I once asked a boat captain in Cabo why the dolphins jump out of the water.  He told me that they were “felis”, the Spanish word for happy!  Just watching them for awhile would make most people come to that conclusion.

Juan Montez - Boat Captain

A sure way to get up close and personal with a pod of dolphins is to fish out of a small boat in the Baja.

The boat of the Baja, the Panga, is where it all started as far as boats are concerned in the Magnificent Peninsula.

This is the work horse to this day of the commercial fishing fleets, whether is inside the Sea of Cortez for finned species or in Magdelina Bay for crabs, scallops or lobsters.

My first fishing trip in Baja was on a Panga and with a guy named Juan Montez and it is still a trip I make nearly every time I go to Cabo San Lucas.  Juan is a great guy that REALLY loves to fish and that come out in how how hard he works while on the water.  He always has a fantastic attitude and is quick with a joke and usually sings throughout the day as you troll for or cast to fish.  Most of my firsts in Baja have been with Juan!

My first Marlin, first Roosterfish, my first yellowfin Tuna, first saltwater fish on the fly, a very nice Dorado, and many other adventures with friends and family.

Don’t miss the GoPro / Troll Pro footage of the Tuna and Striped Marlin!  Cool!

Striped Marlin - Baja

It was a forgone conclusion that as I began filming “Fish the Baja” that Juan and I would fish together on the show.

Well this week is the time and as always Juan did not disappoint, putting me on lots of Yellowfin Tuna and a very HOT Striped Marlin.  The sea was alive with pods of dolphins and Juan was quick to show us a great time.

 It is obvious that after 20 years of fishing together  he is still jumping for fun!

Tune In Thursday 10:30am EST – NBC Sports

Dave Maynard - Roosterfish Catch

Dave Maynard - Yellowfin Tuna

GoPro Camera - You have got to get one

Every conceivable hunting, shooting and outdoor accessory you can imagine is here including a tactical section that is 5 acres in area.  If you need to supply your local gun shop or Banana Repulic army this is the place to make those connections and get what need require. Ever seen a set of shotguns for $332,000?    They have it at SHOT!

How about the 50 Caliber Sniper Rifle that holds the current long distance record? See the Tactical Section!  BTW, it the record is some 2,706 yards …yep, about  a mile and a half confirmed. In the tactical section most attendees are dressed in black and have that “Soldier of Fortune” look about them.

If you plan to attend SHOT it is best to decide what you want to see at the Show before wandering around because if you spent a minute at each booth it will take you some three weeks to complete.  Hope to get some good pix these next few days for you all!  BANG!!!

Every once in awhile you hear or see something that really hits home with you.  Operation Outdoors is just such a thing for me.  Started by good friend Jarrett Edwards and his wife Rebecca, Operation Outdoors helps  Wounded Warriors to heal thru getting them back outdoors doing the things they love.

The Edward’s donated a brand new Phoenix bass boat the first year with some 4,000+ signatures of US Veterans and this year will donate a new Ford F-150 ECO Boost pick up to the cause.  To get involved see the link below or better yet donate to the Lone Survivor Foundation at this address (www.LoneSurvivorFoundation.org)

www.jarrettedwardsoutdoors.tv/OperationOutdoors.html

 This could be very intimidating to me and perhaps you too but let me try and encourage you to tie something new!  Copying someone else’s patterns are great but I would encourage you to adapt and try some new stuff.  One thing I saw eat the show was some cool new materials and new ways to tie them.  People are really pushing the envelope of what constitutes a “fly” it seems!

So get out your vice, dust it off and crank out a new bug or two then get out and get it wet.  There is nothing quite as satisfying as catching a nice fish our you own stuff!

Here are the Top 5 Reasons to got to THE FLY SHOW

#5- Pick up some necessary gear for your next trip , probably at a show special price!

#4- See the latest in fly tackle and equipment

#3- Walk around a meet your fly fishing buddies while drinking an adult beverage

#2- Book your next fly fishing vacation with one the outfitters/ lodges at the show

#1- This is the only was you can keep your raging case of T.A.S. (Terminal Angler Syndrome) under control

BTW here are the next few Fly Shows this season:

Marlborough, MA
January 20, 21, 22
Royal Plaza

Somerset, NJ
January 27, 28, 29
Garden State Convention Center

Raleigh, North Carolina
February 11, 12
NC State Fairgrounds

Pleasanton, CA
February 24, 25, 26
Alameda County Fairgrounds

Pasadena, CA
March 3, 4
Pasadena Convention Center

Dave is the consummate artist and writer and really makes those around him feel special  as he autographs their books and prints.  It is amazing to watch him customize a print with some extra detail or even something as simple as a signature on one of his books.  He will draw a little trout or bass, depending on the answer to his question to you…”what do you like to catch?”

One show he made me a custom name tag that I cherish to this day, a Roosterfish with an attitude, next to my name and in color.  He lamented to me that it wasn’t very good as he had never caught a Roosterfish or seen one up close!  WOW!!!

Dave is quite the gentleman and still has so much spunk that it is great to be around him.  He inspires me to do cast better, fish better, and think better every time I get to spend a few moments with him, and his artwork is truly spectacular!!! Emily is just as wonderful and together they make an incredible team!!! See his awesome work at www.davewhitlock.com

Many of you probably read the blog I wrote some 6 months back when this happened but since the show that covers this will airs on this Thursday 1/12/12 I thought a little refresher would be in order.  While trolling for Tuna and looking for tailing Marlin of Gordo Bank near San Jose del Cabo we received a distress call over the radio.  Now my Spanglish is NOT TOO GOOD ut I did understand the TONE of the call and the words “todos barcos”  ”All boats”.  I figured that can’t be good and went to inquire of Captain Javier as to what the situation was.  Javier told me a boat a had gone down with 7 divers aboard and they didn’t really know where they were other than the Gordo Bank …somewhere. That is the equivalent of saying “There is a car accident somewhere in Denver Colorado can you assist???”  Javier said let’s troll a little faster and see if we can see these guys.  thirty minutes later a second call came in and I told  el Capitan to pull the lines in and run in the direct we think the guys might be.

 About 15 minutes later the Marine helicopter flew by, but by his searching back and worth mode we know they hd not located the guys either.  Going out of sight and then returning some 15 minutes more the helicopter began to circle and decend a bit.  Captain Javier ran hard to that spot to find not 7 but 11 guys floating on whatever was debris there was.   As we approached the Marine rescue boat blew by us and started assisting divers into the boat …all except one lone diver about 100 yards to the South.

 He had a chartreuse colored float that haws waving but you could tell he was about out of gas as it looked like a spastic windshield wiper!!!  I told the Capt. to get run over to this single diver and Javi (Javier’s son) and I threw him a life ring to pull him to the boat.

The heck of it was these 11 guys were in a very small boat,  25 miles offshore, NO radio, NO life jackets and were CHUMMING SHARKS and videoing them!!!

The was a Thursday afternoon.  Friday night was the Grand Opening of the Grand SolMar Lands End Resort and Spa.  Dignitatiroes and politicians from all over Baja and Mexico attended as well as Senior Luis Bulnes who passed away later that year (2011).  At the party, Jean Luis Magron, the Grand Solmar’s manager introduced me to an Admiral in the Mexican Navy and the thank you’s and hugs went all around!!!  Some 30 minutes later a reporter from Televis (the CNN of Mexico) interviewed me for a segment that was broadcast nation wide in Mexico that next Monday. The following Sunday a Mary and I were given a tour of the Marine base in Cabo and a 45 minute ride on one of the patrol boats as a thank you for helping out.  What a trip!!! See the Televisa Video below!

Now a few years later Jessica is about to shatter the 8lb mark with two Striped Marlin off Cabo San Lucas in the typical 140-150lb range and even thought she was really sick on the boat she kept a good attitude and did a great job on the rod and reel.

Next biggest fish for Jess will have to be a BIGGER Marlin or tuna!!!  See the snapshot video below and tune into NBC Sports Network this Thursday 1/5/2012 to see Jessica in action!  Hope you enjoy!  Dave

Well it is sort of Premiering on NBC SPorts. Technically the Versus Channel doesn’t change its name to NBC Sports until January 2, 2012 but we are all using NBC graphics and protocols for the programming so we a going with it. I am very excited to bring you all the best of Baja this Season on Fish the Baja. It will be the “Year of the Marlin” …perhaps not in China but for sure in the Baja. It seems as though we couldn’t get away from the Striped Marlin this Season which had eluded us in Season 1, what we call the “Year of the Rooster” (that almost sounds Chinese!!!) Anyway we begin with a unique show with some very nice Snook and then on to the Marlin. Hope you enjoy the show and thanks for watching! Dave

My last trip to Baja we “raised” about 25 to 30 fish per day to the teasers for a chance at hooking up with the fly rod.  Tell me where else on the planet you can do this within a few hours flight of a majority of the American population …I’m not sure it exists!

This past Spring my daughter Jessica landed her first Striper with the Minerva Fleet just a few miles offshore.  These are great first time Billfish.  Not too long of a fight, not too large of tackle and spectacular acrobatic jumps make for a wonderful and addictive introduction! So if landing a Marlin is on your bucket list get yourself to Baja and hook up with a Striped Marlin.

The season for Stripers is year round and if you decide to go in the fall, October, November or December, you have a shot at a big Blue or Black Marlin that make there way to the fertile grounds off Cabo San Lucas.  One Blue Marlin caught of Baja just recently tipped the scales at 1,213 pounds so hit the gym before you go!!!

Are you ready to go Marlin fishing in Baja?  How many fish are in the foto below???