Destination : The Reel Baja – Baja Mexico

The Reel Baja is a year-round, fly fishing guide service based at the historic Rancho Leonero Resort, featuring spacious guest quarters, delicious food, a pool and that old world charm. This secluded resort is located on two miles of private beach on the calmer, East Cape’s, Sea of Cortez. One of the most productive fly fishing areas, with more than 800 identified species of fish, including roosterfish, dorado, marlin and more. The Reel Baja’s experienced and talented guides specialize in targeting gamefish from the beach, with inshore pangas, and by fishing offshore in larger cruisers  in the waters of the East Cape, Magdalena Bay, and Cabo San Lucas. Whether it is your first salt water fly fishing experience, first time in Baja Mexico or with plenty of fly fishing and travel under your belt, they offer a host of fly fishing packages and services that can be specifically tailored to any desire.

3 Meals included daily with your room. The Restaurant and Bar are open to the public. Visitors should call for reservations: 624-141-0216. Their meals are mostly American style cuisine, with a delightful array of Mexican choices available.

Boat Lunches
Going fishing? Your lunch is also included. Choose either American or Mexican. American includes a deli meat sandwhich, chips, fruit, and a hard boiled egg. Mexican includes Arichaca and bean and cheese burritos, as well as chips, fruit and a hard boiled egg. Add sodas, water and beer.

Lunch
For those guests not fishing/diving or on excursions, lunch is served in our dining room from 12:30 to 1:30 pm. Lunch includes the choice of a traditional American or Mexican dish, including homemade soups, salads, and beef, chicken or fish entrees prepared according to regional recipes.

Dinner
Dinner is served from 7 to 8:30pm at our outside dining patio. Dinners are mostly American style, including entrees such as grilled breast of chicken, steaks, and our famous Saturday night barbequed rib buffet. Fresh fish is also offered daily [subject to availability]. Fresh salads and homemade desserts top the fare every night.

The Reel Baja specializes in fly fishing targeting gamefish from three distinctive zones in the Sea of Cortez: the beach, inshore and offshore. In addition to East Cape fly fishing, we also frequently fish the Magdalena Bay and the waters near Cabo San Lucas.

Fly Fishing East Cape

The protected waters of the Sea of Cortez are typically a much calmer nautical experience than fishing the offshore waters of the Pacific or Atlantic oceans. Fishing the Sea of Cortez is still dominated by local family fishermen and adventuresome sportsmen. Both have garnered a certain love and respect for the prized resource and work diligently to protect it. Both local captains and North American anglers have united to practice catch and release to ensure a long and rich resource for many generations to come. The local captains and deck hands utilized by The Reel Baja are instinctual fisherman following the lessons learned from fathers, uncles and grandfathers. Spending time fly fishing on the water with these born and raised fisherman will take you back to a genre reminiscent of a time and place so well captured by the pen of Hemingway and his accounts of time spent on the Sea of Cortez. The real reward of fishing with The Reel Baja in the East Cape region is the opportunity to step back in time, leave the stress and pace behind and to enjoy a rich and unspoiled diverse fishing environment found nowhere else in the world. You will come away from your East Cape fly fishing experience with new appreciation, new skills and a new passion for a unique and beautiful corner of the world.

Fly Fishing Cabo San Lucas

Cabo San Lucas offers world class off shore and inshore fishing opportunities. The golden gate, Jamie and the Gordo’s are just a few of Cabo’s world famous offshore fishing grounds. One of the advantages of fishing the offshore waters of Cabo San Lucas is that we do not have to travel very far offshore to fish these productive fishing grounds. Marlin, dorado and yellowfin tuna are just a few of the fish species that can be caught in the offshore waters of Cabo San Lucas. The inshore waters of Cabo offer spectacular fishing opportunities for sierra, pompano, pargo and a variety of other inshore fish species. Cabo San Lucas, by nature, is different than The East Cape. Cabo is well known for its nightlife, shopping, high-end resorts and hotels; whereas The East Cape provides a more serene, low key and down-to-earth environment. We do fish and offer guide services in Cabo anytime, but traditionally we tend to fish Cabo during the months of January, Febrauary and March.

Fly Fishing Magdalena Bay

Magdalena Bay is one of the best off shore fishing destination that the world has to offer during the months of November and December for off shore species such as striped marlin, dorado, yellowfin tuna and wahoo; just to name a few! If you have dreamed about catching a Marlin on the fly, Magdalena Bay is where your dreams will come true. What makes Mag Bay so special and unique? For starters, it is very remote and hard to access. Its global positioning makes it too far and out of range for the majority of Cabo based fishing boats and even the long range boats from the United States consider Mag Bay to be out of range. The ecosystem is simply spectacular and life is abundant. It is not uncommon to see whales, thousands of dolphins, birds dive bombing bait balls, tuna crashing the surface, big dorado surrounding floating structures and countless free swimming marlin. Simply put, Magdalena Bay is bluewater fly fishing paradise. On Magdalena Bay fishing trips, each person can expect to have multiple shots at marlin and a variety of other species. Fishing opportunities also exist inside Magdalena Bay for snook, spotted bay bass, broom tail grouper, corvina, and many other species. Our most popular guided trip options are “live aboard” trips. Staying on the boat gives us a huge advantage as we can find the fish and easily stay on the fish throughout the duration of the trip. There is sometimes an option for daily trips, for those that can not stay onboard. Please see our Mag Bay video to get an idea of this spectacular fishing trip and what Magdalena Bay has to offer.

Guided Beach Fly Fishing:

One of the most unique and spectacular aspects of fly-fishing the East Cape area is the miles and miles of accessible shore access. The Reel Baja offers daily, guided beach trips with vehicle transportation to travel the beach in search of roosterfish, jack crevalle, pompano, ladyfish and other targeted, inshore species.

Roosterfish, Jack Crevalle, Ladyfish, Pompano & More Gamefish

The Reel Baja has created fly fishing beach trips for the angler who loves the pursuit and thrill of sight casting to feeding fish that can peel line off a reel right before your very eyes.

Time will be spent exploring the near deserted beaches of East Cape searching and casting to lightning fast game fish feeding in the surf zone.

Your American, English-speaking fly fishing guide will lead you to some of the best beach fishing and sight casting you’ve likely ever seen. Targeted species include roosterfish, jack crevalle, ladyfish, pompano and many others. These bullies of the beach cruise the shallows targeting schools of baitfish. At times chasing them to your feet. There is no bigger rush than seeing roosterfish slash through a school of bait in three feet of water – just try and get a cast off! This is true Baja fly fishing at its best.

Beach Price:

• $250 for one angler
• $300 for two anglers.
• $100 for each additional angler

Inshore Guided Fly Fishing:

Inshore pursuits are performed from fast and agile pangas or cruisers that are able to cruise in shallow depths. Fishing inshore typically keys in on jack crevalle, roosterfish, pargo, sierra mackerel and other exotic species depending on the time of year.

Jack Crevalle, Roosterfish, Pargo, Sierra Mackerel & More

Your American, English-speaking fly fishing guide and local captain will take you to the fishing grounds and coach you on the pursuit of your saltwater trophy. Inshore pursuits are performed from fast and agile pangas or cruisers that are able to cruise in shallow depths. Fishing inshore typically keys in on jack crevalle, roosterfish, pargo, sierra mackerel and other exotic species depending on the time of year.A variety of teasing techniques are utilized to attract and bring fish within casting range. Giving the angler the opportunity to watch a lightning fast roosterfish, jack crevalle, or one of several other species race up and inhale the fly. Then the battle begins.

 Inshore Price:

• $560 for panga (Maximum 2 anglers per panga)
• $725 for cruiser (Maximum four anglers per cruiser)

Price includes American English-speaking guide. Prices do not include fishing license, bait or chum and gratuities for captain or guide.

Offshore Guided Fly Fishing:

Yellowfin Tuna, Bonita, Dorado, Billfish, Marlin & More

The day will be devoted to the offshore pursuit of big game fish such as yellowfin tuna, bonita, dorado, and billfish. Your American, English-speaking guide and local captain will direct the 23′ Super Panga or the 28′ Cruiser toward the daily action and to fish that will hasten your pulse and peel line like you’ve likely never seen.

The East Cape region of Baja Sur Mexico has remained a rich and diverse environment that even today supports more than 850 species of fish. The Sea of Cortez features spectacular green and blue waters set against a majestic and awesome desert landscape.

Offshore Price:

• $560 for panga (Maximum 2 anglers per panga)
•  $725 for cruiser (Maximum four anglers per cruiser)

Price includes American English-speaking guide. Prices do not include fishing license, bait or chum and gratuities for captain or guide.

Custom Fly Fishing Trips:

You can design this trip and they will package it for you. Simply describe your perfect trip and they will do the rest including booking the hotel, boat, guide and any other arrangements or reservations necessary.

Roosterfish, Dorado, Marlin, Tuna, & Other Gamefish

The Reel Baja realizes that some anglers prefer to customize their fishing trips. You can design this trip and we will package it for you. Ten people? OK! Non-fishing spouses? No problem! Fishing and Golf? You got it! Simply describe your perfect trip and they will do the rest including booking the hotel, boat, guide and any other arrangements or reservations necessary. For your individually customized trip for you, we will go above and beyond to make the trip of a lifetime specific to you. For your custom trip, they can combine any part of the beach, inshore, and offshore fishing trips along with other activities if desired such as: golf, hiking, kayaking, diving, ATV trips, sightseeing, or shopping.

Custom/Multi Day Trips can be arranged

Lodging

ROOM RATES: (Three meals included)

DOUBLE OCCUPANCY                             SINGLE OCCUPANCY

Standard Room                                         $150 per night                                             $120 per night
Garden View Bungalow                         $210 per night                                             $180 per night
Ocean View Bungalow                           $250 per night                                             $220 per night

 

Off Season Dicount $25 per night                                                       January 3rd – March 31st|
May not be used in combination with other discounts.                 August 1st – September 30th
Good for the folllowing dates                                                                November 1st – December 17th

 

Extra Person/Children

Ages 11 and over                                                             $40 per night
Ages 5 to 10                                                                        $10 per night
Ages 4 and under                                   Free (with 2 paying adults)

*Double occupancy, 3 night minimum, must purchase at least 2 day of fishing at regular price.

All prices are in US dollars. We accept VISA, MC, and Discover. The front desk will also accept US dollars and Mexican Pesos. Unfortunately we do not accept AMEX or Canadian currency at this time. All room rates are subject to a 11% tax and 11.8% service charge. Sportfishing rates and Activity Rates are subject to 11% tax only. Prices are subject to change. Rate quotes and reservations are non-binding until receipt of two night/per room deposit. Please see cancellation policy here.

Fishing License

Available at Rancho Leonero Resort, at the front desk (required/cash only)

• DAY – $17.00
• 1 Week – $33.00

What’s Included:

• Meals
• Complete use of the resort grounds
• Beverages (non-alcoholic)
• Airport transportation

What’s Not Included:

• Flights to San Jose del Cabo
• Flies and other fishing equipment
• Personal Items
• Gratuities for guides and staff
• Mexican Fishing License

Flight Arrangements –  The airport to fly in to is San Jose del Cabo (SJD). Rancho Leonero is approximately 50 minutes north of the airport. Most airlines require check-in at least 2 hours before flight time for international flights. We also suggest you re-check your departure time with the carrier at least 72 hours prior to leaving.

Arrival – Schedule a pick up. Call us at 1-800-646-2252. Call a week ahead.

Walk outside and meet your driver from the TT Dos Mares Taxi Co. He’ll be waiting with a sign that says Rancho Leonero.

The East Cape’s pristine beauty and isolation are one of the main reasons why it is like “old Mexico”. There are several restaurants catering to tourists in the area, offering a wide range of cuisine comparable to any of the world’s fine resort areas, but no nightclubs or other nighttime entertainment. Nighttime excursions to Cabo San Lucas or La Paz can be arranged at the front desk at Rancho Leonero Resort.

Activities Rates

Snorkeling                                                    $10 per day
Single Kayak                                                $40 per day
Double Kayak                                             $60 per day
Pro Angler Kayak                                       $100 per day
Massage                                                       $60 per hour

Excursions
Excursions are run by third parties. Costs may not include transportation, drop-off or taxes. Please call for current pricing

Bar and fly-tying room – The lodge has a main bar fully stocked with spirits, cold beers, (in a convenient mini fridge) soft drinks, plenty of ice, a blender and mixers for cocktails.

Our shop is stocked with the following – Sage rods – Abel reels – Rio lines, backing and tippets – a good selection of flies – sunscreen and lip protectors – Mangrove sungloves – dry bags – Action optics polarized sunglasses – Bair’s Lodge Fishing shirts, caps and t-shirts.