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Fishing the Cerralvo Channel -– Local Tips for Great Fishing
Carlos has been fishing the waters surrounding La Paz since he was a boy. He was born here in La Paz and says as he glances out the window at the Bay of La Paz, “I can not imagine living somewhere that The Sea of Cortez was not near by.”
Indeed, it is easy to understand his perspective. During the day Carlos is the Receptions Manager at Club El Moro. The view from his office window embraces the full length of the blue green beauty of the Ensenada de La Paz, the sea lapping just meters away. Everyday he helps hotel clients to plan fishing adventures with Baja Fisherman's Fleet.
So, on this particular warm summer morning, I stopped by Club El Moro to extract some fishing secrets and local lore from my friend. Carlos was hesitant at first, as I set my recorder down on the desk. “I don’t know,” as he shook his head, “I think that thing is going to make me nervous.”
Ignoring his concerns, I started launching a few questions at him, like how long he had been fishing here and where he had learned his skills. Carlos and I had talked fishing before, and I had confidence in where this conversation would lead.
Carlos glanced down at the recorder a few times as he told me about growing up in La Paz and learning fishing with his father. His father was a sailor, a captain on a boat out of La Paz. “I guess fishing is just in my blood, like The Sea.” he said.
Carlos fishes from his own 22ft super panga now. He chuckled as he recalled the old boater’s adage about the two happiest days of a boat owner’s life: the day he buys and the day sells his boat. “I thought that was true when I sold my boat about a year ago. Within 2 or 3 months I regretted it enough to buy another.”
Carlos refit his panga with some of the things he had discovered useful over the years of fishing. He replaced the side console with a center unit, to make it easier to walk around the whole boat while fighting a fish. He also added a large bimini top, to make fishing in the prime heat of summer more bearable for the fisherman.
With his concern for my recording device now a distant memory, Carlos was in his environment – talking fishing, and by the sparkle in his eye you would have thought he was telling you about Santa Claus.
He told me the best time to start fishing is just as the sun comes up. “It is beautiful to be out there, just as the sun rises over The Sea.” “When the sun comes up you need to be there.” You get your bait and then you go fish.
He added with a shrug. “Some folks end about noon, or 1 o’clock, but sometimes I have had just as good of luck in the afternoon, around 4PM.” I asked Carlos if he felt the full moon had any affect on the fishing. He told me that more so, in the summer time when the water is warm, the fish are able to feed all night. This can make them lazy in the morning he added, but then they come alive again in the afternoon and often the fishing is good then.
This past weekend Carlos went fishing near El Bajo, north of Espiritu Santos Island. Aside from being a great day on The Sea, Carlos and friends bagged 5 Dorado. At this time of year the fishing is near peak. Dorado, Sea Bass, Mahi Mahi, Yellow Fin, Yellow Tail, Striped, Black and Blue Marlin. Even the Trigger fish make a popular local cerviche. The fishing seems to be pretty good this year.
They discovered their prey hanging in the shade of some floating sea weed, a common place to find fish in the heat of the day. When I had asked Carlos what his favorite fish to eat was, he replied without hesitation, “Dorado”. Carlos deferred to his wife as the culinary expert when it came to preparing Dorado, but said that in foil; on the grill was one of his favorites. Grilled quickly with garlic, onions and cilantro, the mere though of it had us both longing for lunch.
Fishing for Dorado around La Paz can be a lot of fun and good eating, but for the sport of it, Carlos enjoys Marlin. “It is definitely like a game with these big animals, you have to give and take.” The battle can last for hours and, how quickly and boldly you reel them in will have a lot to do with the weight of your line. An extended battle with one of these fish which weigh from 150 to 350 pounds can last for several hours and wear more than one fisherman out before landing the quarry
When asked how the weather affects the fishing Carlos shrugged. “I guess sunny days with a little chop are the best.” But it is always hard to say, I have had good luck and bad on the same conditions. Hot sunny days, where the water is very flat usually offer the best results in the early morning and late evening.
Live bait is his usual preference; sardine is the most common around here. But sometimes the fish change their minds. His past outing he used for an example. They had little luck with live bait most of the day. After switching to a psychedelic squid later, they caught all the fish they had been looking for. Feathers also prove a good option on those days the fish turn their noses at live bait.
At this point in our conversation, Ricardo, General Manager of Club El Moro joined us. Ricardo enjoys fishing as well, although his techniques are a little more direct than using a rod and reel. Ricardo enjoys spear fishing while free diving. Red Snapper and Groopers can be prey amongst the rocks of the local islands. His favorite fish to eat is Halibut.
Both fishermen agreed, regardless of technique, time of day or quarry, these summer months offer fisherman the best the Sea of Cortez has to offer. The fishing this year has offered up some large Dorado and Tuna much earlier in the season than usual, because of The Sea’s above normal temperatures. And the excellent fishing is expected to continue.
Although Carlos doesn’t offer fishing charters on his personal boat, he can set you up with a charter from El Moro’s Baja Fisherman’s Fleet. There, Captain Juan and his brother will take good care of you and make sure you have the most enjoyable and productive day of fishing possible.
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