Each fall, an upwelling of nutrient-rich waters washes the west-central coast of Mexico's Baja Peninsula. This flowing buffet nurtures millions of small baitfish such as Spanish sardines and tinker mackerel, and creates one of the ocean's most spectacular shows of prey and predation. Sleek striped marlin swoop in from the blue like an aquatic wolf pack. The tiny fish have nowhere to hide, and form into tight bunches known as bait balls in hopes of finding safety in numbers.
The marlin dart and circle with dorsal fins raised, forcing the baitfish into ever-tighter formations. Then, when the time is right, a marlin will charge through the heart of the ball with their spear-like bills flashing. And marlin aren't the baitfish's only problem. Sea lions join the hunt, birds mount an aerial attack as the baitfish are forced to the surface, and even whales may show up to claim their share of the prize.
This action takes place in the waters of Magdalena Bay, a body of water that is also famous as a seasonal breeding ground for gray whales. In the fall of 2019, expedition leader Amos Nachom of BigAnimals Global Expeditions lead a group to Magdalena Bay to photograph striped marlin. This type of encounter is usually observed while snorkeling or free diving, but on this trip, Amos had the boat carry small “pony” air tanks, which allowed the expedition members to submerge to depths of 15 to 20 feet to get a bottom-up perspective on the feeding activity.
Amos is now planning for the 2020 season, with a limited number of spaces available through Caradonna Adventures. These six-day expeditions depart from La Paz, Mexico to the village of San Carlos on Magdalena Bay. Each expedition is limited to four guests to ensure ample in-water time and comfort aboard the boat.
To learn more and lock in one of the limited spaces for the 2020 expeditions, contact your Caradonna representative at 800-329-9989 or send a note to sales@caradonna.com.