Fly Fishing Packing and Guide from John Ashley
Palapas Ventana Fly Guide for the Sea of Cortez and Magdalena Bay
I’m John Ashley, resident Palapas Ventana fly fishing expert. At Palapas Ventana Resort on the Sea of Cortez, you may be fishing for roosterfish, dorado, pargo (snapper), cabrilla (bass), grouper, sierra mackerel, pompano, golden trevally, and at times tuna including yellowfin and skipjack. You never know what is going to show up. The good news is that a focused collection of proven flies will keep you in the hunt for just about everything we encounter both out front in the Sea of Cortez and over in Magdalena Bay.
Sea of Cortez Overview
A small collection of fly favorites will cover nearly all of the situations you are likely to encounter at Palapas Ventana Resort. Many of these patterns are available online and we also sell appropriate flies for fishing the Sea of Cortez at the restaurant in Palapas Ventana.
If you are building your box for the Sea of Cortez, think in terms of proven baitfish profiles, useful all-around patterns, a topwater option, and clousers that can fish both reef and pelagic situations. Keep the box simple, but make sure the colors are right.
Here Are the Rooster and Dorado Must-Have Flies
EP Fiber Sardina Fly
This type of EP Fiber fly in this exact colorway tan/white, brown/white, or black/white could be a one-fly-does-it-all pattern for fishing the Sea of Cortez.
If you are tying these yourself, use less flash than you think, or bring a pair of scissors with you while out fishing so you can trim them down if needed.
Mullet Version
This is a mullet version of the sardina fly above. It is slightly larger than the sardina but keeps the same profile and color direction.
It is an excellent pattern when you want a similar overall look but want to show fish a slightly larger bait profile.
Wiggy Airhead
Another great pattern for all Sea of Cortez fish is the Wiggy Airhead. Buy these in 1/0 and 3/0.
Find them at Red’s Fly Shop.
Kinky Muddler
The final all-around fly and one I consider a true must-have is the Kinky Muddler.
This fly will catch everything and is especially effective for roosterfish. It is also a relatively easy pattern to tie. Search Johnny King Kinky Muddler for a tutorial.
We also stock this fly at the Palapas Ventana restaurant.
Saltwater Popper
A rod rigged with a floating line and a saltwater popper can be deadly.
I like mine in blue/white, black/white, or tan/white.
Clousers
Never ever be without some clousers for both fishing the reef and for tossing at picky dorado that may show up occasionally. It is true: clousers catch everything.
I prefer mine in the following colors: black/white which is a must-have color combo, yellow/white, tan/white, and chartreuse/white.
If I were only buying one color it would be black/white. We stock and sell this specific color pattern in our restaurant.
Palapas Ventana Fly Sources
You can find these flies through a mix of online sources and on-site options at Palapas Ventana.
Magdalena Bay Fly Examples
For fishing striped marlin in Mag Bay, focus on the following color patterns: blue/white, black/white, and tan/white. There are a few outlier color patterns that can work, but they will not be your daily-driver colors. Those are pink/white and purple/white.
Below are examples of successful flies for striped marlin, including flies tied by California fly tyer Neil Pultz, additional proven patterns of unknown origin, and a simple tie that I built myself.
Pultz Example One
One of the successful striped marlin patterns tied by California fly tyer Neil Pultz.
Pultz Example Two
Another proven marlin pattern from Neil Pultz. We offer these for sale at Palapas Ventana and you can also contact Neal directly for orders.
Unknown Maker Example One
One of the additional flies that has been successful in Magdalena Bay. The original creator of this fly is unknown.
Unknown Maker Example Two
Another successful fly pattern for striped marlin in Mag Bay from an unknown tier.
Simple Kraft Fur Marlin Fly
This final fly was tied by me. It is a very simple tie using Kraft Fur and a 3/0 Gamakatsu B10S bass hook.
That hook will only last for about an hour in a fight with a striped marlin before it bends out, but this is still a proven fly.
I would recommend this pattern in black/white as well as tan/white.
Mag Bay Packing List
Get ready for a true Old Baja adventure. We are heading to an island outpost on the Magdalena Bay outer island of Santa Margarita. This trip includes a travel day from the lodge at Palapas Ventana to a panga departure point on Mag Bay, which means your gear will be loaded onto the shuttle van at the resort and driven over with you.
Because your luggage will then travel by open panga from the departure point across Mag Bay to the island camp, it is strongly recommended that anything that cannot get wet, including camera gear, clothing, medications, and documents, goes into a dry bag.
- Dry bag: for clothing, electronics, and documents
- Documents: passport, Mexican fishing license, and FMM visa if staying longer than a week
- Cash: for daily tips to captain, guides, Mag Bay crew, and Palapas staff, plus taco stops
- Credit card: useful for a Walmart stop in La Paz to buy extra drinks for the island
- Light waterproof jacket: foggy mornings and wet crossings can happen fast
- Hat, sun shirt, sun pants, and sunscreen: the sun can be intense
- Insulated water bottle: convenient both in camp and on the boat
- Electrolyte powder: great to have if you are prone to cramps or long days in the sun
- Non-slip shoes: closed toe is preferred on pangas
- Camp shoes: protect your feet around camp from cuts and sharp objects
- Additional: headlamp, any meds you might need, seasickness medication, immodium, and a phone lanyard
Mag Bay Fly Gear and Tackle Guidance
We have flies and fluorocarbon leader available at our fly shop in the restaurant. Ask about availability. Rental 12 wt rods, reels, and lines are available, along with a 14 wt TFO Bluewater rod if you bring your own reel, backing, and line.
- Offshore rods: 12 wt to 16 wt recommended for marlin, tuna, and dorado
- Inshore rods: 8 wt to 10 wt recommended for mangroves and sand flats
- Offshore reels: strong drag, large capacity, ideally 300 yards of 80 lb gel-spun backing
- Inshore reels: good drag with at least 200 yards of backing
- Popular offshore reel brands: Tibor, Hatch, Nautilus, Redington Rise, and Behemoth
- Offshore lines: sinking tip, tropical-rated, heavy-core lines are the daily driver
- Second offshore line: floating tropical heavy-core line for occasional topwater shots
- Inshore lines: tropical sinking line first, floating line second for topwater action
- Leaders for marlin grounds: simple 6 to 9 foot lengths of 60 to 100 lb fluorocarbon
- Bring fluorocarbon: 60, 80, and 100 lb for offshore; 20, 30, and 40 lb for mangroves
- Extra gear: line shears, clippers, gloves, finger tape, or sleeves
Offshore Mag Bay Fly Notes
For offshore and the marlin grounds, be sure to bring a selection of 4 to 6 inch sardina flies in tan/white, brown/white, black/white, and blue/white. There may be a slight bias in Mag Bay toward blue/white on sardina-style flies.
Large marlin flies are very important. Look for 6 to 12 inch marlin-specific flies on 4/0 to 8/0 hooks. We carry a selection of proven marlin flies in the restaurant fly shop, though supply is limited.
For offshore tuna, you will often be fishing deep and black/white clousers in size 1 to 2/0 have been very effective for yellowfin. Other colors are still worth carrying.
Offshore dorado will absolutely eat your sardina flies, but another good fly to have is the Kinky Muddler in tan, brown, or blue over white.
Inshore Mag Bay Fly Notes
For the mangroves and sand flats, bring a variety of sardina flies similar to the offshore sardinas but tied on smaller size 1 to 2/0 hooks. Add olive over white to your inshore sardina selection.
The almighty clouser is always a good one to have. Preferred colors are black/white, tan/white, yellow/white, and chartreuse/white in size 1 to 2/0.
Finally, throw a few bass poppers in there on heavy hooks. Occasionally there will be topwater action right against the mangroves and if you are rigged for it, hold on.
Recommended Brands and Common Setups
Solid 12 wt rods seen performing well out there include G. Loomis, Orvis, and Temple Fork Outfitters. TFO Bluewater rods are very common in Mag Bay.
We are Baja’s Favorite Salt Water Adventure Resort!
For resort reservations and booking information, please email contact@palapasventana.com. We were featured on the BBC!
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