East Cape Inshore Heats Up

REPORT #1008. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 04/29/06
East Cape
Late April on the East Cape saw continuing improvement for inshore fishermen. Brett Phillips of Oregon in particular saw the Sea of Cortez at its finest. Brett fished from a panga, never getting more than a few hundred yards from shore and for two days hooked good numbers of fish, including pargo, grouper, jack crevalle, needlefish, black skipjack, roosterfish, and the largest gaff topsail pompano any of us has ever seen. He is submitting it to IGFA for a possible new All-Tackle World Record. Decent amounts of bait including mullet and sardina are beginning to show, making for some exciting inshore days.
The bait seems somewhat condensed in the Punta Pescadero and Punta Colorada areas however, keeping many of the predatory schools condensed as well. These concentrations are making locating roosters and jacks from the beach a little more difficult. Hopefully, in the coming days these fish will disperse and beach sightings of big roosters will improve.
Offshore action remains good for striped marlin, but they're feeding aggressively on small squid and not coming into the lures very often, despite being present in great numbers. Ray Rickard of Grand Junction, Colo. recently enjoyed a classic mixed bag of East Cape fishing, hitting the inshore for good snapper and grouper action with small chartreuse Clousers. Then, in the p.m., we headed out about 2 miles where we found a good school of bait, and Ray battled a nice 180-pound striper. As reported, the stripers haven't been suckers for the tease, so we caught some “liveys” with a Lucky Joe and pitched to a feeder. It's that time of year again here on the Cape. The inshore and offshore bite can be only a few minutes boat ride apart.
Tim Harris, Redmond, Wash. followed up a slow offshore day on Monday with a good inshore trip on Wednesday with an action packed day catching sierra and black skipjack near Punta Arena.
Baja on the Fly

Water temperature 68-77
Air temperature 62-91
Humidity 58%
Wind: WNW 15 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 6:46 a.m. MST
Sunset 7:45 p.m. MST




Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

It was another week of windy cold conditions with the sun finally making an appearance today. Seem to be plenty of fish at the entrada, but they are plugged with langoustes (red crab) and have a serious case of lockjaw. Up in the mangroves, there were a few snook caught at Los Barrilles and I understand it is wall-to-wall nets up at Devil’s Curve again! Up at Lopez Mateos, the grouper and corvina provide the best action for the few who cared this week. Offshore, it continued to grumpy and kept most of the panga fishermen close to the beach.

Water temperature 60 - 66
Air temperature 66-78
Humidity 59%
Wind: NNW 11 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 6:52 a.m. MST
Sunset 7:55 p.m. MST
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
The 82° clean water is out about eight to nine miles, with the deep blue water at 20 miles. Most of the boats working the 18 to 20 mile mark are getting one or two sailfish a day.

Santiago, on the panga “Gitana,” along with his brother Adan on the “Gitana II,” are working the 25 mile area and averaging three sailfish a day on conventional gear. Plus, Santiago told me the schools of yellowfin tuna are out around the 1,000 fathom curve (30 miles), and are about ready to move in closer for our annual May run.

Santiago fished with clients Chris and Tom Topher of California, releasing three sails and took two smaller tuna of about 20 pounds. Yesterday (Friday) he fished with Dwight Holly of Seattle, releasing three sails. Adan also got a small 150 pound blue marlin fishing with Danny Burns of Oregon.

Martin, on the panga “Isamar,” sampled the inshore fly-fishing and his client had some fantastic action on fish perfect for the 7- to 9-weight rods. Yesterday they got approximately 30 green jacks, about 15 jack crevalle, and 20 black skipjack tuna on a very small white fly. All the fish were in the 2- to 5-pound class.
Ed Kunze

Water temperature 78 - 84
Air temperature 80 - 86
Humidity 83%
Wind NW 6 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 7:20 a.m. CST
Sunset 8:05 p.m. CST


San Jose, Guatemala
As the season winds down, the few boats going out are still finding decent action. Everyone one agrees that 2006 will go down in history as an extraordinary season even by Guatemala standards.


Water temperature 78 - 82
Air temperature 79- 84
Humidity 94%
Wind: Calm
Conditions: Thunderstorms
Visibility 6 miles
Sunrise 5:42 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:19 p.m. CST

East Cape Spring . . . Mixed Bag

REPORT #1007. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 04/22/06
East Cape
Warmer air and warmer water resulted in improved inshore fishing conditions this week. The presence of long-lost sardina in the bait tank only helped matters. Early in the week, large roosterfish put on a great show tearing up bait at El Cardonal north of Pescadero.
The offshore anglers found reduced catches of yellowfin tuna, but a few white flags were still flying. Striped marlin consistently took pitched bait but refused to appear in the pattern making fly-fishing difficult.
Perfect weather, calm seas greeted participants that traveled from all over the US to participate in Pudge Kleinkauf’s, Women’s Flyfishing® annual “Baja Spring Special” this week.
While the quantity was less than hoped for, there was plenty of variety. The group’s species list was impressive. Catches including marlin, yellowfin tuna, dorado, amberjack, bonito, white bonito, sierra, jack crevalle, needlefish, roosterfish, gaff topsail pompano, pargo, and cabrilla.
The beach fishing in front of the hotel late in the afternoon produced a few small roosters, pompano and a few mystery bites for the group.
Western Outdoor News, holding their East Cape Fiesta de Pesca April 8-30, awarded two of the group with the largest fish-of-the-day prizes. Dan Jansen, Anchorage for the largest YFT on Easter Sunday and Jim Hunter, Albuquerque managed to land the largest dorado on Wednesday. They both received enough goodies to fill their already stuffed suitcases.
Baja on the Fly

Water temperature 68-77
Air temperature 62-91
Humidity 58%
Wind: NW 4 mph
Conditions: Cloudy
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 6:52 a.m. MST
Sunset 7:42 p.m. MST

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

There were reports of a few grouper, pargo and corvina up in the mangroves both at Puerto San Carlos and Lopez Mateos. There were a few snook outside the bocas with pompano mixed in. Enrique Soto reports that the yellows are still out at the entrada. Offshore the wind persists keeping almost all the boats close to home.

Water temperature 60 - 66
Air temperature 66-81
Humidity 79%
Wind: WNW 15 mph
Conditions: Partly Cloudy
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 6:58 a.m. MST
Sunset 7:52 p.m. MST
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
No Report This Week . . . Here’s last week’s:

The Terrafin satellite surface temperature charts show 78° water out six miles to the 100 fathom line, and 82° water beyond that. This combination has been great for jack crevalle inshore, and sailfish offshore.

Few people are fishing the inshore, but when they do, they are catching 12 to 15 of the 14- to 20-pound jacks a day. Most of the fish are taken on slowed trolled live bait, but the fly fishers are also getting several.

Two to three sailfish a day is the average per boat. Scott Anderson from Minn. caught four sailfish while fishing with Ruben on the “Vamonos III.”

The conditions are almost perfect and we are expecting the big yellowfin tuna and marlin almost any day now.

Ed Kunze, Zihuatanejo

Water temperature 78 - 84
Air temperature 75 - 86
Humidity 83%
Wind NW 6 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 7:25 a.m. CST
Sunset 8:03 p.m. CST

San Jose, Guatemala
Sketchy reports seem to indicate that the season seems to be winding down from a client perspective. Most of the action is outside of 18 miles with double digit action for the few boats making the run.

Water temperature 78 - 82
Air temperature 75- 84
Humidity 94%
Wind: NW 8 mph
Conditions: Partly Cloudy
Visibility 6 miles
Sunrise 5:45 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:17 p.m. CST

East Cape Sardina and All That Follows

REPORT #1006. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 04/15/06
East Cape
Welcome to Baja, one of our guides failed to make muster this morning, so I had to go fishing and let the report slide.

Nice weather most of the week and some sardina for chum should make anyone smile. Pudge Kleinkauf blew into town this week with a dozen close friends for a five day stint of serious fly-fishing. Pudge, Sandie Arnold, Cindy Esquivel all from Anchorage along with Alison Osinski, San Diego, took advantage of an early arrival and had pre-fish day yesterday. They weren’t disappointed. Tuna, skipjack, pargo, pompano and even a small roosterfish provided a nice first day species list. The tuna are inside of 30 miles along with a few marlin closer to shore. Not much on the dorado front. Inshore, the catch was a mixed a mixed bag including sierra, pargo, jacks, skipjack all within a half mile of the shore. The beach on the other hand has not kicked in just yet.

The trick with the tuna is the first to find them . . . FISH, get there late and you WISH.

Baja on the Fly

Water temperature 62-70
Air temperature 62-89
Humidity 66%
Wind: S 8 mph
Conditions: Scattered Clouds
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 6:58 a.m. MST
Sunset 7:39 p.m. MST




Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

Scallop season and windy conditions slowed the fishing interest down this week. Still some corvina at the bridge and pier at San Carlos. Out at the entrada, a few yellows and skipjack could be found under the bird schools. Up at Lopez, the grouper continued to put on a show in a few of the locals secret hot spots. Plenty of spotted bay bass including a few fatties. Still a decent halibut bite on most of the sandy beaches. Hearing rumors of tuna but can’t tie down the location other than offshore.

Water temperature 60 - 66
Air temperature 64-82
Humidity 99%
Wind: NNW 17 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 7:04 a.m. MST
Sunset 7:49 p.m. MST
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
The Terrafin satellite surface temperature charts show 78° water out six miles to the 100 fathom line, and 82° water beyond that. This combination has been great for jack crevalle inshore, and sailfish offshore.

Few people are fishing the inshore, but when they do, they are catching 12 to 15 of the 14- to 20-pound jacks a day. Most of the fish are taken on slowed trolled live bait, but the fly fishers are also getting several.

Two to three sailfish a day is the average per boat. Scott Anderson from Minn. caught four sailfish while fishing with Ruben on the “Vamonos III.”

The conditions are almost perfect and we are expecting the big yellowfin tuna and marlin almost any day now.

Ed Kunze, Zihuatanejo

Water temperature 78 - 84
Air temperature 77 - 87
Humidity 83%
Wind NW 4 mph
Conditions: Scattered Clouds
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 7:29 a.m. CST
Sunset 8:02 p.m. CST


San Jose, Guatemala
No Report Received This Week. Here’s a repeat of last week’s:
The record-breaking catches seen during March madness in Guatemala are over with new records set. There are enough stories to dominate Happy Hours wherever fishermen gather for sometime. April began with the fish being less concentrated as they spread out looking for bait. There was consistent action beginning at 20 miles for both sails and an occasional marlin in calm seas.

Water temperature 78 - 82
Air temperature 70- 84
Humidity 94%
Wind: NW 11 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 6 miles
Sunrise 5:50 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:16 p.m. CST

Dorado Early Arrivals During Transition

REPORT #1005. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 04/08/06
East Cape
Too bad there were only a few visitors to enjoy the great fishing early this week. "Shooting fish in a barrel," was how one client described the fishing when I arrived here in East Cape last Friday afternoon. But then the north wind roared back in on Wednesday (4/5) leaving white caps and lumps in its wake.

Yesterday (4/6) the Matt Smith party of three from Indiana had a pretty decent beach trip despite the breezes. They nailed some croakers and a jack. Meanwhile, inshore fishing turned on nicely, with pargo, grouper and ladyfish hitting the decks.

Skippers are finding quality dorado under the shark buoys, striped marlin and sails outside, and, if you go far enough and are lucky, you might even find a few tuna to bend your stick. Inshore, skipjack and white bonito provided the best action. On the good days the beach yielded a few ladyfish, pompano and if you pay attention you might find few decent-sized jacks to sight cast to. If that is not enough, rumors of grande yellowtail in shallow water up towards Muertos Bay have some of the locals chomping at the bit. As the winter-to-spring transition continues, it appears to be shaping up to be an exciting springtime at East Cape.

As of last Sunday, all flights have been cancelled by Aero California and that has thrown Baja travel into a tailspin. Word is that the Mexican government yanked their license. Competition for the remaining flights on other carriers has driven the cost of tickets through the roof. Hopefully, there will be some resolution during the next few weeks.

Baja on the Fly

Water temperature 62-70
Air temperature 68-82
Humidity 60%
Wind: NW 8 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 7:04 a.m. MST
Sunset 7:37 p.m. MST




Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

I spent the early part of the week in Lopez Mateos and it could only be described as cold and windy. I don’t think I took off my sweatshirt once during the day. However, by Friday it warmed up and the wind quit blowing. Inside the bay there was a decent leopard grouper bite for some 10- to 20-pounders up above Lopez Mateos. Not much to talk about outside, but judging by the number of big tuna boats anchored in Santa Maria Bay on Thursday hiding from the weather, there must be a slug of tuna somewhere in the vicinity. The number of whales around San Carlos and the entrada is diminishing rapidly. Lastly, still a few firecracker yellows can be found under the bird schools at the entrada.

Water temperature 60 - 66
Air temperature 64-78
Humidity 99%
Wind: WNW 11 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 7:11 a.m. MST
Sunset 7:46 p.m. MST
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
The blue water is still only a very short three mile ride, with water temperatures hitting 80°. The fleet is averaging about two sailfish a day, per boat. Adan, on the panga “Gitana II” did have a four sailfish release day for his clients. His brother Santiago, on the “Gitana,” fishing with Martin and Rachel Patrick, released two sailfish and a 170 pound blue marlin. Doug Leach, also fished a day with Santiago using the flyrod, hooking a couple, and releasing one sail, and a dorado.

The inshore action is still strong for the large jack crevalle and there are lots of black skipjacks.

Ed Kunze, Zihuatanejo

Water temperature 78 - 84
Air temperature 78 - 87
Humidity 83%
Wind WNW 6 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 7:34 a.m. CST
Sunset 8:00 p.m. CST

San Jose, Guatemala
The record-breaking catches seen during March madness in Guatemala is over with new records set. There are enough stories to dominate Happy Hours wherever fishermen gather for sometime. April began with the fish being less concentrated as they spread out looking for bait. There was consistent action beginning at 20 miles for both sails and an occasional marlin in calm seas.

Water temperature 78 - 82
Air temperature 70- 84
Humidity 94%
Wind: N 4 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 6 miles
Sunrise 5:54 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:15 p.m. CST

Wind Shifts . . . Conditions Improve

REPORT #1004. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 04/01/06
East Cape
The news this week revolved mainly around the lack of wind. When the slight breeze picked up, it was from the southeast. This trend will bring warmer weather and water. The inshore fishing hasn't quite caught up yet though. We're running into intermittent ladyfish, pompano and jack schools. This time of year it's not unusual to see large Pacific jack crevalle in tight schools, moving slowly and not responding aggressively. Calmer days have permitted some snorkeling which reveals very tight schools of gafftop-sail pompano also. As water temps rise and more bait appears (striped mullet and flatiron herring), these schools will loosen up, providing more shots to the beach angler. The roosterfish catch picks up with the arrival of bait also. Thus far, it's the very lucky boat to run into roosters, but this week's weather is only helping matters.

Most of the boats seeing consistent success are cruisers willing to make fairly long runs to blue water. Some reported being among large schools of sleeping striped marlin with mixed hook-up results. Dorado and yellowfin tuna contributed to some success stories as well.

Josh Dickinson
Baja on the Fly Guide

Water temperature 62-70
Air temperature 67-82
Humidity 52%
Wind: NNW 13 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 6:11 a.m. MST
Sunset 6:34 p.m. MST

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

Nice weather throughout the week and then it turned cold and windy today (4/1). There are still a few whales hanging around while they are psych themselves up for the long trip up the coast.

Offshore, the Humboldt squid have been about the only thing reposted of any consequence for the week. The best action in the mangroves was not far from San Carlos at Los Barrlies there were a few snook to be had if you were there at the right time. Still a decent corvina bite either at the pier or under the bridge at the entrance to town.

Water temperature 60 - 66
Air temperature 52-72
Humidity 99%
Wind: Calm
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 6:18 a.m. MST
Sunset 6:43 p.m. MST
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
The blue water is only three miles off the beach, yet a cooler water current is moving down from the north and pushing the sailfish further south. The current Terrafin Surface Temperature image shows 78 degree water coming down and displacing the sailfish rich 82 degree water. This will be great for the blue marlin and yellowfin tuna however.

Inshore, the action has been outstanding on large jack crevalle. The fish have been averaging 16- to 18-pounds, with some going 25-pounds. Most are being taken at the white rocks on slow trolled live bait, but many are following a hookless popper to give a fly-caster a decent shot.

Ed Kunze, Zihuatanejo

Water temperature 78 - 84
Air temperature 78 - 87
Humidity 83%
Wind SW 6 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 6:40 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:59 p.m. CST

San Jose, Guatemala
No Report Received this week – Last week’s report repeated

As expected, the WFO action couldn't go on indefinitely. This week, the catches were still in the low double digits as the sailfish scattered in search of bait. The acres of small baitfish that had been reported for the past few weeks seemed to have disappeared leaving no other choice than to resort to more exploring. The fleet did find action anywhere from 15 to as far as 45 miles offshore as the boats spread out in search of herds of sailfish seen in the previous week. You can imagine how many times this week’s visitors heard, “You should have been here last week!”

Water temperature 78 - 82
Air temperature 72- 84
Humidity 94%
Wind: Calm
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 6 miles
Sunrise 5:59 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:15 p.m. CST