54 Days out. I've made a few tackle orders, and I'm starting to get my gear together. I'm still fishing, so that's a challenge, as I'm using some tackle and other items that I'll take with me, so I've got things in multiple different places. It's been warm here, so I'm hoping to fish deep into November, maybe into December.

 

I got a list of tackle to bring that I'm working through. My understanding is that it will be pre-spawn with maybe some starting to spawn as well. 8-20 feet of water. In my head I'm thinking swimbaits, spinnerbaits, jigs, squarebills, medium diving crankbaits, topwater. Any go-to baits down there that I might not be thinking of? My understanding is that the water has a decent amount of color to it, so will likely not be sight fishing (which I am 100% OK with). Also something I'm not planning on doing a lot of is flipping (correct me if I'm wrong). 

 

Do I need to get a fishing license for Mexico, and if so, how does that work?

So, I'm going in mid-February.  Just starting the purchasing cycle.  I've been to El Salto and Piccachos a few times, so I know the general drill for fishing in Mexico but really interested in recommendations for "must have" baits for Baccarac. I'm typically a braid-to-leader guy.  At home, that means 40lb braid to either a 12 or 15lb leader.  In Mexico, I have usually jumped that up to a 17lb leader.  What I'm seeing here suggests that Baccarac really requires a 20 or 25lb leader.  Agree?

 

So, thanks to all for keeping this thread going and any further suggestions you have.  

I sell a ton of the Megalodon 3/4 and 1oz jigs and spinnerbaits for Baccarac.

 

https://siebertoutdoors.com/products/ols/products/supreme-brush-jig-16d9f2a4-bc8f-477c-9883-a6a7d7719ac9

2 hours ago, rmcguirk said:

So, I'm going in mid-February.  Just starting the purchasing cycle.  I've been to El Salto and Piccachos a few times, so I know the general drill for fishing in Mexico but really interested in recommendations for "must have" baits for Baccarac. I'm typically a braid-to-leader guy.  At home, that means 40lb braid to either a 12 or 15lb leader.  In Mexico, I have usually jumped that up to a 17lb leader.  What I'm seeing here suggests that Baccarac really requires a 20 or 25lb leader.  Agree?

 

So, thanks to all for keeping this thread going and any further suggestions you have.  

I say Ditch the braid and go 20 lb FC.

 

56 minutes ago, Siebert Outdoors said:

I sell a ton of the Megalodon 3/4 and 1oz jigs and spinnerbaits for Baccarac.

 

https://siebertoutdoors.com/products/ols/products/supreme-brush-jig-16d9f2a4-bc8f-477c-9883-a6a7d7719ac9

^^^^^^^^

These 3/4 & 1 oz jigs are IMO really good for south of the border.

https://youtu.be/1to6ti-tlZY?si=ezRpg_4Jui_5nejF&t=698

A-Jay

7 hours ago, rmcguirk said:

So, I'm going in mid-February.  Just starting the purchasing cycle.  I've been to El Salto and Piccachos a few times, so I know the general drill for fishing in Mexico but really interested in recommendations for "must have" baits for Baccarac. I'm typically a braid-to-leader guy.  At home, that means 40lb braid to either a 12 or 15lb leader.  In Mexico, I have usually jumped that up to a 17lb leader.  What I'm seeing here suggests that Baccarac really requires a 20 or 25lb leader.  Agree?

 

So, thanks to all for keeping this thread going and any further suggestions you have.  

I second @A-Jay's comment about ditching the braid to leader. Or at least take a big spool of flouro with you so you can respool. I would have gone nuts fiddling with leaders and I'm comfy with the FG knot and used to be 100% braid to leader. The shop will have some mono for sure if you do decide to swap and haven't taken anything with. 

 

To your question about baits:

1) took this and was glad I did - Z-man Giant TRD. Kinda fishes like a 6" senko with a 7" senko diameter. If the bite is on you'll burn down bags of senkos way too fast. Probably hung off the back of one of the Siebert baccarac special jigs. 

2) what I really wish I would have taken - 6-8" soft swimbaits. I don't think they see much of the bigger stuff. And many of them being tilapia eaters they probably like big meals. Line-through would be my primary, with a couple of owner beast-style softies if you are swimming around wood. 

 

18 minutes ago, txchaser said:

I second @A-Jay's comment about ditching the braid to leader. Or at least take a big spool of flouro with you so you can respool. I would have gone nuts fiddling with leaders and I'm comfy with the FG knot and used to be 100% braid to leader. The shop will have some mono for sure if you do decide to swap and haven't taken anything with. 

 

To your question about baits:

1) took this and was glad I did - Z-man Giant TRD. Kinda fishes like a 6" senko with a 7" senko diameter. If the bite is on you'll burn down bags of senkos way too fast. Probably hung off the back of one of the Siebert baccarac special jigs. 

2) what I really wish I would have taken - 6-8" soft swimbaits. I don't think they see much of the bigger stuff. And many of them being tilapia eaters they probably like big meals. Line-through would be my primary, with a couple of owner beast-style softies if you are swimming around wood. 

 

Solid advice ~ 2 bags lasts a couple hundred bass in for us.

Makes a killer jig trailer 

A-Jay

22 hours ago, Siebert Outdoors said:

I sell a ton of the Megalodon 3/4 and 1oz jigs and spinnerbaits for Baccarac.

 

https://siebertoutdoors.com/products/ols/products/supreme-brush-jig-16d9f2a4-bc8f-477c-9883-a6a7d7719ac9

 

I would not be mad about a jig bite!

16 hours ago, txchaser said:

I second @A-Jay's comment about ditching the braid to leader. Or at least take a big spool of flouro with you so you can respool. I would have gone nuts fiddling with leaders and I'm comfy with the FG knot and used to be 100% braid to leader. The shop will have some mono for sure if you do decide to swap and haven't taken anything with. 

 

To your question about baits:

1) took this and was glad I did - Z-man Giant TRD. Kinda fishes like a 6" senko with a 7" senko diameter. If the bite is on you'll burn down bags of senkos way too fast. Probably hung off the back of one of the Siebert baccarac special jigs. 

2) what I really wish I would have taken - 6-8" soft swimbaits. I don't think they see much of the bigger stuff. And many of them being tilapia eaters they probably like big meals. Line-through would be my primary, with a couple of owner beast-style softies if you are swimming around wood. 

 

 

Giant TRD added to the list.

 

I already had 6" soft swimbaits on the list (I'm a fan!). I'll add some 8" baits to the list.

 

Did you need to do anything with a Mexico fishing license?

On 10/16/2025 at 1:29 PM, bacolmm said:

Did you need to do anything with a Mexico fishing license?

I don’t really recall, but if I did it was at the lodge. 

On 10/16/2025 at 2:29 PM, bacolmm said:

 

I would not be mad about a jig bite!

 

Giant TRD added to the list.

 

I already had 6" soft swimbaits on the list (I'm a fan!). I'll add some 8" baits to the list.

 

Did you need to do anything with a Mexico fishing license?

No the lodges have covered the license requirements with the governing body so your covered.

I haven't tried any yet, but I am hearing a lot of good reports from others in Mexico about a swimbait made by a company called Real Prey.  They are made of silicone and look similar to a Bacca Burrito.  They are supposed to be fairly durable.  I personally have had success with the Burrito, and know of others that swear by storm Wildeye swimbaits.   

Spoke to Big Fish Jeff today about our next (potential) trip ~

We've both had quite a bit on our plates recently.

However, it looks like it will be clearing up enough for us to at least place something on the docket.

All of this is still wildly tentative, but just for starters, we're shooting for this time next year.

I'm already packed.

More to follow.

A-Jay

 

On 10/15/2025 at 9:44 PM, A-Jay said:

Solid advice ~ 2 bags lasts a couple hundred bass in for us.

Makes a killer jig trailer 

A-Jay

25 Days To Go!

 

I ordered Giant TRD's, and I'm working on an order today that will include more Giant TRD's, along with other baits. I also ordered their ElaZtech swimbaits - DieZel Minnows.

 

I'd like to bring a bottle of Spike It Dip and Glow. What's the best way to do that, carry it on the plane with me?

3 hours ago, bacolmm said:

25 Days To Go!

 

I ordered Giant TRD's, and I'm working on an order today that will include more Giant TRD's, along with other baits. I also ordered their ElaZtech swimbaits - DieZel Minnows.

 

I'd like to bring a bottle of Spike It Dip and Glow. What's the best way to do that, carry it on the plane with me?

I do not bring the liquid dip.

Too much of a chance of a problem / mess.

I do bring and use spike it pens.

Much safer and seem just as effective.

I will say 'some' of the guides carry the dip in their boats.

Finally, the lake levels look promising at this point.

Good Luck & Safe Travels.

A-Jay

On 10/17/2025 at 11:58 PM, king fisher said:

I haven't tried any yet, but I am hearing a lot of good reports from others in Mexico about a swimbait made by a company called Real Prey.  They are made of silicone and look similar to a Bacca Burrito.  They are supposed to be fairly durable.  I personally have had success with the Burrito, and know of others that swear by storm Wildeye swimbaits.   

The 6” Cull Shad is my go-to swimbait. They’re already packed, along with an 8”. I much prefer a treble hook if I can get away it. I have seen a lot of big bass being caught on the single hook swimbaits. I am bringing a couple Burrito’s, a Herculez (maybe more than one if I can find another one or two), and some unrigged DieZel Minnows and Fat Impacts. I’m also bringing a Chad Shad, 7” Nessie, and an S-Waver. Packing is a challenge! Right now, I believe Swimbaits, Jigs, Spinnerbaits are going to be the deal. I’m bringing what I believe to be enough to fish these baits all day for the 5 days. I’m also bringing a bunch of stickbaits (mostly ElaZtech Giant TRD’s). That’s kind of my “Plan B” if the bite is tough, I should have enough of those for the 5 days. I’m not expecting other things like big ribbon tail worms, lizards, flukes, and maybe even crankbaits and jerkbaits, to be the main baits that I’m throwing most of every day. I’m bringing them, but not in big numbers. If they turn out to be the main deal, things could get interesting, especially with the soft plastics…

19 hours ago, A-Jay said:

I do not bring the liquid dip.

Too much of a chance of a problem / mess.

I do bring and use spike it pens.

Much safer and seem just as effective.

I will say 'some' of the guides carry the dip in their boats.

Finally, the lake levels look promising at this point.

Good Luck & Safe Travels.

A-Jay

Thanks, I'll go with the pens.

Your going to need some topwater baits too. 

13 hours ago, Dwight Hottle said:

Your going to need some topwater baits too. 

Thank you! I do have those packed as well. Super Spooks, Chug'n Spook, Rio Rico's, Choppos. I need to add some buzzbaits.

56 minutes ago, bacolmm said:

Thank you! I do have those packed as well. Super Spooks, Chug'n Spook, Rio Rico's, Choppos. I need to add some buzzbaits.

Don’t be afraid to throw a popping frog. My buddy caught a DD on one & lost another one when she jumped. I had a 9.5 lber on a bone yellow magic popper that same week. 

19 days out and I get a bit of a curveball. The trip has been moved from El Salto to Lake Baccarac. I'm told El Salto is typically closed for monsoon season and generally reopens in November. For some reason that has been pushed to Jan 1st. Pro Bass Adventures has lodges on both lakes, so they are able to accommodate the guest that were scheduled for El Salto at Lake Baccarac. Fine with me, Baccarac would have been my first choice anyway. Only downside is a longer shuttle ride from Mazatlan.

Lake B is a good alternative as it’s been on fire. I personally don’t buy the excuse they gave you. Something else is going on there. 

1 hour ago, Dwight Hottle said:

Lake B is a good alternative as it’s been on fire. I personally don’t buy the excuse they gave you. Something else is going on there. 

Agreed ~ Sounds really sketchy to me . . . . 

A-Jay

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

Agreed ~ Sounds really sketchy to me . . . . 

A-Jay

I agree! My understanding is El Salto was closed early due to cartel activity. When that happened Pro Bass Adventures moved all of their El Salto trips to Baccarac, so I've had it in the back of my mind that this was a possibility...

following...and good luck, sounds like fun.

El Salto and Picachos both have Cartel problems.   One of my crew has family that own a house at Picachos, and they haven't been able to go there for months.  You will be fine at Bacarac, and the fishing has been excellent there.

1 week out. Just a couple minor tackle items to pick up. I did a video on the tackle I’m bringing. I’m open to any suggestions anyone might have. What’s the strategy for traveling with a stack of cash? I was going to bring a bunch of $100- and $50-dollar bills, but I’m guessing no one can make change, so I probably need a stack of $20’s, maybe even some smaller bills?