Greetings Fishing Friends!
This itinerary contains three crucial sections. Please review carefully. 1. Prepare for travel, 2. Travel day instructions, 3. What to expect at Cedros Island. Legal documents & safety requirements in red.
1. Prepare for Travel
Buy Mexican fishing license. You will need a Mexican fishing license in advance of your trip.
- You can buy it at tackle stores around San Diego harbor such as Fisherman’s Landing.
- You can also buy it online. This site is easiest to use: http://Mexpermits.com
Check your passport. Passport must be good for 6 months from travel date.
Obtain minors permission to travel (if applicable). Minor children must have copies of both parents’ passports and a signed consent letter from any non-attending parent stating their permission for a minor child to travel into Mexico with the name of the adult accompanying them.
Review Cross Border Express Requirements at this link.
- Buy your CBX ticket. This ticket allows you to cross the international border via the CBX
international point of entry to Mexico. It can be purchased in person at the CBX terminal or online.- Choose Loredo as your airport and Cedros is not listed.
- If you plan to park, be aware that the non-reserved spots can fill up
and they can be quite far from the terminal. See parking website.
Print Plane Boarding Passes: We will send you two boarding passes (outbound and return) as soon
as we get them from the charter company, 3-5 days before your flight.
Packing Tips
Do not bring Marijuana or any products containing cannabis or THC into Mexico. Medical marijuana cards are NOT valid in Mexico, and it’s illegal to cross the border with any type of cannabis products. Also now illegal in Mexico: ALL vaping devices, including tobacco. You may be subject to search by military personnel, border patrol, and/or drug-sniffing dogs.
Download our packing checklist.
Pack and weigh your gear:
- Please bring 2 lightweight cooler bags to bring your fish home.
- New weight limit: 65 lbs total per person (luggage + fish), based on a full plane of 12 anglers.
- Review our pro lists of recommended Cedros fishing gear to bring.
- Suggested Breakdown: 5 lbs. of clothes and personal items, 20 lbs. for fishing gear. If you choose wisely, this should be sufficient. The total amount of fish and luggage you can bring home is about 60 lbs. Weight is subject to change at the pilot’s discretion for safety reasons.
- Tips to reduce weight: We will provide sinkers, so you don’t have to pack those. We have Seeker
rods that are free for you to use. Our pro lists of recommended Cedros gear will help bring you in underweight with everything else you need. - Recent fishing reports will tell you what species are biting and on what.
- Please use soft bags (backpacks or duffels), which can be accommodated easily in the hold. Small, lightweight, hard-sided tackle boxes are also fine.
Pesos: COA accepts dollars on the island, and our staff will be happy to accept either for tips. You will want some form of cash since there are no ATMs on the island. Businesses in town accept dollars, but you will get a better value for pesos.
2. Travel Day Instructions
Check to make sure you have all required documents listed above.
Arrive at the Cross Border Xpress terminal (CBX) by 5 am. 2745 Otay Pacific Drive, San Diego, CA 92154.
Come early if you are parking, because it can be a long walk to the terminal. Reservations recommended. Once inside it can take 30-45 minutes to complete your crossing, depending on how long it takes you to walk across the bridge and clear customs.
Before you enter the CBX terminal, please text 619-793-5419 to let us know you’ve
arrived.
- Inside the terminal, walk past the airline counters toward the back corner of the building. If you need to buy your CBX ticket, there will be kiosks for that.
- Once you have your CBX ticket, proceed toward the CBX bridge entrance at the back corner of the terminal. You can scan your CBX ticket, but you will not be able to scan your boarding pass since you are traveling on a private flight. Tell the agent you are on a private flight (vuelo privado), show them your boarding pass, and they will let you through.
- Follow the signs for the Tijuana airport as you walk across the bridge.
- When you arrive in the Tijuana Airport CBX terminal pass the airline counters, go downstairs, and look for Manuel, our bi-lingual airport travel coordinator. He will meet you near the exit doors of the CBX terminal. You should arrive no later than 6:30 a.m. If you arrive earlier, wait for Manuel and the other passengers to arrive.
3. Cedros Island Stay
You will be met at the airport by our staff and taken to Baja Magic Lodge, our private oceanfront lodge. Melanie and Jose are the owners, and one of them will usually be at the lodge during the season. Mike, our guest services manager, is available to help with anything you need. If you have any questions or concerns, please let one of them know immediately so we can assist you.
At the lodge, you will drop off your luggage and get ready to fish. The cooks will have a lunch of quesadillas and guacamole ready for you. If you would like something different, let us know ahead of time, and we’ll have it ready. As soon as you eat and get your gear ready, you can go out to fish.
BE SURE TO CARRY YOUR FISHING LICENSE ON THE BOATS WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES.
Baja Magic Lodge:
Meals:
- We offer full hot breakfast, lunch to go on boats or at the lodge, 3-course dinner, and snacks. Meals are served family-style but are customizable at your request.
- Dinner is at about 6:00-6:30, after everyone is back from fishing. It usually includes soup, an entree, veggies or a salad, and dessert. Appetizers are available on request.
- Special diets (diabetic, gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, etc.) please notify us in advance of your trip as much of our food is flown in.)
- The kitchen is always open for our clients. We pride ourselves on feeding our clients well. Our staff is friendly and helpful. If you need more food or different food at any time, please let us know.
- If you would like the cooks to prepare any of your fish, just ask the dock staff to send it to the kitchen and let them know how you want it prepared. Options include sashimi style with soy and wasabi, ceviche, fried, or barbecued.
Days 2-5: You can fish up to 10 hours (6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) each full day you’re on the island. If you want to fish less than that, just ask your driver to bring you in when you’re ready. You can take a siesta and go back out again. It’s up to you and the others in your panga boat. The pangeros are local, and most do not speak English. They are very experienced and know what to do, but if you have trouble communicating, let us know, and we will help.
Tipping: Tips are shared among several groups:
- Lodge staff: the people who cook and clean and perform maintenance.
- Dock staff: the guys who clean and package fish and drive you back and forth to the dock and airport.
- Pangero: the captain of your boat
Here are the suggested tips:
- Suggestion based on the many hours they work daily.
- $100-$200 daily per person for the boat captain
- $60-$120 for the fish processing/fuel for the trip.
- $60-$120 for the lodge/kitchen staff for the trip.
- Please note: If you are short on cash, we can charge the tips on your credit card. Our hardworking staff thanks you!
Of course, you can always leave more if you appreciate the service. Our hardworking staff thanks you!
Please note: If you are short on cash, we can charge the tips on your credit card.Give Away
Did you know that every year we give away a 50% discount on a future trip? To enter, submit pictures or short videos of the fish you caught on a COA trip this season, with the following details:
- Dates of your trip
- What fish you caught
- What bait and gear you used
Send details to Melanie’s email. We will use this info in reports on our blog and Facebook page. At the end of this season, we will put the names of everyone who submitted a report in a hat and do a drawing. Winner announced at the end of the year.
Our Phone Numbers
- Cedros Outdoor Adventures: (619) 793-5419 (for calls from U.S. This rings into the main office.)
Call us if you have any questions or concerns; otherwise, have a great trip!