Mexico’s Sardine Run Trip Report 2024

Magdalena Bay, Mexico
December 9 - 15, 2024

 December 10, 2024 - Day One

The days start early here. We always leave as the sun is rising. The early morning light here in Mag Bay is so breathtakingly beautiful… it would be a sin not too!

We headed out today into swelly, windy seas. While it wasn’t terrible, it certainly wasn’t ideal either.

There’s so much life in Mag Bay right now—it’s one of the many reasons I love this place.

As soon as we hit the open ocean, we spotted a pair of humpback whales. Naturally, we paused to take in the moment. One of the whales made a massive breach right by our boat. Sadly, I didn’t have my camera on so I missed, but it was really nice to see.

After the whales, we moved on in search of marlin. It didn’t take long. We could see the big yacht fishing boats in the distance and we headed that way.

The ocean was teeming with predators: dolphins, reports of massive schools of skipjack tuna swirling beneath the surface, and birds—so many birds. Frigates and pelicans filled the sky, diving and circling in a frenzy.

It was an incredible scene.

We quickly found several baitballs, but we weren’t alone. Fishing boats, and other dive pangas dotted the horizon, all drawn here by the same spectacle of life.

We went searching for a good baitball. There was a lot of action, but all of them were running hard, and those encounters are very short. We wanted a static baitball.

It took a while but we finally found one.

Our guests jumped in on a static baitball, eager to witness the action. Unfortunately, two other boats joined in as well, crowding the scene. Despite the increased activity in the water, the marlin continued to feed. But with a lot of people in the water, it didn’t take long for the marlin to abandon the baitball, seeking refuge from the commotion.

Our guests decided to exit the water, except for James, he stayed in. A new boat of divers arrived and jumped in with James.

James was happy he stayed, the moment the group was out, the marlin returned to the baitball, and the show began again. James had a front-row seat to the action, capturing some some really nice images.

I chose not to jump in today, giving our guests the chance to fully enjoy the experience. The trip had just started and there would be more opportunities later in the day, and during the week.

The rest of the afternoon offered little activity, despite the abundance of predators around us. The swells were just too hard to follow the action properly, and it was a still long bumpy ride back to San Carlos, so we called it a day.

Tomorrow’s weather report looks good, and I’m confident it will be a much better day.

Baja never disappoints.

December 11, 2024 - Day Two

The morning light was epic, and such a great way to start the day.

What a difference a day makes! The wind had died, leaving us with calm seas, under a beautiful, sunny sky.

The cold still bit at our skin, but the dreamy conditions were a reminder of why Baja holds a special place in my heart.

As we reached the open ocean, the excitement built in the air. We knew where to go, directly to the marlin hotspot, and anticipation buzzed through the group. We got a taste of it yesterday and with todays conditions… we were all on fire.

Along the way, we encountered over 15 humpback whales, though we didn’t stop, their presence added to the magic of the journey.

Today was all about baitballs, and they did not disappoint. The ocean was alive, brimming with activity. Static baitballs seemed to pop up everywhere, even in places where the birds hadn’t gathered to feed.

The absence of our avian markers made finding the baitballs even more magical, as if the ocean itself was offering up its treasures.

However, I do admit that we do have help finding baitballs without birds—the sea lions helped us find the baitballs as well. These agile sea dogs dance and weave effortlessly around the baitballs, their movements almost hypnotic. But their enthusiasm wasn’t always welcome.

The sea lions are very territorial.

The sea lions often scared off the marlin, chasing them away from the baitball. Sometimes, they even mock-charged us divers, blowing streams of bubbles at us. The ocean was so alive, brimming with activity.

Every dive was a spectacle, and the energy was infectious. We couldn’t get enough of being in the water, surrounded by the chaos of life and death. It really is a dance of life.

On our final baitball of the day, only two of us got in—which showed the craziness of incredible encounters everyone had already experienced.

The last dive felt intimate, almost private. The marlin’s sleek bodies cut through the water with their unique precision, they are such elegant predators. These fish and these moments are the kind of memories that stick deep into your soul.

It was such a good day.

Tomorrow’s weather promises to be even better, and I can’t wait to see what the ocean has in store for us.

Baja never fails to surprise and inspire.

December 12, 2024 - Day Three

The day began with perfect conditions: flat, calm seas and no wind. The sky promised lots of sunshine today, we had clouds but not a lot—it was going to be a beautiful day at sea.

Our morning started with a cool encounter; a super pod of common dolphins. It was the same pod we had seen yesterday, their energy just as captivating as before.

Not long after, we found our first static baitball of the day. We shared it with another boat, but unfortunately, the baitball didn’t last long.

The area seemed a bit slow this morning, so we decided to move closer to the island to check out some mobula rays. The water there was green and cold, and the group managed just one jump before we moved on.

Returning to open waters, we searched for more baitballs and eventually found one. This time, we shared it with my buddy Mathias and his group. Sea lions dominated this baitball, their playful and aggressive antics keeping the marlin at bay.

Despite their best efforts, the sea lions were the stars of the show, entertaining us with their circus movements as they chased the marlin away.

As the day wound down, we were headed back when our captain Gabino’s fishing buddys radioed to let us know that they had a mola mola by their boat. We raced over, along with four other boats that heard the report over the radio.

For a brief moment, it was a bit of a chaotic scene, but thankfully, the mola was patient. No one touched it, and everyone respected its space. The mola stayed with us the entire time, gifting us incredible opportunities to photograph and film this big, goofy fish.

Molas are such fascinating creatures—beautiful, weird, and wacky all at once. For our group, this was a dream encounter. It was especially meaningful for Scott, who had the mola mola on his bucket list. Seeing the joy and awe on everyone’s faces was unforgettable.

Nature has a way of surprising us when we least expect it, and today was a perfect example of that.

By the end of the day, the skies had shifted from cloudless to thick with cloud cover, but the weather held. Here’s hoping for another good weather day tomorrow.

What a wonderful day.

December 13, 2024 - Day Four

The day began with a thick morning fog blanketing the bay. Thankfully, as we ventured out, we left the fog behind and found ourselves in a clear and beautiful ocean.

As soon as we left the bay, we encountered a pod of Pacific white-sided dolphins! Known for being quite friendly, the pod didn’t disappoint.

A few of us resisted the temptation to stay warm and jumped in with them. I’ve always wanted to photograph this species underwater, and today, a few curious souls from the pod came in close to say hello.

These beautiful animals are a photographer’s dream, and I’m hoping a few of the images turn out ok.

From there, we headed farther out to sea in search of baitballs.

Conditions were absolutely perfect—the calm before the wind returns tomorrow and the seas get lumpy again.

Our first baitball of the day featured sea lions, a few marlin, and some yellowfin tuna. Watching these animals in action is always awe-inspiring, damn they are fast.

The speed of the yellowfin and marlin was incredible, but the sea lions dominated the scene, keeping everything—including us divers—at bay. After about half an hour, the sea lions finally managed to get the baitball running again, and the yellowfin and marlin quickly finished it off.

We found another baitball shortly after, filled with the same mix of predators, including bottlenose dolphins. This one was a runner, moving too fast for us, so we left it behind to search for more wildlife.

We ended the day at a sea lion colony, and it was absolutely on fire! Over 100 (possibly 200) sea lions surrounded us, all eager to interact. It was pure magic. Their energy was contagious, and so cute… they were as curious about us as we were about them. I had heard about this spot before but had never visited until now.

What a shame I’d missed out on this colony for so long—it was truly incredible.

Tomorrow marks the final day of our trip. We’ll start the morning exploring the mangroves in search of coyotes.

Here’s hoping for another unforgettable experience.

December 14, 2024 - Final Day

Weather was planning to turn and get bad today, so we decided to stay in the bay and dedicate our final day to searching for coyotes. Baja is home to an extremely healthy coyote population, thanks to the abundance of prey. These clever animals thrive not only on terrestrial hunting but also by scavenging during low tide, where they’ve mastered the art of catching fish, shellfish, and even crabs along the shoreline.

Our morning began in the mangroves and dunes, scanning for any signs of these desert dogs. Tracks crisscrossed the sand, evidence of their activity, but the coyotes themselves remained elusive. It was a quiet, almost meditative start to the day, as we took in the unique beauty of Baja’s coastal ecosystem, with its interplay of land and sea.

Determined to see these predators, we headed to another location recommended by my buddy George, a local fisherman. Just the day before, he had reported seeing over fifty coyotes along the shoreline during low tide. Curious to see if his story held any truth, we waited for the tide to recede.

As the waters pulled back, the shoreline came alive. By the time low tide peaked, we had encountered over 20 coyotes actively hunting along the water’s edge.

Their personalities varied widely, adding depth to the experience. Some were incredibly shy, bolting back to the safety of the dunes the moment they noticed our boat. Others, though still wary, remained on the beach and continued foraging through the seaweed along the shoreline.

Their cautious movements and keen awareness of their surroundings gave us a glimpse into their adaptability and resilience. It was a so awesome to watch them move along the shoreline, their sharp eyes scanning the sand for movement and smells.

While George’s count of fifty remained a fisherman’s tale for now, 20 coyotes were more than enough to leave us smiling. Who knows what the next hour might have brought if we could have stayed longer?

Photographing the coyotes was an exciting challenge, especially from the boat. We tried a few land shots, but the coyotes were extremely shy and moved into the safety of the dunes to hide. These moments feel like nature’s theater at its finest… and we get front row seats.

This trip, it far exceeded all our expectations. While we missed seeing Bryde’s whales feeding on the baitballs, it’s a perfect excuse to return next season.

Each day brought something special and unexpected, making this one of my most memorable seasons in Magdalena Bay.

Ending our 2024 wildlife season on such an incredible high note feels amazing. The wildlife, the encounters, and the camaraderie of this week were truly unforgettable.

Until next year!

To Learn More about next season’s trip, please visit our sardine run trip page: