Proposed Loreto Park Plan

Pam at the Baja Big Fish Company has posted the proposed management zones for the new 5-year plan for Loreto Bay National Marine Park.

The success of the proposed management plan will depend largely on enforcement and participation by all park users. While I am sad to loose Puerto Escondido, I think the No Take Zones, if enforced, will provide space for fish populations to recover and should provide for excellent fishing in the surrounding areas in the future.

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

Exclusion Zone I - No gill netting or collection netting.

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

Exclusion Zone III - Netting Sierra Mackerel is allowed.

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

Green = enclosure netting is permitted.

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

Palometa

This Palometa (Yellow Jack) is another of the many fish that have fallen for the 1/0 Clouser Minnow in brown/yellow/white with gold flash. This fish was caught in Puerto Escondido on a very calm January day. Over the last couple of years Puerto Escondido has been spared the pervasive gill nets that plague many inshore areas of the Sea of Cortez and is providing an outstanding fishery. Hopefully, this area will continue to serve as an example of what inshore fishing in Loreto Bay National Park could be like.

Last March, my buddy Dave C. found some great shore fishing here for small yellowtail and roosterfish. Unfortunately, Pam from the Baja Big Fish Company (http://www.bajabigfish.com/) recently reported that staff of SINGULAR, the government agency managing the half-built marina facility, told her that no sport fishing was allowed in the bay. Dave said that during his March visit one of our favorite fishing spots was fenced off. Hopefully, this trend won't continue. This is one of the few sheltered spots on this section of the coast and some of the best fishing in the area that is accessible by car.

I strongly urge everyone to practice catch-and-release in this small bay. Be part of the solution.