Surfing in Baja California

[SWbySWesty]

We left early on Friday and took the 5 freeway down to the California/Mexico border crossing at Tijuana. Arriving in the evening at our "basecamp" of a friend's beach house, we were able to get an evening surf session in at Baja Malibu with good waves. We enjoyed beers and live rock music with the locals at a bar and called it a night after getting late night tacos from Rosarito.

We left around 10am on Saturday for our expedition to find good surf off the beaten path. We traveled south through Ensenada and continued to follow highway 1 to a little town called Santo Tomas. It was here that we veered off pavement. About an hour later, we came across the ocean again after a bone chattering off road session in my stock 1996 Jeep XJ.

We walked down the path by the fishing boats of the locals that live at Punta San Jose. Paddling out and surfing most of the day was excellent. We left around 6pm to have light out for the trip back. We dropped our bottles off at the store in Santo Tomas for our deposit and then got searched by the military at a checkpoint just north of Santo Tomas.

Getting back to the beach house after enchiladas and a few beers/margaritas was great after a day long expedition to nowhere to find surf. Enjoy the photos!

gassing up in San Diego (yes, we ended up at a Pemex...no gas problems though!)
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs162.snc1/6048_743304295107_3610222_43148054_479659_n.jpg

The waves at Baja Malibu
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs182.snc1/6048_743304115467_3610222_43148024_3062493_n.jpg

The store at Santo Tomas
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs162.snc1/6048_743304340017_3610222_43148061_4697580_n.jpg

Group photo on the road
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs128.snc1/5492_943756018304_9312322_59782912_3985788_n.jpg

Cruisin' off the beaten path
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs128.snc1/5492_943756043254_9312322_59782913_3534129_n.jpg

Arrival at Punta San Jose
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs128.snc1/5492_943758278774_9312322_59783058_4827404_n.jpg

Being goons with local bulls
http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs128.snc1/5492_943758288754_9312322_59783059_3160898_n.jpg

Parked and ready to surf!
http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs182.snc1/6048_743304050597_3610222_43148011_6577079_n.jpg

[SWbySWesty]

The waves weren't half bad!
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs182.snc1/6048_743304195307_3610222_43148038_6721528_n.jpg

emo shot of my board and an abandoned boat
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs162.snc1/6048_743304185327_3610222_43148036_3495967_n.jpg

Getting some quality grub. I gotta say that I'm not a huge fan of Mexican crumbly cheese...
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs162.snc1/6048_743304345007_3610222_43148062_3599283_n.jpg

[Maximus Ram]

Very cool. I need to learn to surf someday. Looks like it a lot of fun.
Thanks for the pics...

[pray4surf]

Great trip report (and pics) - I'm jealous :drool:

Been getting a serious case of baja-itis and hope to quell it with a trip south of the border later this summer.

Never stopped at Punta San Jose as we favor point breaks further south. Surfed Baja Malibu quite a few times years (and years) ago. Including one time back in the early 80's when we caught it overhead and perfect A-frame barrels.... Make the drop, crank the bottom turn and pull up into these perfectly round tubes. Completely covered up for a few seconds, then spit out onto the shoulder. Kick-out and repeat...

Thanks for the additional motivation :costumed-smiley-007

[ChuckB]

I need to get down to Baja sometime. I just haven't been able to get around to it yet. Hopefully, this next stint in San Diego will make it a little bit easier :sombrero: Nice picts, looks like TONS of fun!

[latinoguy]

how long was the drive from TJ to Santo tomas? How did the wind treat you at the point? Off shore, side shore, etc?

And were there other campers at the point? The surf pic looks like you were deep to go right, maybe the left works as well. I've never been to Punta San Jose, and would like to explore that area some day soon.

Baja Malibu rocks, love that beach break.

[SWbySWesty]

how long was the drive from TJ to Santo tomas? How did the wind treat you at the point? Off shore, side shore, etc?

And were there other campers at the point? The surf pic looks like you were deep to go right, maybe the left works as well. I've never been to Punta San Jose, and would like to explore that area some day soon.

Baja Malibu rocks, love that beach break.

Time: From TJ to Ensenada: 1.5hours, Ensenada to Santo Tomas: 45mins, ST to Punta San Jose: 1hour or so on the dirt road.

Wind: was pretty strong at first, blew the water off the crests to rain on the back. Offshore (heading offshore). Didn't really affect the waves though! Died down in the afternoon.

There's a campsite with an outhouse. We saw another CA truck with 2 surfers, but no campers...we'll camp next time. Good open space to camp right up on the cliff! Beautiful.

We paddled out pretty far to catch the sets, but you could sit inside and get a few more waves. There were some lefts, but that point worked great for rights. I've been told that with the right swell that PSJ will be overhead with crisp barrels :costumed-smiley-007

Lemme know if you got any more questions!

[SunMan]

An easy strike from the border for sure...

[ChuckB]

Holy Lobster!!!

[CalebsXJ]

Awesome Man!

[jeepmedic46]

Wow, Thats a lobster. Nice write up and beautiful pics, Thank you for sharing.:smiley_drive:

[SWbySWesty]

An easy strike from the border for sure...

You might be the perfect person to ask! I'm a scuba diver and spearfisher. What are the fishing laws down there?

[SunMan]

You might be the perfect person to ask! I'm a scuba diver and spearfisher. What are the fishing laws down there?

SWbySWXJ,
No license required fishing from shore, if you're fishing from a kayak or boat a license is required. Licenses are for fin fish only, no crustaceans or mollusks for us gringos.

[SWbySWesty]

So I can go grab langostas with no problem any time? :D

[latinoguy]

So I can go grab langostas with no problem any time? :D

The only problem is that the Langostas are more active during the night, thus the reason divers fish for them at night....:snorkel: :Wow1:

[SWbySWesty]

Yea, I know how that works; but I just want to know if it's legal to head down there during California's lobster season and grab some of our own from there.

Spearfishing sounds like it's legal from the above posts.

[SWbySWesty]

MEXICAN SPORTFISHING REGULATIONS

* When operating a boat that carries fishing equipment in Mexican waters, it is necessary to hold a valid fishing license for everybody aboard the boat, regardless of age and whether fishing or not. A Fishing License is not required when fishing from land.
* Only one rod or line with hook is permitted in the water, per person, but there is no restriction regarding the number of replacement items.
* A fishing license allows to capture only fin fish. It does not allow to capture any other mollusks or crustaceans, and their capture by anyone is strictly prohibited. Totuava, turtles and marine mammals are under protection of the Ministry and may not be captured at any time.
* To capture bottom fish, up to four hooks on a vertical line may be used.
* The use of electric reels is restricted to disabled fishermen only, after written authorization for the Ministry before use.


BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS

In ocean waters and estuaries the limit is a total of ten fish per person per day, with no more than 5 catches of a single specie, except of the species of Marlin, Sailfish, Swordfish and Shark, of which only one specimen from this group is allowed per day, and which counts a five toward the overall 10 fish limit, or Dorado, Roosterfish, Shad, or Tarpon, of which only two samples from this group are allowed, and which count as five toward the overall 10 fish limit.

Limit on inland bodies of water (rivers, lakes, dams, etc.) is five fish per day, whether of a single specie or in combination.

Underwater fishing is limited to five fish per day, using rubber band or spring type harpoons, and only while skindiving.

There is no limit to the practice of "catch and release", as long as the fish that exceed the bag limit be returned to their environment in good survival condition.

Where sportfishing is conducted from boats out at sea for longer than three days, the bag limit will be the equivalent of three times the amounts mentioned above.

VIOLATIONS

* It is illegal to capture and maintain alive any fish for ornamental purposes.
* It is prohibited to receive any financial gain from the product obtained through sportfishing.
* It is prohibited to dump trash, litter or substances that harm the aquatic flora or fauna, whether on lakes, river banks, shores or oceanic waters.
* It is prohibited to collect shells, corals, sea anemones and snails, or to disturb the original ecosystem environment.
* It is prohibited to practice sportfishing 250 meters or less from swimmers.
* It is prohibited to use artificial lighting to attract large quantities of fish.
* It is prohibited to discharge firearms in Mexican waters.
* Fish caught under a sportfishing license may not be filletted aboard the vessel from which it was caught
* It is requested that all unusual activities, occurrences or record catches be reported to the nearest office of the Oficina de Pesca, or to its representation in San Diego, CA., in order to ensure the preservation of natural resources for the continued enjoyment of all fishermen.

source: http://www.conapescasandiego.org/contenido.cfm?cont=REGULATIONS

[Stealth 4x4]

Great trip report (and pics) - I'm jealous :drool:

Been getting a serious case of baja-itis and hope to quell it with a trip south of the border later this summer.

Never stopped at Punta San Jose as we favor point breaks further south. Surfed Baja Malibu quite a few times years (and years) ago. Including one time back in the early 80's when we caught it overhead and perfect A-frame barrels.... Make the drop, crank the bottom turn and pull up into these perfectly round tubes. Completely covered up for a few seconds, then spit out onto the shoulder. Kick-out and repeat...

Thanks for the additional motivation :costumed-smiley-007

Hey Rick, have you and Dianne been down to Baja yet this summer?

John & Melanie

[elripster]

That is just way too cool.

Frank