Pam Bolles was in our shop about 17 years ago when she was planning on going to Loreto, Baja to start a fishing adventure company. Here is a great article that reports what she is seeing in Loreto the past few years.
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Hi there,
My name is Pam and I have lived in Loreto for the past 17 years as a full time resident. My Mexican husband is a panga captain and I am a fly fishing guide and a naturalist tour guide in Loreto, Baja California Sur Mexico.
After reading recent reports on this BBS about the fishing in Loreto, Baja California Sur, I would like to comment.
A couple of years ago when reading a Gary Graham post regarding lack of sardinas in the SOC I saw a comment by Grant Hartman stating that they haven’t had sardinas in Cabo for over 10 years and he had to learn how to fly fish bait less. Grant catches fish. Now its our turn in Loreto to figure out the methods for fly fishing bait less that are unique to our area.
This season the SSTs are very cool off Loreto. There are a lot of swift currents and up welling inshore and the water is not clear like it usually is. The low visibility is due to the high O2 content from the movement of the water and low temps and the plankton. There is no sargasso. We have no sardinas at all at Loreto. There have been super low tides in the morning and inshore is best on a high tide. I am not venturing offshore at all and I am flexible on time of day that I fish.
This summer the dorado are very few and seem to be lightly migrating in along the shorelines. This has been happening since May. When the dorado come in along the shorelines from the S as opposed to coming in from offshore and from the N, then it will be a poor dorado year at Loreto. So remember that if ever traveling to Loreto and if you want nothing but dorado.
I am an honest person and I have do not give bogus advice. I have been operating sport fishing charters in Loreto, BCS for 20 years. My reporting is first hand or by cross referenced trusted sources (if not first hand) and I speak Spanish.
With that said, if you are only willing to fly fish with the aid of live bait used as chum, then you will be SOL this year unless you are willing to try different methods. Also if you are intent on only getting into schools of dorado because they’re fun and easy to catch yet unwilling to look for other species then you will be disappointed.
On the bright side of things, you will be able to save money because of the depressed peso against the US dollar. You will become a fantastic fly caster because you’ll get lots of practice. You should expect to be able to land a fish about every 10 to 15 casts if you’re fishing it right.
I have been witness to more inshore fish and sight casting opportunities this season then I have seen in the 20 years of my operation here. Authorities ARE cracking down on inshore gill netting at Loreto.
We have been able to get our clients into the rooster fish of a lifetime! We have figured out how to land 100 pound plus rooster fish. Yes we get these monsters on conventional gear but the bait we need to use is a giant ladyfish (3-4 feet long) that under 60 pound roosters can not get their mouths around. The ladyfish are best caught on the fly! We will keep trying to land these big ones via teasing with a spinning setup and casting onto a hot fish. Gotta keep trying to get the reward.
Its a ball discovering and testing new ways to land more fish while fly fishing totally purist. We are having fun testing our prototype bio degradable flies that are currently being designed and built in Loreto. I am quite happy with the challenges, in fact the reason I started to fly fish in the first place is because I wanted the challenge. This year is a chance to become a better fisherman.
So if you are scheduled to come down to Loreto but for some reason you have not yet canceled your trip, just realize that your fishing trip is what YOU make of it. Make your own opportunities and discover your own methods for success, but for dogs sake share your conclusions with those of us who want to improve ourselves too : )
I have sent thousands of people fishing over 20 years and I can easily say that the people with the best attitudes are the most successful fishermen. Its all in the attitude.
Gracias for putting up with my comments. Peace!
Pamela Pelger Bolles
The Loreto Fly Fishing Guide
(only one here)
Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico
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