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Chinook

Dec 9, 2003, 10:06 AM

Post #1 of 10 (877 views)

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Need your opinions on spending my winters in Mexico

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Here is my situation and my dream. I recently retired from the military and now occupy myself by operating a seasonal fishing charter business here in Canada (actually been doing that in my Off Duty time for the last 19 years). I have traveled to Mexico in the winter months for the last 3 years in search of the perfect location to establish a business. I quickly came to the realize that I would not set up business anywhere in Mexico and work it myself as originally planned.

What I'm actually thinking about doing now is finding the perfect location where I could either drive down in an RV/Motorhome or rent a seasonal cabana and buy a super panga for personal use. I read in a few treads that in order to fish offshore or near shore you needed a Mexican captain is this a fact? What about if I have friends and family visiting on and off will I be able to take them fishing (not as a business)? What about recreational fishing licences? I'm looking for offshore or near shore species such as Maui Maui, Tuna, Billfish etc ...

Will I be able to do this for like 4 or 5 months a year on a regular tourist visa and on my pension? Any info on Rv/Motorhome parks etc... would be welcome! I would leave the panga in Mexico in my absence! I was thinking to maybe just bring a motor back and forth! Any suggestions there?

Any info and/or comments from people with actual experiencewould be welcome.

Carol Schmidt

Dec 10, 2003, 2:33 PM

Post #2 of 10 (809 views)

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Re: [Chinook] Need your opinions on spending my winters in Mexico

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My partner's son, retired from the military at 40, stays in a small RV in various places in Baja each winter and spends summers in San Diego. He surfs and fishes a lot, so I know it's possible, but I don't know the details. He's currently unavailable, someplace in Baja, so I can't ask him. I used to go fishing on the big fishing boats out of Ensenada when I lived in LA, and it was much cheaper than U.S. and Canadian fishing boats, and they arranged all the details.

Many of the inland lakes are polluted and you wouldn't want to fish in them. I'm guessing you're talking about ocean fishing.

There are quite a few RV parks throughout Mexico. We have two in San Miguel de Allende, though we're 500 miles from the ocean! Many towns and areas have very narrow roads and lots of topes (speed bumps) and rough roads, so some RVs wouldn't be suitable. Parking on streets in many areas would be impossible. But I've known RV groups which have caravaned even down to San Miguel quite successfully. How's your Spanish? Best to learn as much as you can ahead of time if you might encounter any foreseeable problems, which can abound in RVing. (I was a full-time RVer for 3 1/2 years in the States and Canada before moving here.)

Lots to read on this website--do a search on specific areas. I bet searching on "fishing" would yield a lot of info.

Carol Schmidt

mrchuck

Dec 11, 2003, 5:51 AM

Post #3 of 10 (772 views)

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Re: [Chinook] Need your opinions on spending my winters in Mexico

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To Chinook. The following will help you.

I live full time in Los Barriles, BCS. This is real close to the tip of the Baja Peninsula.

I own a super panga. I fish recreationally all the time. Here are the facts.

1) a seaworthy panga set-up will cost you from 8000 dollars to 30,000 dollars depending on how fancy or how new and nice it is.

2) Gasoline costs close to 3 dollars a gallon, and 30 gallons a day usage is normal. Do the math.

3) renting a panga with a mexican captain costs about 150 to 300 dollars a day. A cruiser is double this amt.

4) As a non-nacional, yeah a gringo, you won't be permitted to fish commercially. Only as a non-working investor. Only Mexican Nationals(citizens can fish commercially.

5) You must have a boat Matricula #, which is a permanent registration. You must have annual fishing licenses for you and your boat, and ANYONE who gets into your boat to fish with you.

6) Here on the "east cape" area of Baja, is the "world renowned" area for Dorado, Marlin. There are many Hotels here, and many mexican owned pangas that Mexicans work, to earn a living off of the "TOURISTS" that fly in or visit to fish. Quite an industry. You, as a foreigner, cannot work doing something that can be done by a Mexican citizen. Therefore, you won't be able to work legally. Immigration will pick you up"in a heartbeat", as the Mexicans will turn you in in a minute.

7) Weekly, there is a "gringo" that comes by here, and wants to work in Dreamland. Yeah, a beautiful beach, get a boat, catch fish, sell your fish, live and be happy. Sounds just like you.

8) Trailer parks cost about 400 dollars a month to live in. Your FM-T tourist visa is only good for 180 days. Most tourists staying the winter spend a minimum of 1000 dollars a month cash. Depending how often you eat out, drink, and buy gas for your boat.

9) Winter time, the seas are very rough and WINDY, and WET. NOT pristine and calm like the photos.

10) You CANNOT leave your boat, motorhome, in fact ANYTHING, in Mexico without having a yearly resident card , known as a FM-3. You must understand this.

SO, I am sorry to burst your dream idea, but the above are the hard facts, and if you break the laws here in Mexico, you will be treated harshly, as any law breaker will be.

My recommendation is for you to earn your money and retirement benefits in the USA, then COME to Mexico to live and enjoy them. This is exactly what 99% of us have done.

Now that you know the laws, COME ON DOWN!!!

So, drive your motorhome down HWY # 1 to Martin Verdugo's Trailer Park in Los Barriles, and join the others here, just like you. They fish, have friends here, winter here, all as tourists, or holders of FM-3's and leave their stuff legally here. We all would love to have you here as a fish chaser as we all are. Oh, lots of retired military, firemen, police are here living this way.

Saludos, mc

Chinook

Dec 11, 2003, 6:40 AM

Post #4 of 10 (763 views)

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Re: [Carol Schmidt] Need your opinions on spending my winters in Mexico

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Thank you Carol! Your input is greatly appreciated.

Chinook

Dec 11, 2003, 7:23 AM

Post #5 of 10 (755 views)

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Re: [mrchuck] Need your opinions on spending my winters in Mexico

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Thanks Mr Chuck for taking the time to reply with such meticulous attention to the content of my post. I appreciate it. I had to giggle when you said "burst my bubble", I'm very aware that I will not be able to fish commercially and I don't intend to do anything illegal. My first trip to Mexico was actually to San Jose del Cabo BCS and I did have the opportunity to charter out a few pangas and fished the East Cape and the Gordo Banks. What a trip that was in 10 foot swells - I loved it! ... well until I got 15 miles offshore and asked our Mexican Capt if he had life jackets, a VHF radio or any other type of safety gear! We did have a great time but "lessons learned" on my next chartered fish trip I inspected the panga myself and did not assume anything! LOL

A couple of things that I would like you to clarify if you know the answers:

Should I travel down as a tourist on an FMT. Could I bring my own outboard motor, fishing gear, sonar, GPS etc ... which I would bring back home every year? I was thinking to buy the panga on site and store it down there! That way I down I have to worry about trailering the boat back and forth!
So if that option is feasible (just buying a used seaworthy super panga without a motor and leaving the boat down there) I know that you mentioned 8 to 30k for a panga - is that the going rate for a bare boat without motor?
How are the roads down the Baja for a motorhome? Fuel availability on the way etc ...?

Glad to hear that lots of other retired policeman and miltary personel have found their way down to Mexico. Once again I don't intend to attempt working down in Mexico. I want to do my fishing charters here in Canada in the summer and put my feet up, do some fishing and snooze in a hammock in the winter!

Thanks Mr Chuck and keep in touch!

johnv

Dec 11, 2003, 7:34 AM

Post #6 of 10 (752 views)

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Re: [Chinook] Need your opinions on spending my winters in Mexico

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I have found some of the info posted previously to be different than my own findings. I seriously doubt that a well equipped panga would run $30,000 although you could spend this amount if you wanted to. Gasoline on the mainland is currently $2.05/ gal. I just got back from Zihuatanejo and chartered pangas ran $100 to $150 per 7 hour day for 1 to 4 people with equipment included. It is possible to have a charter boat business in Mexico but you would need a Mexican partner. Trailer parks can be found for less than $400/ mo. on the mainland. I was recently speaking with the owner of an 80 foot schooner who said that generally the Pacific coastal waters of Mexico are considered quite calm compared to other areas of the world.

Chinook

Dec 11, 2003, 7:48 AM

Post #7 of 10 (750 views)

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Re: [johnv] Need your opinions on spending my winters in Mexico

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Thanks John! I guess that is the advantage to use such forums to discuss issues and to obtain everyone's own experiences! Being originally from the North East coast of Canada and having traveled the world with the military (travel often not by choice - LOL) I quickly came to realize that everyone has its own definition of what rough waters means! Yes, I have heard about owning a business with Mexican partner(s) ... that might become an option once I have vacationed there a few winters and come to build the necessary trust, confidence and brought my Spanish to a respectable standard!

Thanks again for you input!

texmex

Dec 11, 2003, 9:23 AM

Post #8 of 10 (736 views)

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Re: [Chinook] Need your opinions on spending my winters in Mexico

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Go to www.rollinghomes.com and buy a copy of Camping Mexico,s Baja. and Mexican Camping if you have any intrest in the mainland.

mrchuck

Dec 12, 2003, 6:18 AM

Post #9 of 10 (687 views)

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Re: [Chinook] Need your opinions on spending my winters in Mexico

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Hi Chinook, I would get my FM-T at the border crossing in Tijuana. There is plenty of room to stop, park, then walk over to the Migra office, get your FM-T, then pay the 22 dollars for it at the bank office next to it. All are open 24 hours.

Remember, that one MUST pay and get the FM-T stamped paid!, to be legal while you drive.

A FM-T that is not paid for, is a worthless document.

Yes, you can bring down an outboard motor for use on your boat. But, the horsepower and size for a panga makes this a large, heavy package. New ones are subject to import tax.

The tiller style motors for a really basic panga is 55hp Evinrude, 2 stroke, weighing approx 225 pounds.

The super pangas, center console, remote controls, gages, T top, or bimini top, railings, electronics, etc, etc, usually have a motor of 90 hp, but a 115 hp 4 stroke is the recommended one.

There are a lot of 115hp 4 stroke Yamahas being used here. Also Hondas and a few Suzuki's.

My motor on my Super Panga "MrChuck" is a 130 hp Honda.

There are used super pangas for sale here right now. I see the ads on the various bulletin boards around town.

The avg price asking is 15,000 dollars.

A brand new Super Panga with a new 115 hp 4 stroke, all the accessories, boat trailer will cost 28,000 dollars. Many here have purchased this exact boat, so the price is current. Always the topic of conversation in the afternoons around a palapa bar amongst the fishermen.

A bare panga, used, like a commercial bait panga, tiller steered will cost approx 2500 dollars IF YOU CAN FIND ONE.

A used Super panga without a motor will cost around 7000 dollars , but extremely hard to find. The Hotel Palmas has 3 or 4 sitting behind their hotel, in sad shape, beat up, but maybe they would sell you one and you could re-furbish it yourself with a motor, eqpt, get any fiberglass repairs made here at the boat shop, and have a nice, used boat. The "Lupe Diaz panga factory" and general boat repairs is here in town, and they do great repairs in fiberglass.

When you decide to leave things here, then go get your Migra document FM-3 here in BCS.

Plenty of people here to help you do it.

Alex Verdugo has a nice storage yard here for boats, trailers, RV's etc.

Many now drive down in a car and store their things legally in Baja.

Once you drive down the Hwy 1 to here, in a Motorhome, or towing a boat,, you may just feel the same

You will have to be here personally to find what you want.

The Highway # 1 coming down the Baja Peninsula is in fine shape, but very narrow when comparing to USA style highways. Just drive slow, not at night, and pace yourself. There are presently a group of 16 motorhomes, 5th wheels, regular trailers, all from Vancouver,BC here in town, now. Kinda like the "old west" as they circle the wagons.

Gasoline is no problem. But the mileage you get will cause you to use a lot which gets expensive.

Stop in Chula Vista, Ca. at COSTCO and get pesos, or stop at atm's in Ensenada and get pesos. You will need a lot for gas.

Example, it is approx 1050 miles here from the USA border. A big motorhome will get approx 7 miles a gallon, maybe less. So 7 into 1050 is 150, which is the gallons you will burn 1 way. Cost/gal is approx 2.50 dollars a gal., x 150 is 375 dollars spent 1 way for gas only. A figure of 400 dollars 1 way is an acceptable figure.

I hear most travalers budget 1000 dollars for the driving round trip between here and the USA border in a motorhome.

Hope this info helps you in your plans.

Saludos, mc

Chinook

Dec 12, 2003, 8:27 AM

Post #10 of 10 (667 views)

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Re: [mrchuck] Need your opinions on spending my winters in Mexico

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Thank you very much for your detailed information! That's exactly the sort of details I was looking for. I hope to join you and other fishermen for those afternoon conversation under the palapas. If everything goes as plan I'm hoping to be in a position to fly down in the spring in order to finalize my plans for next fall. Sounds like you have a nice little community set up down in Baja!

Thank again and I'll in touch!