MINERVA'S BAJA TACKLE
HOOK, LINE & ZUKERS


The name “Minerva’s Baja Tackle” suggests that you’ve found the right place to load-up on fishing tackle designed to conquer Baja gamefish. You have, but Minerva’s is much more than just a tackle shop… here you can find the right gear, the right boat and the advice you need to make the most of your time on the water.



Anglers know the role that quality gear and a wide variety of lures and terminal tackle plays in hooking and landing fish. When the fish you're after run into the hundreds of pounds, perform acrobatics like circus veterans and have the strength of a freight train, you'd better be set up and set up right. Good news, whatever you need to handle Cabo game fish, you'll find it at Minerva's Baja Tackle.

Started over twenty years ago when the port village of Cabo San Lucas was but a flyspeck on a Baja map, Minerva's Baja Tackle is the product of a love of fishing and the courage to start a business that the owners knew little about running. Bob Smith, former transmission repair shop owner and recreational fisherman, first thought about the idea of owning and operating a fishing tackle shop after having experienced the thrill of fishing the pristine waters of Baja Sur long ago. So with the love of the sport and the area in his heart, he asked his wife, Minerva, how she'd feel about making a major change in their lives. He showed her where it was he would like to be and with her strong sense of adventure, she decided to follow Bob in pursuit of his dream. Let's see, trade a toolbox and customers you only see when they have a problem for a tackle box and customers that only see you when they're happily arranging for a day on the water. Hmmm... not exactly that hard of a choice, is it?



When they first arrived in Cabo and set up for business, there were a total of 12 boats, a few small hotels, dirt roads and no marina. As a matter of fact, when they acquired their first boat, the local game warden rented it from them. Soon, the word was out that if you were searching for a place where the most sought after game fish in the world congregated in huge numbers just a mile or so offshore, Cabo was the place to be. The rest, as they say, is history.

Minerva's Baja Tackle has grown into one of the most successful local businesses catering to anglers. The shop now boasts the largest selection of tackle in all of Baja, and if you venture into the store, you'll have to agree. It's like a candy store for sport fisherman. Everywhere you look you're met with a rainbow of colors in the form of trolling feathers, hard-bodied lures like marauders, rods, reels, terminal tackle and clothing for the hard-core angler. The only problem you'll have is running out of cash or room on your credit cards as the selection makes it difficult to stop adding more items to your purchase list.

Bob and Minerva stock only the best gear as they know that the species targeted in these waters will test the equipment to the limit. Penn reels, Calstar rods, Aftco roller guides, Luhr Jensen marine electronics - all par for the course here. In addition to the quality of the merchandise, prices are more than fair. Add over twenty-five years of experience fishing these waters and the knowledge and advice that they give out are worth their weight in gold, though Bob and Minerva dispense it free of charge with childlike glee. From first-time Cabo anglers to stoic veterans, anyone who wanders in looking for a bit of local information walks away feeling as if an expert themselves.



The two have managed to grow from a one-boat charter operation and small-scale tackle shop to a three-boat fleet with all the trimmings one could ask for. Their fleet now consists of: MINERVA II, a beautiful 33' Bertram Sport fisher powered by a pair of caterpillar 3208 Turbo Engines; MINERVA III, an extremely fast 31' Bertram Sport fisher powered by a pair of 250 HP turbo charged Cummins that just went through a stern-to-bow retrofit and refinishing; and the flagship of the fleet, MINERVA IV, a 40' Custom Sport fisher powered by twin Detroit diesels that sports two big game fishing chairs. Not bad for folks that knew nothing about the business and the difficulties associated with it.

In March of 2005, I had the opportunity to meet Bob and spend a day fishing aboard the Minerva III. Captained by Gilberto Kakogui Gutierrez with First Mate Vincent Gera Ido Castro, the boat is as close to Bristol condition as I've had the pleasure of boarding. Equipped with the aforementioned quality tackle and literally spotless, this is one fast boat. After having baited up and handling the registration of manifests and licenses with the port authorities, we motored out of the Cabo San Lucas marina. Once outside the speed-limited marina, Capt. Gutierrez pressed the throttle controls forward and we began to pass the majority of vessels headed out to the fishing grounds. Let me tell you, there is something about blowing by other boats that are under full power as if they are standing still that makes one’s ego soar. HA! Bet you wish you were on this boat, don't you!



All of the boats in their fleet are equipped with sophisticated electronics designed to find fish, but it is the Captain that really finds them. Think of the fish-finders, depth finders and sonar as tools, they only work if the one handling the tools knows how to use them. The most important tools in Capt. Gutierrez' arsenal are his eyes and years upon years of experience fishing Cabo. The day that we had on the Minerva III was in the middle of a decidedly slow period that was preceded by wide-open conditions just a week or so prior. Unusually cold water made it's way into the area and the fish responded accordingly by scattering in search of warmer, bluer water. Be that as it was, we really didn't expect to catch much of anything, if anything at all.

Enter the skill of a qualified Captain and a fast boat. Scanning the horizon, Gilberto spotted a pod of porpoise far off in the distance about 8 miles out from the lighthouse on the Pacific side of the Cape. With remarkable speed, we were on the spot within minutes and positioned just in front of the porpoise, our spread of trolling lures set right in front of them. Finding feeding Porpoise is one of the ways to find tuna or other game fish, especially when conditions are tough. Within minutes, drags started screaming and we were on. The bite lasted about an hour before the school scattered, but due to the work of both Gilberto and Vincent, we experienced several multiple hook-ups and landed every tuna hooked!

We spent the balance of the day trolling further out looking for marlin or swordfish but spotted none. Vincent came to us and asked what we would like to do, willing to stay out on the water long past what the normal return time should have been. Both Captain and First Mate were more concerned with making sure their clients were happy with the results of the day than about when their already long day would end. That kind of service and genuine care make the trip more than worthwhile, These gents work hard to get you on fish and have a great deal of fun doing it. Vincent, whom speaks better English than Capt. Gutierrez, is one entertaining individual keeping us smiling and laughing the whole day.

We opted to head back in, knowing that conditions were tough, and having been lucky enough to boat five yellowfin tuna from 15-30 pounds, we hoisted our flags and motored our way back to port. While traveling back in, we had more time to talk with our crew and the more we talked, the more we admired them both. Service is a pet peeve of mine, when I feel that I'm not getting the service I should, I complain. However, when I get more than I ever expected, I rave. Here it is, a rave review from a pretty hard person to please. These guys know their business. Bob and Minerva run a damn fine fleet and tackle shop. Need to know where to go when searching for quality boats, quality crews and hands-on, genuine owners? Look no further, Minerva's Baja Tackle has all the above in heaping portions.

One last thing, even if all of Minerva's boats are already spoken for, which occurs often, they'll refer you to other boats that they have personal knowledge of and take no commission for arranging the charter for you. When someone does something for no compensation, it's a great indicator that the referral is made strictly based on who fishes hard and consistently and not based on lining one's pockets. My hats off to them both for the success they've achieved and the service they provide. Bravo, amigos and we'll see you soon.



Minerva's Baja Tackle is located in downtown Cabo San Lucas at the corners of Marina Blvd. and Madero. To reach them by phone, call 011 52 (624) 143-1282, or visit them online at www.minervas.com. Their site includes an easy to use reservation request form to make booking your trip fast and easy. As mentioned before, their boats and crews are excellent so demand is high, book well ahead of time to make sure you get the boat and the days you want.