Guadalupe island officially Closed Today

[michael e. bingham]

The Mexican Government closed the Lupe today to all Sportfishing, I've only been a hand full of times but it was always epic being there, it's definitely a Magical place to fish and Just enjoy where you are at , it's amazing how big the white sharks are there even though once they showed up it was tough Landing a fish but awesome to watch

 

[fishkilr]

More and more everyday I'm thankful I was born in the 60s and was able to see and do so many things that are rapidly disappearing...
Gonna miss that magical place..

 

[MikeC.]

The Mexican Government closed the Lupe today to all Sportfishing, I've only been a hand full of times but it was always epic being there, it's definitely a Magical place to fish and Just enjoy where you are at , it's amazing how big the white sharks are there even though once they showed up it was tough Landing a fish but awesome to watch

did they say a time frame?

 

[engelwurt]

You can read about it in the link below. You'll have to have pretty good Spanish or use just use google translate. When they say "closed" the do mean CLOSED to basically everything, including all tourism. It's sad and almost hard to believe. Hopefully, I got this is wrong or someone comes to their senses. Doesn't seem very likely though....

https://www.dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5676590&fecha=09%2F01%2F2023&fbclid=IwAR3W_AxRltUbwtBxksu6jSEitCj9FpezxLdgMONIaR6lr6K2dvtEmens-nw#gsc.tab=0

 

[Mr. DRE]

That sucks !

 

[Kevin A]

I heard a couple months ago it wasn't going to open. My Understanding is they don't plan on opening it up for fishing for at least a few years. Theirs always the possibly of greasing a few palms in order to allow a few boats to get permits with major conditions along with a substantial cost for anglers to fish their. . People were already complaining about the fees to fish Guadalupe. Who would pay 2-3 times the permit fees and only be allowed to catch 1 or 2 YFT?

 

[Cubeye]

I wonder if they are going to vacate the commercial fishermen and families that live on the island.

 

[swami 805]

I remember back in the day trading with the pangeros for lobsters. Beer and porn were the currency. Sucks they closed it but not surprising

 

[Tunahead]

Oh Well....Now the Tax Man can have a field day there.

 

[michael e. bingham]

My son in law Edgar Castro explained it to me last night and it's been in the works for a couple of years now, he said they are eventually going to close Benitos island as well , there's a lot of areas the Mexican Government is planning on closing to Sportfishing, hate to see it happen, they have been talking about closing the coronado islands for years now which would totally suck

 

[surf launch]

Little by little, piece by piece the baja fishing grounds will be closed off to foreign sport fishing interests. Many of us saw this coming for a while, it really sucks and likely could have been avoidable

I can't help but think much of the issue is directly related to long range boats (mainly some in the SD fleet) for years acting disrespectful toward local panga fisherman and remote fish camps. Mexico city finally took notice and here we are.

 

[jer dog]

after that ,it would suck At the US ,boarder it they stop you from bringing fish home,
then it would stop people from going there to fish .

 

[Sticky Mangos]

Unfortunately the day will arrive when all long range boats will be prohibited to fish Mexican waters. At some point I do believe that then the long range fleet will relocate in Mexico. The Mexican long range fleet will be able to fish almost anywhere in Mexican waters. I believe this because there will be a lot of money to be made by those involved.

 

[cozenone]

I do think this way also, although addressing the fleet moving to Mex. That's reaching out there a bit, first and foremost the boat owner has to be Mexican to validate a permit. and that's where it starts. Looks more like the cartel is planning to relocate.

 

[hucklongfin]

That list of both allowed and banned activities sure seems to be aimed at the island itself and not the ocean.

 

[ShadBurke]

A truly magical place that I was able to fish on my private boat several times. Great memories with my father, rest in peace.....

Guadalupe Island 10/11 to 10/16 Epic Trip on Private Boat Scotty D

Quick report just back from Guadalupe aboard my boat, Scotty D, a 35' Cabo Express. This was a trip that had been planned for some time with my 65 year old father. A redemption trip in sorts for such a crappy local offshore season that we all...

www.bdoutdoors.com

 

[Ali]

Does anyone know if this includes yachts?

 

[engelwurt]

That list of both allowed and banned activities sure seems to be aimed at the island itself and not the ocean.

You're right, but the list for marine environment doesn't look much different. Carve out for the commercial pangeros, but no one else...

Does anyone know if this includes yachts?

From below, yes. For anything but simple transit looks like.

 

[miaf]

Does anyone know if this includes yachts?

Looks like # 18. 19 & 21 pretty much keeps yachts and all fishing boats out. Sucks.

 

[flytie]

Background

It looks like shark diving may have been the spark that lit the match.

"Background: The closure, effective August 2022 was, generally speaking, the culmination of four accidents, three at Guadalupe and one near Socorro Island, between October 2016 and June of 2022. No one died or was injured in any of these incidents, but two sharks were injured, and one was killed. That was enough to convince SEMARNAT, Mexico’s Ministry of Environment, to shut the site down.

Legal Challenge: Several of the Guadalupe shark diving boats challenged the decision in court. Horizon Charters says it spent over $500,000 to keep the site going. That must have been an especially bitter pill for Horizon, as the four accidents were caused by two companies. Neither Horizon nor Islander Charters were involved in the incidents that closed the site. And in the end, it didn’t matter, as SEMARNAT effectively cancelled Guadalupe shark diving in 2022.

Jurisdictions: Originally, it was SEMARNAT that closed Guadalupe. But there are other parties involved as well. In December, the government of Mexico forwarded the Guadalupe file to the Mexican Navy, which patrols the waters of Guadalupe island, with instructions to draft its own report and recommendation on whether to open the site again, potentially on a limited basis, or to keep it closed."

From here: https://www.abenakiextreme.com/guad...e, effective August,in any of these incidents.

 

[strackle99]

I am surprised the shark diving is gone. Seemed pretty noninvasive to me, and great revenue for the govt.

 

[flytie]

I am surprised the shark diving is gone. Seemed pretty noninvasive to me, and great revenue for the govt.

Dead and injured sharks might be considered invasive otherwise...

 

[Dogman619]

LA Bay is in their sights as well!!! Gonna hurt that town bad!

 

[Eye Problem]

LA Bay is in their sights as well!!! Gonna hurt that town bad!

That would cramp my style.
Love that fishery. Not that Guadalupe is any less favorable, but damn.

 

[hucklongfin]

How many sharks are caught and finned or caught as bycatch by long liners and gill nets? 2 injured and one that died in 4 years sounds like an excuse. The 2 were injured and the one died trying to eat divers in shark cages. The 4th incident was a dive boat hitting a reef at Socorro, releasing an oil spill.