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