All about Mexico's sardine run
If you search on Google for “sardine run,” South Africa and Moalboal in the Philippines spring to mind. But few people know that Mexico also has its own version of this spectacle – and what a version it is. In Magdalena Bay, Baja California, you experience the sardine run at extreme close quarters, while in a neighboring bay whale sharks congregate and playful sea lions steal the show underwater. Add in the impressive dive sites full of sea lion colonies, and you have a destination bursting with unique encounters. In this blog, we’ll take you through everything you need to know about the sardine run in Magdalena Bay.
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Magdalena Bay
Magdalena Bay is located on the west coast of the Baja California Sur peninsula in Mexico. It is a vast area of open ocean, bays, pristine shorelines, mangroves and islands, ideal for the phenomenon known as the “Mexican sardine run.”
Many expeditions depart from small fishing villages such as San Carlos or Puerto San Carlos, sailing pangas (small boats) out into the ocean in search of “bait balls” – massive schools of sardines swimming together.
During our expeditions to the sardine run, we stay in the village of La Paz. This is about a 2.5-hour drive from Magdalena Bay. Nevertheless, this is a fine destination: you can do fantastic diving with the sea lions from La Paz and you are close to the bay where the whale sharks gather. Besides, the starting point of the sardine run is a small fishing village without electricity and running water. So you never stay directly at the starting point of the expedition.
What is a sardine run?
The sardine run is a natural migration in which millions of sardines move in large numbers along the coast in search of nutrient-rich and safe waters. Because the fish swim so close together, it creates one of the most impressive defense mechanisms in the ocean: bait balls (compact, spherical schools of sardines).
Instead of dispersing, sardines clump together to confuse predators. However, this simultaneously makes them a magnet for hunting animals, who actually use the chaos to their advantage. The result? A spectacular underwater “hunting ballet,” where different predators often hunt the same school of fish at the same time.
Who is hunting the baitballs?
During a sardine run, a variety of hunters may show up. In Magdalena Bay, these are some of the most impressive participants:
Marlins (especially striped marlin)
The speed devils of the run. They shoot through the bait ball with great speed, striking with their long snouts, stunning sardines and then eating them at lightning speed. You don’t just see this – you can almost feel this through the vibrations of their power underwater.
Sea Lions
Agile, curious hunters that maneuver between schools with playful ease and in groups. They often herd the sardines further together, making the bait ball even more compact. As the marlins attack, you can see sea lions taking advantage of the dislodged and tangled fish – pure opportunists with charm.
Dolphins
They sometimes work together to surround and hunt sardines. This team play makes their attack waves extra dynamic. You’ll often see them first appear above water, with graceful turns and jumps, before turning up the pressure underwater.
Sharks
Several pelagic sharks may participate in the hunt. They usually circle around or under the bait ball, waiting for an opportunity to strike. Their calm but purposeful presence is an impressive contrast to the explosive violence of marlins and sea lions
When is the sardine run in Magdalena Bay?
The sardine run in Magdalena Bay takes place in the fall and early winter. In most years, the event runs roughly from mid-October to January, with highs between late October and December.
The exact timing may vary somewhat, depending on ocean temperatures and currents, and it always remains a natural phenomenon: there is no guarantee of action, so timing as well as flexibility are important.
The experience: snorkeling among the baitballs
You experience the sardine run in Magdalena Bay not from the boat, but right in the middle of the action: in the water itself. During these excursions you snorkel instead of dive, because the bait balls move at lightning speed and with snorkeling you can easily get in and out of the water as soon as the hunt breaks loose. Underwater, especially large marlin make up the attack team, shooting through the silver clouds of fish with tremendous speed. In between that spectacle, playful sea lions also appear, agile and fanatically hunting among the sardines – curious, fast and spectacular to follow.
The day begins early, when the sea is still flat and calm and the light glides softly across the water. In a fast boat, you sail out into the ocean with guides as your eyes constantly scan the surface. Hunting betrays itself above water: diving birds, splashing sea lions or dolphins stirring the shoals. As soon as a bait ball is spotted, you slide into the water with mask and snorkel to watch everything up close.
Conditions in Magdalena Bay are very different from the famous sardine run in South Africa. The water is often warm, calm and crystal clear, with excellent visibility and sunlight making for spectacular underwater images. Instead of massive, explosive bait balls, you usually see smaller, concentrated hunting moments here, making the atmosphere feel calmer, but visually at least as impressive. This makes the Mexican sardine run particularly suitable for underwater photographers, nature lovers and divers seeking a less rugged but aesthetically stunning experience. Moreover, you can easily combine the excursion with other dives in the region, such as with whale sharks or mobula rays.
What follows is a hunt that feels almost choreographic, but raw and unfiltered. Sardines spin, whirl and flash through each other in panic as predators strike from different directions. The attacks are intense and brief, but the moments in between are just as impressive: regrouping clouds of fish, silhouettes of marlins skimming beneath you, and sea lions navigating effortlessly among the scaling storm.
Thanks to the calm, clear waters and golden morning sun, conditions are often perfect – whether you are photographing or simply taking in the moment. The shimmer of thousands of fish scales, the contrast between speed and stillness, and the feeling of being part of something bigger make this an unforgettable nature experience. Instead of watching a scene in a documentary, you float through it yourself – a rare privilege in one of Mexico’s most magical diving regions.
Our expeditions to the sardine run in Magdalena Bay
At EWDR, you can experience the sardine run in Magdalena Bay in a variety of ways. Individual, tailor-made trips are perfect if you want the experience to be completely your own. Together we coordinate the program, from the number of days to which dive sites and snorkeling locations you want to visit. This way you get a personalized ocean safari, completely tailored to your pace and interests.
For those who prefer to share the experience with other enthusiastic divers and nature lovers, we also offer organized group trips. During these trips, you will go in search of the sardine-baitballs together, accompanied by our experienced guides and a team that knows all about local conditions, predators and best hunting moments. This is not only a unique opportunity to see the sardine run up close, but also to share experiences and exchange tips with like-minded people.
