Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Baja’s Big Game

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/mar/11/41548/

An abundance of great angling opportunities exist around the entire Baja peninsula, but a few of them can be a little remote and a bit difficult to access from many of the major tourist centers.

Nowhere is this truer than when referring to the offshore waters of Baja’s rugged Pacific coast; a place where the Port of Ensenada is the only major maritime resource that exists between the International border at San Ysidro and Cabo San Lucas near the peninsula’s southern tip.

But sportfishing for Baja’s big tuna, dorado, wahoo and other popular ‘blue water’ offshore gamefish that often swim more than 50 miles from shore in these regions was never really a viable possibility until the middle of the last century.

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/mar/11/41549/

Shortly after the end of World War II, a San Diego sportfishing pioneer named Bill Poole, who loved fishing off southern California and northern Baja, realized that that the fishing just kept getting better the further south you went. But actually doing this required two things; sport boats that were much bigger and had the capacity to make the trips, and cooperation from the Republic of Mexico in obtaining permission to explore and fish in these isolated destinations.

After successfully initiating a viable permit agreement with Mexican officials, Poole embarked upon a bold move to begin building more sophisticated and well equipped passenger vessels that were suitable for long range multi-day travel, and which would also comply with U.S. Coast Guard safety requirements. By doing so, he eventually established an honorary reputation within the local industry as San Diego’s ‘top skipper’. Between 1947 and his passing in 2009, Poole owned and operated 10 sportfishing vessels, which included the original Polaris, the Royal Polaris, the Polaris Supreme and the Excel.

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/mar/11/41550/

Bill Poole was much more than just the pioneer of long-range fishing off of coastal Baja. During a span of over 70 years, he laid the foundation and continued to lead in building the framework for San Diego’s entire sportfishing industry. He also mentored many of today’s top sport boat captains during their early years.

Today, decades of experience in long range offshore fishing along Baja’s Pacific coast have earned San Diego a reputation for having one of the finest sportfishing fleets on the planet.

Trips are available that fit practically every itinerary and budget; whether it be a relatively short 2 day excursion off Baja Norte’s Punta Colonet for large winter rockfish or albacore tuna in the summertime, or an incredible 14-day adventure down past the southern tip of Baja on the hunt for giant ‘cow’ yellowfin tuna that can tip the scales at well over 200 pounds.

The entire length of the peninsula is randomly interspersed with small islands and rocky outcroppings that attract a wide variety of both territorial and migrating fish species to delight the intrepid angler.

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/mar/11/41552/

One of the most beguiling and southernmost of these is the small, surf battered formation known as Roca Partida, which lies about 300 miles south of Cabo San Lucas. It may be isolated, but it is a prime destination for long range voyages of 14 days or more for those targeting huge yellowfin. And for those who would like to fish this area without as much travel time on the water, at least one of San Diego’s long range operations offers a ‘fly down, fly back’ trip in spring that allows anglers to be picked up and returned to the port at Cabo San Lucas.

While it may be true that these craft will never be confused with luxury ocean liners, members of San Diego’s long range fleet go out of there way to provide comfortable accommodations via clean compact staterooms, hot showers, exceptional service and plenty of gourmet quality fare and tasty snacks throughout the trip to keep their anglers happy. Additionally, modern techniques for fish storage aboard the boats, including some with RSW (refrigerated salt water) systems, help to keep your catch at the peak of freshness until you return to the mainland.

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/mar/11/41553/

Most importantly, the availability of this highly praised fishing fleet situated immediately adjacent to Mexican waters provides a unique opportunity to see and experience the magic of Baja’s Pacific coast from a delightfully different perspective.

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/mar/21/42344/

FIND OUT MORE:

http://livingbaja.wix.com/elpuerto

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all

Previous article

East San Diego County has only one bike lane

So you can get out of town – from Santee to Tierrasanta
Next Article

Memories of bonfires amid the pits off Palm

Before it was Ocean View Hills, it was party central

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/mar/11/41548/

An abundance of great angling opportunities exist around the entire Baja peninsula, but a few of them can be a little remote and a bit difficult to access from many of the major tourist centers.

Nowhere is this truer than when referring to the offshore waters of Baja’s rugged Pacific coast; a place where the Port of Ensenada is the only major maritime resource that exists between the International border at San Ysidro and Cabo San Lucas near the peninsula’s southern tip.

But sportfishing for Baja’s big tuna, dorado, wahoo and other popular ‘blue water’ offshore gamefish that often swim more than 50 miles from shore in these regions was never really a viable possibility until the middle of the last century.

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/mar/11/41549/

Shortly after the end of World War II, a San Diego sportfishing pioneer named Bill Poole, who loved fishing off southern California and northern Baja, realized that that the fishing just kept getting better the further south you went. But actually doing this required two things; sport boats that were much bigger and had the capacity to make the trips, and cooperation from the Republic of Mexico in obtaining permission to explore and fish in these isolated destinations.

After successfully initiating a viable permit agreement with Mexican officials, Poole embarked upon a bold move to begin building more sophisticated and well equipped passenger vessels that were suitable for long range multi-day travel, and which would also comply with U.S. Coast Guard safety requirements. By doing so, he eventually established an honorary reputation within the local industry as San Diego’s ‘top skipper’. Between 1947 and his passing in 2009, Poole owned and operated 10 sportfishing vessels, which included the original Polaris, the Royal Polaris, the Polaris Supreme and the Excel.

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/mar/11/41550/

Bill Poole was much more than just the pioneer of long-range fishing off of coastal Baja. During a span of over 70 years, he laid the foundation and continued to lead in building the framework for San Diego’s entire sportfishing industry. He also mentored many of today’s top sport boat captains during their early years.

Today, decades of experience in long range offshore fishing along Baja’s Pacific coast have earned San Diego a reputation for having one of the finest sportfishing fleets on the planet.

Trips are available that fit practically every itinerary and budget; whether it be a relatively short 2 day excursion off Baja Norte’s Punta Colonet for large winter rockfish or albacore tuna in the summertime, or an incredible 14-day adventure down past the southern tip of Baja on the hunt for giant ‘cow’ yellowfin tuna that can tip the scales at well over 200 pounds.

The entire length of the peninsula is randomly interspersed with small islands and rocky outcroppings that attract a wide variety of both territorial and migrating fish species to delight the intrepid angler.

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/mar/11/41552/

One of the most beguiling and southernmost of these is the small, surf battered formation known as Roca Partida, which lies about 300 miles south of Cabo San Lucas. It may be isolated, but it is a prime destination for long range voyages of 14 days or more for those targeting huge yellowfin. And for those who would like to fish this area without as much travel time on the water, at least one of San Diego’s long range operations offers a ‘fly down, fly back’ trip in spring that allows anglers to be picked up and returned to the port at Cabo San Lucas.

While it may be true that these craft will never be confused with luxury ocean liners, members of San Diego’s long range fleet go out of there way to provide comfortable accommodations via clean compact staterooms, hot showers, exceptional service and plenty of gourmet quality fare and tasty snacks throughout the trip to keep their anglers happy. Additionally, modern techniques for fish storage aboard the boats, including some with RSW (refrigerated salt water) systems, help to keep your catch at the peak of freshness until you return to the mainland.

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/mar/11/41553/

Most importantly, the availability of this highly praised fishing fleet situated immediately adjacent to Mexican waters provides a unique opportunity to see and experience the magic of Baja’s Pacific coast from a delightfully different perspective.

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/mar/21/42344/

FIND OUT MORE:

http://livingbaja.wix.com/elpuerto

Sponsored
Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Bring kneepads for the Pacific bluefin

Yellowfin can't take to cooler water – capillary walls in gills too thin
Next Article

Economical freezer-filling rockfish trips

Long-range season begins with a bang
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

This Week’s Reader This Week’s Reader