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