The Boat “Jose Andres”:
Tony Reyes has been taking anglers fishing in the beautiful Sea of Cortez for over 45 years, longer than any other operation that does mother ship trips. Some of Tony’s experienced crew has been with him over 30 years, and all have the knowledge to make your fishing vacation a great one.
Tony has been operating this boat since 1987. It is equipped with radar, global positioning system, VHR radios, side ban radios, furuno fish finder, and life-saving gear including life jackets, life rafts, and life rings. Each 22’ panga carry’s life vests, VHF radio, flares, whistle, mirror, throw cushions, and ice chests, as well as built in bait tanks with electric pumps,. The “Jose Andres” has 5 heads, 2 showers, 4 air conditioned staterooms and 8 covered outside open air bunks. You will need to bring a pillow and bedding. There is a walk-in freezer and refrigerator, as well as an ice hold to handle your catch; there are also 2 large bait tanks on the boat. Secure parking is provided at Tony’s fenced yard at his home.
The Boat “Tony Reyes”:
Tony Reyes acquired this 107’ steel hull boat in the spring of 2004. The boat accommodates 27 anglers in air conditioned staterooms (all inside). There are 7 rooms with 2 anglers per room & 4 rooms with 4 anglers per room. We carry 9 pangas to fish from & there are 2 large live bait tanks in which to store bait. The “Tony Reyes” has a walk in freezer, refrigerator, ice hold, a flash freezer, & a commercial vacuum packing machine capable of sealing 5 bags at once.
The “Tony Reyes” boasts 6 heads, 4 showers, & a modern galley to enjoy your meals.
With 3 anglers & a guide per panga, we can fish the hot spots without the line-tangling crowds. The boat fishes from San Felipe during the months of May thru October and from La Paz from February thru May, and November and December.
This boat is the most modern and comfortable vessel fishing in the Sea of Cortez, and has the most experienced crew. The boat has complete electronics in the wheelhouse, extensive life-saving equipment on the boat, as well as in the pangas. The pangas have built in live bait tanks, rod holders, built in ice chest and fish hold, VHF, radios, electric bait pumps, swivel seats, fish finders, & 50hp. 4 stroke Yamaha engines. The “Tony Reyes” is equipped with a water maker so all the water on the boat is good to drink. The boat also carries 6 kayaks for use, free of charge. The bedding (sheets, blankets and pillows) are provided.
The boats depart Sunday morning so you will need to arrive on Saturday. There are plenty of motels in town or arrangements can be made to stay on the boat. On Sunday, the boats travel all day and night to the fishing grounds, and then unload the pangas Monday morning to begin fishing. You can fish all day Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday morning. Then they will load the pangas and head back to port to arrive sometime Friday afternoon, depending on where you were fishing. Fishing can start at sunrise and continue, if you wish, until sunset. However, most anglers prefer to return to the boat for lunch and a noon siesta (nap) before returning for the evening fish bite.
Midriff Island Trips:
The Midriff Islands are known as “the fish trap of the Sea of Cortez”. You will board the boat in San Felipe, then travel about 250 miles south along the beautiful Baja coastline until you reach the islands.
This is a natural migration route for yellowtail and is know as “yellowtail alley”. The midriff season begins in March and as you fish the many islands and reefs, your catch can include giant squid, yellowtail, red snapper, grouper, dorado, pinto bass, roosterfish, sailfish, amberjack, cabrilla, giant black sea bass, shark, and many more species. You may also see whales, dolphins, giant manta rays, sea turtles, and a variety of birds and other marine wildlife.
You will fish in 22’ pangas with 3 anglers plus a guide. Your fish will be cleaned daily, free of charge. All your catch (including squid) can be filleted for an additional fee. On your return Friday, our bus will take you to your vehicle to load your gear and catch. Although warm, hot and dry weather is the norm on some trips, February thru May and October thru December can be cool, so plan your clothing accordingly.
The following clothing is suggested:
- Short & long sleeve shirts
- Wind breaker
- Shorts and swim trunks
- Long pants
- 2 pair tennis shoes
- Wide brimmed hat & cap
- Toiletry items, towel, soap
- Sunglasses
- Chapstick
- Insect repellant
- Hand lotion
- Flashlight, camera & film
- Thongs for showers
- Dirty clothes bag
- 2 ice chests, max 86 qt. size
- Extra snacks, drinks, booze, etc.
- Bottle opener
- Cocktail ice (available in San Felipe) & cocktail glass
- 25’ light rope for tie downs
Items you can bring to Mexico duty free:
- 3 liters alcoholic beverages
- 2 cartons cigarettes
- NO FIREARMS!!!
- NO ILLEGAL DRUGS!!!
Items you can bring back to USA:
- 1 liter alcoholic beverage
- 1 carton cigarettes
- 10 kilos shrimp per vehicle
LEGAL REQUIREMENTS:
We recommend you bring a passport or notarized copy of your birth certificate (when traveling outside the USA), & we suggest you purchase Mexican auto insurance before crossing the border. On the fly down trips you will need to get a visa, which is provided by the airlines.
Extra costs of the trip:
- Fishing licenses, approx. $25.00
- Tips - see recommendations below
- Bottled soda, water, & beer @ $1.00 each on the honor system
- Fish filleting, $25.00 & 2.00 each for squid; vacuum packing your fillets @ $0.40per bag (“Tony Reyes” only)
Tip recommendations:
- Tips are optional and should be based on service received. What is a normal tip?
- $60.00 each to your guide
- $15.00 each to kitchen staff
- $30.00 each to the deck crew
- You should tip your guide yourself. The kitchen staff will have a tip can in the galley the last day. You can give the crew their tip the last day when you pay your bill to the Charter master.
Rules of the Water:
Please conserve water on board as it is in limited supply. Save all bottles as we pay a deposit on them. Everyone is expected to help catch live bait. Jackpots are not boat sponsored; however, anglers are welcome to do so. NO DRUGS OR FIREARMS WILL BE TOLERATED!! This is a very serious offense in Mexico. No fireworks are allowed on the boats. We serve meals in shifts. Please exit the galley when you have finished your meal so others may eat. No smoking in any indoor rooms on the boat. Crushed ice is provided free of charge during the trip & for your trip home. Please put toilet paper in trash cans provided as Mexican plumbing cannot handle it. No ice chests over 86 qt. can be handled as they are too heavy for the crew to lift when loaded with your fish. Rooms & bunks are on a first-come first-serve basis; when you arrive select your bunk by putting some of your gear on it.
In order to give the crew time to clean the boat, boarding can begin after 2:00pm Saturday.
On Friday afternoon, the last day of the trip, the Charter master will total your bill for any items you ordered, including tips for the deck crew, plus items purchased; i.e. fishing license, drinks, fishing tackle, clothing, rentals, fish filleting, vacuum packing (see prices above). Please tip your guide yourself, and the kitchen staff will have a can in the galley the last day for their tips.
Auto Parking:
Secure parking is available at Tony’s house in a fenced yard. The boats depart Sunday morning and return Friday afternoon. Gather at your boat by 8:00 am Sunday morning; after parking your vehicle at Tony’s, we’ll bring you back to the boat on our bus. We will sail as soon as the tide permits. The boat harbor is 3 miles south of town.
Because a full day of fishing can create hunger and thirst, the galley is well stocked for serving three meals a day. Beverages, bottled water, sodas, and beers are available on the honor system. We recommend you bring your own ice for your drinks. Anglers are also welcome to bring their own beverages.
Suggested tackle list:
- 1 40 lb. outfit
- 1 50-60 lb. outfit
- 1 100 lb. outfit
- These are minimum outfits so bring more if you have them. You will use 50-60 lb. the most.
Additional tackle:
- 8 each torpedo sinkers, 4, 8, 12 & 16 ounce
- 3 each torpedo sinkers, 20 & 24 ounce
- 5 quality bait-catching rigs
- 25 each live bait hooks 6/0 & 8/0
- Metal jigs, colors - chrome, blue/chrome blue/white, green/yellow; almost any color works well
- 6 small jigs, DX or Christy 2
- 8 medium - 6 XJR or CP 105 size
- 5 large-6x size
- 2 mirror lures for trolling-MR111
- 2 trolling feathers
- 6 yellowtail leaders, 60 lb
- 5 4/0 snap swivels
- 1 rod belt
- 1 needle nose pliers, w/cutter
- 4 wire grouper leaders
- 2 squid jigs, heavies
- in addition to these basic items we recommend rags, screwdriver, extra spool 50 lb. line, pliers, finger tape.
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Additional La Paz or Loreto tackle:
- 1 80 lb. outfit
- 1 marlin trolling lure
- 1 marlin bait leader
- 3 hoochie tolling rigs
La Paz:
Covering the hot spots from Loreto in the north to Gordo banks in the south, the La Paz trips can take you to areas so remote that most boats cannot fish them, BUT WE CAN!
This area, known as the “Roosterfish” capitol of the world, has giant schools of yellow fin tuna, pargo, dorado, and some wahoo. For a real challenge, try fishing for marlin and sailfish from your panga.
On the fly down trips, we will supply you with 4 Calstar rods to use free of charge, saving you from having to carry them on the airplane.
On the boat “Tony Reyes”, we have a limited selection of tackle for sale and we have rods and reels and a stocked tackle box for rent. Please see Ramon, a guide, for your tackle needs; the tackle store is only open once a day for one hour after Ramon’s dinner. Because of the import duties and taxes, tackle prices are slightly higher than in the USA. Prices are posted on the boat.
Fly Down Option:
On the fly down trips you can opt to stay on the boat the night before and/or the night after the trip. The fee to stay includes breakfast. There are many hotels available to say at in La Paz; the boat is very near Los Arcos hotel.
Cancellations:
All cancellations are subject to a 10% fee. Cancellations must be in writing 90 days before departure to receive a 90% refund. If the cancellation is received during the 90 day period the deposit, less fee, will be refunded if the spot is filled with a new angler. All trips are considered booked when a $300 deposit is received. The balance is due in full 90 days prior to departure. If payment is not received at this time, your booking may be sold and your deposit refunded, less fee.
Charters:
THE ENTIRE BOAT IS AVAILABLE FOR CHARTER (SEE PRICE LIST). ALL TRIPS ARE SUBJECT TO A FUEL SURCHARGE.
For reservations:
THE LONGFIN TACKLE STORE
2730 E. CHAPMAN AVE.
ORANGE, CALIFORNIA, USA 92869
714-538-9300
Tony Reyes Fishing Tours Information 
