Fly Fishing for Punks: Rooster Fishing on the Baja California Peninsula

Baja California, is the second-longest peninsula on the planet, extending out into the Pacific Ocean from the southern end of the US state of California. Baja offers you beautiful white sandy beaches with crystal clear water, breath-taking landscapes, Mexican culture accompanied by typical Mexican cuisine and best of all the epic Rooster fish!

By: KATKA SVAGROVA Photography by: KATKA SVAGROVA and VEBJØRN KJELLAND

Most of the people who venture there to fish for them drive the beaches on their ATV’s trying to spot that fish of a lifetime.

Rooster fish, locally known as Pez Gallo, is a member of the Jack family and are indigenous to the waters of the eastern Pacific, from Baja California to Costa Rica and Peru. You can catch fish ranging from 1lb to 100 lbs. The Rooster fish is known in the fly-fishing world as one of the most unique and most rewarding fish species to catch. The body is marked with zebra-like stripes, which - along with the spectacular dorsal fin - make them look incredible.

The prime time for roosterfish at Baja California is from the end of May until mid-July when the big fish are cruising the shallow beaches in search of bait. Most of the people who venture there to fish for them drive the beaches on their ATV’s trying to spot that fish of a lifetime.

My good friend, Vebjørn, and I were lucky enough to experience an extraordinary trip to Baja California last May where we had a successful week on the east coast of the Baja Peninsula and I would like to share some tips with all of you, which I strongly recommend if you’d like to try to follow in our footsteps;

Find your own spot far away from other people.

Don’t listen to other people about the usual ‘famous spots’. We tried to do just that on our first day, ending up in the first beach bar, drinking the local Pacifico beer as the hoards roamed the beeches on their ATV’s. Sometimes it felt as if we were fishing at Disneyland.

Try something new!

Roosterfish feed on sardines, needlefish, and mullet which school up along the beaches. Most people use the common mullet- or sardine patterns in sizes ranging from 1/0 to 4/0 , depending on the size of the target fish. The most useful colours are light tan and white, light blue and white, or light olive and white.

Almost all the fish that we cast the regular flies to, ignored all our efforts. It was time for a change! So we tried the Fulling Mill Softy Minnow Blue Water 4/0 flies - and miracles happened.

80% of the fish we caught that week were caught on these gummy flies. The other ones were caught on Beechy’s Garfish 2/0. I think that the Gym Sock mullet pattern in 4/0 size would also be a killer pattern here, and certainly worth a go if you’re heading to Baja.

Treat them with respect!

When you get a chance to play with the roosterfish, do not forget to handle them with respect. Over the last couple of years, the fishing pressure along Baja’s beaches has rapidly increased. It´s a must for all of you to keep the roosters in the water as much as possible.

A quick shot with the camera is alright for sure, but don’t be silly and bring the fish ashore. You should know that roosterfish have a unique swim bladder going all the way up into the inner ear, which makes them able to amplify sound when they hunt their prey. It messes them up really badly when the bladder is filled up with unwanted air.

Before releasing your fish make sure they’re balanced and that they can swim away without any problems. Sometimes, especially with bigger fish, it can take longer before they are capable handling themselves. Just keep them constantly in the water and gently support them so they are allowed to catch their breath again.

Hire a guide

No one will know better places than the local guides. And in my opinion, it is always worth spending a few additional dollars to get some serious shots at some serious roosterfish.

Do not share the exact spots you found on social media!

It will help to protect the roosterfish populations for generations to come.

Enjoy your time on the beach!

Driving ATVs on white sand beaches with your friends, drinking local Pacifico beer with squeezed lime or Mexican Margarita with tequila, eating fish tacos with guacamole on every corner and the most beautiful sunsets will make for such an extraordinary experience, no matter if you get your first rooster fish or not!