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"Bitter Water" the film: A Stunning Look at Fly Fishing Baja's Coast

Witness the world of Baja fly fishing in Bitter Water, a short documentary by Peter Grigsby. Follow the Lucero family’s journey and experience incredible roosterfish action on the fly.
Ken Baldwin|
Can't get there early enough.
Can't get there early enough. | photo provided by Black Rabbit Collective

Roosterfish on the Baja coast is 100% on my bucket list. Throw in dorado and tuna, and all on the fly!

the poster for the film Bitter Water that was filmed in Baja, Mexico.
Bitter Water, a film directed by Peter Grigsby | photo provided by Black Rabbit Collective

I'm all fired up because of a documentary called Bitter Water, a Black Rabbit Collective film, directed by Peter Grigsby. A short doc about fly fishing the Baja coast and the Lucero family—a father and two sons—and how their love of the sport has impacted their family and community.

Fly Fishing, Family, and the Baja Coast

The story is moving and thought-provoking, but it's the imagery of the action, the fish, the scenery, that keeps me hitting replay. Peter Grigsby and his Director of Photography, Matthew Williams, captures the beauty and intensity of fly fishing an unspoiled fishery in a visually stunning way.

Fly anglers coming home at the end of the day fishing the baja coast for the film Bitter Water.
The end of a beautiful day. | photo provided by Black Rabbit Collective

I love the sport of fly fishing, it's fun and deeply satisfying, and Peter captures that on film. But he goes deeper and reminds us of the broader reach of fly fishing and the good it can do. That this sport we love gives back in ways that keep fisheries healthy and communities prosperous.

A fly angler holding a Dorado that he caught on the baja coast.
Like an abstract painting. | photo provided by Black Rabbit Collective

But if I'm being honest, it's the eye candy I keep replaying—the beauty shots, the hookups, and the fights Peter Grigsby captures. These make me feel like I'm there, or really wishing I was.

A fly angler is making a fly to catch roosterfish in the waters off the Baja Coast.
One final touch. | photo provided by Black Rabbit Collective

A Fly Angler's Dream

One particular scene—a woman on shore makes a booming cast out into the surf—made me take pause. The fly lands near the lens of a waiting camera. It’s an impressive cast, and I want to know who this woman is.

The Fish Ranch located just south of La Ventana in Baja
Mary Grigsby and The Fish Ranch. | photo provided by Black Rabbit Collective

Her name? Mary Grigsby. She’s the sister of Peter Grigsby, and operator of The Fish Ranch. a fly-fishing haven on La Ventana Bay. More than just a business, it’s a well-stocked hub for anglers, offering hosted trips, gear, clothing, art, housing, and guided tours. She lives there, fly fishing is her way of life, and she welcomes anyone eager to experience it for themselves.

A large roosterfish being released in clear blue water on Baja for the film Bitter Water.
Clear water and big fish is a fly angler's dream. | photo provided by Black Rabbit Collective.
A fly angler holds a big roosterfish as he celebrates his catch on the Baja Coast.
A beast of a roosterfish caught in the waters of Baja by fly angler Steve Bechard. For perspective Steve is 6'5". | photo by John Wilson

Treat Yourself to an Exceptional Fly Fishing Film

If you can find fifteen minutes in your day, set it aside to watch Bitter Water. It doesn't matter if you only fish freestone rivers for trout, prefer topwater for bass, or dedicate yourself to swinging for steelhead. The angler in you will light up at watching a roosterfish jump on a fly in a crystal-clear sea. The scenery is beautiful, the fly fishing is full of action, and it’s the perfect mental escape from a long winter.

Watch the film here. (click here for expanded screen)

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Ken Baldwin
KEN BALDWIN

Ken Baldwin is a writer and editor for Fishing On SI, covering fly fishing gear, travel, and all other aspects of a life well fished. His writing and photography have appeared in Men’s Journal, Catch Magazine, Fish Alaska, and American Angler. Ken also created and hosts Season on the Edge, a television series exploring travel, adventure, and culture through fishing that aired on NBC Sports and in seven countries. For twenty years, Ken guided fly anglers in Alaska, keeping him in close proximity to brown bears and launching his path into wildlife photography. That field experience led to his work as a bear guard and consultant on the Netflix documentary Our Planet II, narrated by David Attenborough. His photography was also featured in the series promotion. His career has taken a few memorable turns – professionally dancing and teaching salsa, bartending at the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip, and played the terrorist “Mulkey” in the film Die Hard 2. Ken graduated from the University of Washington with a degree that had absolutely nothing to do with any of the above.

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