Mag Bay Jan 2017 Trip Report - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

makobob · 05-19-2017, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baja_Traveler

The chin strap makes your birds easily identified as Black Brant. Used to see a ton of them down in San Ignacio lagoon during whale season - kinda surprised they are still down there, should be heading back north by now...

I am so looking forward to our trip this winter!

16 miles in a Solo Skiff - no problem!

32 miles in a Solo Skiff, towing another yak, no problem. Going to be a great trip Kai. Christmas is coming. Tight Lines.

Gunner58 · 05-19-2017, 09:47 AM

Those "birds" are Brant Geese. Cant wait to get a chance to shoot one.

rossman · 05-20-2017, 03:08 PM

Hey Brew,did that Manta Ray bite something or was he snagged?

CON KSO · 05-22-2017, 06:55 AM

Please let there be more, please let there be more....

Mahigeer · 05-22-2017, 07:39 AM

What a great trip. Thanks for sharing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rossman

Hey Brew, did that Manta Ray bite something or was he snagged?

I was thinking the same:
“As filter feeders, manta rays consume large quantities of zooplankton in the form of shrimp, krill and planktonic crabs…” Wikipedia.

brew · 05-29-2017, 04:32 PM

Yes, the manta ray was snagged in the wing (3" swim bait).

CON KSO · 05-29-2017, 05:56 PM

I'm in Puerto Lopez Mateos right now- using internet from Hotel Refugio - did you guys drive out on the road to Playa Santa Elena? Gonna give that a shot tomorrow. Not many restaurants open this time of the year- I guess there are more during whale watching season. Lots of water moving around out there right now- kinda intimidating actually.

brew · 05-29-2017, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CON KSO

I'm in Puerto Lopez Mateos right now- using internet from Hotel Refugio - did you guys drive out on the road to Playa Santa Elena? Gonna give that a shot tomorrow. Not many restaurants open this time of the year- I guess there are more during whale watching season. Lots of water moving around out there right now- kinda intimidating actually.

Yes, I heard at times the water moves a lot! We were there during very mild tides, but even we were prepared to wait it out if we had to (headlamps, windbreakers, and food/water)

I'm not sure where Playa Santa Elena is, but we were about 7 miles north of town (dirt road). There is a big channel that is man made heading inland. I would recommend trying straight out from there and possibly a little north. Good luck. Maybe just hire a panga if it's too gnarly for a yak.

brew · 05-29-2017, 06:00 PM

Ok. Day whatever (2nd in Mag Bay)...

Kitchen shack visitor

There was a ton of dew in the mornings even thought the weather was very mild. 60-80F

Eggs and tangerines for breakfast and loaded up on water and snacks for the day.

Everybody had a couple of confidence baits from yesterday and conditions were ridiculous, so we were pumped to get out there again.

Our rigs.

brew · 05-29-2017, 06:49 PM

The silence was cool. You had to look behind at the wake to be able to tell if you were moving or not.

If the smallest island on the horizon was a gunsight, it would be aimed at the main boca feeding the bay. Just for an overall view of where we were at.

Looks like a good starring point to me.

Leo with a green jack. Like all jacks these things fight hard.

Jeff with a nicer corvina

I noticed some disturbances in the distance and hauled butt over there. Got a few good casts right through the middle with no luck. Tried a couple of different lures. Slow roll, burning it in, huh still nada. Turned around and started to head back and Bam.

Needlefish. Definitely the culprit. Tried for another but it was not to be

Species ID help?

First broomtail in Mag Bay. Just a baby really, but they are great fun on lightbtackle. That's a 5" crocodile just for size perspective. Maybe 5-6lbs?

Cool shot of one of many corvina for the day?

Giant lizard fish while trolling the main channel.

There was one spot that was nonstop cookie cutter spotties. All small. ~10-11"ers

Had to fight the current in today and it was not easy. I can see where other times of the year with larger tidal swings you might be screwed. We were hugging the edges of the "river" just to make forward progress and peddling pretty hard. Jeff's kayak is a beast and I thought we may have to tow him, or just wait it out, but he actually made it in before us.

Cool whale skeleton

We also had to go around some sand bars / shallow spots due to the low tide. Here is Leo walking the last 50yds or so in about 6" or water. It was a long day on the water and I think we all set records on mileage at over 25mi.

Another good day!

05-20-2017, 03:08 PM	#3
rossman Marginally Irrelevant Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bahia Asuncion Posts: 936	Hey Brew,did that Manta Ray bite something or was he snagged? __________________ "When beholding the tranquil beauty and brilliancy of the ocean’s skin, one forgets the tiger heart that pants beneath it; and would not willingly remember that this velvet paw but conceals a remorseless fang. " — Herman Melville Y'all come see me now, hear!

05-19-2017, 09:47 AM	#2
Gunner58 Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 81	Those "birds" are Brant Geese. Cant wait to get a chance to shoot one.

05-22-2017, 06:55 AM	#4
CON KSO Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 83	Please let there be more, please let there be more....

05-29-2017, 04:32 PM	#6
brew I Exercise Fish Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: HB Posts: 44	Yes, the manta ray was snagged in the wing (3" swim bait).

05-29-2017, 05:56 PM	#7
CON KSO Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 83	I'm in Puerto Lopez Mateos right now- using internet from Hotel Refugio - did you guys drive out on the road to Playa Santa Elena? Gonna give that a shot tomorrow. Not many restaurants open this time of the year- I guess there are more during whale watching season. Lots of water moving around out there right now- kinda intimidating actually.

05-29-2017, 06:00 PM	#9
brew I Exercise Fish Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: HB Posts: 44	Ok. Day whatever (2nd in Mag Bay)... Kitchen shack visitor There was a ton of dew in the mornings even thought the weather was very mild. 60-80F Eggs and tangerines for breakfast and loaded up on water and snacks for the day. Everybody had a couple of confidence baits from yesterday and conditions were ridiculous, so we were pumped to get out there again. Our rigs.

05-29-2017, 06:49 PM	#10
brew I Exercise Fish Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: HB Posts: 44	The silence was cool. You had to look behind at the wake to be able to tell if you were moving or not. If the smallest island on the horizon was a gunsight, it would be aimed at the main boca feeding the bay. Just for an overall view of where we were at. Looks like a good starring point to me. Leo with a green jack. Like all jacks these things fight hard. Jeff with a nicer corvina I noticed some disturbances in the distance and hauled butt over there. Got a few good casts right through the middle with no luck. Tried a couple of different lures. Slow roll, burning it in, huh still nada. Turned around and started to head back and Bam. Needlefish. Definitely the culprit. Tried for another but it was not to be Species ID help? First broomtail in Mag Bay. Just a baby really, but they are great fun on lightbtackle. That's a 5" crocodile just for size perspective. Maybe 5-6lbs? Cool shot of one of many corvina for the day? Giant lizard fish while trolling the main channel. There was one spot that was nonstop cookie cutter spotties. All small. ~10-11"ers Had to fight the current in today and it was not easy. I can see where other times of the year with larger tidal swings you might be screwed. We were hugging the edges of the "river" just to make forward progress and peddling pretty hard. Jeff's kayak is a beast and I thought we may have to tow him, or just wait it out, but he actually made it in before us. Cool whale skeleton We also had to go around some sand bars / shallow spots due to the low tide. Here is Leo walking the last 50yds or so in about 6" or water. It was a long day on the water and I think we all set records on mileage at over 25mi. Another good day!