Pole Dancer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hurricane Jimena Crisis Report Site