Custom Fly Fishing Panga Package

$1150/person per fishing day 

• 2 People Minimum,  (2 per panga)
• Price Includes All Inclusive Meals and Lodging
• 3 Days Minimum Packages
• Includes lodging, meals, and fishing

Magdalena Bay (Mag Bay) lies along the wild Pacific edge of Baja California Sur, where desert meets sea and everything revolves around tides, bait, and migration. This is a true crossroads for pelagic life—marlin and sailfish move through on their seasonal runs, while dorado, tuna, yellowtail, roosterfish, jacks, snapper, and halibut round out an incredibly diverse fishery. Inside the bay, mangroves and sandy flats offer protected water and constant action; outside, the open Pacific delivers big water, long runs, and the kind of days anglers dream about.

The coastline is raw and undeveloped, with miles of empty beaches and consistent Pacific swell, making it a quiet paradise for surfers willing to explore. Whether you’re casting flies, spotting fish from the bow, watching whales migrate past the dunes, or walking a deserted beach at sunset, Mag Bay feels like a place still ruled by nature—and that’s exactly the point.

Puerto López Mateos, Baja California Sur, Mexico, is a remote, off-the-beaten-path destination. We strongly recommend flying into Loreto Airport (LTO) for the easiest and most direct access. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any logistical questions about booking flights or getting to LTO.

Airport Transfers: Transportation from Loreto Airport to Puerto López Mateos takes approximately 2 hours. The shuttle cost is $250 USD each way, which can be split among guests sharing a ride. Please include your flight details or expected arrival time in the online Trip Questionnaire. On travel day, be sure your cell phone is on with international calling and WhatsApp enabled.

If you plan to arrive via Los Cabos (SJD) or La Paz (LAP), please contact us in advance so we can discuss transportation options.

Lodging: We’ll be staying at a family-owned and trusted hotelito located just three blocks from the boat launch in the heart of Puerto López Mateos. The property is safe, clean, and comfortable, with single-occupancy rooms, each featuring a private bathroom and air conditioning.

This is very much a “motel vibe” stay—and we lean into it. Simple and perfectly suited for early mornings, salty gear, and relaxed evenings. The property has strong Starlink WiFi, an outdoor projector for movie nights, and personal hygiene amenities provided.

We transform the common areas into “Fish Camp North”—complete with rod-washing racks, a BBQ setup, fly-tying space, an onsite pop-up fly shop, and games like cornhole. Just a short walk away are two local piers, offering easy opportunities to cast for snappers, halibut, spotted bass—and who knows what else. It’s casual, social, and all part of the experience.

Food: We really love food, and after a couple of years of dialing it in, we’re in a great groove. Breakfast is grab-and-go, lunches are eaten on the boat, and dinners are a mix of seafood-forward outings at local spots and relaxed BBQs featuring regional favorites.

Think burgers, lobster, shrimp, halibut, oysters, and more… plus our fan-favorite street tacos (trust us). Pechocho's oysters are a go-to, harvested the same day with incredible freshness and flavor. Overall, the vibe is simple, hearty, and delicious.

The Mag Bay Fishery

Trailered pangas pick up guests directly in front of the hotel at sunrise (around 6:15 AM) and typically return between 4:00–6:00 PM. We fish two anglers per panga, allowing for plenty of space and focused time on the bow.

Our 29-foot pangas are spacious and purpose-built for this region, with casting platforms both forward and aft. They’re stable and comfortable whether fishing inshore or running offshore. Be prepared for the possibility of long runs, sometimes 60+ miles offshore or south, depending on target species and where fish are being spotted. That flexibility is key to putting you in the best position for success.

Fly fishing Magdalena Bay delivers one of the most dynamic saltwater fisheries in Baja California Sur. Our trips target a wide range of species depending on the season, including roosterfish, dorado, yellowtail, tuna, marlin, sailfish, snapper, halibut, and jacks. During peak migration windows, roosterfish fly fishing in Mag Bay offers exciting sight-fishing opportunities along beaches, structure, and bait concentrations, while offshore waters produce consistent action for pelagic species. We build each trip around the peak Mag Bay fly fishing season, adjusting daily plans to temperatures, bait presence, and fish movement to deliver the best possible fly fishing opportunities in a truly wild environment.

Read more about the Mangroves vs. Bluewater experience here.

striped marlin, sailfish, dorado, yellowfin tuna, yellowtail, wahoo

(roosterfish, yellowtail, snapper, halibut, spotted bay bass)

Prime Months & Conditions
(seasonality, water temps, weather, migration timing)

What Each Season Offers
(why different months target different species

Fly Fishing Mag Bay: Gear & Preparation

Rods, Reels & Lines

A detailed gear list will be provided ahead of the trip, but generally speaking, Magdalena Bay rewards versatility. Rods ranging from 8wt to 14wt can all see action, with 10wt and 12wt setups serving as the primary workhorses for most fishing scenarios.

Guests should be prepared for variable weather conditions and plan to bring quick-dry clothing and waterproof layers. This is a remote, dynamic fishery—being adaptable goes a long way.

Backup rods and reels are strongly recommended. With advance notice, fly rod rentals may be available. Conventional fishing gear can be provided upon request.

Airline Gear Limits (Important)

Mexican customs strictly enforce gear limits. Please plan accordingly:

• 4 fly rods per person
• 4 reels per person (extra spools count as reels)
• 2 cameras per person

Exceeding these limits may result in a 19% importation tax, and you may be asked to declare the value of your equipment. Drones and certain camera housings may also be subject to import tax.

While some gear can be carried on when flying into Mexico, you cannot carry on rods, reels, flies, spools, pliers, or tools when flying out of Mexico. When in doubt, pack it and check it—regulations are strictly enforced.

Recommended Rod & Line Setups

Roosterfish, Tuna & Dorado

• (2) 9’ 10wt rods
• Clear sink-tip shooting heads
• 300+ yards of 40lb gel-spun backing

Mangroves & Inshore Species

• 8–10wt rod with a full intermediate line
• Backup sinking line spool or a second rod rigged with a sinking line

Billfish

• (2) 9’ 12wt rods
• High-quality large-arbor saltwater reels
• 300+ yards of 50–80lb gel-spun backing

Lines We Like

• RIO Tropical Outbound Short Sinking
• SA Sonar Titan Tropical Clear Tip
• RIO Flats Pro Full Intermediate
• SA Sonar Titan Custom Tip
• RIO Leviathan

Flies for Fly Fishing Mag Bay

For a full week of fishing, we recommend bringing approximately three dozen flies. Local forage can include mullet, mackerel, sardine, ballyhoo, ladyfish, shrimp, and langostas, so fly selection should reflect a range of bait profiles.

Don’t stress if you’re missing something—we’ll have a wide selection of flies available for purchase onsite.

Recommended Patterns

• Cam Sigler Tube Flies in pink/white and blue/white6/0–8/0 single hooks
• Large Deceivers (6–10”) in blue/white, tan/white, pink/white, black/purple, and all white5/0–8/0 hooks (Gamakatsu SL12s, Owner Akis, Trokar TK10)
• Baitfish Patterns (kinky muddlers, deceivers, wiggy airheads, EP minnows)Blue/white, black/white, tan/white, olive/white2/0–6/0 hooks, 3–8” length
• Crease Flies & PoppersAssorted sizes and colors to match local bait
• ClousersChartreuse/white, tan/white, rust#2–2/0 hooks
• Salty Buggers (woolly bugger style)
• Typically 1/0, though 4/0–6/0 can be effective
• Pearl estaz/white with red head; bonefish tan with barred backs
• Shrimp & Langosta Patterns1/0–6/0 hooksRust-orange chenille bodies, craft hair tails, orange rubber legs

Leaders & Tippet

Bring a range of fluorocarbon leaders and tippet:

• 30lb
• 40lb
• 60lb
• 80lb

Why Fish Ranch Mag Bay

Our Magdalena Bay fly fishing trips place emphasis on the overall experience. We’ve spent years building strong connections within the Puerto López Mateos community and captains. These are multi-generational fishermen who know this water intuitively: the tides, the birds, the weather shifts, and the subtle signs that tell you when something special is about to happen.

We value the entire experience, not just what happens at the end of your line. Days start early, boats run far, plans change with conditions, and success often comes from patience and awareness rather than rushing from spot to spot.

This isn’t a polished lodge or a turn-key program. It’s exploratory and rooted in massive respect for the fishery, the people who depend on it, and the anglers willing to come here looking for something real. If you’re drawn to fly fishing Magdalena Bay because you want more than a checkbox species list, if you want stories, effort, and a place that will call you back, this is what we do.

Non-Angler Activities: Non-anglers and beginners are absolutely welcome on this trip. There are plenty of opportunities to learn alongside your boat partner, enjoy wildlife watching and photography, or simply soak in the experience and cheer from the sidelines. Magdalena Bay is famous for its rich marine life, and it’s common to see whales, dolphins, sea lions, rays, seabirds, and more while out on the water.

López Mateos is a working fishing town, not a tourist hub, so activities beyond boating are intentionally low-key. Non-anglers are welcome to relax at the Hotelito, walk into town, visit the nearby piers, or enjoy quiet downtime between fishing days. For those looking to explore further, a day trip to Loreto can be arranged in advance. The beauty of Mag Bay is its remoteness, simple days, wild surroundings, and a front-row seat to one of Baja’s most productive ecosystems.