[etan]

I'm home in Port A from California. We didn't make the trip to Cabo due to boat problems and then weather. We will return to the west coast after Christmas and head south before the 1st. My question is about trolling the ridge on the way down. What exactly constitutes the ridge and specific spots on it along the way? We definitely plan to hit the Thetis bank but what other suggestions?

 

[Pope]

The ridge is the drop off sitting off the lower pacific side of baja off "mag" bay. It has many high/low spots and banks extedning from it. Potato Bank is an example. You will find plenty of striped marlin, wahoo, dorado, and school to medium sized yellowfin. Big bluefin show up starting in March. The ridge starts at 24°30 and ends 26°30. I would suggest buying maps from http://www.terrafin.com before planning an attack. There is a marina in Mag Bay, so you can refuel. If you guys have a skiff or kayaks use them in the back waters of mag bay. Lots of snook, jacks, snapper, etc...Oh bottom drops on the ridge are good too. I was on the Red Rooster and we spent two days of the ridge. I caught all sorts of grouper and snapper when bottom fishing on anchor at night. Nobody seemed to care about these fish, but I did.

 

[etan]

Thanks for the response. We will be running straight thru from Ensanada to Cabo, just trolling along the way. Your suggestions are greatly appreciated.

 

[Pope]

Etan, they are having an El Nino year. If the water stays warm and you guys have the time there are many great locations to fish along the way. I wouldn't troll the whole way. Guadalupe Island should still have "warm" water and a few yft and awesome yellowtail fishing. Cedros Island will have plenty of calico bass, hailibut, and yellowtail. Finally, if you make a wide swing around the tip of baja, you can hit Jiame Bank. Big YFT here. I hope you have a blast and we expect a FULL report.

 

[Bret]

Etan, that sounds like one heck of a trip!!! I think most of us are envious...
Good luck and post up a report when you get back to Port A.

 

[etan]

We are taking the boat to LaPaz. Ted and Mary are staying in the area until they run to the San Juan islands off Canada for the summer. We won't be stopping much until Cabo and LaPaz, thats why we will only troll. Once we are in LaPaz we will do some bottom fishing etc.

 

[jaredchasteen]

How big of a vessel is this journey happening on. I have seen where guys take a 26ft boat from san diego to puerto vallarta

 

[etan]

It is a new 47' Nordhavn trawler. Very nice, 2 bedroom, 2 bath, and displaces 85,000#. It would have made the trip in the weather but we were worrying about getting home for Christmas and just decided to wait.