Mexico’s Sardine Run is a spectacular display of nature. Bait fish numbering thousands move like underwater murmurations as they come under the deadly attack of marlin, sealions, dolphins or whales from below, and diving seabirds from above.

Between October and December each year, colder waters flow along the coast of Baja California, bringing with them huge schools of sardines. Following in their path is a migration of predators. One of the most notable is the Striped Marlin – a beautiful fish which looks like a sailfish, only larger reaching up to 4.2 metres (13.8 feet) and weighing as much as 220 kg (490 lb). Marlin speed through schools of sardines, swiping their long, speared noses as they go, stunning fish before tracking back to eat them. Their majestic shape and movement through the water make them ideal photo and video subjects.

Bryde’s Whales measuring almost 17 metres (55 feet) in length, are resident tropical ocean giants who also pursue these mass aggregations of sardines. Their mouths have pleats enabling them to open wide and consume hundreds of fish in a single lunge. Sometimes these lunges remain below water; other times they break the surface, mouths clamping down on fish trying to escape into the air. The drama of Bryde’s whales feeding on the Mexican Sardine Run was captured by photographer Rafael Fernandez Caballero, winning him 1^st place Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024 by Oceanographic magazine.

The presence of these underwater predators often forces sardines up to the surface of the water, where Frigatebirds and Pelicans aim at them from above. As they dive into the sea en masse, they leave trails like gunshots through water. With birds diving and fish leaping, the frenzy makes the water almost seem to boil.

Other potential predators include huge parties of sealions, humpback whales, blue sharks and mako sharks. Potential is an important word. Sardine runs require patience, as well as the technical assistance of a spotter plane, which supports these trips. The schools can appear anything from 20 – 40 miles off Baja’s west coast Magdelena Bay. Starting and ending in Cabo San Lucas, you will spend the duration of this trip based on a comfortable liveaboard yacht close to shore. Each day, previous sightings and information from the spotter plane will guide speed boats you will join, skippered by local ex-fishermen. Sometimes you may experience some incredible encounters; other times the schools might be smaller, or you will be waiting periods for bait balls to rise from depth.

On your first full day off Magdalena Bay, there will be time for scuba or snorkelling off the islands and some wrecks; and potentially swimming with sealions. On the penultimate day of the trip, the plan is to step onto Margarita Island to explore its sand dunes and mangrove forests on foot, kayak and / or paddleboard.