Rooster Season Begins at East Cape

REPORT #1011. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 05/20/06
East Cape
There’s no doubt that the 2006 season has begun here at East Cape – and what a big difference from last year’s shortage of bait. This year is back to normal with large schools of both sardina and mullet gathering along the shore attracting a smorgasbord of species to shoot for. Jacks, sierra, pompano, ladyfish and of course “Pez Gallo” – or @##%%^& roosterfish to the uninitiated – are close to shore and along the 30 miles of East Cape beaches providing for quality fly-fishing opportunities.
Our guides, using hookless live bait for teasing from pangas, have been raising good numbers of roosterfish allowing our clients plenty of opportunity to hone their saltwater skills as the hungry fish charge the teasers in search of an easy meal.
Back on the beach, sight fishing opportunities are on the increase and it is not uncommon to encounter some big “cruisers” swimming tight to the shore. A little luck, determination and a well-placed cast could have you tight to the fish of a life time.
Offshore action is every bit as hot. Lots of hotel boats are going out each day and many are returning with good catches of marlin, sailfish, and an occasional dorado. Captain Ramon of the Hotel Buenavista cruiser “Tres Hermanos” flew six billfish flags as he pulled up to the pier yesterday . . . a great day indeed. All-in-all a great beginning for the East Cape as the 2006 season gets underway.

Water temperature 68-79
Air temperature 72-93
Humidity 58%
Wind: SSW 4 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 6:35 a.m. MST
Sunset 7:55 p.m. MST

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

There are still unsettled conditions on the outside, while inside it is business as usual. The entrada continues to offer decent yellowtail (small, but hungry) under the bird schools. A little further down in the water column there are a few small grouper to be found. There were a few smaller snook up at Devil’s Curve as well as up above Lopez Mateos. Still plenty of corvina through out the bay and lots of halibut in shallows near any sandy beach. Also, several palometa were caught near the boca above Lopez Mateos.

Water temperatures on the outside are slowly climbing upward and if the wind quits, fishing for the exotics should begin to improve.



Water temperature 60 - 69
Air temperature 60-78
Humidity 82%
Wind: W 15 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 6:40 a.m. MDT
Sunset 8:06 p.m. MDT


Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
The 80º blue water is at 18 miles, but the fishing is still not up to our normal May standards. Sailfish have been slow, with only about a one fish average per day, per boat. A few blue marlin have been hooked, but not nearly in the numbers of the last several years for May.

Karl Peters from Nashville, on his private boat the Aleta Negra, told me how he lost two huge marlin on consecutive days. They both hit a lure set on the first wake off the starboard corner. One snapped the 130-pound line from too tight of a drag setting; and the other wrapped the line on the rod tip.

Inshore action is picking up, but the only roosters reported this week was from 40 miles down South at Papanoa. There is a huge area of 84º water down there, and moving up to us. The fishing should have a big turn around next week.

Ed Kunze

Water temperature 78 - 84
Air temperature 73 - 84
Humidity 83%
Wind N 4 mph
Conditions: Thunderstorms
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 7:12 a.m. CDT
Sunset 8:12 p.m. CDT