Warning about Baja Travel - Page 2 - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

eddier68 · 08-19-2010, 02:02 PM

I actually know Boogie, he a pretty cool dude and damn good fisherman., I definately see both sides of the issue. The way i look at if you go down just use common sense. Drive in the day , watch where you park, dont leave valubales in plain sight, etc. Like Jimmy said, i've met some of the friendliest people in baja. Strangers who actually acknowledge you when you walk by ( "Buenas tardes/ Dia" ) and strangers who pull over to help you out with an overheating radiator or flat then dont take your cash when you offer them some. It 's sad to see the good people of baja suffer because of a corrupt cop or thief has fu*** it all up for them/ us. As for me i'll still be going down to baja, i'll actually be fishng my favorite kelpbed tomorrow morning in the Rosarito area with a buddy of mine. I fished a kayak tournament last weekend in Ensenada with zero problems on the drive down or back. Took second place too!!!

Be safe WHEREVER you go!!! Cheers!!!!

EDDIE

Reppin a BWE hat!!!

vito · 08-19-2010, 03:29 PM

es todo Eddie!!!! Good job on that tourney!!!!

see you tomorrow!!!!
saludos

Tman · 08-20-2010, 06:49 PM

As I have always told friends, the deeper you go into Mex, the nicer the people.
Boogie, dang dude, some of us understand what you said. If the moderators spoke espanol, your post would be deleted.

I too have found the hospitality far more gracious than the states. Just gotta use common sense and not look like a victim, by that I mean no stress. You are there to relax.

I used to go there all the time, never had any probs at checkpoints because of my demeanor and the fact that I had a 65 lb Ridgeback/Pit mix with me. I make it a point if I am traveling with a small group to bring a dog. Safety in numbers or bring a big dog.
Or, as was said, porn mags at the passenger floorboard, or better yet, cheap sunglasses...works every time.

I used to go to Capt Ray's in Puerto Nuevo every year for my bday, only stress we had was who was driving when we crossed the border...

But this I will say...I was at Erendira one time, in a 2 wheel drive, N of the town, got stuck cuz I had forgotten which path led to the cattle gates to the prime ares, and with plenty of 4 wheel drive surfer trucks in the area, no help. A local happened to come by, seeing me digging out my wheels, sweating my arse off, offered to help with his old GM truck. We tied rope, it busted. Used the cable I would leash my dog with, broke.
He said he would get some chain and come back. Came back with the chain, got me pulled out, and offered me some Tecate and it was ice cold.
I offered him some pesos, he would have none of it, I basically had to force him to take the smallest bill I had, in those days the exchange rate came to $80...I am glad he took it, trip turned out to be a blast.

And I still remember his name he told me when I asked him...Hace Tuna...

Can't wait to meet him again, I will go back...

dsafety · 08-20-2010, 07:57 PM

This is a very interesting and enlightening post. I have not traveled in Northern Mexico since being thrown in jail for the crime of being Anglo and looking like I could pay the bail on Cinco DE Mayo in Encinada years ago. Many have experienced similar indignities, but do not believe that this defines the country or the people of Mexico.

While I will not visit the border regions, I have had wonderful experiences elsewhere in this country. In my travels, the further one gets away from the big cities or tourist destinations, the better the experience. The average Mexican citizen is a very good guy... better, in some ways than the average American citizen. There is a simplicity to the the lifestyle that invites hospitality and kindness.

I cannot offer recommendations as to how to avoid the problems documented earlier in this post. The only thing I would like to pass on is that it is wrong and unfair to tar the entire Mexican population with one brush. In my opinion, the corrupt and dangerous minority which currently seems to be in charge is not representative of the population as a whole.

Bob

Jimmyz123 · 08-20-2010, 09:22 PM

I didn't know my wife was snapping photos while I was talking to the guards. Who looks out numbered here?

Gino · 08-25-2010, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BOOGIE

I have a better one, dont come, if your going to be all freaki and scared you ar not going to enjoy your self, i really dont agree with the chek points but sadly we came to this point, the military is not prepared to deal with cibillian matters , i really dont know aboutt anny park ranger stole monney from anny one, butt the hole world has seen your soldiers rape and kill inocent women and children, and laugh on ther faces and film them an them post them on you tube , i guess thats a normal behabior for you and your fammily, and you dont see nothing rong wiht it,this is a more complex problem i might belong to a corrupt third world country as you say but to have a corrupt you have a gay giving the brive, we dont have enuff money to brive cos we are so poor an third world an that shit... so if you dont like it here dont come and is not baja is Baja California.

You just came on here and trashed American Servicemen?
Bad Taste Senior... Polk shoulda taken Baja while he was at it.

Jimmyz123 · 08-25-2010, 02:02 PM

I think one thing can be said and that is you don't trash the American Servicemen. They are laying their lives on the line for all of us even those on the other side of the border. Our servicemen deserve respect. Yes there have been some bad apples here and there, but that does not make the entire group bad.

Point to the topic again is be safe while traveling South of the Border.

jorluivil · 08-25-2010, 11:09 PM

WahooUSMA · 08-26-2010, 10:45 AM

This thread originally started off as a very informative, then went sideways for a moment, but has since circled back on track. I used to manage the logistic operations for El Dorado Ranch in San Felipe and made the trek weekly from our offices in Costa Mesa & Calexico to San Felipe, so I know the roads, check points, speed traps, police, etc. very well. In fact, our business partner in Mexico– La Ventana, owns the police station as well as the Red Lobster in San Felipe. Overall, this thread has provided some great tips and advice. Best so far has been by The Darkhorse, Scallywag, and Wavster – sum it up “fly below the radar and keep a low profile”. That said, I definitely think you need to have situational awareness when traveling anywhere in BC.

I once had an employee who forgot to declare a $1200 main valve (my bad) for the golf course when he crossed and ended up spending the weekend in jail. The Mx. authorities fined our company 15k, had to have our Mexican attorney represent us, which cost us an arm and leg, and in the end, they took his new truck. The alternative to paying them off was that they would shut our operation down while they conducted an importation/customs audit. And as a kicker, I shit you not; we would later see the police driving his truck around Mexicali – so brazen! Hence, I then started driving our company's mechanically sound, but cosmetically destroyed piece of shit Dodge truck when crossing for fear of getting jacked for my personal truck, which I would leave in the states.

On another note, we went to San Quintin last November and crossed at the POE in TJ. Not that I ever felt unsafe, but I just won’t cross there again, for many reasons! Any further trips to BC, I’ll cross in Mexicali and take the longer way via hwy 2, or Hwy 3 and cross over. I don’t care if it adds time to the drive.

One thing I would mention – when filling up your truck or car, make certain the attendant resets the pump before he starts pumping. Big rip-off!

Overall, BC is a nice place with neat people, beautiful beaches, great fishing and so far, hasn’t been too affected by the cartel. Now mainland Mexico is another thing – that place is a goatfuck. Cartel are now using terrorist style tactics/weapons i.e., grenades and VBIED’s (veh borne IED).
http://newsblogged.com/video-puerto-...njured-youtube

Hey “Boogie”. F-You! I took your military comments personally!

driftwood · 08-26-2010, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WahooUSMA

This thread originally started off as a very informative, then went sideways for a moment, but has since circled back on track. I used to manage the logistic operations for El Dorado Ranch in San Felipe and made the trek weekly from our offices in Costa Mesa & Calexico to San Felipe, so I know the roads, check points, speed traps, police, etc. very well. In fact, our business partner in Mexico– La Ventana, owns the police station as well as the Red Lobster in San Felipe. Overall, this thread has provided some great tips and advice. Best so far has been by The Darkhorse, Scallywag, and Wavster – sum it up “fly below the radar and keep a low profile”. That said, I definitely think you need to have situational awareness when traveling anywhere in BC.

I once had an employee who forgot to declare a $1200 main valve (my bad) for the golf course when he crossed and ended up spending the weekend in jail. The Mx. authorities fined our company 15k, had to have our Mexican attorney represent us, which cost us an arm and leg, and in the end, they took his new truck. The alternative to paying them off was that they would shut our operation down while they conducted an importation/customs audit. And as a kicker, I shit you not; we would later see the police driving his truck around Mexicali – so brazen! Hence, I then started driving our company's mechanically sound, but cosmetically destroyed piece of shit Dodge truck when crossing for fear of getting jacked for my personal truck, which I would leave in the states.

On another note, we went to San Quintin last November and crossed at the POE in TJ. Not that I ever felt unsafe, but I just won’t cross there again, for many reasons! Any further trips to BC, I’ll cross in Mexicali and take the longer way via hwy 2, or Hwy 3 and cross over. I don’t care if it adds time to the drive.

One thing I would mention – when filling up your truck or car, make certain the attendant resets the pump before he starts pumping. Big rip-off!

Overall, BC is a nice place with neat people, beautiful beaches, great fishing and so far, hasn’t been too affected by the cartel. Now mainland Mexico is another thing – that place is a goatfuck. Cartel are now using terrorist style tactics/weapons i.e., grenades and VBIED’s (veh borne IED).
http://newsblogged.com/video-puerto-...njured-youtube

Hey “Boogie”. F-You! I took your military comments personally!

Enough with the mexican guard bashing! The mex military is the best there is!! Here is an example and bottom line.

developed guard vs mexican guard LOL!!!

play video.

mr moderator, please kill this thread now!

THE DARKHORSE · 08-18-2010, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -scallywag-

what you experienced sounds like SOP, even the "shake down search".

Wavesters tips are on the money, I would also like to add a few:

- Have all the small valubles in one place, I use a backpack and take it out with me during the inspections

- Have "gifts" available, cold sodas, cigs, fruit, snacks...and my personal favorite PORN !! Nothing will get you thru checkpoints faster than a stack of good hardcore porn mags (don't try to pawn off your old harry bush playboy crap on um) on or under your seat where they can easily be found...once they see those the search is over and you're on your way....just make sure you have more stashed somewhere else incase they want the whole stack.

Fanfreakintastic' advice Scallywag!

With all this sound advice I'll add one more good one: drive a piece of $hit car and you'll blend right in. I won't even ride in my friends $40,000 trucks with toys in the back---no way in hell!

And as much as caravaning with your friends seems like a great idea, with more than one 40,000 truck packed full of goodies---you just attract bigger and badder thieves. Ya' know, organized crime, guys who really do this for a living?
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And while I've had a gun pointed in my face, witnessed horrible accidents that no one reported and payed my share of hard earned cash---to the cops.

Where else are you going to find empty pointbreaks within driving range? I know where I'll be when the next real, South swell hits. Viva Mexico!

08-19-2010, 03:29 PM	#2
vito Junior Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: tijuana Posts: 13	es todo Eddie!!!! Good job on that tourney!!!! see you tomorrow!!!! saludos Last edited by vito; 08-19-2010 at 03:44 PM.

08-20-2010, 06:49 PM	#3
Tman BRTF...bought & paid... Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,247	As I have always told friends, the deeper you go into Mex, the nicer the people. Boogie, dang dude, some of us understand what you said. If the moderators spoke espanol, your post would be deleted. I too have found the hospitality far more gracious than the states. Just gotta use common sense and not look like a victim, by that I mean no stress. You are there to relax. I used to go there all the time, never had any probs at checkpoints because of my demeanor and the fact that I had a 65 lb Ridgeback/Pit mix with me. I make it a point if I am traveling with a small group to bring a dog. Safety in numbers or bring a big dog. Or, as was said, porn mags at the passenger floorboard, or better yet, cheap sunglasses...works every time. I used to go to Capt Ray's in Puerto Nuevo every year for my bday, only stress we had was who was driving when we crossed the border... But this I will say...I was at Erendira one time, in a 2 wheel drive, N of the town, got stuck cuz I had forgotten which path led to the cattle gates to the prime ares, and with plenty of 4 wheel drive surfer trucks in the area, no help. A local happened to come by, seeing me digging out my wheels, sweating my arse off, offered to help with his old GM truck. We tied rope, it busted. Used the cable I would leash my dog with, broke. He said he would get some chain and come back. Came back with the chain, got me pulled out, and offered me some Tecate and it was ice cold. I offered him some pesos, he would have none of it, I basically had to force him to take the smallest bill I had, in those days the exchange rate came to $80...I am glad he took it, trip turned out to be a blast. And I still remember his name he told me when I asked him...Hace Tuna... Can't wait to meet him again, I will go back... __________________ Adios Tman Gaffer for Clay the Fishcatcher

08-26-2010, 10:45 AM	#9
WahooUSMA Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Rancho Cucamonga Posts: 753	This thread originally started off as a very informative, then went sideways for a moment, but has since circled back on track. I used to manage the logistic operations for El Dorado Ranch in San Felipe and made the trek weekly from our offices in Costa Mesa & Calexico to San Felipe, so I know the roads, check points, speed traps, police, etc. very well. In fact, our business partner in Mexico– La Ventana, owns the police station as well as the Red Lobster in San Felipe. Overall, this thread has provided some great tips and advice. Best so far has been by The Darkhorse, Scallywag, and Wavster – sum it up “fly below the radar and keep a low profile”. That said, I definitely think you need to have situational awareness when traveling anywhere in BC. I once had an employee who forgot to declare a $1200 main valve (my bad) for the golf course when he crossed and ended up spending the weekend in jail. The Mx. authorities fined our company 15k, had to have our Mexican attorney represent us, which cost us an arm and leg, and in the end, they took his new truck. The alternative to paying them off was that they would shut our operation down while they conducted an importation/customs audit. And as a kicker, I shit you not; we would later see the police driving his truck around Mexicali – so brazen! Hence, I then started driving our company's mechanically sound, but cosmetically destroyed piece of shit Dodge truck when crossing for fear of getting jacked for my personal truck, which I would leave in the states. On another note, we went to San Quintin last November and crossed at the POE in TJ. Not that I ever felt unsafe, but I just won’t cross there again, for many reasons! Any further trips to BC, I’ll cross in Mexicali and take the longer way via hwy 2, or Hwy 3 and cross over. I don’t care if it adds time to the drive. One thing I would mention – when filling up your truck or car, make certain the attendant resets the pump before he starts pumping. Big rip-off! Overall, BC is a nice place with neat people, beautiful beaches, great fishing and so far, hasn’t been too affected by the cartel. Now mainland Mexico is another thing – that place is a goatfuck. Cartel are now using terrorist style tactics/weapons i.e., grenades and VBIED’s (veh borne IED). http://newsblogged.com/video-puerto-...njured-youtube Hey “Boogie”. F-You! I took your military comments personally! __________________ GO ARMY BEAT NAVY! Bad decisions make great stories!

08-20-2010, 07:57 PM	#4
dsafety Olivenhain Bob Join Date: May 2008 Location: Olivenhain, CA Posts: 1,122	This is a very interesting and enlightening post. I have not traveled in Northern Mexico since being thrown in jail for the crime of being Anglo and looking like I could pay the bail on Cinco DE Mayo in Encinada years ago. Many have experienced similar indignities, but do not believe that this defines the country or the people of Mexico. While I will not visit the border regions, I have had wonderful experiences elsewhere in this country. In my travels, the further one gets away from the big cities or tourist destinations, the better the experience. The average Mexican citizen is a very good guy... better, in some ways than the average American citizen. There is a simplicity to the the lifestyle that invites hospitality and kindness. I cannot offer recommendations as to how to avoid the problems documented earlier in this post. The only thing I would like to pass on is that it is wrong and unfair to tar the entire Mexican population with one brush. In my opinion, the corrupt and dangerous minority which currently seems to be in charge is not representative of the population as a whole. Bob

08-20-2010, 09:22 PM	#5
Jimmyz123 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,385	I didn't know my wife was snapping photos while I was talking to the guards. Who looks out numbered here?

08-25-2010, 02:02 PM	#7
Jimmyz123 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,385	I think one thing can be said and that is you don't trash the American Servicemen. They are laying their lives on the line for all of us even those on the other side of the border. Our servicemen deserve respect. Yes there have been some bad apples here and there, but that does not make the entire group bad. Point to the topic again is be safe while traveling South of the Border.