East Cape Tough . . . Guatemala Unusual

REPORT #1,000. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 03/04/06
When we began the reports back in 1996 – twice a week in the early years – we didn’t dare to dream we would still be doing them 1,000 reports later. They have come a long way since the beginning. We have made every effort to provide the report in the face of hurricanes, flooded roads, loss of e-mail and every other calamity. I think we have only missed a couple deadlines over the years. Today, they cover four destinations with moon phases, weather and photos added.
I hope you have enjoyed reading them as much as we have enjoyed providing them every week year in and year out.
Yvonne, Gary, Vicki, Ben, Lance, Josh, Ed and Coci
East Cape
North winds persisted most of the week. Early mornings (we are talking gray light here) the wind is usually calm, but the water is dirty from the waves pounding the beach all afternoon the preceding day. Lance reported the following yesterday (3/3): “A break in the wind this morning so I hit the beach at gray light. No bites. Didn't see any bait. It's an early, early deal no matter what. Once the sun hits the water the sierra are out of range. Talked to a guy on the beach who fishes San Jose quite a bit and he reported really slow fishing there as well.”

Few boats ventured out this week because of the weather. Those that made it did find some schools of white bonito close to the beach and a few dorado, hard to say if these are early arrivals or leftovers, but dorado the first week of March is worth a comment. Reports call for a respite from the wind by Wednesday . . . We’ll see.

Baja on the Fly

Water temperature 62-72
Air temperature 63-78
Humidity 34%
Wind: NNW 13 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 6:43 a.m. MST
Sunset 6:23 p.m. MST

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

Diana Hoyt reported cold and sloppy conditions outside. Inside the bay there is some protection from the wind, allowing anglers to get out and find some action including corvina on surface poppers and plenty of small halibut in the shallows near most sandy beaches. A slow retrieved chartreuse Clouser on the bottom will do the trick. Enrique Soto reports that the entrada is still producing a few small yellows. Still plenty of whales at both locations of Puerto San Carlos and Lopez Mateos to oooh and ahhh over for the tourists.

A 28-foot Bertram making its way down the coast and looking for some protection from the sloppy weather came in through the Boca de Soledad at Lopez Mateos last Thursday. While it was sloppy and when they looked back over their shoulder there was plenty of white water, the biggest hazard was the whales in the channel. They continued their trip to San Carlos with a local pilot to guide them through the shallow channels.


Water temperature 58 - 62
Air temperature 55-71
Humidity 79%
Wind: WNW 11 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 6:46 a.m. MST
Sunset 6:30 p.m. MST
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
Conditions have been poor. A cold green water current has moved in and pushed the blue water out to the 40 mile mark. And even out there the guys are only accounting for five or six football tuna. It would be safe to say over 80% of the fleet is not catching any bluewater species.

The only bright side is the inshore action for the hard fighting jack crevalle. Six to 10 fish a day has been normal. Most of these 15- to 22-pound fish are being taken on trolled Rapalas, but the fly casters are scoring as well

Ed Kunze, Zihuatanejo

Water temperature 78 - 84
Air temperature 64 - 87
Humidity 83%
Wind SSW 6 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 7:02 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:53 p.m. CST
San Jose, Guatemala
Marlin, not what you would expect to hear from Guatemala, but true. The past few days have shown the fleet raising 8 to 10 marlin a day! These are mostly little blues in the 150- to 200-pound range, though three nice fish have been seen. The sails are here, but are decidedly un-aggressive as huge schools of bait are everywhere.

Jonathan Nicholas owner/operator of “Man of War”

Water temperature 78 - 82
Air temperature 75- 84
Humidity 94%
Wind: S 4 mph
Conditions: Scattered Clouds
Visibility 6 miles
Sunrise 6:17 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:12 p.m. CST