Matching the Sardina and Mullet in Baja

There is not a lot of writing out there on what flies are best to bring down to Baja-and now I realize why. In Baja the 2 major food sources for the Roosterfish as well as other targets are the sardinas and mullet. Sounds easy. The problems that occur become apparent quick.

First of all the size of the baitfish schools of sardinas that are close in to the beach change almost every week. Second, Mullet are huge- like the size of reasonable size 10-15 inch trout here. It’s not hard to tie a fly that big and imitate a mullet-it is difficult to cast a fly that big from the beach with a head wind and the tide coming in and out.

The sardinas are much easier to cast, but larger Roosterfish key in on the larger baitfish, we saw them often crashing on large schools of Jack Crevalle. We found the best flies from the beach to be small mullet patterns up to about 6 inches- larger if you can throw it. Best flies from the boat were whatever baitfish schools the roosterfish where chasing around or whatever sized fish they were teased in with. For the week we were there about a 2-3 inch sardina pattern was the magic.