Vagabundos caravan headed to tourney

Joe McGinnis, a veteran of the WON Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot held each November, has an ambitious plan to combine a trailerboat caravan to Mag Bay, a Buddy Boat cruise from Mag Bay to Cabo to Loreto.

The idea is to fish off Mag Bay, travel to Cabo for the event by water, and after the tuna tourney, make the run up the Sea of Cortez to Loreto where the group will reunite their boat/trailer rigs for the run home. All told, it will be a 22-day adventure on the road or on the water.

"We will cruise approximately 600 miles around the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula ending up at Loreto," said McGinnis. "This cruise is for trailer boats with a fuel range of 200 miles. Our plan is to drop off the boats at Lopez Mateos at Mag Bay where last year a new launching ramp was constructed. Once our boats are secure, we will drive back across the Peninsula and arrange storage for our tow vehicles at Singular Marina, 17 miles south of Loreto in Puerto Escondido."

McGinnis said the group will arrange for storage with the marina, and then catch a shuttle bus back to Lopez Mateos where they will either stay aboard our boats or rent a room.

"Our plan is to fish the Magdalena Bay area for two days before heading to Cabo San Lucas for the Tuna Tournament and the rest of our itinerary," said McGinnis.

Any interested parties, please call Joe McGinnis (805) 581-2504 or cell (805) 217-8450. Contact Vagabundos Del Mar for fishing license, insurance, maps, etc. www.vagabundos.com (800) 474-Baja or (707) 374-5511).

ITINERARY FOR TRAILER BUDDY BOAT CRUISE
BY JOE MCGINNIS

Oct. 26: Meet at San Ysidro Border 7 a-m. Caravan to El Rosario & spend the night.

Oct. 27: Depart El Rosario for an overnight at Santa Rosalia.

Oct. 28: Early departure for drive to Lopez Mateos, arriving midday. Arrange for the boats to be secured in Lopez Mateos.

Oct. 29: Drive to Puerto Escondido where we drop off our trailers and tow vehicles at Singular Marina (approx. 1.5-hour drive from Lopez Mateos). After all vehicles are secured for storage, we will catch a shuttle back to Lopez Mateos and spend the night.

Oct. 30: We will scout the estuaries, fish in grouper holes, collect lobsters, scallops, shrimp and stock up for our cruise around Southern Baja Tip.

Oct. 31: Early departure out the north inlet of Lopez Mateos, approximately 20 miles, to fish the Thetis Bank. Amazing marlin and wahoo trolling. We will fish most of the day and spend the night at Santa Maria Cove.

Nov. 1: Refuel in San Carlos. Be sure and bring extra gas jugs. Did you set your clock back for daylight saving time?

Nov. 2: FishThetis Bank. Lat. 24 57, 53, (N) Long. 11251,4.44 (W). Refuel at pier of San Carlos (optional night cruise south).

Nov. 3: Fish the Finger Bank. As we pass the Finger Bank, we will troll for marlin, sailfish and dorado, and also pass by (time permitting) to troll the Golden Gate Bank/Jaime Bank. We will arrive in Cabo San Lucas and anchor out for the night.

Nov. 4: Check in with the 11th annual Western Outdoors News Jackpot Tuna www.loscabostunajackpot.com. The Nov. 4-7 tournament is a 2-day tuna fishing tournament, with 4 nights of festivities that include giveaways from all of the major fishing industries -- average $70,000 worth of prizes given away each night for these four nights. In 2004, our team Baja Dawg won a $20,000 prize in the drawing for an all-expenses-paid trip to Costa Rica. Price of entry into the tournament is $700 divided by up to 4 anglers, with inshore prizes for wahoo and dorado. Last year the Wahoo/Dorado Jackpot was worth $70,000.

Nov. 5: Fishing 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. opening with an amazing "Shotgun Start."

Nov. 6: Tournament fishing second day 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Nov. 7: Awards Dinner evening.

Nov. 8: Leave Cabo, cruise the coast with quick stops at San Jose, Cabo Pulmo.

Nov. 9: Fish Las Brailles for the day, arriving at the Bay of Dreams for overnight. This is a beautiful protected bay.

Nov. 10: Cruise islands, refuel in La Paz, spending the night in La Paz Bay. Dinner ashore.

Nov. 11: Cruise the islands of San Jose, Isla Santa Cruz and Isla Catalina. Find suitable cove for spending the night.

Nov. 12: Fish the area around the islands, heading north toward Puerto Escondido.

Nov. 13: Stop over in Loreto, then back to Puerto Escondido for the night.

Nov. 14: Retrieve boats and start heading back. Stop at San Ignacio.

Nov. 15: Drive to Ensenada/Estero Beach campground and spend the night.

Nov. 16: Cross border at Tecate, mid-morning, saying Adios to our caravan!

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