Psst…Wahoo & Dorado…Thetis Bank

REPORT #975. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

Barry and Val Wilkerson of Loreto, looking for an escape from the typical Loreto hot summer temps, decided that a couple-hour trip across the peninsula to Lopez Mateos was in order.
The possibility of great fishing at Thetis Bank would be a bonus.
They arranged to fish with Magbay Outfitters on their speedy catamaran which put them in the zone in short order. The wahoo that Thetis is famous for have arrived as well as the dorado (so that’s where they have been). Not only did they catch both, they spotted a considerable number of marlin frolicking about.

With the action heating up offshore there were few bothering to fish the Esteros. The Entrada still has a few firecracker yellow under the bird school mixed in with the bonito.

Wahoo, dorado and pleasant weather……September at Magdalena Bay may make sense.



Water temperature 70-80
Air temperature 75-86
Humidity 78%
Wind: W 15
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 3 miles
Sunrise 7:10 a.m. MDT
Sunset 7:33 p.m. MDT
East Cape
September began with typical hot weather with just enough breezes in the afternoon to cool things down. As the SST chart reflects, the hot water continues all the way up into the Sea of Cortez. Once again the sardina played hard to get narrowing the bait choices down to mackerel, Caballito and anything else that comes up in the net. I am not kidding! One of the bait guys tried to sell us puffer fish claiming that they were great baits because the fish couldn’t spit them out! With the lack of sardine, strategy shifted back to chasing porpoise schools which yielded a better quality of YFT’s. Even a few gorilla class (100 lb. +) tuna charged the boat…. A Wasabi fly cast into boiling fish disappears as huge tuna inhales the fly…ZING…POW…@#$$%^…PRICLESS.
Billfish have been putting on a decent show up to the North - mostly sails, with a few stripes and blues mixed in - all within twenty miles. Talk about bizarre: the Giant Humbolt Squid showed up again this week. I told you it’s not what bites but what might!

With the hot sun beating down during prime time during the day, most opted to hang out at the pool. Some action found within walking distance of the hotels early morning and late in the afternoon as the sun dropped behind the mountain. A few ladyfish, jacks and for the very lucky, a rooster or two could be found.

Baja on the Fly

Water temperature 80-88
Air temperature 78-96
Humidity 55%
Wind: NNW 4 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 7:03 a.m. MDT
Sunset 7:27 p.m. MDT

Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
There has not been much change this last couple of weeks. The sailfish action is still only averaging 1 or 2 fish per boat per day. Dorado are starting to build under the floating debris caused from rain runoff out of the rivers, but there have not been very many of them caught.

The roosterfish action is still the best bet, with the boats averaging about 3 fish a day per boat.

Ed Kunze

Water temperature 80 - 84
Air temperature 77 - 88
Humidity 89%
Wind: Calm
Conditions: Scattered Clouds
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 7:33 a.m. CDT
Sunset 7:51 p.m. CDT

San Jose, Guatemala
September is “make ready” month for what everyone hopes will be another extraordinary year. Don’t miss the September\October issue of Fly Fishing in Salt Waters magazine. Read Scott Leon’s “Swimming with the Fishes” story about Guatemala sailfishing. Our good friend Bill Boyce shot the photos for the article and they are outstanding.




Water temperature 78 - 82
Air temperature 73- 86
Humidity 100%
Wind: SE 7 mph
Conditions: Thunder Storms
Visibility 6 miles
Sunrise 5:52 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:08 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