Melaque Mexico Sportfishing - Mid March

[coach]

Heading to Melaque in March and hoping to do some sportfishing. My mom and step-dad are there now and will be scouting things out - but figured I'd ask the HBC gang for any information as to what I can expect down there. Apparently it's a good area for sailfish. Anybody been there? Any info is much appreciated. Naturally, I'll be bringing my camera and will do a full report when I get back. :-D

[fishingguy44]

Dont bother booking with anyone, just go down to the Marina and pay someone, much cheaper. When we are down there we dont sail fish we tuna fish so I can only help with that. but if you do tuna fish just throw a 4" rapala out the back and you cant count to 5 before another fish has hit your line. You will be able to see feeding fish on the surface.

[coach]

Thanks, fishingguy44. Valuable info! How big were the tuna you caught? To be honest I'd rather chase them than sailfish.

[boxhitch]

Not familiar with that spot but have this as a reference for when we go back down to Baja

http://tailhunter-international.com/fishingchart.htm

[coach]

Thanks, Boxhitch! That chart is quite helpful.

[boxhitch]

Good timing on the thread , just looking into a trip ourselves
Melaque huh ??????????????:)

[coach]

Good timing on the thread , just looking into a trip ourselves
Melaque huh ??????????????:)

My mom's been going there for a few years now. Apparently it's a quiet fishing village. This will be my first trip.

[fishingguy44]

The tuna were not huge, maybe 15-20 lbs, but we caught them non stop. And cutting them open is like beef or deer, dark purple and its so good, fresh civichi on the beach.

[coach]

The tuna were not huge, maybe 15-20 lbs, but we caught them non stop. And cutting them open is like beef or deer, dark purple and its so good, fresh civichi on the beach.

Sounds awesome. To say I'm "jacked" would be an understatement. :-D Did you take your own gear or just use what was provided?

[Salty]

Was there a few years ago but just did a bit of beach fishing, no charters. Melaque doesn't have a marina so there's just a few local fishermen that beach their outboard pangas not really any chartering there. But just 5 miles south is Bara de Navidad a bigger town that has a protected marina and all kinds of chartering out of there. There was a little fishing shop at the north end of the busy strip along the beach in Bara and the guy there, Canadian actually, was real helpfull and free with info. .. used to be able to find his web site but can't right now.. anyways google fishing bara de navidad and you'll get a fair jag of info. Have fun

[coach]

Thanks to everyone for the info. My mom and I went 23 miles offshore today in a panga captained by an awesome fisherman named Allejandro. We landed three yellowfins, saw turtles, flying fish, hundreds of dolphins and watched a good sized marlin jump clear out of the water about 15-20 times. Incredible experience and I'd highly recommend anyone to check out this guiding operation.

Salty was bang on with his assessment. The boat launched out of Bara de Navidad and the Canadians at the tackle shop recommended him.

[Salty]

Cool buddy, glad it worked out :-D

Whatup down there this year, busy in Bara? Melaque? I'm still wearing a shark tooth necklace I bought off a young dude on the beach in Melaque a few yrs back. That's how cool I am. lol Nice area down there. ..

[coach]

Cool buddy, glad it worked out :-D

Whatup down there this year, busy in Bara? Melaque? I'm still wearing a shark tooth necklace I bought off a young dude on the beach in Melaque a few yrs back. That's how cool I am. lol Nice area down there. ..


That guy's still here. Apparently he made so much money off the necklace, he opened his own bar - it's called Senor Salty's. He does a skit every night about the gringo that paid such a "good price" on the necklace, it gave him his second start at life..:-D

You're right. It's a beautiful area down here. Economy is slow, however. The American's are staying away because it's "too dangerous". :confused: Barra has very little going on. Melaque is a little busier. The majority of tourists are Canadians.

Melaque is also known as San Patricio (St Patrick). That's made things interesting at night. The bottle rockets go off at all hours - peaking around midnight but going strong until 6:00am. Earplugs may have been a useful item to pack.

The people here are always trying to sell you something - but are polite and respectfully leave us alone when we say, "No, gracious". The bartenders are "on it". They know us by name from day one on and a quick wave is all it takes for them to come fill our next drink order.

After 4 years of not accepting my mom's invite to come down here, this is our first trip. She rents a place year round about a block from the ocean and lives here from October to March. Guaranteed I'll be finding a way to get back here next winter.

[coach]

On to the fishing.. When I started this thread to ask for information, I was inspired the answers from a couple of the guys. I've fished in many places and usually do well, but it's always nice to hear from someone who's "been there". The advice of asking around Barra Navidad was great. My mom and her hubby did just that prior to me coming down here. She narrowed down the choice of guides to two people - Alejandro and his brother in law. In my research, I came across the www.reel1in.com (http://www.reel1in.com) website - owned by a Canadian living in this area. The site indicated Alejandro has done some guiding for some of the reel1in clients. Things were looking good.

Tracy decided she'd take a pass on heading 20 miles offshore in a 28' super panga. I guess that day out on the banks off Bamfield had here worried about motion sickness.:-D Mom's husband, Bill has spent his life on boats - but isn't really into fishing. That left mom and I to take the charter. Mom's always talked about loving to fish, but (unfortunately) I haven't taken her out very often. We all cherish the times we spend hunting and fishing with our dads - but somehow I don't read many stories about doing these things with our moms. Well - If I can teach anyone here anything - it's to ask your mom if she wants to be included. What an awesome day we had!

[coach]

Sunrise as we headed out of the harbor:

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/Mexico%202013/DSCF0439_zps98ba3363.jpg

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/Mexico%202013/DSCF0437_zps5a073086.jpg

Leaving Barra in the background.. Heading offshore:

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/Mexico%202013/DSCF0440_zps6d67d7fe.jpg

[coach]

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/DSCF0448_zps2e52c475.jpg

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/DSCF0446_zps1a863e82.jpg

Mom seemed attracted to our guide's good looks. These were used to attract the fish..
http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/DSCF0445_zps4474d387.jpg

[coach]

The sealife was amazing. Dolphins by the hundreds. Sea turtles with seagulls riding on their backs. A marlin that jumped 15-20 times clear out of the water (unfortunately he wouldn't take one of our lures), birds by the hundreds and tuna slashing through the bait fish..

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/DSCF0457_zps64b45148.jpg

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/DSCF0456_zps4cdaed7b.jpg

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/DSCF0454_zps63abd902.jpg

[coach]

Fishing wasn't fast and furious. It took a while to find the bait. Apparently the tuna had been about 10 miles out the week before. We found our first around the 22 mile mark:

This pic is for Johnybear: I know he likes blood..

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/DSCF0450_zps8fa73b06.jpg

Nothing huge - but I wouldn't trade the experience for the world. Our second fish came in a double header as we ripped along the edge of a massive bait ball that had birds, dolphins and tuna flying everywhere. I can only imagine what it would be like when the bite is really on out there..

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_0787_zps10a7dc1e.jpg

I honestly don't think there's a better eating fish in the world than tuna:

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/DSCF0469_zpsc47dcee3.jpg

I'll add a bit to the story in a litte while. Time to hit the beach for a cerveza! :-D

Cheers, Coach

[coach]

Here's a video of a dolphin riding our wake. Amazing that with 5 lines in the water, these mamals never get hooked.

Click to view
http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/th_dolphinsinthewake_zpse0680bdb.jpg (http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/dolphinsinthewake_zpse0680bdb.mp4)

[coach]

A small bait ball with birds, dolphins and maybe a few tuna in it: (Click picture to view video)

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/th_DSCF0459_zps84db60ab.jpg (http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/DSCF0459_zps84db60ab.mp4)

[coach]

Mmmmm.. Tuna lightly seared with a wasabe / soy glaze:

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_0241_zps23cd6372.jpg

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_0242_zps1cebcf53.jpg

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/IMG_0244_zps3e241def.jpg

[coach]

Tuna ceviche - prepared at Alejandro's restaurant: La Colomilla

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/DSCF0490_zpsa9cf829c.jpg

This stuff is awesome! Definitely going to do this with salmon when I get home.

[Wrayzer]

:eek:
I'm looking forward to the dinner invite.....

Tuna ceviche - prepared at Alejandro's restaurant: La Colomilla

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg633/coach1000/DSCF0490_zpsa9cf829c.jpg

This stuff is awesome! Definitely going to do this with salmon when I get home.

[coach]

:eek:
I'm looking forward to the dinner invite.....

Sounds good - you just need to supply the pacifico's! :mrgreen:

[fuzzybiscuit]

Beauty trip Coach. Looks like a lot of fun.

[The Hermit]

Oh man Coach that is living the high life man! Glad your trip is turning out great. All 18 of my extended family here in BC went to Bara for Christmas one year and stayed in a funky little hotel ON the beach, a few weeks after we were home a storm came in and washed it away! Interesting place!

[Philcott]

There is nothing like fresh ceviche prepared in mexico. We had some made from dorado out of Manzanillo a couple years back. Just fabulous.

Glad the trip is going well.

[Salty]

That guy's still here. Apparently he made so much money off the necklace, he opened his own bar - it's called Senor Salty's. He does a skit every night about the gringo that paid such a "good price" on the necklace, it gave him his second start at life..:-D

You're right. It's a beautiful area down here. Economy is slow, however. The American's are staying away because it's "too dangerous". :confused: Barra has very little going on. Melaque is a little busier. The majority of tourists are Canadians.

.

I'm glad my 4 bucks gave him his head start in life! :mrgreen:

Ya this recession reaches accross the world man. We were there in 2010 it was the other way around Bara was hoppin and Melaque more laid back but not deserted or anything. Mind you we hit Dia de la Constitucion this is a huge holiday for Mexico, first monday of February and a lot of well to do looking Mexicans from the inland cities filled up Bara for a week of festivities.

Other than that looks like you found your away around there big time. Some good fishing and sounds like you too discovered that man can pretty much live on ceviche and Pacificos! LOL

[MOUNTAIN MAN - TOYOTA/ATV]

Sounds like a nice trip for you Coach! Good fishing!!

[RB2]

Totally jealous, thats all I can say!!!!!!!!!!!!glad you had a good trip.