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]