Saturday, May 28, 2005

Spring and Bubba Finally Arrive

East Cape
The weather is cooler then normal for this time of year, but Spring seems to have finally arrived. Offshore, there are plenty of billfish to look at; the trick is to get them to bite. If you want football-size tuna they are way outside (45 miles). Inshore action began to improve; Bubba has arrived, still as finicky as ever. Spa reported one in the 50-pound class and our clients are getting a few shots a day from the beach. We are seeing an increase in dorado, but we are still waiting for the hot bite to begin. All-in-all things are looking up as we get ready for a hot June.
For those of you who missed it, here is a link to our update on the ATV\Beach situation.
http://www.bajafly.com/Newsletter/atv.htm

Baja on the Fly
Water temperature 71-80
Air temperature 60-82
Humidity 64%
Wind: Calm
Conditions: Scattered Clouds
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 6:33 a.m. MDT
Sunset 7:59 p.m. MDT

Magdalena Bay , Baja Mexico
Giant squid and scallops seem to be on everybody's mind this week. However, with a little digging I did find out that there are a few dorado off the beach outside of Lopez Mateos. Corvina and pargo seemed to be the catch of the day in the esteros. Up at Devil’s Curve there were a few snook that got the better of our clients. They were headed back out today to give them another chance.
Water temperature 62-71
Air temperature 66-71
Humidity 87%
Wind: WSW 15 mph
Conditions: Scattered Clouds
Visibility 3 miles
Sunrise 6:37 a.m. MDT
Sunset 8:10 p.m. MDT


Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
The 80° blue water is only 3 to 4 miles off the beach. The full moon period has slowed the sailfish catch a bit, with only a 1 to 2 fish a day average per boat. But, what we lack in quantity is more than made up in quality. We are recording some great catches of blue marlin and large yellowfin tuna.

The fleet is putting out an average of about 15 boats a day on the water. At least a third of those are fishing inshore, but we are averaging two blue marlin each day (caught). That does not count the thrown hooks, or the stories told by all of the broken lines or spooled reels. The average blue is weighing in at about 250-pounds. A few of the blue marlin, like one by Luis on the panga Gringo Loco, are hitting the 500-pound mark, and several others are in the 130- to 180-pound range. These smaller fish are ideal for a person to accomplish his goal for a blue marlin on the fly rod.

Ed Garvis, of Anaheim, Calif., fishing with Arturo on the panga Whisky III, took a 300-pound tuna. The schools are breezing in and out and when you find a feeding school of tuna, they are going to be big. Several of the commercial pangeros have boated tuna in the 150- to 250-pound class this week. As with the marlin and sailfish, almost all the action is only about 8 to 10 miles offshore.

Both of the Dos Hermanos boats have been fishing the inshore this week. Cheva and Adolpho told me this morning (Sat.) they have really been doing well on the big jack crevalle and roosterfish. Between the two boats, they are averaging about 14 of the jacks and 8 roosters each day. The timing is about right; because we normally see the big roosters arrive in volume by the 1st of June

Baja on the Fly report by Ed Kunze
Water temperature 80 - 84
Air temperature 77 - 89
Humidity 64%
Wind: SW 6 mph
Conditions: Scattered Clouds
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 7:10 a.m. CDT
Sunset 8:15 p.m. CDT

San Jose, Guatemala
Weather was unsettled after the hurricane that passed well below our area. The lack of clients this week left the fleet tied to the dock while the local pangeros whacked the dorado. Sailfish? Who knows! We bet they are out there waiting for someone to come play.
San Jose, Guatemala report by Brian Barragy and Lissa McFarlin
Water temperature 78 - 82
Air temperature 82- 86
Humidity 94%
Wind: SSE 4 mph
Conditions: Thunder Storms
Visibility 7 miles
Sunrise 5:34 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:26 p.m. CST

Friday, May 27, 2005

East Cape Beaches and ATVs




There seems to be some confusion regarding beach access and the use of ATVs on the beaches in East Cape. Recently, because of many complaints about misuse of the rental ATVs on East Cape beaches, the Mexican Government decided to enforce their law forbidding the use of all vehicles on the beach.

Profepa is the Government Agency responsible for the enforcement. In addition to a fine, anyone using an ATV or any vehicle may have the vehicle impounded.

Baja on the Fly was the first to offer Beach Trips using ATVs to access the East Cape beaches for fly-fishing. While we have discontinued the use of ATVs on the beach, we have not stopped fishing the beach. Most of the East Cape beaches may be reached using access roads that parallel the beaches. ATVs are legal on those roads. Obviously, this means less time riding and more time fishing – which we suspect will be more productive. However, all of us will miss the unique opportunity of cruising the beaches on an ATV.

We believe that the law is the law and while we don’t like it, we will respect the Mexican Government’s wishes, just as we would with any state or federal law in the United States.
We would not want an incident with the Mexican Government to ruin your trip with us.

That being said, if you are looking for a unique opportunity to pursue the legendary roosterfish on an East Cape beach, let us know. Baja on the Fly will always provide you with a fun, safe, legal trip with the best guides in Baja!

Saturday, May 21, 2005

Charlie Returns to East Cape

For additional information: bajafly@bajafly.com
USA toll-free (800) 919-2252 or 760/746-7260; Mexico 011-52-624-14-10373
East Cape
The good news is that the tuna showed up this week and we have had fairly consistent teasing action for smaller roosterfish. Also, we found a few dorado close to shore; and we even had a few pompano in front of Punta Colorada. In the chum department, the bait guys are having a tough time making bait. The mackerel have gone away. They have been concentrating their efforts on mullet and have pronounced it too much work for few fish. The schools are very small and each net-throw yields only a few mullet at a time. No one has seen any sardina to speak of. The weather this morning is flat calm and the promise of a hot tuna bite has everyone up and ready to get their rod bent.

Baja on the Fly
Water temperature 71-78
Air temperature 60-89
Humidity 32%
Wind: 8 mph from the WNW
Conditions: Scattered Clouds
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 6:35 a.m. MDT
Sunset 7:55 p.m. MDT

Magdalena Bay , Baja Mexico
Offshore 25 miles on a 230˚ heading produced decent tuna up to 25-pounds. Back closer to shore near Punta Hughes, a few giant squid were found, but seemed to be moving up to the north. Up at the Thetis, there were a few grouper reported, but everyone is still waiting for the exotics to arrive. Esteros producing fair catches of corvina, pargo and a few small leopard groupers. Devil’s Curve produced primarily corvina, with the snook still among the missing.
Water temperature 62-71
Air temperature 66-75
Humidity 87%
Wind: West 17 mph
Conditions: Scattered Clouds
Visibility 3 miles
Sunrise 6:39 a.m. MDT
Sunset 8:07 p.m. MDT


Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
The 80ยบ blue water is just off the beach and the fishing is definitely improving. Five pangas took the 35-mile run and stationed themselves out of Puerto Vicente Gro. this week for a large group of people. Temo on the Sequestra Amor, Adolpho on the Dos Hermanos, Cheva on the Dos Hermanos II, Arturo on the Janeth, and Indio (Alex) on the Gran Jefe all fished the beaches for roosters and about 10 miles off the point for sails. Not many roosters showed up, but a lot of large jack crevalle gave them some decent action on the beach. In the blue water, they averaged about three sailfish a day, several yellowfin tuna, and a blue marlin.

Locally here in Zihuatanejo, Santiago on the panga Gitana, also made a run South, releasing three sailfish and boating 10 nice yellowfin tuna with client Gary Stokes.

The blue marlin bite is still going strong, with about one strike for every three boats on the water. Captain Leo, fishing off a private yacht out of the Ixtapa Marina, targeted the marlin and got two to the leader in one day. Indio, on the Gran Jefe also boated a 400-pound + blue marlin.

Baja on the Fly report by Ed Kunze
Water temperature 80 - 84
Air temperature 77 - 89
Humidity 83%
Wind: WSW 13 mph
Conditions: Scattered Clouds
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 7:11 a.m. CDT
Sunset 8:13 p.m. CDT

San Jose, Guatemala
The weather has been great over the last week with light winds and pleasant conditions. The potential bad weather associated with Tropical Depression Adrian never really made much of an impact on the San Jose area of Guatemala. The anglers are few and far between, but those that did come this way experienced some great action. There were three boats out for a couple of days, and all three had double digit days, with twice as many shots as releases. The run to fish was 22-32 miles.
San Jose, Guatemala report by Brian Barragy and Lissa McFarlin
Water temperature 78 - 82
Air temperature 82- 84
Humidity 94%
Wind: WSW 8 mph
Conditions: Thunder Storms
Visibility 7 miles
Sunrise 5:35 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:24 p.m. CST

For additional information: bajafly@bajafly.com
USA toll-free (800) 919-2252 or 760/746-7260; Mexico 011-52-624-14-10373

Saturday, May 14, 2005

East Cape Dragging it’s Feet

East Cape
This week’s action produced a mixed bag. The groups working the beaches found a few small roosters willing cooperate and take a fly. Inshore a few dorado showed up and even a couple pompano. Further offshore there were a few tuna if you found the right porpoise school. Billfish picked up again later in the week with several boats reporting multiple releases. Last weeks sailfish flurry seems to have petered out.

Baja on the Fly
Water temperature 71-78
Air temperature 60-89
Humidity 40%
Wind: 7 mph / 11 km/h from the WNW
Conditions: Scattered Clouds
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 6:37 a.m. MDT
Sunset 7:52 p.m. MDT

Magdalena Bay , Baja Mexico
With the wind still ripping out of the west, it was less than wide open action. Tuna offshore moved a few miles closer. At the Entrada there were a few small yellows under the bird schools. Up in the Esteros, a few corvina, leopard grouper and of course the cabrilla were all that could be found for the few anglers fishing.
Water temperature 62-71
Air temperature 66-75
Humidity 94%
Wind: WSW 15 mph
Conditions: Scattered Clouds
Visibility 3 miles
Sunrise 6:42 a.m. MDT
Sunset 8:03 p.m. MDT


Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
This is turning out to be one of our slowest month of May ever. The 82 degree blue water is still just 5 to 6 miles off the beach and the 80 degree clean water is all along the inshore area. But, the game fish still have not shown. We are only averaging about 1 sailfish per boat, no tuna, and no dorado.

The blue marlin fishing has been doing very well however. We are only averaging about a total of 10 to 12 boats a day going out fishing. At least 3 or 4 of those boats are fishing inshore, with the rest in the blue water. Of those in the blue water, we are getting at least 3 to 4 hooked blue marlin a day, and landing one. One of the reasons the catch ratio is low, is because the big marlin are often taking the baits on the sailfish gear, and are spooling the reel.

I did have a great day on the water with fly fishing client Josh Vincent from Michigan. We targeted the black skipjack tuna inshore with a 9wt. Casting to the schools of breaking fish, Josh was averaging a fish for every 4 casts.

Baja on the Fly report by Ed Kunze
Water temperature 80 - 84
Air temperature 78 - 91
Humidity 83%
Wind: West 13 mph
Conditions: Scattered Clouds
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 7:20 a.m. CDT
Sunset 8:06 p.m. CDT

San Jose, Guatemala
Action heated back up this week with multiple sails showing up in the pattern. and in closer to shore. The boats going out during the past several days all experienced releases of more than 20 sails per day. Two of the three had multiple shots at Marlin and released a couple. With a short run to the fish of 17 and 22 miles the anglers had plenty of time to take advantage of the bite. Throw into the mix picture perfect weather and you got an almost perfect Guatemala week.
San Jose, Guatemala report by Brian Barragy and Lissa McFarlin
Water temperature 78 - 82
Air temperature 82- 86
Humidity 94%
Wind: WSW 6 mph
Conditions: Light Drizzle, Scattered Clouds
Visibility 6 miles
Sunrise 5:36 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:22 p.m. CST

For additional information: bajafly@bajafly.com
USA toll-free (800) 919-2252 or 760/746-7260; Mexico 011-52-624-14-10373

Saturday, May 07, 2005

East Cape Billfish Show Up Early

East Cape
Cinco de Mayo and better weather always seem to go hand in hand. While the weather has improved, the fishing has been slow to catch up. Offshore the big news was a blue marlin being caught that was just shy of 500 lbs. Added to that factoid, there have been more than a few sails show up in the patterns already this year and striped marlin remained consistent again this week as well. This has some of the locals thinking early…early….early season for the pointy nosed guys. Not enough action for the fly rodders looking for a billfish on the fly but looks promising for the future. Still iffy as far as the dorado go, though the ones that are found are good sized. Mostly football sized tuna and they are pretty much spread out from La Ribera out to 40 miles. The beach produced a few small roosters with Cory Hawryluk, Houston, TX coming up from Cabo to land his first rooster on the fly. He found the beach experience to be a hoot and is planning a return trip soon.
Al Tigert, Anchorage AK emailed us this report about his trip in late April. "The quality of the experience was excellent, and everything we could wish for. It would be difficult to match the quantity of fish that we enjoy at home in Alaska, but the chance to pursue exotic species in a beautiful (warm) locale w/people who are knowledgeable, friendly and have a good sense of humor was perfect. Every fish was a brand new species for us to marvel at."
On the chum side, there were some mackerel to be found but still few, if any sardina available.

Baja on the Fly
Water temperature 71-78
Air temperature 60-89
Humidity 45%
Wind: NE 2 mph
Conditions: Scattered Clouds
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 6:41 a.m. MDT
Sunset 7:49 p.m. MDT

Magdalena Bay , Baja Mexico
Still plenty of wind to deal with. Outside, weather permitting there as some quality sized tuna 210 degrees 15 – 20 miles out and that seems to be the best action for the entire area. Still the be squid around outside the Entrada as well. The reports for the Esteros have been very few fish, even the cabrilla have a severe case of lock jaw. One interesting report was a fifteen lb. snook that was caught near the base of the commercial pier. One more thing, closer to town, under the bridge at the entrance to town produced some decent early morning action for corvina, pargo and even a few leopard grouper. Sounds like the guys are overrunning the fish.
Water temperature 62-71
Air temperature 66-75
Humidity 96%
Wind: WNW 20 mph
Conditions: Scattered Clouds
Visibility 3 miles
Sunrise 6:51 a.m. MDT
Sunset 8:00 p.m. MDT


Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
The clean water is just off the beach, with the blue water only 6 to 8 miles out. The Terrifin Satellite Surface Temperatures show 80 to 85 degree water everywhere. In other words, the conditions are perfect, but still there are very few fish.

Earlier this week we had a great showing of large Yellowfin tuna, but they have also disappeared. However, a few nice fish were taken while they were here. Luis, on the panga “Gringo Loco” fished with Gary Tagahuci from Laguna Beach, CA and got a nice 270 pound fish. Santiago , on the panga “Gitana”, also got a 190 pound tuna. Another member of Gary's group got a nice black marlin while fishing with Luis.

The 22nd annual Sailfish Tournament is currently underway, making a statement about the lack of fish in the area this week. Yesterday (Friday), the first day of the tournament, only 28 sailfish, 2 blue marlin, and 1 dorado were caught from a field of 110 boats. That is less than 1 sailfish for every 4 boats average.

Cheva on the “Dos Hermanos II” found a few small roosterfish earlier in the week, but we are still a little early in the season to expect much action from the roosters. This will pick up over the next three weeks.
Baja on the Fly report by Ed Kunze
Water temperature 80 - 84
Air temperature 78 - 91
Humidity 83%
Wind: WSW 11 mph
Conditions: Scattered Clouds
Visibility 3 miles
Sunrise 7:20 a.m. CDT
Sunset 8:06 p.m. CDT

San Jose, Guatemala
This past week, we hosted the Rick Swetish party of 4 from Texas. During their stay, they experienced great weather and consistent action which enabled them to experience double digit releases each day on sails. The fishing was still pretty far between 30-40 miles. The action in Guatemala continues on through August, with the potential for double digit days on sails with marlin mixed in.
We have open dates throughout this period of time. This is a great time for your spur of the moment trip with us. Just give our office a call for a trip of a lifetime.

We are also currently booking for the peak periods between November and April of next season, available slots are filling quickly.
Fishing guide and newspaper columnist Paul Bruun , Jackson Hole, Wyo., visited us in early March. Here is a link to his entertaining story of the trip and a good example of why hunters and anglers from all over the world subscribe to the little Jackson Hole paper:
http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/PaulBruun.html
San Jose, Guatemala report by Brian Barragy and Lissa McFarlin
Water temperature 78 - 82
Air temperature 82- 86
Humidity 94%
Wind: SSW 8 mph
Conditions: Scattered Clouds
Visibility 6 miles
Sunrise 5:38 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:20 p.m. CST