Dorado Turn-on as the Turkey Bakes

REPORT #986. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996 Endless Season Update 11/26/05East Cape Can’t count out East Cape just yet. In spite of windy conditions early in the week, the billfish just didn’t want to quit. Jim Easterling, Houston, and his family found the action to his liking with plenty of marlin and sails on Monday. Making the trek up from Cabo again on Wednesday, he found an instant replay of the first day, sans wind. Still a few tuna and even a few late-blooming dorado are to be found when the wind takes a breather. Lane Garrett reported the weather for the past few days was perfect and wonder of wonders, the dorado finally decided to bite. The shark buoys produced great action yielding some quality dorado from 15 to 30 pounds. Lane even caught one in the 10 pound range from his kayak just south of Palmas de Cortez Hotel. The only thing I can figure is the smell of turkey woke them up!


Be sure to pick up a copy of the Autumn Issue of Fish&Fly
Baja on the Fly
Water temperature 79-84 Air temperature 70-81Humidity 19%Wind: N 12 mphConditions: ClearVisibility 15 milesSunrise 6:39 a.m. MSTSunset 5:32 p.m. MST
Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico
The best action continues to be at the “Finger Bank” below Pt. Tasco towards Cabo. Reports from the boats traveling up the line are that once they leave the bank, the action drops off pretty fast. Wind increased for the past few days and kept most of the boats close to the anchorage. While the reports are not wide open, it sounds like there is still some billfish and wahoo action to be found around the Thetis for the persistent. Back closer to the beach toward Lopez Mateos, the dorado and tuna don’t want to quit.
Back inside, several boats including John Lyddon’s “Don Juan,” have found some fair action on smaller snook and grouper. Check out my column in December issue of Pacific Coast Sportfishing for more information about fishing the beach on Magdalena Island.
Water temperature 68-75Air temperature 71-79 Humidity 23% Wind: WNW 11mphConditions: ClearVisibility 6 milesSunrise 6:50 a.m. MSTSunset 5:36 p.m. MSTZihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico Surface Satellite Temperatures show the water averaging about 82º. We are now primed for the Baja on the Fly Sails and Tales Fly Fishing Tournament Dec. 1 through the 6. Earlier this week, and under a full moon, we had 78º water. This was consistent with the cooler night time and morning temperatures we would not normally have this time of the year. Plus, being that sailfish prefer the warmer 80º-84º range, it was consistent. We were only averaging one or two sailfish a day per boat. However, the 78º water was perfect for blue marlin, explaining why one out of every three boats a day were getting a shot at a marlin, and one out of every five are actually getting the hooked fish to the boat. Today, at six miles off the beach, the blue water is just a short ride, with lines in the water only 30 minutes after leaving the municipal pier in Zihuatanejo Bay. Each day has been improving as we are almost out of the effects of the full moon. This next week should see a major improvement in the sailfish action due to the new moon phase. Inshore, the sierra action continues on its limits all around pace up near Ixtapa Island and it is the same for the jack crevalle near Pantla Beach. The roosterfish action, with the cooler water, had also cooled. The boats are averaging about one fish a day.
Ed Kunze, Zihuatanejo Water temperature 80 - 84Air temperature 75 - 84Humidity 66%Wind WSW 12 mph Conditions: ClearVisibility 7 milesSunrise 6:56 a.m. CSTSunset 6:08 p.m. CST
San Jose, Guatemala The 2005 Presidential Challenge starting 11-19-05 and ending on the 21st. For complete results click on the link; http://www.preschallenge.com/News/index.asp The action ranged between 20 to 40 miles with a couple of boats going as far as 50 miles on the last day. Alex McCleod, out of London, fly-fished four days. He had been fly-fishing in the past for sails, and had yet to boat one. After reading that Guatemala is one of the world’s hottest spots for sailfish, both with conventional tackle and on the fly, Alex booked his first trip to Guatemala. After boating 12 sails in four days (and with a few that got away) Alex said “Guatemala is all that I have read about and it sure feels great when those dreams come true.” Not only was Alex rewarded with 12 sails, but several dorado on the fly as well. Alex fished on-board “The Stragos,” a 31-foot Bertram and fished between 20 to 25 miles.Les Kagel
Water temperature 78 - 82Air temperature 78- 82Humidity 46%Wind: SSE 9 mphConditions: ClearVisibility 6 milesSunrise 6:08 a.m. CSTSunset 5:32 p.m. CST[b][/b]

Magdalena Bay Explodes…East Cape Fades

REPORT #985. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 11/19/05

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

Chuck White on the “Pacific Venture” moved back up to the Thetis area and has found consistent action all week for billfish, wahoo and tuna. Boats traveling in both directions up the West Coast of Baja have had action beginning at the Uncle Sam to the north all the way down to the Finger Bank below Punta Tasca to the south and have tales of big bird schools with marlin thrashing the water to a white froth under them. Even the day boats out of Lopez Mateos are getting into the action finding plenty to fish for all the way out to the Thetis Bank. Stories of acre wide schools of tuna from football to VW size leaping from the water as they chase bait is enough to ignite the imagination. Then there are the kelps found above the Thetis all the way up to the double 23’s loaded with some fat wahoo. As always, when Magdalena Bay goes off it is an explosion heard all the way up the coast. I hope all the yachts arriving this week have plenty of tackle!

Inshore Josh Dickinson and Lance Peterson pounded the Esteros and landed more grouper, corvina and spotted bay bass than they could count. Seems like the exotics eluded them and according to Josh, they never even had a mystery bite.

Check out my column in December issue of Pacific Coast Sportfishing for more information about fishing the beach on Magdalena Island.

Water temperature
68-75
Air temperature
71-84
Humidity
23%
Wind:
NNW 4mph
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
6 miles
Sunrise
6:45 a.m. MST
Sunset
5:38 p.m. MST
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
The 84º blue water is only about 8 miles off the beach. The full moon has slowed the action down, with only a few sailfish per boat each day. Thursday, Cheva and Adolpho located a concentration of fish because they certainly did better than the average. Cheva, on the panga Dos Hermanos II, got 5 sails and Adolpho, on the panga Dos Hermanos got 4. They were fishing an area 17 miles off the light house.

Blue marlin have really been the story. Our best day (Wed.) was 8 blue marlin for the fleet, with Alfredo on the Esturion getting two. The fleet of about 15 boats fishing the blue water, is averaging between 2 and 3 caught marlin a day.

With the inshore temperatures about 80º, the jack crevalle and roosterfish action is holding steady. The jack fishing has been incredible for a couple of weeks now. Adolpho fished for roosters for three days this week and released 6, but he also released 31 of the big jacks. Plus, for every boat targeting them, the sierras have also been providing us with limits all around. The roosters are averaging about 35 to 40 pounds, the jacks between 8 and 16 pounds, and the sierras are between 4 and 6 pounds.

Ed Kunze, Zihuatanejo

Water temperature
80 - 84
Air temperature
78 - 87
Humidity
79%
Wind
WSW 9 mph
Conditions:
Cloudy
Visibility
10 miles
Sunrise
6:52 a.m. CST
Sunset
6:09 p.m. CST
East Cape
With the North Wind howling, Lance and Josh headed up to Lopez Mateos to check out the Esteros. Fewer and fewer boats went out this week as a result of the north wind and fewer guests in the hotel. There are still a few tuna and the billfish bite has held up remarkably well. With Turkey day just around the corner, the focus seems to be changing from Rooster to Turkey. Still some “Bubba’s”are around but conditions have made it very tough to stalk them. By Wednesday when Yvonne and I finished up our move and headed back to Escondido, the winds had subsided to a mere breeze. Unfortunately, that didn’t last long. It is safe to say that East Cape is slipping into its winter mode.
Baja on the Fly

Water temperature
79-84
Air temperature
72-84
Humidity
45%
Wind:
NNW 15 mph
Conditions:
Mostly Cloudy 20000 ft
Visibility
10 miles
Sunrise
6:34 a.m. MST
Sunset
5:33 p.m. MST


San Jose, Guatemala
With the 2005 Presidential Challenge beginning this morning, most of the boats fishing this week have been in their “Tournament Mode” and keeping quiet about the action and location. Secrets notwithstanding, the fishing was consistently good throughout the week and everyone is looking forward to a successful event. Sounds like there were some double digit scores for sailfish on some of the scouting boats. Boats also reported dorado and tuna were showing up behind the boat.

Les Kagel

Water temperature
78 - 82
Air temperature
78- 82
Humidity
74%
Wind:
Calm
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
6 miles
Sunrise
6:04 a.m. CST
Sunset
5:32 p.m. CST

Wide Open . . . New Beginnings

REPORT #984. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 11/12/05

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico



Offshore action was strung out from the ridge all the way to 35 miles below Pt. Tosca. Chuck White on the “Pacific Venture” confirmed that they had found good action beginning at Thetis and then followed it down to below Pt. Tasco. Most of their catch was on conventional gear though John Whittaker landed marlin and dorado on our Billfish Babies that he purchased for the trip. Earlier, several East Coast boats, including Tony on the “Escape” and Nick Smith on the “Old Reliable One,” reported raising 75 fish and catching a dozen or so on the fly. Other boats found some excellent wahoo action up on the ridge near the double 23s. There were lots of bird schools strung out from the flats five miles above Cabo Lazaro out to the west toward the Petrel Bank. These are the classic Magdalena Bay bird schools that can be holding anything including tuna, dorado, billfish and wahoo. All-in-all this season is turning out to be one of the better ones in the past several years. Coincidently, Yvonne and I attended the Billfish Symposium held in Avalon recently. Guy Harvey showed some of the video that was shot on a trip we did several year ago. Trust me, seeing what is going on in the water underneath the bird school helps you understand just how many fish can be on one bait ball.

Understandably, with all the action on the outside, no one spent much time in the esteros this week.

Water temperature
70-77
Air temperature
62-78
Humidity
85%
Wind:
NNW 2mph
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
5 miles
Sunrise
6:41 a.m. MST
Sunset
5:40 p.m. MST
East Cape
Don Murnane, who we met at the Fly Fishing Show in Somerset, NJ earlier this year, began his week on Saturday. Greeted by flat calm weather, he had great action for small roosters, ladyfish and jacks. Mid-day, guide Lance Peterson, using a surface teaser, had school of jacks charge the beach. Don capitalized on the opportunity and caught his first jack from the beach. A short time later, “Bubba” chased the teaser into the beach, but wouldn’t go for Don’s fly. It was enough to make Don sit down for a few minutes to catch his breath. On a panga the next day, he had his first encounter with the mighty Humboldt squid and was impressed. With few sardina to be found, the cut-up squid has become a staple for chum. Along the way down the beach they found a bait guy selling mackerel and bought enough to fill the tank. He spent the entire morning casting to ladyfish, jacks and more small roosters. By mid-day the strategy changed and Lance began slow trolling hookless mackerel. It wasn’t long before the better-sized roosters joined the dance, providing Don with plenty of action. One more panga day with more squid action, a ride all the way down below Las Frailes to purchase some sardina. Then they worked just outside of Cabo Pulmo and after few minutes the skipjack and YFT were boiling all around the boat. With a variety of species and plenty of action, Don couldn’t stop talking about his first East Cape Baja Adventure and is already planning his next trip. He did it in the nick of time – the north wind came back for another visit on his final day.
As I sit here writing this report and watching the north wind blow at our home “Rancho Deluxe” here at East Cape, I am saddened to announce that after 17 years in the house we will be moving out on the 15th. We have many memories and have enjoyed our time here at East Cape. We won’t be leaving the area, but soon after we move the house it will be torn down to make way for a new development including a rumored golf course with the 9th hole dead center where our home stood.
Baja on the Fly

Water temperature
80-86
Air temperature
72-84
Humidity
31%
Wind:
NNW 15 mph
Conditions:
Scattered Clouds
Visibility
10 miles
Sunrise
6:30 a.m. MST
Sunset
5:35 p.m. MST

Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
According to the Terrifin Satellite Surface Temperatures, the water is finally starting to warm up again, with 80º being the norm. This will improve both the blue water fishing and the inshore.

The great bite on the jack crevalle action is still going well to the north of Zihuatanejo, but the water has warmed up there faster than the south.

Several blue marlin we taken this week, and about one sailfish per boat average per day. Russ Kirtchner of Indiana had a decent week’s fishing with Santiago on the panga “Gitana” and Cheva on the “Dos Hermanos II.” He took one sailfish of 120 pounds, a 310 pound blue marlin, two roosters of about 35 and 40 pounds, and a couple of jacks.


Ed Kunze, Zihuatanejo

Water temperature
80 - 84
Air temperature
78 - 86
Humidity
94%
Wind
SW 8 mph
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
10 miles
Sunrise
6:49 a.m. CST
Sunset
6:10 p.m. CST

San Jose, Guatemala
The fishing for Guatemala this week went from BORING to WFO. Early in the week, boats were traveling 40 to 50 miles to find good action ranging from high single digits to mid-double digits with a few here and there on the fly. As the weekend approached, the fish moved half the distance to the beach ranging anywhere from 15 to 25 miles. The sailfish bite turned on and by all accounts the 2006 Season has begun! Boats were reporting an incredible number of the fish that Guatemala is famous for raised and caught. With even a few yellowfin tuna and dorado thrown in; it was a great start for a new season.

Les Kagel

Water temperature
78 - 82
Air temperature
78- 84
Humidity
84%
Wind:
SW 4 mph
Conditions:
Scattered Clouds
Visibility
6 miles
Sunrise
6:02 a.m. CST
Sunset
5:32 p.m. CST

North Wind . . . No Wind . . . Transition Time

REPORT #983. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 11/05/05
East Cape
The week started out with the dreaded North wind whistling down the Sea of Cortez leaving more white caps and less fish. Regardless, there were a few tuna to be found on the outside. As the wind increased, the boats moved closer to shore and found a few skipjack and small jacks to round out the day.
By mid-week, the wind had diminished, but the beach was still blown out and there was little action to be found. Back on the boats yesterday (11/4) Jodie Reece and her sister, visiting from Florida, got into a wide open sierra bite first thing in the morning. Then it was out to the blue water to look for some billfish action. Great action, plenty of stripey’s in the pattern, but not the least bit interested in the fly. They finished up the day at the reef in front of Rancho Leonero, catching ladyfish and pargo using squid chunks for chum. Geoff Nathanson, Malibu, Calif., fishing with guide Josh Dickenson, spent part of the day trying to get a roosterfish excited enough to eat his fly. Same story – plenty came up to the teaser, but wanted no part of the fly. This morning the weather is flat calm and our Lance Peterson couldn’t resist and headed out onto the beach for a guide’s day of chasing the illusive roosters along the shore.
Baja on the Fly

Water temperature
80-86
Air temperature
77-84
Humidity
31%
Wind:
E 2 mph
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
10 miles
Sunrise
6:2 6a.m. MDT
Sunset
5:38 p.m. MDT

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

Weather has settled down somewhat and the reports are of scattered fish from the boca to the Thetis Bank. I understand that there has been an excellent tuna bite for the bigger fish down below Tasca on the Morgan Bank. However, this is old information and I imagine it has gotten pretty crowded there by now. Diana Hoyt reported another large yacht came through the boca this week with no problems. The esteros have been producing a few corvina and grouper lately. The snook have been acting more like snipe and have been hard to find. Out at the entrada, Enrique Soto has been consistently getting a few yellows under the bird schools.


Water temperature
70-77
Air temperature
68-75
Humidity
82%
Wind:
WSW 8mph
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
5 miles
Sunrise
7:32 a.m. MDT
Sunset
6:47 p.m. MDT

Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
As expected, with the new moon phase and the water cleaning up, the offshore action is improving. Yesterday (Friday) has been the best day of the week for the blue water. However, it is still below the seasonal average. A few of the boats released two or three sailfish yesterday, and others maintained an average of one. There are also several 20-pound class dorado coming to the dock. It certainly is not wide open, but about one nice dorado per two boats average.

A few blue marlin have also showed in the counts this week, with an average of one a day for the fleet (about 15 boats a day fishing the blue water.)

The inshore fishing has picked up dramatically. Adolpho, on the panga “Dos Hermanos,” is averaging three roosters and 10 to 15 jack crevalle a day on conventional gear. I guided Baja on the Fly clients Tom and Elisabeth Hart of Houston yesterday to sample the great jack action using the flyrods. Fishing with Felipe on the panga “Yellowfin,” we got into acres of breaking jacks. They were everywhere! We literally had hundreds breaking the water only 20 feet from the boat. It sounded like a hard rain storm. The jacks were in individual schools of 8- to 10-pounds, up to schools of about 18- to 20-pounds. Needless to say, we caught a few fish.


Photos by Ed Kunze, Zihuatanejo

Water temperature
80 - 84
Air temperature
78 - 87
Humidity
94%
Wind:
Calm
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
10 miles
Sunrise
6:46 a.m. CDT
Sunset
6:12 p.m. CDT

San Jose, Guatemala
All the storm activity during the past month has driven the clean water forty to 50 miles offshore. While the fishing is good, it is not up to the usual level found in Guatemala. Sounds like there are few YFT and dorado mixed in as well.

While last month’s hurricane “Stan” left a mess in its wake, the area has bounced back quickly and the port is getting back to normal. While [resort hotel] Villas del Pacifico sustained some damage, they are cleaned up and back in operation.

Les Kagel

Water temperature
78 - 82
Air temperature
78- 84
Humidity
94%
Wind:
SSW 4 mph
Conditions:
Scattered Clouds
Visibility
6 miles
Sunrise
5:59 a.m. CST
Sunset
5:34 p.m. CST