2005 Toast . . . Here’s to More Fish in 2006!

2005 Endless Season Recap

REPORT #991. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 12/31/05
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
Fishing has been very good this last week. The 82º blue water is at the entrance to Zihuatanejo Bay. I actually observed two free-swimming sailfish, and a hooked and leaping dorado of about 40 pounds, less than 200 yards from the bay's mouth.

Each boat has been averaging two to three sailfish a day, plus two 25- to 30-pound dorado. Plus, the fleet is averaging between two and three blue marlin a day. However, due to the fact the fleet is geared up for the sailfish and dorado, there have numerous other marlin lost. The average marlin strike is about one fish per three boats.

Some notable catches this week were with Martin on the panga “Isamar.” Phil and Wendy Sollecito fished for two days, releasing six sailfish, a large dorado, and a small blue marlin of about 125 pounds. Bob Nelson from San Clemente, Calif., is an annual client of Martin's and also fished two days. Bob released five sailfish and took two nice dorado.

Adolpho, on the panga “Dos Hermanos,” had a great day catching the large dorado with 10.

Fly-fishers are getting a lot of shots at the sailfish, and even a couple of dorado. Fishing with me guiding and Captain Felipe on the panga “Yellowfin,” Fred Miller of Denver had three sailfish on the fly. I also did a drop back with a live bait for his son-in-law, and he tagged and released his first sailfish. The bait and switch was done using a spinning rod, 5-feet of 100# test leader, a circle hook, and the spinning reel filled with 20 pound line.

Ed Kunze, Zihuatanejo

Water temperature
80 - 84
Air temperature
77 - 86
Humidity
66%
Wind
W 8 mph
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
8 miles
Sunrise
7:16 a.m. CST
Sunset
6:22 p.m. CST
San Jose, Guatemala
2005 finished up with a bang with most boats finding fast-paced action. The blue water for this week has been averaging between 17 to 30 miles with calm days and flat seas. Many boats reporting double digit releases. A blue marlin pop this week had the crews scrambling to figure out which gear to use. There also plenty of dorado in the 20 to 40 pound class and one boomer that tipped the scales at 50 pounds.

Water temperature
78 - 82
Air temperature
73- 82
Humidity
100%
Wind:
SW 6 mph
Conditions:
T Storms
Visibility
5 miles
Sunrise
6:26 a.m. CST
Sunset
5:46 p.m. CST

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

While there is still decent action down towards the Finger Bank, out in front of Magdalena has cooled down. There are a few dorado and tuna closer to the beach. The esteros (estuaries) are still producing good catches of sierra, pompano, as well as a few grouper and, for the lucky ones, a snook or two


Water temperature
68-73
Air temperature
66-7
Humidity
31%
Wind:
W 6 mph
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
6 miles
Sunrise
7:11 a.m. MST
Sunset
5:48 p.m. MST

East Cape
The north wind played hide and seek most of the week. First you see it then you don’t. This morning (12/31) is one of the “don’t” days. It is a classically beautiful Baja day to add the finishing touches to 2005. There are still a few larger tuna being caught on the outside along with enough billfish and dorado to keep things interesting. Along the shore, the sierra and white bonito dominated the catch for the Tin Boat gang. On the non-windy days at gray light a few sierra, ladyfish and even a few smaller roosters were the crowd pleasers for fly-flingers prowling the beach. Here’s to less wind, more sardina and lots of fish in 2006.

Baja on the Fly

Water temperature
69-73
Air temperature
68-76
Humidity
52%
Wind:
N 8 mph
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
8 miles
Sunrise
6:59 a.m. MST
Sunset
5:44 p.m. MST

The Endless Season Continues . . .Guatemala Next!

REPORT #990. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 12/24/05

San Jose, Guatemala
As 2005 season winds down, the chatter on the dock is about another great season that once again confirms the fact Guatemala offers some of the finest sail fishing in the world. With most of the action within an hour or so of the dock – and calm seas – it looks like the season will go out with a bang; and, there could even be a few new season-totals records set. The local fleet, along with a few yachts that arrived recently, have reported good to excellent fishing most of the week. With fishing like this, it’s hard to take time to get ready for another great Christmas in Guatemala.


Water temperature
78 - 82
Air temperature
68- 82
Humidity
94%
Wind:
SW 6 mph
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
6 miles
Sunrise
6:23 a.m. CST
Sunset
5:42 p.m. CST


East Cape
Summer-like weather last weekend pleased the few visitors looking for a fish fix before Santa showed up. There are billfish up off of Punta Pescadero, and now that the visitors have dwindled down to a trickle, the dorado decide to bite. Closer to shore, the Tin Boat guys were catching plenty of sierra, some of which will probably end up in ceviche be served on Christmas Day. Sporadic north winds during the week helped remind the locals that it is December after all and Santa’s arrival is just around the corner. Merry Christmas!
Baja on the Fly

Water temperature
79-84
Air temperature
68-77
Humidity
52%
Wind:
NNW 8 mph
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
8 miles
Sunrise
6:57 a.m. MST
Sunset
5:40 p.m. MST
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
With just a short seven mile ride to the blue water, the action for sailfish is steadily picking up as we come out of the full moon cycle. Most of the action is straight out of Zihuatanejo Bay on a 200º heading, and at 15 miles.

The fleet is averaging about 3 sailfish a day per boat on conventional gear, and about two very nice dorado. The dorado have been a great late addition to the action this week, and are averaging a respectable 25- to 35-pounds.

Some boats are getting a bit luckier than the average however. Captain Maragarito, on the small cruiser “Gaby,” fished two days and released 10 sailfish. He also got five nice dorado.

Santiago, on the panga “Gitana,” released five sailfish with Philippe of Denmark and averaged three released fish a day the rest of the week.

I guided fly-fishing client Terrence Tucker of New Jersey for some inshore action. The 14- to 18-pound jacks were really slamming the hookless popper teaser, but he was “snake bit” and couldn’t get one on the fly. He ended up hooking two very nice dorado of about 25 pounds, and just 150 yards off the beach. We fished with Arturo on the panga “Janeth.”

On another guided fly-fishing day with Baja on the Fly client John Oberton of Dana Point, Calif., he ended up with one sailfish and one 30 pound dorado. We fished with Captain Cali on the cruiser “Vamonos.”

Ed Kunze, Zihuatanejo

Water temperature
80 - 84
Air temperature
77 - 86
Humidity
66%
Wind
WSW 8 mph
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
8 miles
Sunrise
7:13 a.m. CST
Sunset
6:18 p.m. CST

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

Yachts traveling up and down the coast outside have reported cooler temps and spotty action offshore with just an occasional billfish, dorado and tuna to break up the travel routine after they get above the Finger Bank. Inside the esteros, the bite continues; unfortunately there were very few anglers to capitalize on the action. The few here found the snook tough as usual. However, there were enough sierra and pompano action to keep everyone smiling.


Water temperature
68-75
Air temperature
68-73
Humidity
31%
Wind:
W 6 mph
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
6 miles
Sunrise
7:08 a.m. MST
Sunset
5:44 p.m. MST

Snook to Sails in Santa’s Bag

REPORT #989. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 12/17/05

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico


Most of the warm water has been pushed down below Pt. Tasco, down around the finger bank, which is just far enough away from anywhere to be considered no man’s land for most boats. Still reports of very LARGE tuna and plenty of bait balls to keep the marlin fishing interesting.

The action in the esteros continues to produce snook, palometa and a few sierra, corvina as well.

Be sure to read Bob Vanian’s report about his recent trip to Magdalena Bay with Bob Woodward, both from San Diego, at http://www.976bite.com/ several weeks ago.


Water temperature
68-75
Air temperature
68-73
Humidity
31%
Wind:
NW 7 mph
Conditions:
Scattered Clouds
Visibility
6 miles
Sunrise
7:04 a.m. MST
Sunset
5:40 p.m. MST
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
Fishing has picked up considerably this week. I do expect it to slow down a bit with the full moon waning, but as of yesterday (Friday) we have really been enjoying the action.

Conventional gear fisherman Ludo Coenen of Belgium, fished with Martin on the panga Isamar the last six days. They caught, tagged, and released 25 sailfish. Their fish were mostly taken at the 25 mile mark, and a 210º heading.

Another Belgian client, Philippe Collin, fished two days with Santiago on the panga Gitana. They tagged and released five sailfish the first day. Thursday (12/15), because several of us have not had much success on roosters locally, Santiago decided to make the 40 mile run to Papanoa with Philippe. It was a long day, but they released six roosterfish averaging 25- to 35-pounds, a 25-pound jack crevalle, and an 8 pound sierra. All the fish were taken on slow trolled live bait.

I guided Baja n the Fly client, Scott Haynes of Cody, Wyoming, for one day with the flyrod on the Vamonos with Captain Cali. Scott had never used a flyrod in his life, yet alone caught a sailfish. The first fish teased to the boat very well, and within minutes Scott had logged two firsts.

I also guided Baja on Fly client Fred Marx on a beach trip yesterday. We hit the beaches up north near Union and Majahua, and south below the airport at Barra Pototsi. We found sardines and birds crashing on every beach. Unfortunately, the larger 14- to 20-pound jacks were not there. We caught a fair number of fish, but nothing of any size. The black skipjack tuna, green jacks, and sierra were all biting well. The Barra had the most fish and the most promising signs that the big jacks should be moving in there shortly.



Ed Kunze, Zihuatanejo

Water temperature
80 - 84
Air temperature
77 - 86
Humidity
66%
Wind
WSW 12 mph
Conditions:
Mostly Cloudy
Visibility
8 miles
Sunrise
7:09 a.m. CST
Sunset
6:14 p.m. CST
San Jose, Guatemala
Action early in the week was a couple of clicks slow as boats scoured the waters 20 to 40 miles offshore for the mother lode. By mid-week, the herd was found and the action was cooking again. Mr. Wern Blasaditsch and Rodolf Hotter from Germany fishing on the Tranquility, a 31-foot Bertram, had better action each day as the week progressed. Their best day, they raised plenty of sails, releasing double digits all on the fly. Tom Pero, editor of Fish and Fly magazine and professional photographer Walter Hodges fished aboard the Maverick with Sailfish Bay owner Robert Fallon. Since neither had ever fly-fished for billfish before, there was a steep learning curve to deal with. By the end of the week, however, they both had notches on their flyrods for released sailfish; not to mention, plenty of photos and enough stories to impress their friends for some time to come. It will be interesting to see their take on Guatemala Sailfish on the Fly in Fish and Fly magazine some time next year.

Water temperature
78 - 82
Air temperature
80- 84
Humidity
79%
Wind:
W 9 mph
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
6 miles
Sunrise
6:19 a.m. CST
Sunset
5:38 p.m. CST




East Cape
It was windy and cool all week with not many boats fishing, but the few that ventured out were rewarded with good action for both dorado and stripers.

Lane Garett reported on his trip yesterday: The day began with rough seas and 15kts of wind out of the northwest, but by 8:30 the seas started to settle down and it turned out to be a beautiful day – no wind and light cloud cover.

Because of all the wind earlier in the week, no one had any live bait to sell. We found fair dorado action in the teasers producing moderate action most of the day. There were also a few striped marlin being spotted up toward Punta Pescadero.

While the wind persisted most of the week thrashing the beach, the determined were rewarded with decent action early in the morning for ladyfish, sierra, pompano , lookdowns, jack crevalle and even a few smaller roosterfish. The best action was from Bartle Beach out to the Punta Arena.

Baja on the Fly

Water temperature
79-84
Air temperature
69-77
Humidity
57%
Wind:
NNW 15 mph
Conditions:
Scattered Clouds
Visibility
15 miles
Sunrise
6:53 a.m. MST
Sunset
5:36 p.m. MST

Sails and Tales Winners

REPORT #988. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 12/10/05
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
The good sailfish action of this last week has died off somewhat. For the fleet, we are averaging about two sailfish a day per boat. However, most boats are also getting about one good 20+ pound dorado for dinner.

Fly fishermen are not having any luck at all on the roosters, but there are a few large jack crevalle eating the feathered hook. These fish are averaging a respectable16-pounds. Black skipjack tuna and cabrilla are rounding out the inshore action with the long rods.

Our Sales and Tales Tournament was completed on Monday with Cecilia “Pudge” Kleinkauf, visiting all the way from Anchorage, taking first place; with second place going to Joe Dowdell, Marathon, Fla. For all the details and results go to http://www.bajafly.com/sailsandtales/sailsfinal.asp

Ed Kunze, Zihuatanejo

Water temperature
80 - 84
Air temperature
78 - 87
Humidity
66%
Wind
W 8 mph
Conditions:
Mostly Cloudy
Visibility
7 miles
Sunrise
7:05 a.m. CST
Sunset
6:11 p.m. CST
San Jose, Guatemala
Recent reports this week are that the weather was absolutely perfect and the sailfish were ready to rock. Boats leaving the dock by 7 and began fishing around 9 a.m. It was teasers in the water and only a few minutes before the action began. A few of the boats reported double digit days with at least one doing it all on the fly.


Water temperature
78 - 82
Air temperature
80- 84
Humidity
79%
Wind:
W 9 mph
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
6 miles
Sunrise
6:16 a.m. CST
Sunset
5:35 p.m. CST



Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

Water temperatures continue to slowly cool and the action offshore has begun to creep back down to normal. Still a few stripers to be found, but not a bonanza it was last month. Also still a few dorado and tuna to be found inside the bank.

Last week, Bob Vanian of http://www.976bite.com/ and Bob Woodward fished one day in the Pacific about 40 miles out and in 72 degree water and caught several tuna and a few dorado. They had much better luck inside the bay where they fished three days and caught snook, pargo, corvina and a white sea bass in the 30-pound range. Capt. Hook, a boat out of Dana Point, Calif., with local guide Saul, caught four nice snook.


Water temperature
68-75
Air temperature
70-75
Humidity
64%
Wind:
WNW 4 mph
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
6 miles
Sunrise
7:01 a.m. MST
Sunset
5:38 p.m. MST

East Cape
Computer Generated ForecastLatest model data for Los Barriles. Saturday, December 10, 2005. (Lat=23.79, Lon=-109.7)
Above is the computer model for the North winds at East Cape. If you have the time to wait out the wind, the fishing is still good on the calm days. Still plenty of billfish, as well as a few dorado and tuna. Sierra are dominating the inshore, so a bit of wire might be in order. The tin boaters try to get out at gray light fish for an hour or two and high tail it back to the beach before the winds kick up.
Lane Garret sent us the following report:
The weather has been cool and windy most days. I have seen a few cruisers returning with what appear to be at least limits of 10- to the occasional 40-pound dorado. There are quite a few stripers still around and a friend of mine had a 250-pound class blue up to leader on Tuesday. The beaches have been hammered by surf and wind.
Baja on the Fly

Water temperature
79-84
Air temperature
70-77
Humidity
42%
Wind:
NNW 14 mph
Conditions:
Scattered Clouds
Visibility
15 miles
Sunrise
6:39 a.m. MST
Sunset
5:34 p.m. MST

Baja Slows . . . Z-What Goes

REPORT #987. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996 Endless Season Update 12/3/05Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico Yesterday (12/2) was the pre-fish day for our “Sails and Tales” tournament and Joe Dowdell, Marathon, Fla., was the first one back to the dock with bragging rights with his sail caught on the fly. The rest of contestants seemed to fall in the into the “Tales” category and could be heard over their margaritas last night saying today (Sat.) would be different on the first tournament day. Weather has been great all week and the number of shots has been increasing daily.
Angler - Joe Dowdell (Marathon, Florida)Captain - Felipe on the panga YellowfinLocation - Zihuatanejo, MexFight time - 5 minutes (fish was tagged and released in excellent shape)Guide and photo by Ed Kunze
Ed Kunze, Zihuatanejo Water temperature 80 - 84Air temperature 77 - 86Humidity 66%Wind WSW 6 mph Conditions: ClearVisibility 7 milesSunrise 7:01 a.m. CSTSunset 6:09 p.m. CSTMagdalena Bay, Baja Mexico
Mangrove action topped the list this week with several boats choosing to sneak into Lopez Mateos through Boca de Soledad. John Lyddon’s “Don Juan” reported a wide-open snook bite with fish from 10 pounds and up along with some fat palmetto amarillo (golden jacks).
Outside, the water temperatures are down to 72 degrees and the striper bite has fallen off significantly with only a handful of bites for the boats fishing at the Thetis and up the bank. Did hear some rumors of larger dorado up toward the Uncle Sam Bank earlier in the week.
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 8 mphConditions: ClearVisibility 6 milesSunrise 6:55 a.m. MSTSunset 5:36 p.m. MSTEast Cape North winds have begun their winter routine of on-again, off-again. There’s still a decent offshore bite on the good (read windless days) and tough on the others. Still a few dorado to be found if your are lucky and the sierra bite has been good for the tin boat fleet. Baja on the Fly
Water temperature 79-84 Air temperature 70-8oHumidity 72%Wind: W 10 mphConditions: ClearVisibility 15 milesSunrise 6:44 a.m. MSTSunset 5:32 p.m. MST

San Jose, Guatemala The blue water is out between 15 and 30 miles and fishing this week has slowed noticeably compared to last week. Boats averaged high single digit releases along with a fair dorado bite throughout the week.
Les Kagel
Water temperature 78 - 82Air temperature 78- 84Humidity 46%Wind: SSE 7 mphConditions: Scattered CloudsVisibility 6 milesSunrise 6:12 a.m. CSTSunset 5:33 p.m. CST