Bahai De Los Angeles Labor Day weekend - what to expect?

[captaincam5]

Hi everyone, with the damage to Bahia De Los Angeles from Hurricane Hilary, was curious what everyone’s experiences have been since the storm. I’ve heard that most of the roads are passable now in 4x4s, with a lot more work being done in the next few days to get trucks in. If you have a trip coming up, I would recommend checking with your host to make sure where you are staying isn’t damaged. Ours was, but our host is moving us to a different unit so we’re all set there.


The one other thing I wanted to call out, the water temps in the northern sea of Cortez have changed drastically.

Prior to the storm, the water temperature in San Felipe was in the high 80’s - low 90’s, and now it’s in the low-mid 70’s. Almost a 20° difference over the span of 3 days. Anyone know what to expect with this kind of a fluctuation a week before? Curious how it’ll affect the fishing, one upside of it is we might be seeing some yellowtail on the surface instead of only down deep this time of year…

 

[jose caballero]

likewise, I've heard from many sources that BoLA is completely accessible "with 4x4", and I would assume this will quickly shift to "with some dust on any car" by the time the sand consolidates into hard-pack and washboards, probably within a few weeks. I would expect some travel delays and deviations from asphalt to dirt around broken surface for at least 6months, possibly 2years. you should also be prepared for dangerous debris surprisingly in the middle of the roadway, and dramatic drop-offs on the shoulder (as the substrate is undermined quickly and the little cracks can become huge boat-eaters in minutes). I towed my boat down one thanksgiving after an October hurricane, which caused a good bit of damage in BoLA (was that maybe 2020 or 2021?), and that was totally doable but a couple of the drive-arounds were SPICY and the overall drive was maybe one hour longer. another hurricane a few years previous was more devastating to Gonzaga but surprisingly less of a big deal in the regional roads as a whole. one thing I can almost guarantee: Baja will bloom like CRAZY any month it rains; the plants don't care if it's spring, long days or short days don't matter, they just go NUTS whenever they get a good dumping. I haven't been down since Hilary, but that's just my experience with previous hurricanes.

regarding temps, I can imagine two distinct possibilities:

1- maybe it's an artificial change caused by the strong winds, so the sensors show a dramatic change but the majority of the water column is still intact. in that case, business as usual when you show up.

2- maybe it's real...?! sustained surface winds can create massive upwellings and can totally flip the water column. that could be great (more bait up high, more fish fighting for habitat so less guarded in their grazing, more surface action...), but it could also stir up the food web in weird ways and lock up the fish.

time will tell. I know a handful of people fished yesterday and it was so-so, not great. hopefully reports will trickle in today and later, I'll be following and look forward to hear your experience when you go.

 

[waynem]

Interestingly, the water temp here in the San Diego has dropped about 10 degrees as well, though the decline started several days before the storm moved through here. It's anyone's guess as to how the fishing will be affected down there, but that's part of the fun, not knowing.

 

[jer dog]

Joel showed photos of WSB today,
On instagram.

 

[Bend Session]

likewise, I've heard from many sources that BoLA is completely accessible "with 4x4", and I would assume this will quickly shift to "with some dust on any car" by the time the sand consolidates into hard-pack and washboards, probably within a few weeks. I would expect some travel delays and deviations from asphalt to dirt around broken surface for at least 6months, possibly 2years. you should also be prepared for dangerous debris surprisingly in the middle of the roadway, and dramatic drop-offs on the shoulder (as the substrate is undermined quickly and the little cracks can become huge boat-eaters in minutes). I towed my boat down one thanksgiving after an October hurricane, which caused a good bit of damage in BoLA (was that maybe 2020 or 2021?), and that was totally doable but a couple of the drive-arounds were SPICY and the overall drive was maybe one hour longer. another hurricane a few years previous was more devastating to Gonzaga but surprisingly less of a big deal in the regional roads as a whole. one thing I can almost guarantee: Baja will bloom like CRAZY any month it rains; the plants don't care if it's spring, long days or short days don't matter, they just go NUTS whenever they get a good dumping. I haven't been down since Hilary, but that's just my experience with previous hurricanes.

regarding temps, I can imagine two distinct possibilities:

1- maybe it's an artificial change caused by the strong winds, so the sensors show a dramatic change but the majority of the water column is still intact. in that case, business as usual when you show up.

2- maybe it's real...?! sustained surface winds can create massive upwellings and can totally flip the water column. that could be great (more bait up high, more fish fighting for habitat so less guarded in their grazing, more surface action...), but it could also stir up the food web in weird ways and lock up the fish.

time will tell. I know a handful of people fished yesterday and it was so-so, not great. hopefully reports will trickle in today and later, I'll be following and look forward to hear your experience when you go.

Great insight - thanks.

 

[Rabid Fish]

I think your timing is going to be real good and the water is still blazing hot. I would expect as long as weather is good a choice between yt near the bay or mahi/marlin/sailfish outside with all the cabrilla and goldspots you want on the reefs. I dunno what temp chart you're looking at but the SST is still pushing 90*

 

[captaincam5]

I think your timing is going to be real good and the water is still blazing hot. I would expect as long as weather is good a choice between yt near the bay or mahi/marlin/sailfish outside with all the cabrilla and goldspots you want on the reefs. I dunno what temp chart you're looking at but the SST is still pushing 90*

Yep just checked today, water temps look back to normal. Think the storm just turned a lot of the water over on the north end of the sea of Cortez.