Sport fishermen launching pangas with four wheel drive trucks...

Much San Felipe's livlihood is dependent upon tourism, and one of the main reasons that tourists come to San Felipe is to sample all of the wonderful attractions tht the Sea of Cortez has to offer. Among the attractions, sport fishing has to be near the top-billing spot.

Photo: Pangas are lined up on the beach, near the malecón, as far as you can see. San Felipe's fish taco row is to the right of the photo, along Paseo del Mar.

As you look at the beautiful Sea of Cortez, just over the malecon wall, you will see, sitting on the sandy beach, pangas, literally dozens of them. If you're not familiar with what a panga is, it's a long, rather narrow wooden boat that the locals use for fishing. The boats are about 20 feet long and about 4 feet wide, with a sharp, pointed, upraised bow, and a squared-off stern to accommodate a outboard motor. Many of the locals make their living by either renting out their boats, or taking tourists on a boat ride or a fishing trip. You can tell that many of these boats are used for fishing, as they have tackle, floats, nets and other gear associated with fishing. When not in use, the boats are kept, unattended, on the beach, way above the high tide. Since there is a 61-foot differential between high and low tide at San Felipe and the fact that the beach slopes very gently towards the sea, there can be quite a distance, maybe 100 yards, between high and low tides.

Photo: These fishermen are taking a break in the shade, and are getting a chance to sort out their nets.

Because of the huge tidal difference, the locals have developed a very unique way to launch their pangas. It's a 2-man process that involves the use of specially-equipped four-wheel drive pickups. Its easy to see that the trucks spend a lot of time in, and near salt water, as most of them are rusty and very beat-up. However, since I'm an avid four-wheeler, I can appreciate these trucks, 'cause they're built, and they're built well. All are lifted, equipped with lockers, and oversized tires. They have to, as they're driven into the water and on the wet sand; a very harsh environment. The trucks have a large bar mounted on the back that servers two purposes: As an elevated platform to aid in launching the panga, and as a place to store fishing gear.

Photo: This how commercial fishermen launch a panga: It's dragged out into the water, until the truck is up to the rocker panels in salt water.

Photo: Next, the boat is released from the truck; hopefully the water is deep enough so the boat floats.

Photo: The truck backs up to the boat, and fishing tackle and other gear is transferred from the truck to the panga.

Photo: The truck makes its way to the beach. Two guys are in the boat, and the other guy takes the truck back to the beach, ready to help launch another boat.

To launch a boat, one guy attaches a rope, or a tow strap, to the bow of the boat, and the other end to the elevated bar on the back of the truck. The guy then jumps into the boat, and his buddy in the truck pulls the boat across the sand and up to the water's edge. The "launcher" then slips on a pair of rubber boots and guides the boat into the water, as the driver of the truck is pulling it to the water. Most of the time, to insure a successful launch, the truck must be driven into the water, sometimes as deep as the rocker panels.

Photo: Trucks and pangas on the beach. Photos clearly shows rack on Ford truck in the foreground used to launch the boats. El Macharro rises in the center background of the photo.

This technique is also used to turn a boat around. I noticed that they keep a constant watch for waves that could swamp the truck and spell disaster. Many times they will have a crew of three or more guys, as the more help, the easier it is to get the job done. These guys really have this operation perfected to a fine art and it's really interesting to watch them launch their boats.

Photo: Fishermen relax as Captain Ramón, who gives pleasure rides behind his boat to tourists, scans the beach for another customer.

To retrieve a boat from the water, it's pretty much the reverse of launching the boat, as the boat comes as close to the beach as it can come, a guy jumps out and attaches a tow strap from to boat to the rack on the back of the truck. The truck then drags the boat up on the beach, above the high tide mark.

Photo: Next to the waters edge, this fisherman opens the hood of his Bronco to make a minor repair or two.

It's quite entertaining watching the fishermen launch and retrieve their boats using this method. As interesting as this method of boat launching is, it isn't unique to San Felipe, as a couple of years ago, when I was visiting the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, I observed commercial fisherman at Playa Bagdad, doing pretty much the same thing.

Photo: Everybody deserves to relax, especially if you've been hard at work launching and retrieving boats since sunrise. Late in the afternoon, this fisherman takes a nap, in the shade of his truck.

When the fishermen aren't using their trucks to launch or retrieve their pangas, it's not unusual to see them driving up and down the streets of San Felipe with several guys in the bed of the truck, and it's not unusual for all of them to be enjoy cold beers, as they cruise the streets of town. Nobody seems to care, as I noticed many municipal police officers waving at the fishermen while they were driving by, enjoying their cold beers.

Photo: Early morning, Thursday, October 2, 2008 finds these fisherman preparing to launch their panga, as the sun rises over the Sea of Cortez.

San Felipe, and Baja California are known to foster a laid-back, casual atmosphere, which is another of the thousands of reasons I can think of why I love to visit San Felipe.

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