Question for those going to the IGFA Tournament in Cabo - The Hull Truth

JAGSARE1 · 04-30-2008, 06:34 AM

How are you getting your rods there? Continental says they will not accept them under any circumstances due to length...although they will accept longer surf boards. Tried the Finisterra and Minervas. No luck. What are you doing?

First Light · 04-30-2008, 07:08 AM

I'm having the same problem with Delta. After reading everything I could find on their website, I finally called and talked on the phone to what sounded like a fairly knowledgeable agent, and she said it's a crapshoot as their regulations are changing so fast - and in fact their rules are changing again on May 8. She suggested that I talk to one of the gate agents at my departure airport (Tampa), so I put my rods in the tube and went. Once I got to the ticket counter, one agent said OK, no problem, but a $150 oversize charge. Another agent standing next to her said the tube was too long. So I'm just going to take it next week and pray.

Someone is taking me to the airport and will go to the check-in counter with me, & if they will not take the rod tube the friend will take it back and I'll just have to use the boats rods once in Cabo. Hopefully this is just a temporary situation and will shake out over time - surely they will not stop anglers checking rod tubes.

jtburf · 04-30-2008, 07:46 AM

Why not make arrangements with the Hotel your staying in and ship them via ups or fedex?

John

LI32 · 04-30-2008, 08:36 AM

FedEx 3 day service - less than $100 and no hassle.

First Light · 04-30-2008, 12:23 PM

Quote:

LI32 - 4/30/2008 FedEx 3 day service - less than $100 and no hassle.

Well I started out at my local UPS store and they wanted $325.00 plus Insurance. Then I came home and went to UPS online and found that in reality they do not deliver to Baja California, including its largest city, Cabo San Lucas.

So next to FedEx online where I have an account. FedEx does ship to Cabo San Lucas and their quote was $245 for "Economy Delivery" (7/8 days), and $265 for "Priority Delivery" (4/5 days), including insurance. I did not check the "3 day Delivery" rate as it would obviously be more.

The rod tube is 84" long x 9" x 6" wide with the 6' 6" rods I am taking, and the 84" rod tube length is the killer - as 80" is the maximum the airlines will allow without the tube going into an "oversize" situation. I suppose the same 80" max length is the same for FedEx and UPS. Shorter stand-up rods in a shorter tube would likely be a LOT less to ship, but 6" 6" is the minimum needed (7' and 7' 6" are better) to cast a live mackerel to striped marlin found in Cabo.

Times are a changin' and unfortunately the $150 quoted by Delta for an oversize object is looking better and better.

JAGSARE1 · 04-30-2008, 08:28 PM

First Light, you are feeling the pain. That is the same run around I have been getting. I was told to forget all shippers except for DHL and my past experience with them is like giving crack to a crack to hold until next week. Don't trust them. Finnseeker told me today that DHL will create a major hassle with hidden fees and forms and delays.

We are flying Continental. They will accept long surfboards but not the same length rods. They have Continental and Continental Express. On the Express, they will not accept anything long, for any cost. Turns out, our first leg is Continental Express but the leg from Houston to Cabo is normal Continental. One of our team members is flying the first leg out of Orlando on Continental so he confirmed today that they will accept a piece of luggage up to 115" linear inches and you can check it as your baggage at no charge. So he is bringing it from Orlando and then meeting us in Houston where we are all on the same flight.

We are taking reels in our carry on. First Light, where are you staying and what is your team called? I think we are called Team Bluewater officially but our shirts will say Team Pez Vela.

steelhead130 · 04-30-2008, 10:31 PM

Jags,
Just flew down to Miami to fish the keys. Also flew Continental, going to Miami it cost me 100.00 for oversized, coming back to Newark gave the curbside agent checking my luggage 10.00 and he put it through at no charge.
Maybe going international will be different but I have been bringing my rods with me for the last 10 years.

First Light · 05-01-2008, 05:09 AM

JAGSARE1 check your PM's

bitchalot · 05-02-2008, 01:34 AM

Last year we flew out of Houston on Continental and had no problems with our rod tube and hope the same applies this year! Jagsare, what day are you flying down?
We are going Saturday and staying at the Finesterra.

Cheers,
Cam

pacific marlin · 05-02-2008, 04:03 AM

Hi
Just make sure if you take your reels as hand luggage,
they wont make you strip the line off.
Could be used as a weapon !
Regards Ian.

JAGSARE1 · 05-03-2008, 08:13 AM

We will arrive in Cabo on Friday afternoon. We found a 5BR/5BTH house about a 3 minute drive from the Finisterra. I was told the Finisterra is definitely the place to be with all activities centered there but none of the wives wanted to be in all that and honestly, I didn't either. I know we will spend alot of time there but we can go home to the casa and relax. It has a private pool, roof top terrace with views of Lands End.

Bullshipper · 05-03-2008, 11:04 AM

Shipping???

Any tourist coming into mexico can bring 4 fishing combos with them under a temporary FMT tourist import, where these items leave the country with the tourist. No taxes.

But a mexican or mexican business does not have the same rights, and has to permanently import the merchandise. We pay a miimum of 17% sales tax (minus a variable deductible), plus a broker if we use an agent. If you do not use an agent, you are limited to $1000 in value person per import entry.

Anything shipped to Mexico requires a broker, and the person or business in Mexico has to give the broker a power of attorney. All the brokers for Fed Ex, DHL and UPS are locaed in Mexico City, so everything has to be doubled handled, and baggage personel like to throw things.

So if you can't take them yourself in your vehicle or in the airline baggage compartment, forget about bringing rods into Mexico.

JAGSARE1 · 05-03-2008, 09:13 PM

We are definitely bringing them. First I heard about a 4 combo limit. Everyone coming to this tournament will bring more than 4 rods. We are bringing 8. What happens with the second 4? The rods are checked baggage of one of our team members and the reels will be checked or carry on baggage for another team member. Are they going to hit us with a charge?

Bullshipper · 05-03-2008, 09:18 PM

4 per person.

You can read the same regs on the back of your tourist permit.

JAGSARE1 · 05-03-2008, 09:27 PM

So we have to separate the gear between us? They won't allow that those 8 combos are for the 3 couples arriving on the same flight? I guess we have to deal with another ridiculous bureaucratic mess. Any idea what the duty is? I have searched and can't find it. I can find the declarations form on the internet but it only shows the front and it says I need to see the back.

jtburf · 05-04-2008, 06:54 AM

Jags ...Your taking 4 combos and so is your wife correct???

John

JAGSARE1 · 05-04-2008, 08:49 AM

That makes sense. I didn't know if they had to be seperated. In other words, she had to have a rod case and I have to have a rod case.

First Light · 05-04-2008, 10:55 AM

I would see no reason why the two of you could not pack all of your clothes in one suitcase. Same with rods, no?

JAGSARE1 · 05-04-2008, 03:29 PM

I hope so because that is what we are doing.

Bullshipper · 05-04-2008, 05:57 PM

All rods can go in one case, in one car, in one airplane.

The is no duty on tourists.