Why do my clients return to La Ventana and fish with me year after year? Some have been angling these waters with me annually since 1993. I don’t offer a high end luxury resort or the bustle of tourist attractions. I offer an adventure. Our anglers stay in a small beachfront hotel with private rooms with AC and full baths and the sound of the Sea of Cortez lapping on a secluded beach. They fish with a small group of 9-11 fellow anglers, as individuals, buddies or groups and a family of Baja’s finest fly fishing captains. Our lodge is informal to make you feel at home. It is on the beach, and very clean and comfortable with maid and laundry service. There is no bar bill at the end of the week. Beer and soft drinks are included. There are no restaurant tabs. We have incredible cooks that are constantly being queried for their recipes. We make each other drinks from our own stash of wine and spirits. I often have a local archaeologist speak to us and answer questions about Baja prehistory and Mexican history. We are always looking for ways to make your stay more immersive in the local culture, history and natural surroundings. The friendships formed are enduring, first being welcomed into their lives and in time becoming an integral part of our angling family.
I first met the Lucero family in 1989 and have fished with them every year since. In that time they have become excellent fly fishers and guides. They are finely tuned to the sea and the wind and innately understand the waters and the fish that have been their life and livelihood for many generations. Once you set foot on their panga, their intention is to lead you to the most promising spot and connect you with the fish. But they don’t just give you ”shots”. They understand and love the art of fly fishing. They are skilled at casting, stripping, fly choice and knots and will guide you as any really good guide would do anywhere else. This may be your first time wrestling roosters, dorado, skipjack tuna and other strong fish and we do our best to help you towards a successful trip. Unlike other outfitters, we try to pressure our fishery as little as possible. That includes not over harvesting the bait schools and taking only a few gamefish for food. The captains understand that this fishery will be left to their kids. Our goal is to make this a really fun trip, with only the best folks in full support of that week-long journey into discovering the richness of the Sea of Cortez, the beauty and tastes of Baja Sur and it’s wonderful people.
Our season in 2021 went extremely well, with a great bait supply and lots of big rooster fish all season long! We encountered dorado every week, but they were more sparse than other years.Thankfully, they were large for the most part. We also landed many marlin on the fly, mostly in July, which was a dream fulfillment for the lucky anglers. We even had a few doubles.
Find me on Instagram #bajabulla and on Facebook at Gary Bulla’s Flyfishing Adventures group. Please join up for current reports!
