Fish till You Drop

REPORT #982. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996 Endless Season Update 10/28/2005East Cape Long time clients Joe and Nick Turano, from Houston, arrived earlier this week on another “take no prisoners” trip; and for openers, both landed striped marlin on the fly. It was Nick’s first one, at that! The Cabo Pulmo tuna action went deep and made it tough for the fly, but a few football-sized were suckered into doing the fur and feather routine.
Again this week the sardina were in short supply and the Humboldt squid came to the rescue. Cut into small chunks it makes pretty good chum. Anybody got a squid chunk pattern? While I am on the sardina thing, our guide Lance Peterson reported that juvenile sardina are beginning to show along the shore and he could see the ladyfish sending little showers of bait out of the water as they were feeding. That is new and different for this year.
East Cape delivered on its claim of being a “Fish Till you Drop” destination. Joe and Nick, after a full day on the boat, decided to tackle the beach after a quick dip in the pool and, of course, an ice cold Pacifico. Here is Lance’s comment about the afternoon: “Well, I rocked the Turano’s world on the beach this afternoon. Put them on a constant boil of ladyfish, jacks, and small roosters. Fished from 4:30 to 7 p.m., they were stoked! What a day. Man, I'm dead. The next morning was an instant replay before they had to leave for their flight mid-morning.”
As the week progressed the weather held, but the action slowed somewhat with the inshore action producing the best “bang for your buck.”

Baja on the Fly

Water temperature 80-86 Air temperature 77-86Humidity 31%Wind: NW 5 mphConditions: ClearVisibility 10 milesSunrise 7:22 a.m. MDTSunset 6:42 p.m. MDT
Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico
Early in the week Diana Hoyt of Mag Bay Outfitters reported rough seas, but good action for wahoo, marlin and yellowfin tuna just inside the Thetis Bank. Enrique Soto, our San Carlos pangero, fished offshore down to the south for the past two days and found good signs including lots of birds and bait. While there were good numbers of marlin spotted, they all seemed to have lockjaw. They caught a few as well as a dorado, but not the numbers that are normally associated with Magdalena Bay offshore action. The entrada continues to produce a few yellowtail and grouper. Up in the esteros, the mainstay has been corvina. One boat near Devil’s Curve managed to locate a school of snook that yielded a few up to 10 pounds. They also landed two red snapper in the 20 pound range.Water temperature 70-77Air temperature 68-79 Humidity 60% Wind: W 8Conditions: ClearVisibility 5 milesSunrise 7:32 a.m. MDTSunset 6:47 p.m. MDT

Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico Clean 82º water is only 6 miles off the beach, but the bluewater species have yet to turn on. Boats are still only averaging about one sailfish a day each. However, a few nice 20- to 25-pound class dorado are being caught each day. Hans Clausen of Denmark fished with Santiago on the panga “Gitana” for three days this week. Hans is the president of the European Federation of Sea Anglers and is here with a small group to sample our fishing. On the first day, Hans got 8 large jack crevalle, a sailfish on the second day, and a couple of nice roosters with several more jacks on the third day.
Ed Kunze Water temperature 80 - 84Air temperature 78 - 86Humidity 94%Wind: CalmConditions: Scattered CloudsVisibility 10 milesSunrise 7:43 a.m. CDTSunset 7:15 p.m. CDT
San Jose, Guatemala No Report received this week
Water temperature 78 - 82Air temperature 79- 89Humidity 100%Wind: CalmConditions: Scattered CloudsVisibility 6 milesSunrise 5:57 a.m. CSTSunset 5:36 p.m. CST[/b]

More fish . . . Too Much Wind

REPORT #981. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 10/22/2005
East Cape
Justin Cordonnier, Mario Proia, Dana Erikson and Jon Weber – Atlantic striper and bluefish guys from the East Coast – came in search of action and weren’t disappointed. By the end of their trip they had caught 15 species and tallied more firsts than a 21st birthday party: everything from bonefish to Humboldt squid. Inshore, they found jacks, roosters, ladyfish, pompano; moving a few miles further off the beach outside of Cabo Pulmo they connected with YFT, skipjack, white bonito, dorado and even a wahoo.
Still few sardina to be found, however the squid cut into chunks did the trick. Tuna and dorado couldn’t resist the chum line of one inch cubes thrown out in handfuls. We had a chum line on both ends of the boat and it worked like a charm. Justin, casting from the bow, hooked both dorado and yellowfin tuna on a well-placed See Through Deceiver with a hint of turquoise.
By Tuesday, (10/18) the north wind began to ramp up and the rest of the week went south. On the water there more holes than a Baja back road and the wind waves on the beach had turned the water the color of bad tequila. Lance did manage to guide his clients to a few small roosters and jacks at the sticks near La Ribera. By early this morning the wind began to back off and we are hoping for a repeat of last weekend.

Baja on the Fly

Water temperature
80-84
Air temperature
77-88
Humidity
31%
Wind:
NW 11 mph
Conditions:
Scattered Clouds
Visibility
10 miles
Sunrise
7:18 a.m. MDT
Sunset
6:47 p.m. MDT

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

While lumpy seas made fishing tough, the results were good for the few who ventured out. Below and inside the Thetis Bank, a few marlin were located feeding on the surface. Dorado and tuna could be found back closer toward the boca (mouth) into Lopez Mateos. The shark buoys west of the entrada were producing the fair catches of dorado and also a few marlin.

Up in the esteros, the bite continued to be slow, with plenty of cabrilla as usual, but the corvina, leopard grouper and pargo were in short supply. There were a few yellowtail found deeper in the water column.

Several of the East Coast yachts that made the long journey to get in on the hot marlin bite Magdalena Bay is known for have been heard complaining that the fishing has been disappointing for them. Too bad. I guess ballyhoo don’t work here as well as they do on the other coast. The West Coast yachts traveling up and down the coast past Magdalena Bay have been reporting good to great fishing for the past several weeks. Local knowledge must help.

Water temperature
70-77
Air temperature
68-79
Humidity
60%
Wind:
WNW 17
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
5 miles
Sunrise
7:28 a.m. MDT
Sunset
6:53 p.m. MDT
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
Things sure have turned around since the heavy rains from the remnants of tropical storm Stan hit us two weeks ago. I was sure they would take a turn for the better, because we are now out of the rainy season, and getting back into a normal pattern.

The inshore waters are approaching 80º again and the fishing reflects it. Adolpho, on the panga “Dos Hermanos,” got 7 roosters for his client, and a couple of large jacks. They fished the antennae area near Petalan. Most of the fish were taken by casting large surface poppers. A few were taken slow trolling a live bait.

The bluewater is still a ways offshore, but the 84º water is closer in. Santiago on the panga “Gitana” is doing about the average, with three sailfish released for his client for two days of fishing. As we come out of the full moon cycle, the bluewater fishing shall also improve dramatically.

Water temperature
80 - 84
Air temperature
78 - 87
Humidity
94%
Wind:
WSW 8 mph
Conditions:
Overcast
Visibility
10 miles
Sunrise
7:41 a.m. CDT
Sunset
7:19 p.m. CDT

San Jose, Guatemala
With all the recent storm activity, the water has be off-color and fishing has been tough. Everyone is hoping that the fringes of Wilma don’t extend the poor conditions. Activity should begin to pick up right after the first of the month as the fleet begins to ramp up for the upcoming season.

http://www.bajafly.com/Newsletter/guatstrom.jpg
Les Kagel

Water temperature
78 - 82
Air temperature
79- 89
Humidity
100%
Wind:
W 11 mph
Conditions:
Scattered Clouds
Visibility
6 miles
Sunrise
5:55 a.m. CST
Sunset
5:39 p.m. CST
For additional information: mailto:bajafly@bajafly.com
USA toll-free (800) 919-2252 or 760/746-7260;
Mexico 011-52-624-14-10373 or (760) 670 4916

Storm Moves On – Stuff Bites

REPORT #980. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
East Cape
After dumping a ton of rain on the mainland, the remnants of Tropical Storm Stan were hardly noticed as it went by here earlier in the week. In its wake came the first north wind of the season, causing the Sea of Cortez to get grumpy. However, the fish didn’t seem to care and there were plenty of tuna and billfish for the anglers who hung in there. Surprisingly, there were even a few dorado to be found. By yesterday (10/14), the wind had backed off some and the sea had started to settle down. The beach is still dirty from the wind waves and will need a few more days to clean up. There were several larger roosters released this week close to shore somewhere between La Ribera and the Lighthouse.
Our guide Lance Peterson reported: “The wind backed off considerably today (10/14). Just a breeze. Clear skies and warm. Fished inshore with the fly-guys from Cordonnier group. We quickly jigged up some Humboldt squid to use for chum. There were no sardina to be found anywhere, only mackerel. We trolled the ‘hoochie’ a little and a hooked a dorado. One of the guys hooked one of its followers. It was just a little guy, but cool. Then we headed over to Punta Colorado and cast over the rocks. Caught a lot of small roosters, under a pound. There were ten at least. Finished at Punta Arena where I teased up a bunch of hot ladyfish, needles, and more little roosters. Caught a few pompano, too. It was an eight species day.”

Baja on the Fly

Water temperature
80-84
Air temperature
78-93
Humidity
31%
Wind:
N 7 mph
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
12 miles
Sunrise
7:15 a.m. MDT
Sunset
6:53 p.m. MDT
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
Water conditions are still recovering from when we were hit hard last week by remnants of Tropical Storm Stan. However, things are improving daily and should be back to normal by the end of next week. The blue water is still out a long ways, but coming back in to about 25 miles. From the Terrifin Satellite Surface Water Temperature, the 80º water is now at 10 miles, and the 84º water is about 32 miles.

The boats are averaging about one sailfish a day each. Dan Leo, fishing on his private boat Dancin, caught two very nice dorado yesterday. He had gone out with a new electric reel to try some very deep water meat fishing. When they spotted the dorado under some debris, that put an end to the deep water expedition.

Terry Carter, guiding in last week's Baja on the Fly roosterfish tournament, fished with Santiago on the panga Gitana for two days. He caught one sailfish on the fly each day boosting his lifetime total to 102 and one of them was on a 4-weight.

The inshore waters are clearing up fast, but they are not yet back to a normal 82º. They should be in great shape by next week.


Ed Kunze

Water temperature
80 - 84
Air temperature
78 - 86
Humidity
66%
Wind:
SE 9 mph
Conditions:
T-Storms
Visibility
10 miles
Sunrise
7:38 a.m. CDT
Sunset
7:24 p.m. CDT

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

Clear skies and no wind. That’s something different! The past few weeks seem like a broken record of threatening weather. The few boats have been out this week found some warm water which was holding a few dorado and YFT. No one was really targeting the marlin or wahoo, but there were rumors of some of both being spotted at the lower end of the Thetis. Before the storms hit, several yachts found enough action to get their scores up in the double digits; hopefully those fish are still hanging out and can be located again. Back in the esteros, slim picking persisted with cabrilla, a few corvina and even fewer grouper. There was a flurry of action under the bridge at the entrance to San Carlos at gray light several days last week producing a pretty good corvina bite for about an hour each morning.

Water temperature
70-81
Air temperature
68-82
Humidity
80%
Wind:
NNW 13
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
5 miles
Sunrise
7:24 a.m. MDT
Sunset
7:00 p.m. MDT
San Jose, Guatemala
Because of the large clean-up effort after Hurricane Stan, no boats that went out. Also, it will take another week or so for all of the river runoff to get back to their usual levels, thus bringing the blue water back normal distances.

Les Kagel

Water temperature
78 - 82
Air temperature
77- 88
Humidity
70%
Wind:
Calm
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
6 miles
Sunrise
5:54 a.m. CST
Sunset
5:44 p.m. CST
For additional information: mailto:bajafly@bajafly.com
USA toll-free (800) 919-2252 or 760/746-7260;
Mexico 011-52-624-14-10373 or (760) 670 4916

REPORT #979. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
Torrential rains greeted the early-arriving participants for our catch and release “Jacks or Better” tournament. Several anglers including Bruce Pratt, from Beaufort, South Carolina and last year’s winner Brian Berger from San Francisco, found plenty of action in the jack department, both landing fish in the 10- to 20-pound class on Wed. (10/5). By Fri. morning when the pre-fish day was scheduled, the sun was shining and the boats headed out in search of some action.

Ed Kunze

Water temperature
80 - 84
Air temperature
78 - 86
Humidity
55%
Wind:
SE 5 mph
Conditions:
Scattered Clouds
Visibility
10 miles
Sunrise
7:37 a.m. CDT
Sunset
7:29 p.m. CDT

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

Otis came and went and left some grumpy seas along with wind and rain which prevented anyone from fishing outside. The esteros were not wonderful, but did provide some diversion while waiting for Otis to pass. Spotted bay bass, a few grouper and trigger fish were all that could be found.

When things finally settled down later in the week, a few boats were able to get outside. Water temperatures dropped a few degrees to the 77-78 range, but the YFT didn’t seem to care and were found half way out to the Thetis Bank. With few boats out, it is difficult to say where the marlin, wahoo and dorado ended up after the storm.


Water temperature
70-81
Air temperature
71-86
Humidity
79%
Wind:
W 17
Conditions:
Mostly Cloudy
Visibility
5 miles
Sunrise
7:21 a.m. MDT
Sunset
6:58 p.m. MDT

East Cape
Everyone is watching the storm containing the leftovers of “Stan,” which is meandering up the Mexican coast. Stan dumped plenty of rain on Guatemala and the West Coast of Mexico including Zihuatanejo. Unsettled conditions this week slowed the fishing down a tad. With few clients willing to head out, the reports were sketchy at best. There are still the squid out a few miles (go figure). Some tuna are out in front of La Ribera, but they are driven down quickly as more boats land on them. Offshore, billfish remain the best target. Dorado finally are showing, but don’t get me wrong – it’s not a bonanza. Along the beach, wind waves have made the water the color of a bad cup of coffee.
Baja on the Fly

Water temperature
80-88
Air temperature
78-96
Humidity
55%
Wind:
SE 12 mph
Conditions:
Mostly Cloudy
Visibility
12 miles
Sunrise
7:12 a.m. MDT
Sunset
6:50 p.m. MDT

San Jose, Guatemala
Hurricane “Stan” caused some heavy flooding to some parts of Puerto San Jose. A few of the private houses in the Villas del Pacifico Compound were flooded with two to three feet of water but most are OK. At the resort, a few large trees were fallen and some flooding to the employee quarters and parking lot but the resort is OK and open for business.Currently the roads to both the Villas and Marina Sol are closed but should open soon. Because of the poor weather no boats fished this week.

Water temperature
78 - 82
Air temperature
77- 80
Humidity
94%
Wind:
WSW 9 mph
Conditions:
Light Drizzle
Visibility
6 miles
Sunrise
5:53 a.m. CST
Sunset
5:46 p.m. CST
For additional information: mailto:bajafly@bajafly.com
USA toll-free (800) 919-2252 or 760/746-7260;
Mexico 011-52-624-14-10373 or (760) 670 4916

Has Anybody Seen Otis?

REPORT #978. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

As we have been saying for the past few weeks, the locals have been reporting increasing numbers of marlin and well as dorado and wahoo. Larry and Martha Warlaumont, Newport Beach, Calif., heading up the line aboard their 61-foot Viking “Retriever,” reported excellent fishing 15 miles outside of Santa Maria Bay including double digit marlin plus dorado and wahoo. Capt. Ruben Duran, skipper of Mag Bay Outfitters’ 26-foot go-fast catamaran, found plenty of YFT’s in the 30-40 pound class between the Boca and Thetis Bank. Looks like Magdalena Bay is lighting up early this year. Both boats reported finding 81 degree water. As of this morning, tropical storm Otis is slowly making its way up the West Coast of Baja and is expected to arrive sometime tonight. There has already been some rain, wind and the conditions on the outside have turned pretty grumpy. If Otis doesn’t turn everything upside down, October could be a hoot.

.
Water temperature
70-81
Air temperature
71-86
Humidity
46%
Wind:
NE 9
Conditions:
Mostly Cloudy
Visibility
3 miles
Sunrise
7:18 a.m. MDT
Sunset
7:14 p.m. MDT

Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
With reports of good inshore action for both roosters and jacks reported, we are all looking forward to the “Jacks or Better” roosterfish tournament that will begin mid-week. Anglers from as far away as Florida will begin arriving early in the week to get in some practice. Our sponsors have outdone themselves. The prize list is impressive including Abel 10-weight rods and reels, Scientific Anglers flylines, boxes and tippets, a killer selection of Rainy’s inshore flies, Kaenon Eyewear, Dr. Slick pliers, special tournament shirts provided by Newport Blue. As an IGFA Rolex qualifying tournament, everyone is hoping to win big and participate in the Florida event in 2006.


Ed Kunze

Water temperature
80 - 84
Air temperature
78 - 84
Humidity
66%
Wind:
W 13 mph
Conditions:
Scattered Clouds
Visibility
10 miles
Sunrise
7:36 a.m. CDT
Sunset
7:35 p.m. CDT

East Cape
Squid continued to be found a few miles offshore and the small tuna were still out in front of La Ribera. The billfish bite including sailfish, stripes and blues turned tougher this week. By week’s end, tropical storm Otis was heading by outside of Cabo and caused some rain but little wind. This morning (10/1) only a few hotel boats headed out. Judging by the white caps on the horizon, it may be a short day for everyone.

Baja on the Fly

Water temperature
80-88
Air temperature
78-99
Humidity
84%
Wind:
SE 17 mph
Conditions:
Mostly Cloudy
Visibility
4 miles
Sunrise
7:10 a.m. MDT
Sunset
7:06 p.m. MDT

San Jose, Guatemala
With nice weather and blue water less than an hour away, a few boats headed out last weekend. While there were a few sails to be found the dorado fishing was very good. It is not often that the sailfish take a backseat to the dorado.

Water temperature
78 - 82
Air temperature
77- 84
Humidity
79%
Wind:
SSE 7 mph
Conditions:
Partly Cloudy
Visibility
6 miles
Sunrise
5:52 a.m. CST
Sunset
5:31 p.m. CST
For additional information: mailto:bajafly@bajafly.com
USA toll-free (800) 919-2252 or 760/746-7260;
Mexico 011-52-624-14-10373 or (760) 670 4916