Included / Not Included: –
Included: Ground transportation to and from airport, breakfast and lunch, boat, captain, fishing license and accommodations.
Not Included: Airfare, dinners, staff and guide gratuities, alcohol, Bait (usually netted by captains gratis but paying bait vendors $20 can expedite the process). Rental fly fishing gear available upon request. Rod/reel rental is available at $35US /day.
Travel Logistics:
Arrival Information: To get to Bahia de los Suenos you need to fly into La Paz, Mexico. There are a number of airline companies including Delta and Alaskan Air that service La Paz.It is important to coordinate your flights with the rest of your group as the transfer will take the entire party to and from the airport based on your flights.
Getting to the lodge: Once you arrive to the La Paz airport (LAP) you will be met by a Bahia de los Suenos representative and transferred to the lodge in either an air-conditioned Volkswagen Euro Van or Suburban. The ride from the airport is about 45 minutes.
Departing the lodge: On your departure day a lodge representative will transfer you to the airport in La Paz.
Documentation Requirements:
You must have a valid U.S. passport to enter Mexico. This will be used to obtain your Mexican Tourist Card. Keep your copy of the card with you during your stay. No inoculations are required. Expect to pay a $12 (US) departure tax when leaving Mexico. You will be given a visa form on arrival so please retain for your departure.
Currency:
The Mexican monetary system is based on the Peso. The lodge only accepts cash (US $ or Pesos) as payment for all incidentals (gratuities, phone calls, souvenirs etc.) US money is accepted at the lodge at the current exchange rate. Credit cards are NOT accepted.
Travel Cash:
The lodge only accepts cash. We recommend each guest travel with approximately $350-$600 for gratuities, spa treatments, and miscellaneous gifts. Most of the restaurants and shops in the larger cities take credit cards (Visa/Mastercard).
Gratuities:
Captains like to be tipped on a daily basis. We recommend about $40 -$50 per boat per day. Bait can cost $20 a bag unless the Captain is harvesting it for you.
The house is staffed with three attendants and the cook, we would suggest you tip the maid as one would at a hotel and may be $5 a day for the cook and assistant.
Climate:
During the month of May mornings and evenings can be cool with daytime temperatures in the 90’s. By mid-June daytime temperatures will reach 100. Fortunately for fly anglers, the Sea of Cortez stays well-protected from the wind.
Medical Facilities:
The closest medical facility is in La Paz, approximately 45 minutes from the lodge. Guests have the responsibility to disclose any special medical, physical, or dietary needs to the lodge ahead of time.
In emergency situations, a charter flight may be required to reach a medical facility. Guests may want to consider medical evacuation coverage. We recommend Global Rescue.
Power and Communications:
The standard power is US 110V (no adaptor needed). There is Wi-Fi and satellite TV for guests to enjoy during their stay. No electrical converters are required during your stay.
The house does not have a guest phone however your host can arrange to have you use his Mexican Cell phone onsite. US cellular phones should work but please check with your provider before departing the US to avoid expensive roaming charges.
Water:
We do NOT recommend you drinking the water from the tap. We recommend you use the bottled water provided for brushing your teeth. There are several bottled water dispensers available. Guides will provide water and soda/Gatorade with the lunches each day.
Clothing:
Quick dry pants and shorts, long sleeved quick dry shirts, casual cotton pants, shorts and shirts, sandals, hat with wide brim, sun gloves, bandana, lightweight socks to protect your feet while in the boat, lightweight rain coat. Clothing should allow you to layer down during the day. Mornings are often cool. Rain/splash gear can add to your comfort. Polarized sunglasses are a must.
Laundry:
Laundry service is available for a small fee.
Alcohol:
Once you arrive to the house you will be greeted by the staff. They will have some complimentary beers, margaritas, tequila, and vodka for you that first night. Once you get settled a staff member will take your order for your alcohol needs for the rest of your stay. Please be prepared to pay them for the order as they will be going out to purchase your items.
Environmental Dangers:
La Paz is a desert environment so the bugs are a little different. The mosquitoes have never been anything to even mention, but you do get the occasional scorpion or tarantula type critter. Keep in mind that there are some dangerous bugs, jellyfish, stingrays, etc.
You worst enemy is the sun so be sure and bring a large hat, sun block, lip balm, and sun protective clothing coverage!
Equipment:
Rental fly fishing gear available upon request. Rod/reel rental is available at $35US /day. Your captains will have pliers however you should bring the following for your trip.
Rods and Fly Lines:
An 8 or 9 weight rod with a SA clear intermediate Tarpon line and a 300 grain streamer express is recommended. This is for smaller roosterfish and jacks, sierra, around rocks general inshore fishing.
Your main rods will be a 10 or 11 weight rod with an intermediate and a sinking line. We recommend the Scientific Angler Tropic Express for the sinking line to match your rod weight (Grain: 250/Rod: 7-8, Grain: 300/Rod: 8-9, Grain: 350/Rod: 9-10, Grain: 400/Rod: 9-12, Grain: 450/Rod: 10-13). These are used for roosters and jacks, dorado, and sailfish. For roosterfish, quickness is paramount, distance and accuracy will also help. For roosterfish, I suggest any line you can comfortably cast 50-80’with one back cast, regardless of sink rates. If you are coming for big roosterfish, try and have a line/rod combo you can punch out fast.
A 13 - 15 rod is also helpful for Marlin, large dorado, horse eye jacks, tuna, and bigger roosterfish. An intermediate and a sinking line are recommended. See above for appropriate grain of line.
Reels: Any quality anodized, corrosion resistant, saltwater reel will work. Get the best reel you can afford such as Tibor, Bauer, Ross, and the likes.
Leaders: 0ften you will have a mix of species fish with teeth mixed with a selective non toothy fish. Example inshore fishing; roosterfish (selective at times) will prey on ladyfish (teeth), while sierra (teeth) or bonito (teeth) might also be around. You cast to a roosterfish and the other fish get there first and compromise your leader. Meanwhile the 40 lb rooster is still feeding and 20 lb straight fluorocarbon is best if there are only roosters and Jacks, which is often the case, otherwise I go with a 40 lb bite. See details below.
The most popular leader is a 5’ 20lb Seagar fluorocarbon tied to 12” (IGFA rules) 40lb Seagar fluorocarbon using an Albright w/ a Huffnagle knot. This knot combination is strong, quick, and has a small profile and landed plenty w/out incident. On a good day you can change leaders 5-10 times, count on two a day.
It is also good to have some “big game” leaders with bimini twists and bite of 80lb; I even have some tied w/40lb bite for the big dorado, tuna, pargo. Pargo are very difficult; extremely good eyesight, incredibly powerful, and teeth! In May they will come up to the surface in small schools which look like big, red/brown spots, you might have one shot and they are gone.
Wahoo/Sierra Mackerel: Wire or toothy critter bite
There are a lot of opportunities for record fish in the area. Your host does have an IGFA approved Boga grip scale for 60 if you are interested.
Flies: Sardine patterns work best: Enrico Puglisi sardine #3/0 in blue/white and grey/white. Sea habits 3/0, deceivers in olive /white, Blue/white. Clousers and shrimp (Size 3/0) for inshore around rocks. Also bring some coneheaded flies as well.
Pink/white billfish poppers for billfish. (This can be tied with pink and white feathers on a tube add a Cam Sigler popper head and a tandem hook set up w/6/0 Trey combs hook and a 3/0 Owner stinger. That is for the teasing, bait and switch method.)
Misc.: While fishing from the boat many choose to go barefoot or wear only socks, which offer protection from the sun. Another comfortable option that we prefer is wearing “Crocs” sandals. They are very comfortable and do not scuff the boats. Quick dry shorts and especially quick dry pants are the everyday attire.
Suggested gear for offshore fishing:
Fast action rods 10-14wt.
Fly Lines-clear intermediate sink, sink tip, shooting heads, full sink.
Leaders-12-20lb class flourocarbon, 80lb (billfish), 40lb (dorado) flourocarbon bite guard.
Flies- sardine patterns, Deceivers, Clousers, EP flies, poppers, gummy minnows, billfish poppers (pink).
