From New York Finance to Baja Fishing: A Life Rewritten

A High-Flying Career, A Sudden U-Turn

At 43, she walked away from a high-powered finance role in Manhattan, trading skyscrapers for sun-bleached docks in a quiet fishing village in Baja, Mexico. Raised in Oregon, her path to Wall Street was anything but conventional—she first pursued landscape architecture, then found herself in policy work before landing in finance. But the pandemic became the catalyst she didn’t know she needed, pushing her toward a life less ordinary.

Now, she calls Agua Amarga, a serene seaside hamlet on the Sea of Cortez, home. Here, she runs The Fish Ranch, a fly-fishing business where the ocean breeze replaces the hum of traffic, and the rhythm of the tides dictates the day.

The Road Less Traveled

After high school, she didn’t follow the expected route. Instead, she sailed across the Pacific, surfed in Hawaii and Tahiti, and studied landscape architecture—a passion for the natural world that never faded. A detour into international aid took her to Haiti after the 2010 earthquake, where she witnessed resilience firsthand and ignited a fascination with global work.

Then came finance. A chance job offer landed her in New York, working for a major endowment focused on sustainable investments. The city was exhilarating, but it was also overwhelming. Fly fishing became her sanctuary—a way to disconnect from the chaos. She joined a diverse angling community, from local fishermen to wealthy enthusiasts, all bound by their love for the sport.

Little did she know, those early connections would later become her first clients in Mexico.

A Quiet Revolution by the Sea

The move to Baja wasn’t just an escape—it was a search for balance. Leaving her finance career behind, she launched The Fish Ranch, a fly-fishing business offering custom trips and a small shop in town. The idea was born from a simple observation: local guides had no way to book trips online. What began as a side project soon grew into something far bigger—complete with branded hats, stickers, and a loyal following.

But life in Baja isn’t without its hurdles. As a single mother, she balances running a business with raising a young child. The workload is relentless, and some days feel impossible. Yet, the rewards are undeniable. There’s something magical about watching clients cast their first line, forming connections with guides and locals, and seeing the pure joy on their faces as they reel in a catch.

The fishing here is world-class, and the community feels like family.

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New York’s Pulse vs. Baja’s Rhythm

She still misses parts of New York—the energy, the diversity, the endless possibilities. But Mexico has given her something she couldn’t find in the city: a slower pace, a deeper connection to nature, and a business that lets her share her passion.

For now, she’s staying put—no regrets, no looking back.