Gonzaga Bay camping thread - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

rossman · 01-08-2014, 10:19 AM

Went through Gonzaga this past week end and the pavement ends at the south end of the bridge but the roadbed is prepped from there to about 2 miles south of the pemex and would not be surprised if it were paved by April

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taggermike · 01-08-2014, 11:28 AM

I've been to Gonzaga twice. Once maybe 15 years ago and once 3 years ago. The 3 year ago trip was in May. The later trip, in May, we stayed on the beach at Papa Fernandez. The weather was perfect but the fishing was very slow. The beach is a nice place to camp. The only draw back was after dark the "no-see-ems" were thick. I slept out side in a sleeping bag on a mat. Comfortable over the sand but the biters f'n mauled me. So bring a tent or bug proof bivy. Jeff, I thought this looked cool.
http://www.basspro.com/KampRite-Over...product/89513/

The trip 15 years ago, again in May, was almost a disaster. We camped the first night and fished the next day. I'll 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th the wind warning. We were out side the bay at a little high spot in a 15' hydrosport skiff. Wind was maybe 5 knots out of the east, just barely enough to cool off. I looked west and below very gap in the mountains was a huge patch of white water roaring straight out to sea. We fire up and made top speed toward the beach. We made it maybe a quarter mile before we met the wind head on. 50 knots??? Never seen anything like it. You could barely open your eyes in to the spray. We took a "greenie" over the bow. Like 2 solid feet of water and he skiff was knee deep. The engine died and we turned side on to the waves. The scuppers did their jobs as we hopped from gunnel to gunnel to keep the boat up right. About this time a big ol' shrimper came around from the south, running to the bay for shelter. We got the engine going, tucked in right behind her, and followed her in. I can't say what might have happened if that shrimper hadn't showed up but I can say that I the closest I have ever come to death.

Ok, long story, but I wanted to give a first hand north Baja wind story.

I'll be trying to clear those dates. Need to see the place's full fishing potential. Here's a map of the Gonzaga area.
https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en

Mike

buddha · 01-08-2014, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taggermike

Jeff, I thought this looked cool.
http://www.basspro.com/KampRite-Over...product/89513/

Mike

That is the exact tent that I am looking at. Amazon has them for 149 but they are currently out of stock.

01-08-2014, 10:19 AM	#1
rossman Marginally Irrelevant Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bahia Asuncion Posts: 936	Went through Gonzaga this past week end and the pavement ends at the south end of the bridge but the roadbed is prepped from there to about 2 miles south of the pemex and would not be surprised if it were paved by April Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk __________________ "When beholding the tranquil beauty and brilliancy of the ocean’s skin, one forgets the tiger heart that pants beneath it; and would not willingly remember that this velvet paw but conceals a remorseless fang. " — Herman Melville Y'all come see me now, hear!

01-08-2014, 11:28 AM	#2
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	I've been to Gonzaga twice. Once maybe 15 years ago and once 3 years ago. The 3 year ago trip was in May. The later trip, in May, we stayed on the beach at Papa Fernandez. The weather was perfect but the fishing was very slow. The beach is a nice place to camp. The only draw back was after dark the "no-see-ems" were thick. I slept out side in a sleeping bag on a mat. Comfortable over the sand but the biters f'n mauled me. So bring a tent or bug proof bivy. Jeff, I thought this looked cool. http://www.basspro.com/KampRite-Over...product/89513/ The trip 15 years ago, again in May, was almost a disaster. We camped the first night and fished the next day. I'll 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th the wind warning. We were out side the bay at a little high spot in a 15' hydrosport skiff. Wind was maybe 5 knots out of the east, just barely enough to cool off. I looked west and below very gap in the mountains was a huge patch of white water roaring straight out to sea. We fire up and made top speed toward the beach. We made it maybe a quarter mile before we met the wind head on. 50 knots??? Never seen anything like it. You could barely open your eyes in to the spray. We took a "greenie" over the bow. Like 2 solid feet of water and he skiff was knee deep. The engine died and we turned side on to the waves. The scuppers did their jobs as we hopped from gunnel to gunnel to keep the boat up right. About this time a big ol' shrimper came around from the south, running to the bay for shelter. We got the engine going, tucked in right behind her, and followed her in. I can't say what might have happened if that shrimper hadn't showed up but I can say that I the closest I have ever come to death. Ok, long story, but I wanted to give a first hand north Baja wind story. I'll be trying to clear those dates. Need to see the place's full fishing potential. Here's a map of the Gonzaga area. https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en Mike