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 From Jan 01, 1999 To Sep 09, 2010
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Mar 8, 2010; 08:27AM - March Blast…
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Category: Saltwater Fly Fishing Reports
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Author Name: Gary Graham
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Author E-mail: bajafly@bajafly.com
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Report Description:
Endless Season Update March 7, 2010
REPORT #1205 'Below the Border' Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
East Cape
Caption: This is what an angler with a March rooster looks like…it's not often you see a guy in a fleece vest with a roosterfish! photo Colleen Hubbard.
Further signs of spring will happen next Sunday when Baja switches to daylight savings time.
Meanwhile, most of the action remains close to shore or from the beach. Lance Peterson submitted this week's photo confirming both the presence of some nice size roosters along the beach and that it is chilly enough for a fleece vest. Along with the roosters there are schools of sierra chasing sardina close to shore.
Even with the spotty weather, a bit of rain and the ever present wind, either way fishing can still be a blast!
Current East Cape Weather http://tiny.cc/EastCapeWeather303
Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico
Another quiet week with few anglers even in the neighborhood this week. The entrada produced some nice sized sierra along with a few small yellows and the sandy beaches at Belchers were holding some of the smaller variety of halibut in very shallow water.
Current Magdalena Bay Weather http://tiny.cc/MagBayWeather150
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
The blue water fishing has been slow this week, with the inshore action being the best bet. The full moon caused the normal slow down in the blue water, but with the earthquake down in Chile, it really shut down. It was way too far for us to feel the quake here, but the small tsunami which came through acted like several major shock waves to the sailfish.
The recorded tsunami was only about three feet high, and did not go much higher than our normal high tide line. When it came through, I was guiding with Cheva on the panga, Dos Hermanos II, and fly fisherman Steve Mara of Seattle. We were in touch with the Port Captain's office, which was in touch with the entire coast of Mexico. We didn't feel or see a thing, but we didn't get any fish either.
The sensitive lateral lines on a sailfish can pick up a school of bait fish a half-mile away. The tsunami comes in with a series of shock waves, and it must really put a scare into the fish!
A couple of days after the quake, Adolfo, on the panga Dos Hermanos, called me on his cell phone. He was into a very large school of jack crevalle, and they were huge! He was down at the Valentine river mouth, with the hard fighting jacks being an astonishing 25 to 30 pound average.
Yesterday (Wed.), Ken Unger of Calgary, Canada, fished with Santiago on the panga, Gitana. They didn't get a strike on a sailfish, but found a floating grass patch and managed to pull a couple of smaller dorado and one nice dorado of about 30 pounds off it. Ken's 13 year old daughter, Shelby, had the honors of bringing in the dinner. They had it cooked up at Lety's Restaurant, which is probably the best seafood restaurant here, and very economical.
Today, Ken and Shelby fished with Cheva and meI on the panga, Dos Hermanos II, up on the Buena Vista Beach area. Ken was fly fishing, and Cheva was throwing a surface popper or lure out 75 to 100 yards, and then handing off the caught fish to Ken's daughter, Shelby. She darned near got worn out. We did manage to raise a few roosters, and caught a jack crevalle. Plus, we found our own dorado hotel in the form of a huge patch of floating grass. We pulled eight dorado off it. Nothing was big, but it was a fun…and, I got to take dorado home tonight for my wife Rebecca to cook up. …Ed Kunze
Current Zihuatanejo Weather http://tiny.cc/zihuatanejo582
Cabo San Lucas
Marlin fishing has remained slow, though quite a few more boats were able to find the fish and they were biting a bit better…still it was nothing to write home about. The fish seemed to be concentrated closer to shore than normal, with most of the fish being found within three miles of the beach, and on both sides of the Cape.
Just like last week, most of the tuna were found quite a long way from home, necessitating a two hour or more cruise to get to where you might find some. There are always exceptions; recently there was a pod of dolphin found three miles off of Chileno Beach that had loads of football tuna, 5- to 20-pound fish, and the first dozen boats to get there had a blast. There were a few other clos- in fish found this week as well but for the most part, tuna were a long run from home with your fingers crossed!
Just a few yellow flags were flying recently; most of the boats did not have any luck with dorado and those that did only caught one or two at the most. The fish were found offshore on the Cortez side by boats searching for tuna and there were a few very small ones in close to the beach, also on the Cortez side of the Cape.
The sierra bite busted wide open on the Pacific side and it was disappointing to see so many of these so called “conservationist” captains load up with two, three or more times their limits. Come on guys! You have two clients on the panga, come in with 40+ sierra and then complain the next day that the fish have disappeared? Get a clue, please. Anyway, the bite was good and there were a few decent yellowtail caught as well as a few grouper and snapper. The surprise for many was the marlin that were found so close to the beach. While dropping bait to the bottom for grouper and snapper, many boats keep a live bait half-way down for amberjack, but there were quite a few marlin caught doing that.
The whales are beginning to thin out. There were still plenty of Humboldt squid out there if things seem really slow fishing...George and Mary Landrum
Current Cabo Weather http://tiny.cc/cabo191 |
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Feb 22, 2010; 08:50AM - Z Rooster
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Category: Saltwater Fly Fishing Reports
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Author Name: Gary Graham
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Author E-mail: bajfly@bajafly.com
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Report Description:
Endless Season Update February 21, 2010
REPORT #1203 'Below the Border' Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
East Cape
Caption: Henning Morek - Denmark, Huge rooster Panga Dos Hermanos with Captain Adolfo
This has probably been the wettest February in a while. The good news is that it was the gentle soaking type rain that doesn't run off quickly. I guess it is a clue how slow the fishing has been recently, one hotel sent five boats out one day which is the single day's record for 2010. The lack of sierra continues to dismay fishermen who depend on them as a fallback. I saw a report this morning from down toward Cabo that suggested that there were reports that the lack of sierra was caused by gill net activity happening along the remote and unpatrolled East Cape region.
Inshore there are a few small dorado buzzing around that don't seem to stay in one place long. Offshore once in awhile a boat finds a cooperative striper and one unusual catch that was reported a few days ago was a sailfish which stayed late or arrived really early.
The most excitement is all the whales close to shore, huffing and puffing and leaping with reckless abandon.
Current East Cape Weather http://tiny.cc/EastCapeWeather303
Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico
What little action there was this week was at the Entrada where the firecracker yellowtail could be found feeding on the surface under the bird schools. Unfortunately, the sierra were mixed in with the yellowtail and there were a lot of fish lost because of the lack of wire leaders. Up above Lopez Mateos, the action was mostly grouper and cabrilla.
Current Magdalena Bay Weather http://tiny.cc/MagBayWeather150
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
The fishing has been a bit erratic, but it is improving. On Monday, as brothers Henning and Ole Mork of Denmark did on the panga, Janeth with Captain Arturo, you go out and get three sailfish. Then go out the next day, but in a bit different area and a different boat, and not even get a strike all day.
However, Henning is on a roll. He is fishing with conventional gear but fished with Adolfo and his fly fishing son, Ufe, on the panga Dos Hermanos on Wednesday. They went up north to the Pantla area for jack crevalle and the possible shot for a rooster.
For three hours, Ufe had been up on the bow casting the fly…every time the hookless teaser came back to the boat. He took less than a 2-minute break to gulp down a sandwich and chug some water. Of course, this is when the huge rooster came slashing to the boat. The potential fly fishing world record was incredibly aggressive and going after anything near it. With Ufe unable to do anything but just watch, Henning was able to flip a bait at the fish with a spin rod and was hooked up solid.
The rooster was released, but Adolfo estimated it at 68 pounds. This is the second time this has happened with Ufe. Last year he and his Dad fished with me down at Puerto Vicente Guerrero. Ufe did get several dorado and a couple of decent roosters on the fly, but his Dad is the one who got the 50 pound rooster on conventional gear.
I had seen some small yellowfin tuna in the local Mercardo fish market, so I knew the commercial pangeros had found at least one school of tuna. Then, Santiago on the panga Gitana, came across diving birds at 10 miles fromr the port while fishing for sailfish. A live bait cast at them produced an 80-pound yellowfin for Ken Erdman of Pennsylvania.
Also, talking to Cali on the Vamonos II, he said he has been averaging about three sailfish a day for his clients…Ed Kunze
Current Zihuatanejo Weather http://tiny.cc/zihuatanejo582 |
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Jan 4, 2010; 01:07PM - 'Na na na na..na na na na...hey hey, hey hey!
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Category: Saltwater Fly Fishing Reports
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Author Name: Gary Graham
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Author E-mail: bajafly@bajafly.com
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Report Description:
Endless Season Update January 2, 2010
REPORT #1196 'Below the Border' Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
[b]East Cape [/b]
[img]http://www.bajafly.com/report/image.2010/01.02.10.jack.gif[/img]
Ryan Eardly - age 10 Michigan jack cravelle Caught on a ranger surface popper lure while fishing with his dad, Pete, and Ramon out of Majahua
(about 20 miles North of Zihuatanejo). Photo by Ed Kunze
Compared to what is happening throughout the U.S., the relatively warm weather reinforces why many of us choose Baja. The only white stuff around here is the froth on the cold Cerveza and margaritas not snow on the ground.
Sailfish the last week of the year along with dorado. Sure there is a little wind here and there.
Some mornings the tin boats barely catch a limit of sierra before they can be seen scurrying back to shore as the wind picks up.
Everyone's betting that the first flat day will yield plenty of first of the year catches.
Current East Cape Weather http://tiny.cc/EastCapeWeather303
[b]Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico[/b]
Whale watching is center stage or will be when the whales complete their journey down the coast. Meanwhile the wahoo bite that won't quit has continued to provide limits for the few brave souls willing to make the bumpy ride uphill to Thetis. Water temperatures continue to remain in the low seventies. If they hold up it could be quite a January.
Not many bothering to fish in the Esteros with all the holiday activities and whale watching preparations going on.
Current Magdalena Bay Weather http://tiny.cc/MagBayWeather150
[b]Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico[/b]
The 80° blue water is about 8 miles off the beach. Between the full moon phase and a barometer which has been bouncing up and down, the sailfish fishing has backed off a bit compared to the previous few weeks. Each boat is averaging one to two sailfish a day. Plus, most every boat is getting a shot at a decent 20-pound dorado or two.
The larger numbers of rooster fish have fairly much left the area, but Adolfo, fishing up near the river bar at Union, is picking up one or two a day. Plus, he is also getting several nice hard fighting jack cravelle..…[i]Ed Kunze[/i]
Current Zihuatanejo Weather http://tiny.cc/zihuatanejo582 |
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Dec 28, 2009; 08:48AM - 2009, 'A Final...Final'
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Category: Saltwater Fly Fishing Reports
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Author Name: Gary Gaham
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Author E-mail: bajafly@bajafly.com
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Report Description:
Endless Season Update 12/27/2009
REPORT #1195 'Below the Border' Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
[b]East Cape [/b]
Fewer visitors and more fish seemed to be the mantra for 2009. While locals debated whether or not the lack of fishermen helped improve the fishing, the smart ones took advantage of the bite when it occurred. The reward was a swordfish for a few as well as one of the largest blues caught in quite a few years in July, plus the dorado and football tuna became commonplace, filling limits daily.
Then the better grade of tuna arrived...the 'tackle-busting kind' that had Captains and deckhands searching their respective storage areas for their heavy tackle. First large fish weighing in the double-digit range, and then the real tackle busting triple-digit ones. For some reason the usually ever-present Mexican tuna seiners never appeared. From Isla Cerralvo to Baja's tip the mayhem continued, remarkably all the way into December.
While all the offshore action drew the attention of most, for the few willing to brave the heat and hot sand, the beach delivered some one-two punches of its own with trophy sized jacks and some memorable roosters.
Now in late December you would assume that most of the attention would be directed to celebrating the holidays. Not exactly! Lance Peterson couldn't resist the great weather and while prowling a deserted beach he found a nice sized rooster to cap off 2009.
With 2010 just around the corner, the anticipation of what will happen in Baja's New Year is exciting.
Current East Cape Weather http://tiny.cc/EastCapeWeather303
[b]Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico[/b]
While the fall season didn't produce the expected number of billfish, Magdalena's multi- dimensional fishery provided plenty of other species and many memorable highlights. Wahoo action was the best it has been in quite some time. Getting them to bite was the easy part ...keeping them away from the fur coats was another matter. Notwithstanding there were some spectacular catches by the local fleet as well as the visiting sports, yachts and trailer boats. One monster was reported weighing just over 100 pounds.
Tuna, dorado and yellowtail came to the party early and stayed late providing easy limits from early in the summer all the way until mid-December.
The esteros lived up to their 'fishy' reputation. Don’t confuse ‘fishy’ with easy. The spotted bay bass, grouper, corvina, sierra, jacks, mangrove snapper, pargo, pompano, halibut and snook were plentiful and there were trophy fish to be caught. Perhaps earned is a better way of putting it.
This combination of tough and strong fish in an hostile environment demands all the skill that an angler can gather. For those who met the challenge the rewards were some trophy sized catches.
As preparations for whale watching season continues, we are all looking forward to 2010. I'll leave the predications to the experts but after several decades of fishing in and around Magdalena Bay, I can promise it may be unexpected but remarkable..
Current Magdalena Bay Weather http://tiny.cc/MagBayWeather150
[b]Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico[/b]
2009 was the best year we have ever experienced for fishing for roosters on the fly here in Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo. Of course, having Cheva and Adolfo, two of the best roosterfish captains in Mexico, certainly helps.
There were days we raised as many as 40 roosters and 30 jack crevalle on hookless teasers. And these fish are huge...averaging 30 pounds.
Sara Henry of British Columbia got one pending line class World Record and several other records almost fell. We are really looking forward to the 2010 season......…[i]Ed Kunze[/i]
Current Zihuatanejo Weather http://tiny.cc/zihuatanejo582 |
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Oct 11, 2009; 09:07AM - A Hint of Things to Come
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Category: Saltwater Fly Fishing Reports
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Author Name: Gary Graham
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Author E-mail: bajafly@bajafly.com
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Report Description:
Endless Season Update 10/10/2009
REPORT #1186 'Below the Border' Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
East Cape
Caption: Brian Kelley, wearing the white cap, with three of his buddies celebrating his 50th birthday with a fat one …Mark Rayor.
The first serious north wind of the season arrived late this week along with grouchy seas that caused short days for some.
Still seem to be enough fish around to keep things interesting; it is just tougher to find them. There were a few porpoise schools found closer to shore that did produce some tuna for the first handful of boats that found them.
Dorado action was also a little sketchy with most boats finding only a few, if any, but there are still some skipjack and football sized tuna out in front of the lighthouse.
As usual the beach was trashed from the wind waves which created difficult conditions for the beach walkers.
The good news is the winds are predicted to subside soon and hopefully the bite will pick right back up.
Current East Cape Weather http://tiny.cc/EastCapeWeather303
Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico
Well so much for the quickie trip last Friday. By the time I arrived at the border a small tropical depression, Olaf, had turned and was headed on an erratic path for Baja’s midsection.
Since my trip only allowed for a few days of fishing with little or no wiggle room, I delayed the trip until this Monday.
Turned out to be a good call; Olaf dumped plenty of rain from Cuidad Constitution to Mulege. There were a few washouts and one group driving down reported 30 water crossings during their trip from the border to East Cape.
The storm left unsettled conditions but they seem to have dissipated by the end of the week.
So I will be driving down the peninsula Monday, the 12th, with a stop planned in Mulege to check out some rumors of large snook appearing in the Santa Rosalia River. Then on to Lopez Mateos to fish both beach and offshore for three days with Lance Peterson, our Mexico Guide.
I will return on Monday, the 19th, and should have an update on the aftermath of the recent storms.
Current Magdalena Bay Weather http://tiny.cc/MagBayWeather150
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
The 80° blue water has cooled down a bit from last week, and has moved in very close to the beach. This should improve the fishing, but we have had a series of hard rains and wind and a full moon period, combined with few clients fishing. An accurate picture of the fishing action is hard to describe at best.
The average for sailfish is about one or two a day per boat, and few nice size dorado are also being taken.
Inshore, there are a lot of small jack crevalle, and even a few sierra, but the roosterfish bite also seems to have died off. However, we also had strong surf all this last week, so the roosters have moved offshore, and should move back in when the moon phase affects the surf to a lesser degree.…Ed Kunze
Current Zihuatanejo Weather http://tiny.cc/zihuatanejo582
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Sep 19, 2009; 09:59PM - First The Squid…Then Tuna
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Category: Saltwater Fly Fishing Reports
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Author Name: Gary Graham
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Author E-mail: bajafly@bajafly.com
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Report Description:
Endless Season Update 09/19/2009
REPORT #1183 'Below the Border' Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
East Cape
Caption: Check out this nice yellowfin tuna we caught in the East Cape. It weighed in at 201 pounds. http://tiny.cc/rayortuna091509
I don’t know if it is a coincidence, but the Humboldt squid show up and suddenly, it was tuna time. Tales of broken tackle and disappointed anglers were common this week. However, for the few who closed the deal, they were so exhausted that even the ‘high-fives’ were difficult. Not all the fish are VW size; for the wimps, (or is it the smart ones?), in your group there are plenty of smaller fish mixed in. Most of the action is out 20 to 40 miles providing time to find a sailfish.
The dorado are thick down toward Los Frailes and beyond all the way to Gordo Bank…most of them are weighing in the mid-teen range.
Near the Lighthouse, there is also a good concentration of smaller yellowfin tuna with skipjack mixed in.
The water along the beaches has cleaned up, but there is still plenty of bait attracting roosters, jacks, ladyfish and pompano. It is still warm enough that if you go out on the beach midday, it may feel more like an Ironman competition, than fishing. If you think that ‘heats not neat’, try early morning and late afternoon.
Current East Cape Weather http://tiny.cc/EastCapeWeather303
Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico
Just outside Boca Santo Domingo 8 – 10 mile the tuna bite has returned with some fish to 35 pounds. Further out the wahoo have begun to show outside the double 23’s and small groups of marlin are also being spotted.
Shrimp season began the 18th which brings much more feeding activity in the Esteros for a long list of predators including grouper, corvina, snapper and snook.
The cannery in Lopez Mateos is still closed and in Puerto San Carlos the job of removing sunken boats is underway.
Finally, I returned home this week and Mex 1 is open all the way… Bob Hoyt
Current Magdalena Bay Weather http://tiny.cc/MagBayWeather150
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
We've had some decent rains from storms pushing up from the South, with the effect of cooling the surface temperatures down quite a bit. Last week we were at a tepid 85°, and we are now averaging a perfect 80°. The cooling water trend actually heated the fishing up.
Stan Hootman of Houston, TX is fishing several days with Adolfo on the panga Dos Hermanos. They are doing excellent. I talked to Stan by cell phone as they were returning to the dock today (Thursday) after a very successful day of rooster fishing. Using a blue and white surface popper, they caught 6 roosters of 60#, 50#, 45#, 40#, and a couple of smaller ones.
Yesterday they had fished for sailfish and released four. Plus, they got into the football yellowfin tuna and caught 6 tuna averaging 10 pounds...…Ed Kunze
Current Zihuatanejo Weather http://tiny.cc/zihuatanejo582
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Aug 22, 2009; 01:41PM - Radio Fish
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Category: Saltwater Fly Fishing Reports
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Author Name: Gary Graham
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Author E-mail: bajafly@bajafly.com
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Report Description:
Endless Season Update 08/22/2009
Flyfishing and convention gear on an offshore sportfisher? Cooperation and teamwork made it happen http://tiny.cc/va2lG
REPORT #1179 'Below the Border' Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
East Cape
The most predictable thing about fishing in August at East Cape is that before you head out, the decision of what you want to catch needs to be made’ this accounts for all the boats hanging out close to shore around the bait guys, hopefully catching a few roosters, jacks or whatever else will bite.
Meanwhile, the savvy Captains have their ears glued to the radio as they flip from one secret channel to another trying to decide in which direction to run. Suddenly the Captain tells the anglers to reel in; the boat speeds up and everyone grabs a rail or sits down.
If the boat heads south, chances are you going have a box full of dorado and maybe a few of the gorilla sized tuna that are being caught right now traveling with the porpoise. If the boat heads straight out from the lighthouse, blue marlin will be the target where there is always the chance of catching a huge one (400 plus); it is more likely however that the blue marlin caught will be much smaller…in the 200 to 300 pound class. If the boat turns north outside of Punta Pescadero chances are it will be a day of trolling…interspersed with a sporadic sail or marlin bite.
If the beach is your venue, go at gray light and carry lots of liquids! I can’t promise what the bite will be but I can promise it will be hot. If you fished from a boat the day before, go where ever you found the bait guys selling the sardina. Most of the beach action this week has consisted of small roosters and jacks, along with ladyfish and a few pompano.
Current East Cape Weather http://tiny.cc/EastCapeWeather303
Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico
It’s all about dorado, tuna and yellowtail outside this week! From Lopez Mateos it is only a short ten-mile run to the action. From there out the bite is consistent for dorado to thirty-five pounds, tuna to eighteen and firecracker yellows.
Some reports on marlin are that they are beginning to gather, which is just a tad early. So far there is not enough volume to spend the entire day chasing them, but if you are willing to gamble on stumbling across one of the groups that the shark fishermen have reported spotting, you may get lucky.
Out of Puerto San Carlos the small yellows are at the Entrada under the bird schools. The sandy beach on the south side of Belchers is producing enough small halibut to make a few minute stop worthwhile.
Up in the mangroves it is more carbrilla and less grouper these days. As for snook…maybe, but if you’re lucky, your chances are better for a mangrove snapper.
Current Magdalena Bay Weather http://tiny.cc/MagBayWeather150
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
The 86° blue water is tight against the beach, with the main action only a couple of miles offshore. Sailfish averages are approximately two fish per day per boat, with a few scattered dorado being taken also.
All up and down the coast the roosterfish action is still fantastic. A lot of jack crevelle are showing to the north of Ixtapa as well.
The only problem is, and I can hardly believe this, we are only putting one or two boats a day on the water. Normally, around this time of the year, we should have between 15 to 20 boats a day on the water.…Ed Kunze
Current Zihuatanejo Weather http://tiny.cc/zihuatanejo582
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Aug 2, 2009; 10:48AM - Releasing Dominates Catching
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Category: Saltwater Fly Fishing Reports
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Author Name: Gary Graham
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Author E-mail: bajafly@bajafly.com
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Report Description:
Endless Season Update 08/1/2009
REPORT #1176 'Below the Border' Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
East Cape
The first of the week began with great weather and enough blue marlin biting to raise the expectations for the East Cape Bisbee tournament. However, by mid-week, snotty seas whipped up by an unseasonal south wind that also cooled the water surface temperature three to five degrees.
Fifty-four boats lined up for the shotgun start the first day. During the three day event Tournament control was kept busy fielding a steady stream of radio reports of hookups and releases of both blue and striped marlin, along with a few reports of quality sized dorado. Lacking was the number of blues that would exceed the qualifying 300 pound minimum. By the end of the third day, only two qualifying blues were brought to the scales at Hotel Buenavista Beach Resort. The largest, weighing 341 pounds, was caught by Kent Andersson on the Cap'n Jake and the other 310 pounder was caught by Keith Jones fishing on the Mi Corazon. In the dorado category, the winning fish was a respectable 57.2 pounds caught by Alfredo Lucero on Sails Call. There was also a yellowfin tuna class and Daniel Fisher on the Fisherman delivered a 174.4 pound tuna to the scale.
Meanwhile, for the non tournament anglers, the inshore and the beach remained the best bet. Deeper in the water column there were amberjack and pargo. Along the beaches was a mixed bag of small roosters, green jacks, pompano and Mexican lookdowns.
Current East Cape Weather http://tiny.cc/EastCapeWeather303
Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico
First timers Charlie Delorme and his family discovered how hard yellowfin tuna pulled and were exhausted by the time they limited out. The fish were close enough, inside of ten miles, so the trip was more huff and puff than boat riding. There were also some just under a 100 pound grouper hanging on the rock reefs a few miles outside the Boca much to the delight of John Yancy and friends.
After their success they decided to chase a rumor that the commercial pangas had found a wad of wahoo farther offshore. They had a nice ride on the early morning calm seas but never did find the wahoo. With the afternoon wind at their back, it was a quick ride back.
Boats fishing outside of Cabo San Lazaro are reporting some chunky white sea bass up to 50 pounds along with some 20 pound yellows. Farther offshore up toward Thetis the shark buoys are loaded with both dorado and YFT’s.
Inside the bay, sierra have exploded with a few fatties to 8 pounds in the mix. Kayaker Ricky Garcia reported limiting out each of the four days he fished. His catch included sierra, corvina, grouper and bay bass.
Bob Hoyt
Current Magdalena Bay Weather http://tiny.cc/MagBayWeather150
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
No Report Computer Crashed!
Ed Kunze
Current Zihuatanejo Weather http://tiny.cc/zihuatanejo582
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Jun 13, 2009; 12:03PM - Inshore, Off the Charts
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Category: Saltwater Fly Fishing Reports
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Author Name: Gary Graham
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Author E-mail: bajafly@bajafly.com
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Report Description:
Endless Season Update 06/10/2009
REPORT #1170 'Below the Border' Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
East Cape
The inshore action for roosters and jacks continues to be off the charts. Plenty of bait along the beaches is attracting some of the best grade of roosters to be seen in years! Huge schools of jacks are also being seen daily cruising up and down the beaches along the shore.
Lance Peterson added another ‘grande’ to his 2009 total before leaving on a trip to the Caribbean and then on to chase roosters with our clients at Zihuatanejo.
Another noteworthy catch this week - actually last night in front of Rancho Leonero - Jim Ogborne, from Bozeman MT, landed an unusual catch…a small orange-mouth corvina on a chartreuse Clouser. While common in Magdalena Bay, this is the first one I can remember being caught at East Cape.
While many keep trying to will the offshore bite to turn-on, the facts indicate that it is still tough going for the billfish and dorado. While a few football-sized tuna are being found with the porpoise, if you aren’t one of the first boats to find them, chances are that you will be a spectator…not a player.
Water temperature 72-82
Air temperature 71-97
Humidity 56%
Wind: N 6 to 8 knots
Conditions: Mostly Clear
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 6:31 a.m. MST
Sunset 8:05 p.m. MST
Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico
Fishing the Esteros continues to be the best bet this week. There’s plenty of grouper, nothing huge, but along with the corvina and an occasional snook in some of the secret spots it’s enough grabs to keep things interesting.
There are good signs outside. If the wind would lay down a bit and if someone wanted to fish, there are both dorado and small tuna ten or so miles out in front of Lopez Mateos.
Bob Hoyt
Water temperature 69 - 77
Air temperature 663 -93
Humidity 97 %
Wind: WNW 15 to 20 knots
Conditions: Mostly Sunny
Visibility 3 miles
Sunrise 6:36 a.m. MST
Sunset 8:16 p.m. MST
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
Conditions have been improving dramatically this week. Early in the week, the fishing was as it had been this last several weeks; slow. Then Jaime Morales, the owner of the Vamonos Fleet, reported to me things started turning around on Tuesday.
The entire area is averaging a surface water temperature of 87º, and the blue water has come back in to about 12 miles. The game fish are coming with the favorable water conditions. On Tuesday the Vamonos I found a floating log and took a 20 pound dorado, a sailfish, and a very nice rainbow runner off it. Plus, Jaime's panga took a blue marlin only four miles in front of Zihuatanejo Bay. Other pangas also report several sailfish and a couple of blue marlin.
On Wednesday, the Vamonos I, with Leigh Bingham and friend, Chris, caught three sailfish. Martin, on the Nautilus also picked up a couple of sailfish. Remember, all of this is going on during the full moon period, so next week should be very good fishing.
Roosterfish and jack crevalle action remains strong.
Ed Kunze
Water temperature 78 - 83
Air temperature 81-101
Humidity 69%
Wind: Calm
Conditions: Cloudy
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 7:11 a.m. DST
Sunset 8:21 p.m. DST
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Jun 6, 2009; 04:56PM - Snook Snap at Cabo
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Category: Saltwater Fly Fishing Reports
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Author Name: Gary Graham
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Author E-mail: bajafly@bajafly.com
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Report Description:
Angler's name is Ellie Crocker, fishing aboard the Santi I with Captain Victor Saizar. They also caught 5 snappers that day. Ellie is a Phys Ed teacher at Lanier Middle School in Houston TX. She is visiting her brother-in-law Capt George Landrum. The next day they caught 3 more snook in the 20-30 lb range. The 3rd day she reeled in 8 roosterfish of various sizes.
Endless Season Update 06/03/2009
REPORT #1169 'Below the Border' Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
East Cape
Marlin are fickle and not too interested in lures or ballyhoo or anything else. But a few reports have come in with 120 to140 pound fish being caught and released. Those caught have been around 25 to 35 pounds. A few sailfish were reported and there are reports of an occasional tuna south in the Frailes area. The dorado are scattered but are being found under floating objects. Those caught have been around 25 to 35 pounds.
Much larger roosters are spread out throughout Palmas Bay, with the Frailes area producing the really big fish. Anglers have released at least a dozen over 50 pounds. Live mullet is the best bait for the larger fish. Lots of jacks, mixed with pompano and pargo, are making for stellar inshore fishing. One huge dog-toothed snapper (about 60+ pounds) was caught recently.
Lance Peterson reported: “The beach game is always a challenge. No boat, no chum, just sight casting and a teaser man, if you're lucky enough to have one. Even when it's 'game on' it's super physical…running, casting, and plowing through the deep sand to find the next shot. There has been a ton of bait and a good amount of gamers along the beach. Roosters and jacks a plenty. If you're able to get on the bite the action has been amazing and the fish have been anywhere from 5 pounds to way over 40 pounds. Good stuff for sure.”
“There has also been a tremendous number of jack crevalle in the high teens to twenty pounds.”
Water temperature 72-82
Air temperature 65-98
Humidity 72%
Wind: ENE 3 to 4 knots
Conditions: Partly Sunny
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 6:31 a.m. MST
Sunset 8:03 p.m. MST
Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico
The Esteros have been producing good catches of small grouper, halibut and cabrilla. The Estero at Santa Maria Bay had consistent action for corvina and small halibut in the channel at the entrance.
Outside at the shark buoys there are dorado to 25 pounds and tonnage of football sized yellowfin.
Bob Hoyt
Water temperature 69 - 77
Air temperature 66 -97
Humidity 81 %
Wind: WNW 16 to 22 knots
Conditions: Mostly Sunny
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 6:36 a.m. MST
Sunset 8:14 p.m. MST
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
Offshore fishing was very slow here this last week. Our 26th Annual Sailfish/Marlin/Dorado tournament, which is normally held on the first weekend of May, was delayed to this last week due to the earlier flu scare.
However, even with the delay, 90 boats entered the 2 day tournament this last week, but only caught a total of 34 sailfish and 2 blue marlin, no dorado. With the full moon cycle coming up, I do not expect things to improve.
We are seeing a lot of red tide along the coast right now, stretching about 7 miles on either side of Zihuatanejo Bay. The other areas are not affected, having good clean water and very favorable conditions for jack crevalle and roosters.
In fact, the close by red tide has actually pushed the baitfish into the bay, with the jacks following. Some of the best fishing right now is inside Zihuatanejo Bay.
Ed Kunze
Water temperature 78 - 83
Air temperature 77-94
Humidity 59%
Wind: Calm
Conditions: Sunny
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 7:10 a.m. DST
Sunset 8:19 p.m. DST |
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