Custom Packages offer a more flexible approach. They are available year-round and allow guests to choose their own dates, length of stay, and number of fishing days. Guests stay in the Casitas just down the beach from the Villa and design their trip around personal schedules and fishing goals. Many guests prefer this independent rhythm, fishing when they choose, exploring town, arranging meals on their own, or traveling privately with friends or family.

Choosing a Custom Package does not mean a different level of guiding or access to the fishery. All guests fish with our full captain team, and many Custom Package guests still share in the energy of the ranch by stopping by the fly shop, connecting with other anglers, and becoming part of the broader Fish Ranch community. When Custom Packages overlap with Hosted Weeks, the experiences often blend naturally.

Hosted Weeks are best suited for guests who want a turnkey, social, fully hosted fishing experience where the details are handled for them, while Custom Packages are ideal for guests who prefer flexibility, privacy, or travel dates outside the Hosted Week calendar. Neither option is better. They simply represent two different ways of experiencing life at The Fish Ranch.

Buddies (single-occupancy lodging):

• 6 Nights/5 days $4,500
• 5 Nights/4 Days $3,700
• 4 Nights/ 3 Days $2,800

Couples or shared room:

• 6 Nights/5 days $6,900
• 5 Nights/4 Days $5,800
• 4 Nights/ 3 Days $4,400

Custom Packages include accommodations in our beachfront Casitas, guided fishing with our trusted team of local captains, fishing licenses, breakfasts, and boat lunches on fishing days. Guests arrive to a fridge stocked with drinks and snacks, and our team is available to assist with trip coordination and local recommendations as needed.

Custom Package guests also have access to The Fish Ranch fly shop and ranch community, particularly when visits overlap with Hosted Weeks. The experience is intentionally flexible, providing the core elements of a Fish Ranch trip while allowing guests to shape the rest of their stay around personal preferences. In addition to what is included, many aspects of the trip can be arranged a la carte. Guests may choose to keep things fully independent or ask us to coordinate details such as private dinners with Chef Emilio, Vicky’s Mexican buffet, transportation, or other local experiences, allowing each visit to be customized as much or as little as desired.

Custom Packages are designed to provide flexibility, so certain elements of the trip are not included by default. Airfare to Baja California Sur is not included, and guests are responsible for arranging transportation to and from the property. Rental cars are common, though private airport transfers can be arranged upon request.

Dinners and evening meals are not included, allowing guests the freedom to explore local restaurants or plan meals on their own schedule. Private dining experiences such as dinners prepared by Chef Emilio or Vicky’s Mexican buffet can be coordinated upon request.

Guide gratuities are not included and should be paid directly to captains in cash following fishing days. Live bait purchases, when used, are also paid separately in cash and typically range depending on availability and fishing preference.

Fly fishing gear rentals, additional tackle purchases, personal alcohol preferences beyond the stocked welcome beverages, travel insurance, and personal expenses during the trip are not included.

Custom Packages are intentionally structured this way to allow guests to build the experience around their own travel style while still receiving the core Fish Ranch fishing experience.

Custom Package guests stay in our beachfront Casitas located directly on the white sands of La Ventana, just a short walk down the beach from The Fish Ranch Villa and pop up fly shop. Set within a private, palm-lined compound, the property offers a relaxed and comfortable home base while remaining closely connected to the rhythm of life at the ranch.

The layout combines a spacious main house with several stand-alone casitas, allowing guests privacy and flexibility while traveling with friends, partners, or small groups. Each casita includes its own kitchenette and outdoor living space, creating an easy balance between independence and community.

At the center of the property is a large open-air palapa designed for gathering, sharing meals, relaxing out of the wind, or unwinding after a day on the water. The grounds feature a lap pool, ocean-view hot tub, shaded seating areas, and direct beach access just steps from your door.

Guests often begin mornings with coffee by the water and end evenings around the fire pit or under the palapa, settling naturally into the slower pace that defines life in Baja. Comfortable, casual, and perfectly situated on the beach, the Casitas provide an ideal setting for a flexible Fish Ranch experience.

Most guests fly into Los Cabos International Airport (SJD), followed by a scenic two and a half hour drive north along the Sea of Cortez to La Ventana and Agua Amarga. The drive itself is part of the experience, passing desert landscapes, open coastline, and small Baja towns before arriving in La Ventana.

La Paz International Airport (LAP) is also an option and is located approximately one hour from La Ventana, offering a shorter transfer for guests traveling through Mexico City or other regional hubs.

Custom Package guests often choose to rent a car, which provides flexibility for exploring local beaches, restaurants, and nearby areas throughout the stay. Detailed arrival instructions and directions are provided prior to your trip.

Private airport transportation can also be arranged upon request. Shuttle service is approximately $250 USD each way and can be shared among members of your group. Our team is happy to help coordinate transportation based on your travel plans.

Guests typically arrive the day before their first fishing day to settle in, get oriented, and ease into the rhythm of Baja before heading out on the water.

Fishing at The Fish Ranch is guided by a trusted team of local captains who were born and raised in the La Ventana and Agua Amarga area. Many come from multi generational fishing families whose knowledge of these waters has been shaped by decades spent working and living on the Sea of Cortez. Their understanding of seasonal movements, weather patterns, bait behavior, and daily conditions comes from a lifetime on the water. Our captains work closely together throughout the day, sharing information and supporting one another to give guests the best possible fishing experience.

Fishing takes place from traditional pangas set up with casting platforms, perfectly suited to the conditions and style of fishing in this region. These boats allow access to beaches, rocky points, open water, and long stretches of coastline in search of fish throughout the Sea of Cortez. Comfortable, capable, and deeply connected to the culture of the area, the panga remains an ideal platform for both conventional and fly fishing.

More than anything, our captains are stewards of the fishery and proud members of the local community. Fishing with them offers not only the opportunity to pursue incredible species, but also a genuine connection to the people and traditions that shape life here.

The waters surrounding La Ventana and Agua Amarga sit along one of the most dynamic sections of the Sea of Cortez, a place Jacques Cousteau famously referred to as the aquarium of the world. Dramatic underwater structure, deep water close to shore, and seasonal currents combine to create an exceptionally rich marine environment where pelagic and resident species move through year round. Rocky points, sandy beaches, offshore pinnacles, and open blue water all exist within a short run, allowing each fishing day to adapt to conditions and opportunities.

Roosterfish are the signature species of the region and the primary focus during our Hosted Week season, offering some of the most exciting sight fishing found anywhere in saltwater. Depending on the time of year, anglers may also encounter dorado, jack crevalle, yellowfin tuna, snapper, sierra, triggerfish, grouper, and other migratory species that follow bait along this stretch of coastline. The diversity of the fishery means no two days on the water feel the same, with changing weather, bait movement, and seasonal migrations constantly shaping the experience.

Beyond the fishing itself, the setting is part of what makes this area so special. Clear water, desert mountains meeting the sea, remote beaches, and wide open horizons define life along this coast. Fishing here is as much about immersion in the landscape and rhythm of the Sea of Cortez as it is about the pursuit of individual species.

Fishing in La Ventana and the surrounding Sea of Cortez is defined by seasonal movement rather than a single peak window. Different species arrive and depart as water temperatures shift, bait migrates, and weather patterns change, which means the character of the fishery evolves throughout the year.

Late fall often transitions into what many anglers think of as dorado season. During October and November, warm water remains along the coast and schools of dorado move through the area in strong numbers, while roosterfish, jacks, and other inshore species are still present. This period offers excellent variety and consistent action.

Winter brings a different rhythm. As the water cools into January and February, yellowfin tuna frequently begin showing offshore, creating exciting opportunities for anglers hoping to land their first tuna on the fly or light tackle. Cooler months can also produce steady action from resident species that thrive in winter conditions.

By early spring, typically around March, yellowtail begin to move through the region. These powerful fish mark the seasonal transition toward warmer water and signal the start of another cycle in the Sea of Cortez.

As temperatures rise through April, larger roosterfish begin to appear along beaches and rocky structure, leading into the prime roosterfish season that defines La Ventana. From mid April through summer and often well into September, roosterfish become the primary focus, offering some of the most exciting sight fishing found anywhere in saltwater.

The beauty of this fishery is that there is no single moment when it turns on or off. Each season brings its own opportunities, species, and style of fishing. Some guests plan around a specific target, while others return at different times of year to experience how the Sea of Cortez continually changes.

Essential

• 10wt w/tropical clear tip intermediate line (shooting head) – this will be your tool of choice for roosterfish, dorado, jacks, and most of the fish we’re
  targeting.

• A 9wt or 11wt can also fill this role. If possible, bring a backup spool with a sinking line, and full float. This can be handy to switch out to reach fish deeper in the water column such as tuna or yellowtail, or the topwater feeding milkfish.

• Backup rod: 8-11wt.
  Recommended but not essential:
  8-10wt w/sinking line or int. sink tip for fishing rockfish (Clousers, small
  Minnows, Wooly Buggers, etc.)
  
• (optional) 12wt w/tropical clear tip intermediate sink tip to keep rigged for billfish.
  

Lines we like

• Sonar Titan Tropical Clear Tip, Sonar Tropical Custom Tip Sinking

Reels

• We recommend a high-quality salt-water reel w/300+ yards of backing,
  50lb+ gel spun or 30lb test Daecron.

Leaders & Knots

• Tie 9' 40/30/20 or 40/30 fluorocarbon with blood knots ending in a loop-to-loop
  system for a quicker change of fly and leader.

• Also 60-80lb mono or flouro to rig
  11 & 12wts. for billfish and tuna.

• We use a double surgeon knot to attach leader to the fly line and perfection loops (heavier line) or non-slip knots (lighter line).

Flies are available for purchase at The Fish Ranch fly shop, so there is no need to travel with a full inventory unless you prefer to bring your own selections. Our shop is stocked with patterns specifically chosen for the local fishery, and we are always happy to help dial in your setup once you arrive.

For a full week of fishing, we recommend bringing or planning for an assortment of approximately two dozen flies. Productive patterns generally imitate local baitfish such as mullet, mackerel, sardine, ballyhoo, and ladyfish. Proven choices include kinky muddlers, deceivers, wiggy airheads, and EP minnows in blue and white, black and white, tan and white, and olive and white color combinations, typically tied on 2/0 to 6/0 hooks in lengths ranging from three to eight inches.

Topwater options such as crease flies and poppers are excellent additions and should be carried in a variety of sizes and colors to match prevailing bait. Clouser minnows in chartreuse and white, tan and white, and rust tones tied on #2 to 2/0 hooks are consistently effective. Green algae flies tied on #2 hooks are recommended when targeting milkfish. For billfish opportunities, Cam Sigler tube flies in pink and white or blue and white, tied on 6/0 to 8/0 hooks, are reliable choices.

Life on the Sea of Cortez is casual, sun filled, and spent largely outdoors. The key to a comfortable trip is lightweight layers, strong sun protection, and a few essentials for long days on the water.

For fishing days, we recommend breathable quick dry clothing with full sun coverage. Long sleeve sun shirts, lightweight pants or shorts, buffs, hats, and polarized sunglasses are strongly encouraged. The Baja sun is intense year round, so reef safe sunscreen and good hydration are important. Many guests also bring light gloves for casting and fish handling.

Footwear is simple and practical. Sandals, flip flops, or deck shoes work well around the boat and lodging. A lightweight rain jacket or windbreaker is useful in all seasons. During fall and winter mornings, temperatures can start cool before warming quickly once the sun rises, so an extra sweatshirt or light jacket is recommended.

If you plan to swim or cool off between fishing sessions, bring a swimsuit and small dry bag for personal items. Polarized sunglasses are essential for sight fishing and overall comfort on the water.

Anglers bringing fly gear should pack rods, reels, lines, and flies appropriate for tropical saltwater fishing, though flies, leaders, and essential tackle are available for purchase at The Fish Ranch shop. Conventional gear is provided, and fly rods are available to rent if you prefer to travel light.

Each guest must bring a valid form of identification and a Mexican fishing license downloaded to their phone prior to arrival.

Two additional items guests quickly learn to prioritize are cash and beverages of choice. Cash is needed for guide gratuities and optional live bait purchases, and local stores are not open early in the morning. Many guests pick up beer or personal drinks prior to arriving for early departures.

Above all, pack simply. Baja living is relaxed, informal, and centered around time outdoors, good fishing, and easy evenings by the water.

Please note Mexico's Custom's gear limits:

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

If you bring more than the allowable limit, you may get dinged with a 19% importation tax. Tobacco or nicotine, camera housings and drones may incur importation tax. Please be prepared for this.

In addition you may NOT carry on any gear when flying out of Mexico. It all needs to be checked: rods, reels, flies, pliers, etc. You can find more information here: Mexico Customs Info

La Ventana offers plenty to enjoy beyond fishing. The town has a relaxed outdoor lifestyle with local shops, cafés, beach bars, and wellness services including yoga and massage. Guests often spend mornings paddleboarding, kayaking, swimming, or simply relaxing on the beach before the afternoon breeze arrives.

The surrounding desert landscape provides excellent opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, and exploring quiet coastal trails with views of the Sea of Cortez. Marine wildlife tours and local charters can also be arranged for snorkeling, island visits, or ocean safaris where dolphins, rays, sea lions, and seasonal whales are commonly seen.

Many visitors find that even without fishing, days fill naturally with outdoor activity, good food, and time spent enjoying the slower rhythm of Baja life.

We strongly recommend that all guests purchase travel insurance prior to their trip. Fishing and boating take place in a remote coastal environment, and travel insurance provides important protection in the event of unexpected flight delays, cancellations, medical needs, or travel interruptions.

Comprehensive travel insurance can cover trip cancellation, lost luggage, emergency medical care, evacuation services, and unforeseen schedule changes. While we hope these protections are never needed, having coverage in place allows guests to travel with confidence and peace of mind.

We recommend reviewing policies from the following providers, all of which offer plans commonly used by international travelers:

Global Rescue – www.globalrescue.com
Travel Guard – www.travelguard.com
Allianz Travel Insurance – www.allianztravelinsurance.com
World Nomads – www.worldnomads.com

Guests should select a policy that fits their individual travel plans and comfort level, particularly one that includes emergency medical coverage and evacuation services for international travel.