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