Sailing Time Begins at East Cape

REPORT #967. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
East Cape
The sailfish began to show in respectable numbers this week; however, some were the smallest I have ever seen. Wed. and Thurs. (7/12 and 13) we had a south wind that stirred things up a bit. The good news was the billfish were tailing within six miles of the beach. Lots of shots, near misses and enough “would of . . . could of . . . should of” to keep the bar busy at happy hour. Tuna were way out early in the week, but moved closer as the week progressed by yesterday (7/14) they were found just a click under 20 miles out. Size ranged from footballs to Oh my God! Baja Wasabi Jr. http://www.bajafly.com/bajawasabi.htm was the hot ticket for our clients and we were forced to tie up a new batch every night. Beach action was still slow most of the week, though by week’s end Thomas Bell was getting plenty of shots at cruising roosters and jacks on La Capilla Beach not far from Buena Vista Beach Resort Hotel.





Baja on the Fly
Water temperature 73-84
Air temperature 78-97
Humidity 70%
Wind: Calm. PM Breeze
Conditions: Partly Cloudy
Visibility 12 miles
Sunrise 6:42 a.m. MDT
Sunset 8:07 p.m. MDT
Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico
Dorado and tuna offshore in front of both the entrada and Lopez Mateos finally are giving the fly-fishers something to smile about. Warmer sea temps seem to have made the difference. The esteros (estuaries) are also beginning to heat up with enough corvina, pargo and halibut on the sandy beaches to make things interesting. Looks like summer has finally arrived at Magdalena Bay . . . and not a minute too soon.

Water temperature 62-73
Air temperature 75-80
Humidity 45%
Wind: W 15 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 6:46 a.m. MDT
Sunset 8:18 p.m. MDT
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
The 80º blue water remains a short 5 or 6 mile run out of Zihuatanejo Bay. The sailfish action has been fairly good. Most boats are each averaging between 2 to 4 sailfish a day. And, there are only about 10 boats in the fleet fishing the blue water every day.

Fly fishing with David Schack, from Long Beach CA, we worked an area 180º and 16 miles from Zihuatanejo Bay. This proved effective allowing Dave to tag and release his first ever fly caught sailfish.

Talking to Cheva on the panga Dos Hermanos II, he told me he spent 4 days down below Papanoa. This roosterfish fishing was absolutely fantastic, catching an average of 15 large roosters a day. The fish were averaging 35 pounds. He said he took most of his fish on surface poppers. They stayed in a hotel down there, rather than make the 40 mile run each day.


Baja on the Fly report by Ed Kunze

Water temperature 80 - 84
Air temperature 80 - 87
Humidity 62%
Wind: SW 6 mph
Conditions: Thunderstorms
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 7:17 a.m. CDT
Sunset 8:24 p.m. CDT
San Jose, Guatemala
Report Not Received


Water temperature 78 - 82
Air temperature 80- 84
Humidity 66%
Wind: East 8 mph
Conditions: Thunder Storms
Visibility 7 miles
Sunrise 5:43 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:35 p.m. CST