Gone Fishing in Baja

Think 'Fishing' and Baja immediately comes to mind. You just can't help it, the seas of Baja are positively teeming with fishes. Fishing in Baja has become such a popular activity, that it seems it's a crime to spend a vacation there without even attempting to go fishing.

Baja is lucky to be situated between two abundant bodies of water: the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. Mexicans have enjoyed the benefits of the vast Pacific Ocean, as it is brimming with sea creatures from every kind and shape. Not to be outdone by the Pacific Ocean, the Sea of Cortez is said to be the most biologically diverse water form on Earth. With oceans and seas such as these, no wonder fishing has become a major source of livelihood for Mexicans living in Baja.

Aside from being a source of living, fishing in Baja has become a sport. Many tourists have come to Baja for the sole purpose of getting out their fishing reels and getting that perfect catch. Some approach it in a more competitive manner, others see it as more of a hobby. The Baja seas are ready for either type of fishermen.

If anyone would say that fishing is boring, then they obviously hadn't tried fishing in Baja yet. Because the fishes at the Sea of Cortez are so diverse, you'll never know what you're actually catching. The fish range from marlin, tuna, snapper, swordfish and dorados. They are enormous fishes too. The yellowtail tuna could weigh up to 1,000 lbs. In terms of fishing, this has really reached the extreme. This is the main reason tourists can't get enough of fishing in Baja. What seems to start out as a laid-back fishing expedition could turn into an exciting ride as you try to reel in that thousand-pound tuna. It is never predictable, and is highly exhilarating.

Vacationers in Baja can engage in different types of fishing. For a more experiential activity, tourists engage in spearfishing. This is perhaps the most exciting form of fishing, since you would have to go diving to actually get the catch of the day. Imagine diving into the ocean depths, and waiting for that marlin to pass by. When it does, you react with lightning quickness as you spear the fish and bring it up to the service. Primal? Yes. Exhilarating? Most definitely. Spearfishing is one of the more visceral experiences of fishing in Baja, as you can get up close with the fishes of the sea.

If you are more interested in the more traditional way of fishing, then you can rent a boat and go out into the open sea at the crack of dawn. You could go deep or shallow fishing, and you can get equally satisfying catches.

If you are out for some shallow water fishing, you can expect to catch the following fishes: Spotted Bay Bass, Barracuda, Sierra, Leopard Grouper, Triggerfish and the Yellowtail. If you are deep water fishing, you'll be expected to catch the following: Black Skipjack, Dorado, Yellowfin Tuna, Sailfish and the Snapper. There are other fishes, but these are the most common catches.

The more popular municipalities in Baja that are perfect for fishing are La Paz and Los Cabos. The seas in these areas are perfect for fishing, since they are teeming with fish and other kinds of sea creatures.

Baja is a definite fisherman's paradise. Not only are the fishes diverse, they are also plentiful. When you fish in Baja, you will find out that, indeed, there are many other fish in the sea.