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