Weather . . . Whales and Sails

REPORT #995. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 01/28/06
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
We are coming out of the full moon phase, and those clients who fished for three or more days ended up with some very good numbers. Those who gave it a one day try may have done well . . . or maybe not.

The 82º blue water is a very short run, and we are averaging about two to threesailfish a day per boat. Plus, the blue marlin are showing up in the catches for an average of about one blue for every six boats.

Both the panga “Gitana” with Santiago, and his brother Adan, on the “Gitana II” had some respectable numbers this week. Minnesotan Bill Berg – down for a break from winter’s ice and snow – released 11 sailfish and two yellowfin tuna for four days of fishing with Santiago. Mel Walberg and Troy Courneya each fished three days with Adan, releasing a total of 12 sailfish and one dorado.

The inshore action for fly-rodders has been best for the black skipjack tuna and green jacks.

Ed Kunze, Zihuatanejo

Water temperature 80 - 84
Air temperature 78 - 86
Humidity 683%
Wind Calm
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 7:19 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:38 p.m. CST
San Jose, Guatemala
The trick this week was to find the blue water, which seemed to moving around. The calm seas made it easier for the fleet to spread out and search for the action anywhere from eight to 35 miles. Early in the week, there was more seeking than catching! By mid-week the captains had narrowed down the area and everyone’s results improved and double digit scores were not uncommon. With an occasional blue marlin and some fat dorado for variety, everyone had plenty to talk about over fresh dorado hors d'oeuvres at happy hour.


Water temperature 78 - 82
Air temperature 68- 80
Humidity 100%
Wind: SE 8 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 6 miles
Sunrise 6:31 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:01 p.m. CST
East Cape
Weather continues to thwart even the most dedicated angler. Sure, hit it on the right day and you may find some dorado, tuna or maybe even a billfish to brighten your day. Inshore, wind waves continue to thrash the beach keeping the sierra out of casting range. Our guide Lance Peterson arrived Fri. night and reported that he was greeted with rain, which is was what he left his home in Washington to get away from. Not a great way to begin his month-long trip to East Cape.

Baja on the Fly

Water temperature 62-71
Air temperature 59-81
Humidity 52%
Wind: NNW 15 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 7:00 a.m. MST
Sunset 6:03 p.m. MST


Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

Whale Ho! This is the time of year that both Puerto San Carlos and Lopez Mateos go bonkers as tourists come flocking to the area to get up close and personal with the whales that arrive for a little hanky panky and family building. If you can find a panga that isn’t in the hunt for the whales you will find fair action for yellowtail and grouper out at the entrada. One yellow caught last week was in the 40 pound class with others in the mid-20s.

Water temperature 68-73
Air temperature 68-73
Humidity 99%
Wind: WNW 6 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 7:10 a.m. MST
Sunset 6:08 p.m. MST

Football Season Comes to East Cape

REPORT #994. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 01/21/06
East Cape

Football . . . no I am not talking about the playoffs, but pigskin-size tuna. While the wind blew most of the week, (actually 6 out of 7 days) Lucky Thursday (1/19) was flat calm and the fleet hammered the yellowfin tuna close to shore under the porpoise. It was the perfect opportunity for the flyrodder if there had been any around to take advantage of the action. Amazingly, when the boats get out there are still a few dorado to be found. On the beach, the wind waves left the water looking like a bad cup of cappuccino. How windy was it? The report was that “one day it was too windy for the windsurfers!” Now that’s windy! Mark Rayor of Vista Sea Sport reported great diving conditions on Thursday with good visibility, though the water was a chilly 66 degrees.

Baja on the Fly

Water temperature
66-73
Air temperature
52-75
Humidity
52%
Wind:
NNW 13 mph
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
8 miles
Sunrise
7:01 a.m. MST
Sunset
5:58 p.m. MST
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
Even though the 80º blue water is only four miles off the beach, most boats averaged only one or two sailfish a day. Fly-fishers had it even rougher, with only about one decent shot a day. But, the fish are here, and I fully expect things to change 100% next week.

A very notable couple of days were posted by Santiago on the panga “Gitana.” Bill Gray and his wife, from South Carolina, fished two days with Santiago and released 10 sailfish.

Four of our better inshore pangas made the 40 mile run south to Papanoa. Staying down there, they hammered the water for three days and only had two roosterfish for their efforts. It is safe to say the roosters have left the area, and probably will not be back until May.

Adolpho, on the panga Dos “Hermanos” fished about 12 miles north of Zihuatanejo, catching 27 large jack crevalle and five sierra for two days of fishing. Adolpho told me it is an ideal situation for the fly-fisher. The jacks are slamming the popper teaser all the way back to the boat. His blue water effort for three days produced five sailfish and one dorado.

Ed Kunze, Zihuatanejo

Water temperature
80 - 84
Air temperature
77 - 87
Humidity
66%
Wind
S 4 mph
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
8 miles
Sunrise
7:19 a.m. CST
Sunset
6:34 p.m. CST

San Jose, Guatemala
With the fleet spreading out and a few boats traveling out 40 miles – most pulling the throttles back at 10 miles or less – the fishing has not been terrific this week. Single digits were the norm with very few exceptions. When the sails did appear in the pattern, they were pretty lethargic and tough to get to take a fly. A few boats did locate a school of porpoise and did well on yellowfin tuna. While the fishing was not up to the usual Guatemala standards, the weather was calm seas and clear skies.

Les Kagel

Water temperature
78 - 82
Air temperature
66- 84
Humidity
100%
Wind:
SE 8 mph
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
6 miles
Sunrise
6:31 a.m. CST
Sunset
5:57 p.m. CST

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

More and more whales are arriving each week and both San Carlos and Lopez Mateos are more focused on whale watching than fishing. There was some action for corvina at the pier in San Carlos as well as under the bridge at the entrance to San Carlos. The boats at Lopez Mateos have stayed close to home and reported fair action for corvina, grouper and the ever-present spotted bay bass. Also, there’s a decent halibut bite in shallow near sandy beaches.

Water temperature
68-73
Air temperature
68-73
Humidity
20%
Wind:
WNW 6 mph
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
5 miles
Sunrise
7:12 a.m. MST
Sunset
6:03 p.m. MST

East Cape Teases…Z-What and Guatemala Deliver

REPORT #993. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 01/14/06
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
We have really enjoyed an outstanding week. The 80º blue water is almost on the beach, and the sailfish action has been great. Almost every boat in the fleet was averaging 8 to 10 sailfish raised a day. This gives a lot of shots to the fly fisherman, producing at least two to three hooked fish a day.

Conventional gear fishermen are getting a per boat average of 3 to 4 sailfish a day, with some boats getting 7 or 8. The blue marlin are still coming in at about 3 a day for the 25 boat fleet. Dorado have been sporadic. Some days they are here in abundance, with some boats getting 4 or 5 of the fish averaging about 25 to 30 pounds, and then they are gone for a day or two.

The Yellowfin tuna are breezing in and out now. But, they are very skittish. With the fish crashing the surface, and the birds diving on the baits, we slowly move in on the school, only to have them sink into the depths. The tuna action should pick up considerably this next week or two.

Some notable catches:
Arturo on the panga Janeth made the 45 mile run to Papanoa to fish virgin waters, and found 2 roosterfish of almost 45 pounds, and 6 large jack Crevalle to 25 pounds. He then fished with fly fishing client Clay Danenhower of Bellingham WA and got several jacks on the fly at the white rocks.

Randy Lueth of Indiana got two sailfish on the fly, which we tagged and released. Plus, I also guided Natale Chiaudani of Italy for two days. On the fly, he hooked 5 sails and a striped marlin.

Ed Kunze, Zihuatanejo
Water temperature
80 - 84
Air temperature
73 - 87
Humidity
66%
Wind
WSW 8 mph
Conditions:
Scattered Clouds
Visibility
8 miles
Sunrise
7:19 a.m. CST
Sunset
6:30 p.m. CST

San Jose, Guatemala
While the seas were pretty grumpy early in the week, by mid-week they had calmed downed
and the action moved much closer this week with the fleet reporting fish at ten miles. Most of the anglers hardly had a chance for their breakfast to settle before the teasers were let out behind the boats. In no time at all cries of “Cast! Cast! Cast!”, could be heard as the sailfish charged the teasers right up to the transom in search of food. Steady action continued most of the day with most boats reporting double digit shots. Still some dorado in the 20 – 30 lb. class showed up in the pattern occasionally.


Water temperature
78 - 82
Air temperature
75- 82
Humidity
89%
Wind:
Calm
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
6 miles
Sunrise
6:30 a.m. CST
Sunset
5:53 p.m. CST
East Cape
Sporadic North winds this week made it necessary to decide each morning between a kick back day or fishing. Early morning action for sierra has been good; locals are complaining that the 60 degree temps are cool enough to require a jacket. The best spots are at the mouths of the arroyos. If the wind doesn’t crank up too early, the ladyfish action has been great. Still a few dorado if you are in the right place at the right time, same with the tuna. Some of the hotel boats found schools of Yellowfin to 80 lbs. that were willing to bite. The billfish action has slowed in the past few weeks.
Baja on the Fly

Water temperature
69-73
Air temperature
60-79
Humidity
52%
Wind:
NNW 12 mph
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
8 miles
Sunrise
7:02 a.m. MST
Sunset
5:53 p.m. MST


Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

Still big waves at the Boca’s prevent any of the boats from venturing outside. Already a few early arriving whales have everyone scrambling to finish up the preparations for the upcoming 12th Annual Whale Festival which will be held on January 28th, with a village wide Fiesta that is sure to result in a few bad headaches for some the following morning. In the Esteros the corvina and cabrilla are providing the bulk of the action.

Water temperature
68-73
Air temperature
68-75
Humidity
20%
Wind:
NW 11 mph
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
5 miles
Sunrise
7:13 a.m. MST
Sunset
5:57 p.m. MST

2006 Out the Gate . . . No Wind . . . Swordfish

REPORT #992. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 01/7/06
Yvonne and Gary will be at the International Sportsmen’s Expo in San Mateo, Calif., January 13 to 15. Gary has a new PowerPoint program he will be presenting in the California Theater all three days: Friday, 4:30; Saturday, 1:30; and Sunday, 11:30. Show Schedule
East Cape
2006 got off to an unusual start. Jennifer Rayor, Vista Sea Sports, described the weather on New Year’s day as absolutely stunning. Then, on Jan. 2, Felipe Valdez, the youngest brother of Valdez family that owns and operates the Hotel Buena Vista, went out to catch sierra for the kitchen and stumbled across a swordfish sunning itself on the surface. The swordy must have made a New Year’s resolution to inhale the first mackerel thrown at it. Yep, you got it – one cast, one bite and Felipe’s first swordfish 25 minutes later. What does this have to do with fly-fishing? Nothing. With the north wind blowing the rest of the week, it was downhill from there. This morning (1/7) it looks like we may get another break from the wind.

Baja on the Fly

Water temperature
69-73
Air temperature
69-73
Humidity
52%
Wind:
NNW 6 mph
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
8 miles
Sunrise
6:59 a.m. MST
Sunset
5:44 p.m. MST
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
The 80º blue water is just outside Zihuatanejo Bay and the fishing has been excellent. Most of the action is coming from the 12- to 15-mile mark on a 210º heading. We are getting lots of sailfish, dorado, blue marlin, and striped marlin. Actually, the striped marlin are somewhat unique for this area, but this last week has seen a bunch of them taken.

Some notable catches were made by Adolpho on the panga “Dos Hermanos” this week. Offshore, he had a one day total of eight sailfish releases. He then took the 45 mile run south to Papanoa and got four roosterfish and 15 large jack crevalle. Yesterday (1/6) he went 35 miles north and got four roosters and 31 of the large jacks.

Rick Erdman and his wife, annual clients of Santiago on the panga “Gitana,” fished three days. They released 10 sailfish and caught an additional three striped marlin. Plus, another 70 year old client from Chicago fished yesterday (Friday) with Santiago. They were back at the dock before noon. The client was worn out with four sailfish and a striped marlin.

John Ring of Lodi, Calif., fished with me one day, tagging and releasing his first sailfish on the fly. And his 11 year old son David also released his first sailfish when we did a bait and switch drop back using a 20-pound spin outfit with a circle hook. David fought the fish alone the entire 30 minutes it took to get the sail to the boat for a photo and release.

The dorado are averaging one or two to a boat per day, and about 25- to 30-pounds. The fleet is averaging two to three blue marlin a day

Ed Kunze, Zihuatanejo

Water temperature
80 - 84
Air temperature
73 - 84
Humidity
66%
Wind
SSW 6 mph
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
8 miles
Sunrise
7:18 a.m. CST
Sunset
6:26 p.m. CST
San Jose, Guatemala
The first week of 2006 really fizzled the first few days, maybe both the anglers and fish partied too hard welcoming in the New Year. Mid-week, the fishing began to get its groove back providing enough action to keep bars buzzing at Happy Hour. In addition to the customary sailfish bite, there were just enough blue marlin to make the angler think about which rod to grab. There were even a few fat dorado streaking into the pattern with a gold and turquoise flash to confuse the game plan further.


Water temperature
78 - 82
Air temperature
66- 80
Humidity
68%
Wind:
NE 17 mph
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
5 miles
Sunrise
6:29 a.m. CST
Sunset
5:50 p.m. CST

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

The same big surf that has been pounding the California coastline for the past several weeks found its way down here. Between the wind and big surf it has been impossible to even get out Boca de Soledad, so most of the boats are staying closer to home. Even the fishing inside in the esteros has been less than wonderful. With whale-watching season just around the corner, the locals spent most of the week in preparation. For the few diehards, there were plenty of spotted bay bass, corvina and small halibut to mess with.


Water temperature
68-73
Air temperature
69-75
Humidity
31%
Wind:
WNW 11 mph
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
6 miles
Sunrise
7:13 a.m. MST
Sunset
5:53 p.m. MST