Episode 172: Rudy Babikian - Born to Fish

Rudy Babikian is an accomplished fly fisherman, adventurer, and co-founder of Los Locos, a premier fly-fishing destination in Magdalena Bay, Mexico. Originally from Maine, Rudy cut his teeth in the Northeast chasing giant striped bass from shore—often putting himself in precarious situations in pursuit of the biggest fish. Those early experiences helped shape the adventurous, risk-taking approach that would define his fishing life. In 2013, Rudy moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where he became an obsessive trophy-trout hunter. It was there that he met George VanDercook, and the two quickly bonded over their shared desire to push beyond conventional fishing and pursue bigger fish in more challenging ways. That shared obsession eventually took them to Mexico, where they began exploring Magdalena Bay in a small Boston Whaler. Their willingness to venture miles offshore in pursuit of striped marlin earned them the nickname “Los Locos”—the crazy ones—from local fishermen. What began as an adventurous fishing trip ultimately grew into one of the world's most unique fly-fishing destinations. Rudy's fishing life is filled with stories of risk, persistence, and occasionally questionable judgment. He recounts many of those wild adventures—including his near-death experiences pursuing striped bass. These stories offer a glimpse into the mindset that made Los Locos possible: an unrelenting desire to find bigger fish, go farther, and see what lies beyond the edge of the map.