Fishing

Shrimp Season Served on Ice
 Articles, Fishing

Shrimp Season Brings Flavor and Fortune to Baja California

Shrimp season is back, and Baja California is ready to cast its nets. The National Closed Season Committee just marked the calendar for the 2025–2026 season: September 29 for the Pacific, and October 14 for the Gulf of California. Get your cocktail sauce ready.

A Lifeline for Families

According to Alma Rosa García Juárez, head of Baja California’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Secretariat, this isn’t just about seafood. Shrimping keeps hundreds of families in San Felipe and the Upper Gulf afloat. From catching and cleaning, to packing and trucking, the shrimp trade is an entire ecosystem of jobs. Think of it as Baja’s pink gold rush.

Last Year’s Catch

In 2024, Baja’s fleet pulled in 94.25 tons of shrimp. Yes, the quarter ton counts, and no, we don’t know who weighed it. Small boats made the biggest splash, hauling 93.6 tons, while larger vessels collected the rest. The little guys clearly have game.

Baja Shrimp Season Is Back
#Fresh, icy, and straight from Baja’s coast — shrimp season has officially begun.

Science Behind the Season

These dates didn’t appear out of thin air. They came from research by the Institute for Sustainable Fisheries Research (IMIPAS), led by Víctor Manuel Vidal Espinoza. The science is simple: give the shrimp time to grow, then let fishermen have their turn before nature hits the reset button.

Programs with a Purpose

The state government, under Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda, is pushing support programs for fishermen. New boat engines, fleet upgrades, and the “Fishing with Heart” initiative all aim to keep the industry healthy. The name might sound like a Hallmark movie, but it means help for fishermen and their families.

Shrimp on the Menu

What does all this mean for the rest of us? More shrimp dishes on Baja tables. Whether grilled on the beach, simmered in garlic butter, or tucked into a taco, shrimp is as much culture as it is food. Bite into one, and you taste the ocean — salty, sweet, and slightly rebellious. Pair it with a crisp white wine or a cold Tecate, and you’ll understand why locals guard this season like a holiday.

Closing Time

Every party has an end. For shrimp season, that comes on March 3, 2026, when the ban begins again. Until then, expect busy docks, humming processing plants, and Baja’s coastal towns celebrating their annual shrimp boom.

For the fishermen, the season means survival. For the rest of us, it means flavor. Either way, Baja wins.

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Team Spirit and Big Catches
 Articles, Ensenada, Fishing

Big Fish, Big Prizes at Dos Mares Baja in Ensenada

ENSENADA – Ready to hook half a million pesos? The international sportfishing tournament Dos Mares Baja California drops anchor this weekend in Ensenada.

The Prize Catch

Organized by SEPESCA BC and the Baja Sportfishing Clubs Association, the event promises serious rewards:

  • 200,000 pesos for first place
  • 100,000 pesos for second
  • 60,000 pesos for third
  • 30,000 pesos for Catch and Release champions
  • 10,000 pesos each for best female, child, and captain

And yes, everyone gets a shot at raffles and jackpot categories for surface and bottom fish.

Species in the Spotlight

Surface hunters can bring in swordfish, bigeye tuna, yellowfin, marlin, dorado, wahoo, jacks, bonito, and roosterfish. Bottom contenders include halibut, lingcod, cabrilla, pargo, and cochito. In Catch and Release, only the heavy hitters count: gulf grouper, broomtail grouper, and giant sea bass.

Weekend Agenda

  • Friday, Aug. 29: Registration 2–6:30 pm at Monumento al Pescador. Opening and captain’s meeting at 7:15 pm.
  • Saturday, Aug. 30: Boats head out at 6 am. Weigh-in 2–4 pm at the malecón. Awards at 7:15 pm back at the monument.
Showoff at the Dock
#That grin says it all—worth every hour under the Baja sun.

Beyond the Rod and Reel

SEPESCA’s Alma Rosa García Juárez credits local maritime and port authorities, ASIPONA Ensenada, and CONAPESCA for making the event possible. The tournament also reels in tourism revenue. Hotels, restaurants, and tackle shops all get a welcome bump as anglers flood the city.

Why It Matters

The Dos Mares isn’t just about bragging rights and prize money. It’s about tradition, community, and proving to your friends that the one that got away actually didn’t.

For details, visit bajasport.fishing/dosmares or call +52 646 172 3080 (ext. 3264 and 3318).

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 Events, Fishing

Big Prizes and Big Fish Await at “Dos Mares Baja” Fishing Tournament Tomorrow!

Get your rods ready! The much-anticipated “Dos Mares Baja” International Sportfishing Tournament is dropping anchor this weekend in Bahía de los Ángeles, promising not just adventure on the water, but over 500,000 pesos in guaranteed prizes.

Organized under the administration of Governor Marina del Pilar Avila Olmeda and promoted by the Baja California Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture (SEPESCA BC), this event is reeling in teams from Southern California and across the state.

Alma Rosa García Juárez, head of SEPESCA BC, confirmed strong pre-registration numbers and emphasized the positive economic impact the tournament will have on the local community. Expect a weekend boost for hotels, restaurants, boat rental services, and more.

The prize pool includes:

  • 200,000 pesos for the team landing the heaviest surface or bottom fish
  • 100,000 pesos for second place
  • 60,000 pesos for third
  • 30,000 pesos for the top “Catch and Release” entry
  • 10,000 pesos each for the best female angler, best child angler, and best captain

And it doesn’t stop there. Add in the jackpot categories for surface and bottom fish, plus raffles featuring gear donated by sponsors during the awards night—it’s shaping up to be a fisherman’s dream.

Key dates to remember:

  • Friday, July 13: Registration, opening ceremony, and captain’s meeting
  • Saturday, July 14: The big fishing day, weigh-in, and awards ceremony

García Juárez also acknowledged the strong support from groups like the Baja California State Association of Fishing Clubs, CONAPESCA, the San Quintín municipal government, CONANP representatives in Bahía de los Ángeles, and local naval and maritime authorities.

For more information, visit https://bajasport.fishing or call +52 646 172 3080, extensions 3264 or 3318.

Whether you’re in it for the glory, the gear, or just the thrill of the catch—Bahía de los Ángeles is the place to be this weekend.

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