Visit to the Port of Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico...

The name Puerto Peñsco translates into English something like "Rocky Port," as during the heyday of the shrimp fishing industry, the town was primarily a fishing village, and most of the local economy depended on the fishing boats that left the port, and fished the waters of the Sea of Cortéz. Those days seem to be only a pleasant memory, as the fishing industry is only a shadow of what it once was, and Puerto Peñsco has morphed into a tourist-oriented beach town, complete with high-rise condos, tacky souvenir stands, a beautiful malecón, and lots of Norteamericano tourists. But, its still a fishing town, and the port is still alive and well, and now is even host to a Mexican Coast Guard base. Naturally, I couldn't resist checking out the Port of Puerto Peñsco.

Left: Here's a shot looking north on dusty Calle Calles, as I walk toward the Port of Puerto Peñsco. Right: It's 0730 on Tuesday, March 13, 2007, and I photograph port workers on their way to work at the Port of Puerto Peñsco.

The port isn't hard to find, as the town of Puerto Peñsco embraces a beautiful, little bay, so I simply got up early on Tuesday, March 13, 2007, and hiked the half mile along dusty Calle Zapata to the Port of Puerto Peñsco.

Left: Like most Mexican towns, Puerto Peñsco seems to have more dogs as residents, then humans, as this resident finds the sidewalk quite interesting, as he investigates Calle Calles. Right: The sailing ship Rey del Mar looks like it belongs to Columbus...

The port is truly a multi-use port, as it contains a mixture of working boats, all sorts of fishing boats, including shrimp boats and trawlers, party boats, commercial sport fishing boats, private yachts, and the Mexican Coast Guard Base, which, unfortunately, I was not in a position to photograph their patrol boats. Darn! There are small dry docks, and boat yards, where boats are being overhauled, refitted and painted, staffed by workers who I observed walking to work, or riding bicycles to work along the dusty, sandy streets. Not to mention, there are many small restaurants perched on the bluffs above the bay, that specialize in fresh, locally caught, seafood.

Left: Titan rests in one of the many dry docks. Right: Yachts at anchor in the port. When you visit Puerto Peñsco, you'll note that pleasure and sportfishing boats outnumber commercial craft.

Left: Rusty commercial fishing boats lie at anchor in the Port of Puerto Peñsco, as commercial fishing has declined in the Sea of Cortéz in recent years. Right: This photo shows the channel in the port, with some of the many yachts anchored in the foreground, and the commercial fishing fleet in the background of the photo.

I found the Coast Guard base to be especially interesting, as at the time of my visit, the staff were arriving to work. I observed a Petty officer 3rd Class, I think, judging from his insignia on his left shirt sleeve, opening his belt and tucking in his uniform shirt before entering the base. That behavior would be severely frowned upon by the U.S. Navy (I can't speak from the Coast Guard, but after talking with a buddy of mine who served in the Coast Guard, the "Coasties" would hate it as well...) as you must be totally squared-away, and not tucking your shirt in at the last minute. Well, I suppose things are done a little different in Mexico, as aside from that apparent faux pas of tucking his shirt on the way to work, the Mexican "Coastie" petty officer appeared to pretty squared-away.

Left: Yachts at anchor. Right: Fiesta Cruiser was the largest vessel that I noted in the port, and she's probably about 40 meters in length, and probably about 100 tons. Note the sport fishing boat heading out into the gulf, as it disturbs the placid waters of the harbor.

Left: This Coast Guard petty officer tucks in his shirt before he enters the base, something that is NEVER observed by U.S. military personnel. Right: Coast Guard senior enlisted personnel enter the base. The layout of the military installation prevented me from photographing any of their boats; perhaps that's the intention of the Mexican Coast Guard.

I was glad that I had the opportunity to visit the Port of Puerto Peñsco, and to see what a truly working, port is like, along Mexico's beautiful Sea of Cortéz.

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