Chasing Baja: A Fish Bum Gear Guide to Road Tripping Baja Mexico
Baja is inexpensive, remote and has endless opportunity for a huge variety of fish! Having just come off two major Baja road trips, we wanted to put together a list of essential gear based on our experience… often learned the hard way. The biggest overall lesson (which is truly a mantra when comes to planning your adventure) is BRING ONLY THINGS YOU NEED.
Vehicle
People use a huge variety of vehicles to blaze trails around the Baja peninsula. However, for the fish bum who’s really looking to explore, camp and hit the most remote tasty water, I believe a 4X4 TRUCK WITH A POP-UP CAB-OVER CAMPER is the best set up. 4WD, or at the very least AWD, is essential for driving in sand and sketchy two tracks to access camping and fishing areas. One thing that Baja is famous for is heavy wind. Having a sturdy enclosed area to camp and cook makes things a lot more comfortable. Also, due to the narrow, bache-ridden (pot holes) roads of Baja, a streamlined vehicle/camper setup is the smart way to go. The pop-up camper is ideal for keeping the weight and size down for driving in gale force winds that you will undoubtedly encounter.
Recovery Gear
You’re going to get stuck. It happens to everyone and is, basically, a right of passage in Baja. Being prepared to get yourself out of a tough situation is a must… and it always seems to happen in the most remote area when no one is around. LOWER YOUR TIRE PRESSURE. It’s your best method for getting unstuck in the sand. However, you will most likely have an extended drive to get to a gas station for air. Driving those distances on air pressure of 15PSI is a recipe for disaster. An AIR COMPRESSOR is essential. I use the one below. It’s very effective and takes up very little space. The one I use is below:
I carry a DEEP CYCLE, GEL, MARINE 12V BATTERY at all times when I’m on an extended road trip. Deep cycle batteries provide longer sustained amounts of electricity but less power compared to traditional batteries. GEL batteries are a safer option than traditional lead-acid and require little to no maintenance. The one I use is below:
I charge it with a travel friendly SOLAR PANEL set up. The combination works perfectly.
RECOVERY BOARDS are the next best tool for getting you unstuck. I have used these many times getting myself (and others) out of hairy situations. And, I always have four.
Some people also swear by a winch but I have found that a COME-ALONG with a SAND ANCHOR is a great, inexpensive option that won’t weigh you down.
If you get a flat on one of the main highways, there is often no shoulder. Big, commercial trucks and oversized RVs are omnipresent, day and night. A ROADSIDE SAFETY KIT can be a life saver.
Other, more obvious pieces in your essential recovery kit should be a RELIABLE JACK, TIRE REPAIR KIT, TOW STRAPS, LARGE SHOVEL AND DIAGNOSTIC CODE READER for when your check engine light comes on.
Miscellaneous gear that I can’t live without in Baja
A SHARP FILET KNIFE
TRAVEL GRILL for all those tasty fish. Also, outside cooking also keeps the camper cool during hotter months.
A small, lightweight, travel-friendly, USB BUG ZAPPER:
If you’re wondering about fishing gear, check our TRIP NOTES page. I will say this: fishing supplies are only available in the largest Baja cities… and there aren’t many of those. When you do find a Baja tackle shop, it will, more than likely, be very expensive. Prices are akin to Bass Pro Shops in the States. For example, I found a legit tackle shop in La Paz, BCS. It had a lot of gear. Lightweight, hooded, fishing shirts were $60-$70USD. Lures were $5-$30USD. They had small, 8.5 x 11″, laminated, regional, Baja fishing maps. Each was $50USD+ each. Basically, do your do-diligence and gear up prior to your trip… then double it. Trust me, nothing is more aggravating than being on the bite of your life and running out of the gear you need.
Click the button below to read the trip notes from our last Baja adventure.
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By Ryan Bonneau
cofounder and photographer, Chasing Scale
ryanbonneauphoto.com
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