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Something about saltwater, tacos and sunshine makes people happy. So when I needed a quick escape, the idea of achieving that happy triad with only two short flights from my hometown airport of Missoula, Montana, sounded like a pretty good concept. A total of less than five hours of flying time could land me in the land where the desert meets the Sea of Cortés. Done deal.
The mission? Take a trip to Baja, and explore the fishing towns of Los Barriles and La Paz, and fish in the “MAJA El Grande” tournament. The beginning of the Fishing in the Five tournament series, an annual circuit where sport fishing fleets and clubs travel to Baja California Sur to compete. The fish we’re after? Marlin, dorado, tuna or roosterfish — the Mar de Cortés bears the nickname, “The Aquarium of the World” for good reason. The turquoise and rich navy waters are teeming with sportfish, humpback whales, California gray whales, killer whales, manta ray, leatherback sea turtles and even the Humboldt squid.
It was an ambitious agenda for four days on the ground — three of which were long fishing days that started before dawn — but still a worthy escape. The plan was to carve out a bit of poolside tanning at the Ventana Blue Hotel in the little village of La Ventana. It was a favorite — they had some of the most attentive staff I’ve ever experienced, and an ultimately chill, relaxed vibe. After each day of fishing, I would clean up and head to a nice dinner to explore local cuisine. Be sure to try Ventana Blue’s house margarita and the fresh ceviche of the day — it’s a meal to remember.
Four days packed with various activities can present a packing challenge, however. Between fishing, hanging at the pool, travel and dinners I wanted to bring along an array of items that would serve multiple purposes, and still be comfortable in Baja’s summer heat (think heat indexes well over 100F every day). Here’s a look at what made the cut, including the men’s versions of some of my favorite travel gear for a trip to Baja.
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