For some, G20 Summit in Los Cabos can't end quickly enough

The G20 Summit, which gets underway today in Los Cabos, apparently has disrupted business and tourism beyond what was expected.

Eric Brictson, who runs the Gordo Banks Pangas charter fishing operation from Puerto Los Cabos Marina, said the marina was "completely shut down" before dawn Monday, in a last-minute decision that has made Brictson and several of his clients very angry.

"We had eight charters scheduled, all far in advance," Brictson said, via email. "Some people left really early this morning to drive down from La Paz. Another group was a family of three generations who had planned their early summer vacation a year in advance, spent a small fortune in plane fares, hotel accommodations, rental cars, etc.

"They came only to fish, have no other dates where they can switch to and now are so disgruntled that they will never return to Mexico.

"This G20 Summit is supposed to promote foreign investment and more tourism and this is how they treat people that are bringing all of the money into their country... This type of decision should have been made far in advance, not in the morning when people are arriving for their much anticipated fishing trip."

Actually, it had been announced before last week that beach and nearshore portions water access would be restricted from Gordo Point north of the marina to Cabo San Lucas. Pisces Sportfishing posted a map showing the restricted area on its blog last Tuesday.

The summit of world leaders and finance ministers is being held at a new convention center in San Jose del Cabo, about 30 miles north of Cabo San Lucas.

Puerto Los Cabos Marina is located in San Jose del Cabo, just north of the Holiday Inn. About 20 charters depart from the marina each morning.

Brictson's fleet targets big-game species of fish mostly to the north of this area, at spots in the Sea of Cortez such as the Gordo Banks.

Tracy Ehrenberg, who runs Pisces Sportfishing in Cabo San Lucas, posted a story about the summit Sunday on the company blog. The Pisces yacht division will host an event for the first ladies.

Of general ocean tourism during the summit Ehrenberg stated: "Basically we can do bay cruises, go to the Pacific, or in the Sea of Cortez if we stay five miles offshore."

Ehrenberg also reported that on Sunday morning a bus carrying federal policeman overturned in the Costa Azul area of southern San Jose. "It was a horrible accident, closing down the road for a while," the report stated. "It appears at this time the accident was due to speeding. The bus was rented and flipped completely over, with its fifteen passengers. Ten policemen were injured, two seriously."

Peace and calm is expected to return to the region at midweek, after the conclusion of the summit.

-- Image showing soldiers in the hotel zone in San Jose del Cabo is courtesy of Pisces Sportfishing

-- Pete Thomas Outdoors on Facebook

-- Pete Thomas Outdoors on Twitter

Comments

[Brendan]

We just got back from the week in the military zone you call San Jose'. We stayed at the Holiday Inn. It really didn't effect us other than feeling like we were in Beirut. Looking back now I sort of felt as if we were kinda of bombarded by the "Big" Buisness type of croud. Which is the last thing I want to be around while I'm on a relaxing vacation. Other than the G20 the people at the Holiday Inn were nothing less than wonderful. Accept the sales people from "The Club" who tried to sell us vacation memberships through the Hotel. They didn't want to take no for an answer. We heard Cabo is a chill place when this thing isn't around. Will we be back to find out? Maybe...

[John in Cabo]

This has become a nightmare for us here in Cabo. It took over one hour to go on th four lane from Costco to to light at the gas station to turn left to go home. Even then I had to get in the left lane ( for those of you that don't know in Mexico there is a slip road on the right with a left turn light) it was impossible to turn from the right lane as the road was blocked. The Feds have set up a road block and are checking everyone. It would have been so easy to issue locals with a sticker ahead of time and cut down the check point by at least 50%. Oh well now one thinks ahead. I have desided it is just easier to stay home for a few days. It is aggod thing I am retired, I feel sorry for all the people who live in Cabo and work in San Jose.

[Pete Thomas]

True. This is a huge security issue. I personally would not have planned a trip to San Jose del Cabo or even Cabo during this period, or book charters if my business was in the vicinity. If the marina closure had been announced, I guess the fleet owner quoted in the story didn't get the memo. Check out the graphic in the link posted below. It mentions the restricted area extending clear to gordo point. I will point that out in the story. Thanks Sean and Kylee!

http://piscesfleet.blogspot.com/2012/06/g20-summit-are-we-going-fishing.html

[Kylee]

I'm with the previous poster - I also live in San Jose and we've known about the closings of beaches/marinas for quite some time. This is no surprise. Companies shouldn't have scheduled charters for these several days to begin with.

[Sean]

I live in Los Cabos and everyone has known for more than a month that the Marinas and the main highway were to be shut down during this time. How can you expect for 20 Presidents Prime Ministers to be in this small town with one road and there not to be delays and cancellations?