, the same serious marlin fishermen (and captains) who became powerful advocates of catch-and-release will give up the numbers game and exercise reasonable restraint.

Consider this a New Year's wish.