Tuna Dominate . . . Billfish Follow

REPORT #969. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
East Cape
The tuna just keep biting, but every day is different. Wed. (7/27), Michael Hibbard, Southbury, Conn., headed out to find grumpy seas pushed by a 20 knot south wind. It was almost two hours before the porpoise school could be located. Once found, it was only a few minutes before the distinctive thwack-thwack of the reel handle hitting Michael’s thumb could be heard. From then till quitting time it was almost constant action for tuna and white bonito. Yesterday (7/29), Michael chose to try the beach and had almost perfect weather for the morning. While he added several new species to his list, we didn’t see Bubba all day.
Next week brings the Bisbee Black and Blue Tournament to East Cape focusing on blue marlin; and while that is probably not real important to the fly angler, the fact that last week produced a 400+, 500+ and a whopping 614-pound blue has the town is abuzz with anticipation for what the participants may find during the event
Dr. Manuel Doria, Peoria, Ill., fishing out of Cabo, braving “Victory at Sea” conditions, was looking for a striped marlin on the fly. The shots he had were few and far between and didn’t work out. Accompanied by his friend Helena who was a first-timer to the salt, she had better luck and managing to catch and release her first striped marlin ever.


Baja on the Fly

Water temperature 73-88
Air temperature 78-102
Humidity 55%
Wind: Calm. PM Breeze
Conditions: Partly Cloudy
Visibility 15 miles
Sunrise 6:48 a.m. MDT
Sunset 8:01 p.m. MDT

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

Both the Thetis Bank and shark buoys 230-270˚ 20 miles outside the entrada produced a few dorado this week. A few marlin are beginning to move into the area as the water temps continue to climb offshore. Boats working the entrada reported yellowtail and grouper and schools of breezing skipjack and bonito which were easy to spot with the bird schools chasing them down. Outside of Lopez Mateos, dorado and tuna continued to be found in the 5-10 mile range of the beach. With better action offshore, fewer boats were opting to fish the esteros. The few fishing had good success catching corvina, grouper and a few snapper.


Water temperature 62-73
Air temperature 75-80
Humidity 83%
Wind: WNW 2 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 6:53 a.m. MDT
Sunset 8:12 p.m. MDT

Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
The 80º deep blue water is only 4 or 5 miles off the beach. We are getting out of the full moon period and the sailfish fishing is improving daily. We are currently getting 2 to 3 fish per boat per day average. There are still not many people fishing, and the fleet is holding fairly steady at about 12 boats a day.
The roosterfish action at times has been fantastic. Capt. Cali, on the panga Zapitito Gordo took fly-fishing client Matt Rice of Colorado out to the Pantla area. They raised 5 roosters, of which all could have been caught on conventional gear, but Murphy's Law, and a rush of adrenalin, made it real tough to even get the fly in the water.

Capt. Felipe on the panga Yellowfin and I had a little better luck in the same area. We were using my kite off the back side of the waves. Kite fishing for roosters and jacks is a very effective method, and probably the best chance to get a rooster on the fly. We were fishing with Californian Dean Gilardi. Dean got a very nice jack crevalle, and missed a couple of nice roosters. His girlfriend also got a nice jack and a small rooster.

Ed Kunze

Water temperature 80 - 84
Air temperature 80 - 91
Humidity 62%
Wind: N 4 mph
Conditions: Thunderstorms
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 7:24 a.m. CDT
Sunset 8:20 p.m. CDT

San Jose, Guatemala
No report received


Water temperature 78 - 82
Air temperature 82- 86
Humidity 100%
Wind: NE 13 mph
Conditions: Scattered Clouds
Visibility 7 miles
Sunrise 5:47 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:32 p.m. CST