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