Hilary Splits...Irwin Saunters By...Blue Marlin on the Fly

REPORT #973. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
East Cape
Last week I said “Talk about choices. East Cape in the summer is like trying to guess what is behind doors 1 . . . 2 . . . or 3.”
Well, I picked #3 and that was not a good choice. Hilary bopped in on Sun. (8/21) dumping enough rain to be a nuisance. I flew in on Mon. and it was still raining when I walked off the plane. Tues. (8/23) a film crew arrived and the “Curse of the Camera” began. SO you don’t care about my problems, what about the fishing you ask? First day out with camera crew and angler was Wed. and we raised 10 sailfish, cast to 7 for one solid hookup that broke off in the backing. Thurs., wind and rain chased everyone back in early. However, a few lucky anglers had some action Al Larson fishing with Dave Cooper from Denver landed his first blue marlin estimated to be approximately 200 lbs. on the fly which was quite an accomplishment by anyone’s standards.

Yesterday (8/26), more unsettled conditions, but by mid-morning the sea began to lay down and it was a beautiful day. Tuna were under the porpoise, sardina being sold at La Ribera, several multiples on billfish including, blues, stripes and sails finished up the week on the upswing.
Today we are back on the beach in search of Bubba or anything else that wants to play. Hopefully the weather will stay settled down for a few days and Irwin will continue its march toward Hawaii.
Baja on the Fly

Water temperature 78-89
Air temperature 78-98
Humidity 55%
Wind: Calm. PM slight breezes
Conditions: Scattered Clouds
Visibility 15 miles
Sunrise 6:59 a.m. MDT
Sunset 7:41 p.m. MDT

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico


The entrada continued to produce good fishing including grouper, yellowtail and a few sierra as well. If you are looking for something a little larger, there has been a pretty good marlin show 240˚-210˚ five miles off. Enrique Soto reported that the esteros (estuaries) had been slow with little bait to be found anywhere.

Up at Lopez Mateos, outside the Boca (mouth) there has been plenty of good-sized Dorado to provide non-stop action. Also, there’s plenty of small yellowtail to be found. Further out at the Thetis Bank, there were also reports of a fair show of marlin reported.

Water temperature 62-80
Air temperature 74-86
Humidity 83%
Wind: W 13 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 7:05 a.m. MDT
Sunset 7:51 p.m. MDT
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
We have had quite a turn-around in the fishing and the conditions this last week. The fishing can only be rated as poor. We have had a lot of tropical storms forming just off the coast here. Before they build in intensity and head further out to sea, we have been getting a little wind and a lot of rain. This has pushed the 82º blue water out a couple of miles off the beach. There is only about a one sailfish per day average per boat.

The inshore has also been taking a beating. With the large quantities of dirty water coming out of the rivers, the visibility is poor, and the fish are scattered.

The one highlight is the rivers have also pushed out a lot of trees and debris, which should start producing Dorado in a few more days.

Ed Kunze

Water temperature 80 - 84
Air temperature 78 - 89
Humidity 83%
Wind: W 6 knots
Conditions: T-Storms
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 7:30 a.m. CDT
Sunset 8:03 p.m. CDT

San Jose, Guatemala
This week few Sportfishing boats ventured out. For those that did releasing sails were in the low digits with some Dorado in the 10 to 25lb.class. The local captains are saying that the water is unseasonably warm which accounts for the low sailfish numbers. The last two days of the week saw strong winds and rough seas.

Les Kagel and Carlos Morales

Water temperature 78 - 82
Air temperature 80- 86
Humidity 74%
Wind: WSW 7 mph
Conditions: Thunder Storms
Visibility 7 miles
Sunrise 5:51 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:18 p.m. CST
For additional information: bajafly@bajafly.com
USA toll-free (800) 919-2252 or 760/746-7260;
Mexico 011-52-624-14-10373 or (760) 670 4916

Tuna Tussle Time

REPORT #972. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
East Cape

Hilary looms on the horizon. No, not that one. Hilary is the name of the latest Tropical Storm making its way up the Mexican Coast.
With few dorado, the Tuna Tussle is almost the mandatory way to begin the day. The YFT footballs seem to be growing up, causing some of our fly guys to cringe when a fatty comes charging up from the depths and inhales their Baja Wasabi. Usually after some “pump and grunt” time everyone is ready to move on to billfish or roosters.
Plenty of sailfish to fling a fly at, but you better pay attention or a striper may catch you napping. Of course, there is always the possibility of a blue dog (Blue Marlin) showing up in the pattern, inhaling the fly and punching it for the horizon leaving you with a broken line and a silly grin on your face as you realize that you have just been dusted by the best.
Then there is the Lighthouse, dubbed by some as the “Freak Show”. This is the time when “Bubba” class roosters cruise up and down the beach looking for a bait school to beat to a pulp. Timing is everything and if you and the fish get there at the same time, you may get the trophy of a lifetime.
Talk about choices. East Cape in the summer is like trying to guess what is behind door 1…2…3.
Baja on the Fly

Water temperature 79-89
Air temperature 60-98
Humidity 64%
Wind: Calm. PM Breezes
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 15 miles
Sunrise 6:57 a.m. MDT
Sunset 7:56 p.m. MDT

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

As the warm water moves up the west coast of Baja, the offshore reports just get better. Too bad there are only a few anglers to take advantage of the show. Dorado, YFT’s, yellowtail and so many marlin that one of our Captains pulled all the jigs in because he didn’t want to waste time on fish he couldn’t keep. If this keeps up, late October and November could be exciting.
In the Esteros, there are plenty of leopard grouper, snapper and corvina to keep the flyrodder busy. It is only a matter of time before the snook decide to get in on the action.

Out at the Entrada the promise of action under the bird schools for bonito, skipjack with an occasional firecracker yellowtail mixed in have kept the boats racing from one flock to another.

Water temperature 62-80
Air temperature 74-86
Humidity 83%
Wind: W 13 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 7:02 a.m. MDT
Sunset 7:56 p.m. MDT
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
The 83º to 86º blue water is right on the beach, and depending on the particular luck you have on any given day, the blue water fishing for sailfish is either good, or just average. It seems most of the boats are averaging between 1 and 2 sailfish a day. There are very few dorado around, and no one has seen any tuna.

However, the inshore has been outstanding. Adolpho, on the panga Dos Hermanos fished 5 days this week. Two of the days were in the blue water and they released 6 sailfish. The other three days were spent on the backside of the waves looking for the big jack crevalle and roosters. They caught 13 roosters and 16 jacks. The roosters averaged 30 to 35 pounds, and the jacks about 16 pounds. Adolpho's client's fish were all taken on either a slowed trolled live bait, or a surface popper cast on the ridge of the waves with medium action spinning gear.

Ed Kunze

Water temperature 80 - 84
Air temperature 78 - 89
Humidity 83%
Wind: Calm
Conditions: Scattered Clouds 2000 ft
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 7:29 a.m. CDT
Sunset 8:08 p.m. CDT

San Jose, Guatemala
According to the locals, the unseasonable hot water contributed to the slow down in the action this week. Factor in strong winds for the past few days and most of the fleet decided to stay in the Marina. Only a few sailfish and dorado were accounted for by the few boats that did decide to venture out.

Les Kagel and Carlos Morales

Water temperature 78 - 82
Air temperature 80- 84
Humidity 94%
Wind: WNW 8 mph
Conditions: Thunder Storms
Visibility 7 miles
Sunrise 5:50 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:22 p.m. CST
For additional information: bajafly@bajafly.com
USA toll-free (800) 919-2252 or 760/746-7260;
Mexico 011-52-624-14-10373 or (760) 670 4916

East Cape: Right Place…Right Time

REPORT #971. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
East Cape

This was another cookie cutter week of nice (hot) weather and fishing to match. Billfish including stripes, blues and sails, kept everyone staring intently at the teasers to see what would show up next. Still a good tuna show under the porpoise and if you held your mouth just right and were in the right place at the right time, there were a few fat dorado to be found. While not tons of Bubba sightings those with the patience to wait for one to come along were getting a few shots. While waiting, ladyfish, pompano and an occasional jack crevalle could be found meandering down the beach looking for a free meal. August at East Cape is not a bad place to be.
Baja on the Fly

Water temperature 73-88
Air temperature 80-102
Humidity 41%
Wind: Calm. PM Breeze
Conditions: Scattered Clouds 22000 ft
Visibility 15 miles
Sunrise 6:53 a.m. MDT
Sunset 7:53 p.m. MDT

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico



Diana Hoyt, of Magbay Outfitters, reported the fishing outside Boca de Soledad is great, with yellowfin tuna and dorado continuing to be found just a few miles offshore. The boats making the trip to the Thetis Bank reported a few marlin, lots of YFT’s and yellowtail as well. The shark buoys out to twenty miles west from the Entrada were holding good sized schools of dorado. With the offshore action continuing to pick up, few chose to fish inside the Esteros. Still plenty of corvina along with a few pargo and grouper landed at Devils Curve.

Water temperature 62-76
Air temperature 74-84
Humidity 43%
Wind: WNW 20 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 6:56 a.m. MDT
Sunset 8:07 p.m. MDT
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico

The blue water is only a mile off the beach, but it sure has warmed up. When I reached in the live well to get a bait for the kite fishing we were doing for the roosters and jacks, it felt like bath water. The http://terrafin.com Satellite Surface Temperature photos show the cooler inshore water at 84º, with the offshore at almost 88º.

Mid-week, Riley Wilcox of Missoula, Montana fly fished with me for roosters and jacks. The needle fish literally took practically all the kite baits we had, and we ended up chasing the birds and schools of huge jack crevalle. The jacks were averaging about 18 pounds, and were crashing on acres of bait. The jacks were everywhere. This was sight casting at its best. The only problem was avoiding the birds, which was very difficult to do. We ended up with a couple of pelicans released unharmed also.

John Miller and his two sons, of Woodland Texas, fished with Cheva on the panga “Dos Hermanos II”. They released two sailfish (about the average), and lost a third after it threw the hook a few minutes into the fight. The marlin and sailfish zone is only a scant 8 to 10 miles off the beach.

Adolpho, on the panga, “Dos Hermanos”, got a 70 pound roosterfish for his client. Using medium action spinning gear and a popper, it took over two hours to get the big fish to the boat.
Ed Kunze


Water temperature 80 - 84
Air temperature 80 - 91
Humidity 64%
Wind: 7 mph
Conditions: Thunderstorm
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 7:27 a.m. CDT
Sunset 8:13 p.m. CDT

San Jose, Guatemala

Only a few boats ventured out this week and found only a few sailfish and dorado due to the runoff caused by the rains. One boat out on Friday released a 450lb. marlin, and caught 20
yellow-fin tuna and two wahoo.

Les Kagel and Carlos Morales

Water temperature 78 - 82
Air temperature 82- 84
Humidity 62%
Wind: SSE 7 mph
Conditions: Thunder Storms
Visibility 7 miles
Sunrise 5:49 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:26 p.m. CST

Tuna Snap . . . Blues Disappoint

REPORT #970. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
East Cape
Michael Hibbard, Southbury, Conn., spent his last day chasing YFT from outside of Cabo Pulmo to 10 miles offshore. He demonstrated that the practice he had on his previous trip paid off and managed to raise his total up to double digits with his largest in the 30 pound class.
Bisbee Black and Blue Tournament attracted 56 teams to compete for the big jackpot. Since the preceding week had produced a 400+, 500+ and a 614-pound blue, anticipation ran high for the 240 anglers seeking the fame and a big check for winning the event. Unfortunately, the big blues didn’t get the invite and only one qualifying fish made it to the scales, 344 lbs. caught by lady angler Charlene Sanford onboard "Adam's Folly"

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



Looking at the SST’s on http://terrafin.com it appears that the warmer water is filling in nicely. Diana Hoyt, of Magbay Outfitters, confirmed that the fishing outside Boca de Soledad is great, with yellowfin tuna and dorado being found just a few miles offshore. Further out at the Thetis Bank there are reports of more marlin sightings. Boats straight-lining to the entrada found a steady dorado bite. At the entrada (entrance) there are plenty of bonito and skipjack under the bird schools and occasionally some fire-cracker yellows show up in the melee. As the water temperature continues to warm up, the bite is improving from San Carlos all the way up to panhandle above Lopez Mateos. Sierra, corvina, halibut at the sandy beaches and even snook now and then are keeping the rods bent and smiles on the anglers’ faces.

Water temperature 62-76
Air temperature 77-82
Humidity 88%
Wind: West 17 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 3 miles
Sunrise 6:56 a.m. MDT
Sunset 8:07 p.m. MDT
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico

There has not been much change this last couple of weeks. The 80º blue water is only a short 2 mile run off the beach, and the boats are still taking most of their fish between 10 and 12 miles out. The sailfish are averaging between two and three fish a day, per boat.

Adolpho, on the panga Dos Hermanos, fished the blue water two days and ended up with seven sailfish released. The three days of inshore fishing yielded (each day) two large roosterfish, averaging about 35- to 38-pounds, and three or four large jack crevalle, averaging about 18- to 20-pounds.

The week accounted for five blue marlin again. They are sticking around, even though the water is way too warm for their preference, because of the huge schools of skipjack tuna here. As normal for this time of the year, there are very few boats fishing in the fleet, and even though the fishing is fairy good, it will stay this way till November.

Ed Kunze

Water temperature 80 - 84
Air temperature 82 - 84
Humidity 94%
Wind: N 4 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 7:36 a.m. CDT
Sunset 8:16 p.m. CDT

San Jose, Guatemala
The week ending Aug. 5 saw sunny days and mild seas. For the sportfishing boats that ventured out this week, the fishing was so-so with daily averages in the low single digits and a few dorado.

Les Kagel and Carlos Morales

Water temperature 78 - 82
Air temperature 82- 86
Humidity 100%
Wind: SSE 4 mph
Conditions: Scattered Clouds
Visibility 7 miles
Sunrise 5:48 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:49 p.m. CST
For additional information: bajafly@bajafly.com
USA toll-free (800) 919-2252 or 760/746-7260; Mexico 011-52-624-14-10373