Cabo, Baja, Loreto…is it safe?
- This topic has 36 replies, 24 voices, and was last updated May 8, 2009 at 11:14 am by
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My son and I want to go fishing in Mexico this summer….. Baja to be specific. He saw “Running down the Man” and wants to chase the roosters 🙂
After reading this post, I would say watch the video again and go to the Keys for some tapon and bones 😮
I have lived four hours from the border for the better part of the last decade. Â In my experience as a U.S. citizen, I’ve never really had to worry about the drug dealers, it’s the Federales, that have caused us grief. Â
When living so close to Mexico, you hear dozens of stories, each worse then the next. Â The main theme is always American gets pulled over by Mexican Police Officer, then extorted or held for ransom. Â I’ve never once heard or witnessed a story of Mexican Drug Dealer doing anything to an American other than selling. Â So instead of recanting second-hand rumor, here is what I’ve experienced.
Twice, I’ve been pulled over while driving and lead to an ATM- since college. Both incidents, were Mexican Police. Â
Once while in San Felipe
Well, I had been thinking about making this trip with a buddy for a couple years.
Not only are there nightly gun battles akin to Fallujah on a Saturday night, they have now started kidnapping Americans. Not just rich Americans, Any American that they think somebody would care enough about to raise some major cash. A couple of them have been murdered after the ransom was paid.
Does,’t really sound like a place I want to go unarmed. Since you cannot legally carry even a pocket knife in Old Mexico, I think I’ll pass.
Hell, there are over 10 million people living the good life here that have passed through that region, just ask them about “The Man” Â
The bottom line is, Mexico becoming increasingly dangerous. I often work very close to the border and I am becoming very disturbed at the trends in violence, kidnapping, murder, extortion, etc.
Stay out of Tijuana, there are no roosters there anyway.
I would think the chances of finding trouble down on the beach there are just as likely as here in the US.
Almost all the violence is in the border area, in Tijuana, if you are going to Cabo you’d most likely fly there. Though it’s often much cheaper to fly there from Tijuana, you could simply fly past it. Try garybulla.com, he takes numerous groups down to the cape every year.
Personally, living within sight of Mexico, and having gone there hundreds of times in my younger days, I wouldn’t go to Tijuana nowadays. But, drive through to fish in Baja, yes, probably.
I’ve got a horror story about a family trip to puerto vallarta…the long and short of it involved me being extorted by some club owners and federales (accused of stealing 3 bottles of rum). Â At one point I was handcuffed w/ a AK-47 in my back while on my knees in the back of their truck. Â
A couple things that saved me were…1) I hadn’t gotten to my normal drunken state, YET. Â 2) My sister was there w/ an ATM card. Â 3) When they searched me they found a military ID and some credit cards…not sure which was more Notable? Â
It wasn’t the best trip I’ve ever had. Â What I would say is stay in you resort at night, don’t get out of control drunk, and make sure to have your ATM cards w/ you at all times.
On the fishing note did catch a 20lb Mahi and one 10lb black tuna on a fly….had a shot at a sail fish but blew it. Â :-[
Lee
P.s.
if you ever get to P.V. don’t got to Club 69Safety is an illusion.
I think Carter makes an interesting point. Chances of something negative happening are probably small. However, if you are constantly looking over your shoulder and wondering what is around the next bend….your trip will be miserable.
If you are carefree and happy-go-lucky….chances are you’ll emerge unscathed and have a blast.
Personally, I’m thinking it’s just not worth it at this point in time.
I don’t know how much Baja has changed in a year and a half, but when we were fishing for Roosters down there, we had no trouble whatsoever.
www.mattjonesphotography.com
The old saying “Ignorance is bliss” could come into play here for sure.
I have become aware of what’s going on down in the part of the world and I don’t intend on being a statistic.
As for the safety is an illusion statement that is somewhat true. We can never be completely safe everywhere. No sence tempting fate as far as I am concerned.
I am the sort of guy that is well versed in taking care of myself and my family. Mexico doesn’t allow me the use or even the posession of the tools that one needs to effectively protect yourself i.e. Glock – H7K S&W, Cold Steel ect..
Most of the time when I fish and hunt I am not concerned at all about other people’s actions and how they will effect me. On occasion, I legally cary one of my Glocks and I always have a good knife in my posession while out in wild places.
If Mexico allowed me to have a fighting chance in this envrionment, I might consider it. As things stand, it isn’t going to happen.
I’m sorry, but I completely disagree with those of you who are saying that Baja is unsafe.
www.mattjonesphotography.com
Baja is a great place and I would check out Punta Colorado area! Yeah Tom bie goes down quite a bit he was down that way in Oct and got into some nice Dorado’s and a few roooooosters!
Good luck!
I’ve been to Cancun two years ago but did not feel unsafe at any time. The resort owner did tell us to avoid a sertain neighborhood and so we did.
It seems the bad experiences all involve some degree of partying ( wich i like too, but….). So if you stay away from those places and Tijuana you should be safer.
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