I am going on vacation to Todos Santos in Baja this Nov and am taking my 7wt fly rod. A couple of my friends live there and one is renting her house to me and my wife. The other friend told me that there are a lot of 1-2lb fish, sierra, roosterfish and the like just cruising in the surf at a few of the calmer beaches there. The natives fish for them with rudimentary handlines so I figure the 7wt has got to be adequate.
I don't have any experience in salt water and don't know Baja. Does anybody here have any good ideas as to what flies I should bring along?
I am no expert in Baja, but if you read Kiene's board Jay Murakoshi fishes down there all the time. He has a guide service on the other side of Baja and ties flies for the trips. http://www.bajaflyfishingadventures.com/Baja_Fly_Fishing_Adventures/Jay_Murakoshi_Baja_Fly_Fishing_Adventures_Fly_Selection.html
If you go to Sweeney's fly shop in Napa talk to to Bob Arwine he ties flies for Baja and fishes down there quite a bit. I would call first to see when Bob is working.
Well here I am. I bought a Cabelas 8wt 4-piece for travelling and it has performed well so far. I hired a panga to take me out in the ocean (Pacific side) and had a blast. Landed a 10lb and 5lb sierra that were like freight trains on the 8wt. Lost 6lb and close to 15lb dorados. I think I was a little under weighted for the big dorado as it felt like it was going to destroy my reel which was spinning like a top. Even the 2lb bonitas fought like maniacs. Every fly I used for the sierra are shredded beyond recognition and even the wire leader looks worked.
Also got out to the La Paz area for some surf fly fishing which was really fun particularly since the surf in the Sea of Cortez is minimal. Landed a couple of large cornetfish and lost a couple of big fish of some other species that exploded out to open water. I was only "allowed" an hour here, but next time I am fishing it seriously.
When I come to Baja the next time I'm bringing a 10wt as well. These big fish just make an 8wt look like a toy.
