El Moscero's - Baja Fly Fishing

New Movie: Baja All-Exclusive

2010-11-19T16:49:00.000-08:00

This looks interesting. A new film by Produced and Directed by Carmina Valiente: Baja All-Exclusive

The film will be showing in Loreto on November 26th:
10:00 at the conference room at the University
18:00 at the muesum of the Missiones

Happy 200th Birthday Mexico!

2010-09-16T21:28:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry I missed the party! It looks like it was fun.
Here is President Calderon giving the traditional Grito de Dolores. The fireworks are spectacular.

Science Meeting in Loreto

2010-08-20T13:13:00.000-07:00

This should be an interesting event. I hope to make it and maybe I'll see some of you there!

Applying Science to the Conservation and Management of Natural Resources throughout Northwest Mexico

May 25-27, 2011

Loreto, B.C.S.

The Ocean Foundation, in collaboration with a diverse collection of research institutions, government agencies and non-governmental organizations, cordially invites you to save the date for a conservation science symposium discussing the application of science to the conservation and management of natural resources throughout Northwest Mexico, to be held May 25 to 27, 2011 in Loreto, B.C.S., Mexico.

Through a series of oral and poster presentations, panel discussions, and workshops, we will explore marine and terrestrial issues, helping to define priorities for conservation throughout the region.

The topics of discussion will include some of today’s most pressing issues, such as:

Climate change and its impacts on habitat and biodiversity,
Freshwater quality, quantity, and alternative sources of water,
Fisheries and coastal communities,
Development, urbanization and the sustainable use of natural resources, and
Natural protected areas, connectivity and biodiversity.

Participating Organizations and Institutions:
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Ayuntamiento de Loreto, California Academy of Sciences, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas de México, Comunidad y Biodiversidad, A.C., Eco-Alianza de Loreto, A.C., Grupo Tortuguero de las Californias, A.C., Instituto Nacional de la Pesca de México, Laguna San Ignacio Ecosystem Science Project, ProEsteros, A.C., Pro Peninsula and The Ocean Foundation, Sociedad de Historia Natural Niparaja, A.C., The Nature Conservancy, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur.

The Volaris Experiment Part 4: The Flight to La Paz

2010-08-04T15:30:00.000-07:00

Continuing the story...

The flight to La Paz on Volaris was quite pleasant. The Airbus 319 was clean, modern and appeared new. Pink Martini played over the intercom as we taxied out. The aircraft was equipped with fold-down computer screens. The safety video was done in the form of a telenovela - you have to see it for yourself. On both my flights everyone paid attention.

Claudia Lizaldi does a great job reminding us of the safety features of the Airbus 319.

The La Paz airport is small and straight forward. A windy afternoon made for a choppy approach. There was a German Sheppard sniffing the checked luggage - it was the second drug/gun/cash dog of the day.

There is an ATM in the airport. I got some pesos and jumped into a cab and headed for the bus station. The cab was clean and efficient - $300 MN (Pesos) for the lift. Although I have used colectivo buses to get to the Los Cabos Airport I don't know if it would work in La Paz. The airport is on a fairly long side road from the highway. I would be very interested in hearing about potential alternatives to cabs.

The Volaris Experiment: Part 3 The Tijuana Airport

2010-08-03T14:28:00.000-07:00

The ride from the boarder to the Tijuana Airport is relatively short and easy. After the line the bus heads south, crosses the river, spins around a traffic circle and then heads east along the boarder fence for about 3 miles.

While the bus ride was straight forward the navigating airport is not. Some Spanish language skills and calm determination is required. English only would work here but it would make things more challenging.

The airport is nice and modern with plenty of food and other basics and with a little lead lead time should present no major problems. But it helps to know the drill. In Mexico there are often more than one way to do things and they often change but for what it's worth here is what I did:

First I went inside the airport and got in line that led to check in area.

There is an x-ray machine for your bags here and they may check for a boarding pass - I can't remember .

Just before the x-ray check point there is a small INM window - it is fairly well marked - I asked about getting an FMT (tourist visa) and the uniformed officer said to pay inside and come back for the FMT.

I went in and got in the long slow check in line.

Note that each flight has its own check in line and each flight gets one check in window. Be sure to get in the correct one. At the front of each line just before the check-in window, a team of three people did a cursory search of our bags and then sealed them with zip-ties.

While in this line I talked to an American couple who I had met on the bus and had come through a different initial screening entrance where they had paid a different INM guy directly and had their FMTs already.

After a little asking around my Spanish paid off and I was directed to this window:

When you are in the Volaris check in lines this window is directly behind you.

I paid my $22 for the FMT here got a receipt and was directed back to the INM guy near at the x-ray line.

I was relieved to discover that he had a small window on the inside of the security check so I didn't have to go outside and return through security.

I gave him the receipt and he gave me an FMT good for 180 days.

Then I was back in the check in line, got my bags searched and sealed, got my boarding pass and headed to the final security check.

The final security check was the third bottle neck for the morning - there appeared to be only one lane for the check that was serving several flights. It was the standard x-ray your carry on and metal-detector deal.

After that it was a quick hustle through the terminal - very new and nice but with the trio of long lines I didn't have time to enjoy it.

At the gate they loaded us onto a pair of buses and then drove us a few hundred yards across the taxiways to a waiting plane and boarded using old-school stairs.

I was a little over whelmed by the process and may have gotten small details wrong but the general plan should work.

I snapped this picture of Adriana - all Volaris aircraft appear to have names - but not all have a Krispy Kreme logo.

The Volaris Experiment: Part 2 Crossing the Boarder

2010-08-02T13:50:00.000-07:00

OK,

So Alaska/Horizon tickets were about $450 from LAX to Loreto and I was in San Diego with an itch to go fishing.

Determined Baja traveler that I am, I decided to give the Volaris route a try.

I walked down to the Greyhound station in San Diego at 1st and Broadway about three hours ahead of my flight - about 6:00am. It was very close to my hotel in San Diego and I found the walk quiet and pleasant in the calm coolness of the morning.

The ride on the Curcero-USA bus (http://www.crucero-usa.com/) from San Diego to the Tijuana Airport was $15 US but you can get tickets for a few dollars less on the web. Buses run every hour or two from 6:45am to 11:30 pm. It takes about an hour to get from downtown San Diego to the Tijuana airport but leave early boarder delays are always possible and unpredictable.

Here we are about to cross over to el otro lado. I haven't made the land crossing at San Ysidro in a while and while much is still the same a few things have changed. The south bound traffic backed up in the photo are cars being stopped for searches on the US side prior to entering Mexico.

All vehicles were being stopped and we had to wait while a crew of officers really looked over a nice SUV and pick up driven by two young latino guys. Afterwards a series of three very serious officers visited the bus covered by an officer with the most fearsome looking shotgun I have ever seen. I think these guys were ICE but it was serious enough that I forgot to write down who was doing the searches. They ran a dog through the bus and made some announcements about carrying more than $10,000. This isn't usually a worry for El Moscero. If I had $10,000 I wouldn't be on the bus.

After a significant but not fatal delay we were on the way.

Always build extra time into your travel plans. You will need it here.

A volunteer from the bus gets to push the Aduana (Mexican Customs) red/light green light button - we got lucky and dozen or so people on the bus cheered as our volunteer got the green light.

The Volaris Experiment

2010-07-31T13:39:00.000-07:00

Here is the situation - I found myself on a work trip to San Diego in mid-July and really wanted to make a quick trip down to Loreto for a couple of days after I was finished with my San Diego meeting.

I previously reported on the fishing from this trip and want to continue with the story of my experiment taking the Volaris Tijuana to La Paz service.

The question before me was what was the best way to get from San Diego to Loreto and back with a minimum of hassle and expense and no car.

Horizon Air (Alaska Airlines regional partner) flies from LAX to Loreto 4 days per week but LAX is a long way from San Diego and the flights were expensive.

The bus from Tijuana to Loreto is about 18 hours and $80 US.

I went with Volaris Tijuana to La Paz and then bus to Loreto.

The next few posts will document my trip and provide an answer to the questions:

Is it worth all the trouble?

Did it save any money?

Do you need to speak Spanish?

Would I do it again?

Stay tuned for more!

Good Fishing in Loreto

2010-07-25T13:43:00.000-07:00

OK,

Here's my run down from fishing Loreto the 18th and 19th of July. The fishing was good for 8-12 pound dorado and 3-10 pound roosters.

The cool spring and early summer felt along the west coast from Baja Sur to Oregon appears to have delayed the Loreto season - we found dorado close to shore and only a little farther out than the roosters. Several small dorado came from areas where rooster fish were active in schools - on one one occasion within 100 yards of the beach.

Bigger dorado are hard to come by but will likely show up as the water warms. Capitan Francisco reported a few sailfish to the north on Sunday (July 18).

The cool spring weather appears to have reduced growth rates in sardinias - they are here but very tiny - too small for the net. If sardinias were available this could be an epic light tackle season.

We saw a larger size class of rooster fish but manged to hook only one that came off the hook while making a couple of quick reverses.

Plenty of Pez Gallo schools were working over sand off rocky shores and we had several great chances at larger fish but couldn't keep them near the boat. Dragging flies behind the boat yielded many small roosters. Conditions were perfect for casting - smooth water and little to no wind made it hot - but fish very boat shy.

I fished both days with Victor Villalejo - a captain that I had not fished with previously. I booked both days through the Baja Big Fish Company. Victor is a good guide - he is fine with releasing fish, patient, speaks English, and most importantly can find fish. While most boats headed way off shore in search of dorado or to points north of Coronado to fish deep for yellowtail we stayed inshore and chased fish with light tackle. I was tired from a long week of traveling and didn't want to get pounded off shore - plus I really wanted to find the big toros (Jack Crevalle) that have been hanging around town.

The first day we saw many small to medium sized dorado chasing flying fish through the air but I never was fast enough to get a picture. The second day we found fewer doroado and did not see the big pod of dolphins that we say on the first day. However we found many more rooster fish and saw a school of big toro go under the boat but they were traveling and wouldn't stop to bite.

El Moscero Misses the Bus

2010-07-24T13:05:00.000-07:00

Repeat after me:

BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR IS ON MOUNTAIN TIME!

Forgetting to change your watch when arriving in BCS is a common mistake and one that caused me to miss the bus and resulted in arriving in Loreto about 8 hours late at 2:30am!

I'm just got back from a fast run to Loreto. Fishing was unusual for this time of year but very good. Lack of Sadinias was the only thing preventing things from being epic.

I will post pictures soon.

Water Safety

2010-07-01T10:39:00.000-07:00

This story is an important read:

Drowning Doesn't Look Like Drowning

In Baja lifeguards are non-existent. Be aware and be safe.

Strange Start for Loreto

2010-06-22T20:40:00.000-07:00

It has been a strange start to the summer season in Loreto. Here in southern Oregon summer has been late and my tomatoes got wiped out by a mid-may frost. It appears that this cold weather has been affecting things all the way down.

Sadinas have been hard to get and the dorado are just starting to show up. Lee Baermann has posted a series of Loreto reports over the last week and a half on Dan Blanton's bulletin board. He had the good fortune of the first charter in Captain Francisco's new boat. Here's Francisco with the first fish in the new panga.

I'm jealous.

Nice fish Lee! - that is the biggest pargo I've seen in the Loreto area.

Rooster Release

2010-06-19T13:22:00.001-07:00

This is where all rooster fish should go after you've had your fun with them. Terje Bendiksby of Norway fished for nine days out of La Paz and reports excellent fishing for roosters. This big boy was estimated at 25 kilos - that's over 50 pounds! It seems like a good year for pez gallo with reports of good action from Loreto to La Paz and the East Cape.

Cool Old Movie

2010-06-17T14:57:00.000-07:00

Check this out. Views of Ensenada, Bahia Tortugas, Bahia Magdelena and Cabo San Lucas from 1949.

April Steel

2010-06-11T14:44:00.000-07:00

OK,
I haven't been able to post in a while. It's been a great springer run here on the Rouge River and I've been busy. I'm itching to get back to Baja but for now I wanted to share this great photo of a Feather River Steelhead caught by Mike E. in April.

Pole Dancer

2010-05-19T13:04:00.001-07:00

This is a good looking fly with interesting action. In this brown and white pattern it will likely be productive for fish feeding are sardinas. I look forward to giving one a try. You can see the action in this video:

Loreto Coastkeeper

2010-05-17T16:46:00.000-07:00

Another great development from Loreto. There is now a Coastkeeper complete with a blog.

Everyone with an interest in the community and the fantastic sport fishing should support this effort.

Click http://www.ecoalianzaloreto.org/ and then hit the Make a Donation button. Its easy, fast, and is important.

If you need a little motivation go watch Rivers of a Lost Coast and see what we have already lost in Alta California.

La Pamela Reina de Pesca

2010-04-20T06:58:00.000-07:00

Hey,

Here's something I have been waiting for. Pam from the Baja Big Fish Company is posting a blog about her fight to protect the fisheries of Baja California Sur.

El Moscero fully supports La Reina de Pesca's efforts. The only question is when does she sleep?

Those diputados better watch out - I hope they know what they are getting into.

Loreto Pride Campaign

2010-04-08T14:30:00.000-07:00

The Loreto Bay National Park is seeking volunteers on Saturday, April 17th to help the park provide all Loretanos with the opportunity to know their park first-hand. As part of the park's Pride campaign promoting sustainable fisheries "Loretanos por un mar lleno de vida" the park will invite all Loretanos, many of whom have never had the opportunity to get out on the water, to enjoy a visit to Isla Coronado and/or kayaking and sailing from the malecon, FREE of charge.

In order to provide the service to the number of people we are expecting, we are reaching out to the community of park users seeking volunteers to help us provide boat service to the island, or to loan their kayaks, snorkel gear, life jackets or other essential equipment. We are also seeking a few more kayak guides who can help folks to paddle along the shore.

The free aquatic activities will take place from 8am – noon. We envision each boat trip to be approximately 90 minutes. Ideally, those donating their boats would make 2 or 3 of these tours mini Coronado trips during the 4-hour period. The more Loretanos enjoy their park, the more who will be interested in taking care of it.

Some basic information: the park will be responsible for organizing the people in small groups for each boat. A volunteer working with the park will be placed on each boat to share some basic information about the park with the passengers, and to help maintain order. Children under 13 will be required to be accompanied by an adult. All passengers will be required to wear life jackets for the duration of the tour. All passengers will be asked to sign a release form provided by the park prior to their tour. Passengers will be expected to carry their own water and snacks and to carry out garbage.

For more information, or to confirm your interest, please contact Cynthia Mayoral at cmayoral@rareconservation.org or 613-111-0510.

Reprinted from the Loreto Yahoo Group

New Blog

2010-02-11T09:24:00.000-08:00

For those of you looking closely you will see a new blog added to the Conservation Blogs link. The Baja Blog by ProPeninsula is from a great group that is worthy of your support!

Unification of Loreto and Baja California Sur for the Protection of the DORADO

2010-02-09T14:36:00.000-08:00

From the Baja Nomads Board posted by Pam in Loreto:

Several months ago a fellow nomad posted a link to an article in spanish regarding the initiative of removing the Dorado from its protected status as per Art. 68 of the Ley Federal de la Pesca where the following species are reserved for sport fishing permits within 50 NM of the Mexican coastline:

Dorado, Billfish, Roosterfish, Tarpon

We are responding to this and if you can read Spanish here is the start of our campaign to be heard.

http://www.bajabigfish.com/cartaconfirmas

later late tonight I will be posting my experiences from the last four weeks on this issue. we are collaborating with Los Cabos, La Paz and Guaymas on this as well as across the border to the USA via Robin Wade of Western Outdoor News.

also when the guy who owns loreto.com gets his stuff together it will also be accessable here loreto.com/cartaconfirmas

I will include ways in which non Mexicans can support us in my report. We will need your support and once united we'll will be unstoppable. This might be that 2010 revolution they refer to. But this time it will happen through peaceful communication with the law on our side, and science and with an educated and enlightened public.

Viva el Dorado
Viva Mexico

Sail Fish on the Hunt

2010-02-08T15:35:00.000-08:00

These shots from National Geographic are not from Baja but they are so good I had to share them.

There is also a great video "Sailfish: In the Whirl" at the National Geographic site. Its useful to watch to see the scales and blood of the wounded bait fish that we often try to imitate with our flies.

Cool Dorado Video

2010-02-05T15:04:00.000-08:00

Dorado on the Prowl from Jay Murakoshi on Vimeo.

This is a good video - the first 3 minutes shows good fighting technique. Notice how the rod tip stays relatively low - high sticking isn't just a hokey foul, it's a good way to break a fly rod.

At about 3 minutes the video switches to an underwater shot of good sized Dorado working chum. If you come to Baja California Sur in June, July, or August this is where you will be casting the fly. In the last few seconds you can really see the sardinas as they try to escape. Watch what happens and you can get a feel for what the strike feels like.

I think I'll go check flights - I'm getting the itch real bad!

Perfect Day

2010-02-04T14:00:00.001-08:00

Ignore the sleepy hound and look for the very happy guy fishing from the rocks. Notice that there are no footprints on this beach. We spent most of the summer of 2002 living here. On Sundays a couple of families would come here and the dads would fish from the rocks while the kids played on the beach. On Fridays a big cruise ship would glide silently by at about 11:00am and disappear around the point headed north. The rest of the week it was just us and our lazy dog, nesting sea turtles at night, and fishing all day long.

Trouble in Paradise

2010-01-19T16:42:00.000-08:00

Hey readers,

There is breaking news today that the Mexican Congress will consider allowing the commercial catch of Dorado in early February of this year.

Illegal catch of Dorado is already widespread:

http://bajaflyfishing.blogspot.com/2009/08/pez-de-oro.html

http://bajaflyfishing.blogspot.com/2009/08/oro-de-cortez-part-2.html

http://bajaflyfishing.blogspot.com/2009/08/oro-de-cortez-part-3.html

The legalization of commercial fishing for this species will destroy one of the remaining healthy fisheries in the Loreto region and have devastating impacts to the sport fishing-based economies of Baja California Sur.

I'll post more information as I get it.

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

2009-12-28T16:36:00.000-08:00

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.

George Anderson demonstrates his method for tying the Bimini Twist

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

2009-12-11T14:45:00.000-08:00

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.

Mexico Renames Cerralvo Island for Jacques Cousteau

2009-12-02T15:42:00.000-08:00

Check this out:

Cousteau: An Island in Mexico

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.

A Cousteau Observatory in Mexico

Proposed Loreto Park Plan

2009-12-01T14:21:00.000-08:00

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.

Huricane Jimena Relief Efforts in Lopez Mateos

2009-11-05T14:40:00.000-08:00

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

Hurricane Jimena Crisis Report Site

Alaska Airlines Fare Sale

2009-11-05T11:11:00.000-08:00

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

Fare Sale

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

Nice Photos on Gary Bulla's Discussion Board

2009-10-08T15:25:00.000-07:00

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.

Hooked Up?

2009-09-17T15:03:00.000-07:00

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.

Fish Hook Removal

¡VIVA MEXICO!

2009-09-16T10:46:00.000-07:00

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!

Recovery efforts in the Bahia Magdalena Region

2009-09-11T08:57:00.000-07:00

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.

Jimena Relief Efforts

2009-09-10T14:29:00.000-07:00

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.

Jimena's Aftermath

2009-09-08T16:16:00.001-07:00

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.

Comondu and San Carlos Hit Hard

2009-09-02T16:51:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-02T09:46:00.000-07:00

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.

¡Jimena Se Acerca!

2009-09-01T11:12:00.000-07:00

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!!!

Hang on Cuidad Constitution - Jimena Viene

2009-08-31T15:10:00.000-07:00

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.

Theft at the Oasis in Loreto

2009-08-26T13:46:00.000-07:00

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.

I wish I was here!

2009-08-21T14:31:00.001-07:00

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.

Project Pangas

2009-08-20T15:25:00.000-07:00

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.

Oro de Cortez Part 3

2009-08-10T14:12:00.001-07:00

Oro de Cortez Part 2

2009-08-10T14:01:00.000-07:00

Oro de Cortez Part 1

2009-08-10T13:49:00.000-07:00

This video is fantastic - it clearly sums up the ongoing battle over fisheries management in the Sea of Cortez. Minerva Smith from Cabo San Lucas and Baja California Sur's Senator Coppala are great advocates for protecting this fantastic resource.

Earthquakes near Bahia de Los Angeles

2009-08-03T15:26:00.000-07:00

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

Great White Shark on the Fly

2009-07-30T13:49:00.001-07:00

Not quite Baja but cool anyways...

Pescadores Vigilantes

2009-06-21T13:57:00.000-07:00

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.

Loreto Bay Company - It looks like this is the end

2009-06-07T13:42:00.000-07:00

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.

Baja Sur's Senators Fight to Protect Sportfishing

2009-06-01T13:47:00.000-07:00

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

Leopard Grouper in Loreto

2009-05-24T15:51:00.000-07:00

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.

Baja From Space

2009-05-20T14:25:00.000-07:00

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.

Rivers of a Lost Coast

2009-05-18T14:15:00.000-07:00

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!

More on Loreto Management Plan

2009-05-12T20:42:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-12T16:19:00.000-07:00

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.

Taking the bus

2009-05-09T15:50:00.000-07:00

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.

New Loreto on line news site

2009-04-25T12:26:00.000-07:00

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

Radar Politico

Take Marlin off the Menu

2009-04-17T13:22:00.000-07:00

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!

Good news From BCS State Congress

2009-04-16T16:12:00.000-07:00

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

Sting Rays and Semana Santa

2009-04-07T13:32:00.000-07:00

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

Below the Birds

2009-03-16T13:08:00.000-07:00

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!

Mulege Snook

2009-03-14T12:04:00.000-07:00

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.

Cabo Pulmo

2009-02-26T15:31:00.001-08:00

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

An old book

2009-02-01T10:52:00.000-08:00

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!!!

Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

2009-01-29T15:12:00.001-08:00

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.

Common Sense

2009-01-28T13:41:00.000-08:00

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.

Loreto ¡Toros!

2009-01-24T12:29:00.000-08:00

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.

Forgotten Shrimp

2009-01-07T19:59:00.000-08:00

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.

Marlin Article

2009-01-01T11:45:00.000-08:00

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.

Positive Developments in the Northern Sea of Cortez

2008-12-30T20:23:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-26T13:10:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-21T12:13:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-19T13:05:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-04T20:55:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-02T20:25:00.001-08:00

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

2008-11-24T09:21:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-20T15:11:00.001-08:00

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

2008-11-19T20:06:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-17T20:04:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-13T15:32:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-10T16:23:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-08T13:20:00.000-08:00

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

2008-10-31T14:40:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-29T15:03:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-28T16:07:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-27T16:42:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-17T10:45:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-14T16:45:00.001-07:00

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

2008-10-13T12:12:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-12T15:13:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-11T10:45:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-10T16:54:00.001-07:00

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

2008-10-10T16:02:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-08T10:19:00.001-07:00

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

2008-10-07T13:08:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-01T13:16:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-24T14:57:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-21T13:26:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-20T14:11:00.000-07:00

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.