East Cape Summer Billfish Trifecta

REPORT #1016. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 06/24/06
East Cape
While not quite “You should have been here earlier,” Cabo Pulmo succumbed to heavy pressure last week with early morning catches of YFTs, dorado and bonito sliding back to “good” instead of the WFO conditions enjoyed previously for the persistent fly-rodder.

Fortunately, billfish action is heating up – adding to the excitement are the blue marlin and sailfish that have begun arriving for the summer. You better be on your toes when the guide hollers “FOLLOW!” One never knows what may come up behind the teasers. Sailfish are perfect for the newbie flyrodder. Striped marlin offer a bit more challenge; and then there is the ultimate: a shot at a blue marlin. Land one of these babies on a flyrod and you will be a member of a very exclusive club.

Dorado action continued at a slightly slower pace this week, but still enough good shots to be had on the fly to make the day interesting.
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Back on the beach, rooster fishing continues to be tough. If one is at the right place, right time, and right tide you may have some good shots at roosters. Our guide Lance fished the beach yesterday (6/23) morning with Larry McGrath, Grass Valley CA and had a number of pez gallo charging the teaser. Sometimes it was a single fish, other times as many as 5 or 6 at a time. As usual, it took a well-placed and perfectly timed cast to be in the game with those teased roosterfish. In between rooster shots there was ample opportunity to practice the bait and switch on the schools of ravenous ladyfish that came up on the teaser.


Water temperature 74-85
Air temperature 71-99
Humidity 78%
Wind: SSW 2 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 6:34 a.m. MDT
Sunset 8:07 p.m. MDT

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

Reports of plenty of small grouper, spotted bay bass and pompano continue from both San Carlos and up at Lopez Mateos.
The entrada continues to offer spotty surface action for both bonito and a few firecracker yellows.

Offshore, unseasonable cool water temperatures are still preventing the action to swing in for the summer. There are only a few scattered reports of marlin, dorado or tuna.


Water temperature 61 - 66
Air temperature 68-78
Humidity 62%
Wind: W 15 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 6:38 a.m. MDT
Sunset 8:19 p.m. MDT


Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
From the inshore, to way offshore, the water is averaging about 84 to 85º, and the blue water is only three miles off the beach. But, due to the moon phase, the sailfish and marlin were slow this week. With the new moon occurring tomorrow (6/25), the offshore fishing should make a substantial improvement.

One bright spot is the inshore fishing for the roosters. The roosterfish action is just outstanding, with every boat fishing them getting at least three or four. Even Santiago, on the panga “Gitana,” who came back inshore late because the sailfish action was slow offshore, ended up getting a 45 pound rooster off Playa Blanca.

Adolpho, on the panga “Dos Hermanos,” told me he only caught three roosters yesterday, but because each 70 pound class fish took an hour and a half to get to the boat, it was all the time they had before they had to head back to the dock.

Ed Kunze

Water temperature 78 - 84
Air temperature 72 - 84
Humidity 83%
Wind W 4 mph
Conditions: Thunderstorms
Visibility 7 miles
Sunrise 7:12 a.m. CDT
Sunset 8:23 p.m. CDT

Pulling at Pulmo

REPORT #1015. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 06/17/06
East Cape
The Cabo Pulmo tuna bite was the first stop on everyone's East Cape fishing day this week. There were plenty of yellowfin and dorado to satisfy the huge number of boats that stacked up there every morning. With fish busting bait on the surface and biting flies down deep, there were few complaints about the "combat fishing" conditions. John Spevacek and family made the trip from Connecticut to sample the East Cape fishery. He and his sons stacked up numerous double headers with John nailing fish on flies while his boys slammed them on live sardina. Back on the beach, ample quantities of bait continue provide good fly-fishing opportunities for dedicated beach anglers. Ladyfish, jack crevalle, and mid-sized roosters are the likely targets from the beach. The big roosters are definitely around, but they are paired up in spawning mode and not so interested in eating flies. Carey Kimura and five buddies came up from Cabo to have a beach fishing bachelor party before Carey's wedding. The roosters were tough as usual, but there was enough action for ladyfish to keep them busy between shots.

Scott York, Gardnerville, Nev., and his wife fished Thursday (6/15) catching several dorado, a nice yellowfin, two bonito, and a bunch of ladies on the fly; they had some good roosterfish shots and farmed one.


Water temperature 74-85
Air temperature 71-99
Humidity 78%
Wind: SW 2 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 6:32 a.m. MDT
Sunset 8:06 p.m. MDT

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

Offshore conditions have begun to improve with a few dorado beginning to show around the shark buoys west of the entrada. Also, there are a few firecracker yellowtails under the bird schools at the entrada. Several better quality snook reported at Devil’s Curve along with several grouper and all the spotted bay bass you want.


Water temperature 61 - 66
Air temperature 68-78
Humidity 22%
Wind: SW 8 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 6:36 a.m. MDT
Sunset 8:18 p.m. MDT


Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
The 80º blue water is only two miles off the beach. Not many sailfish have been around, but the blue marlin fishing has still been holding up. At least one boat in three is getting a shot at a blue; this is primarily because of the abundance of the black skipjack tuna here. These 3- to 5-pound fish are about as hard a fighting fish as you will encounter.

Because of their huge numbers, they are great for kids – as Paul Gomez from Dana Point, Calif., discovered when he fished with his three kids on the “Vamonos III” with Cali and Ruben. There was no time for the 14-, 12-, and 7-year old to get bored. They were hooked up all the time. Plus, the skipjacks are fantastic action for the fly-rodder.

Santiago, on the panga “Gitana,” had two good days with a client from Colorado. On the first day they got a small blue marlin of about 135 pounds. The second day they fished inshore for four roosters and 8 or 10 jack crevalle.

Adolpho, on the panga “Dos Hermanos,” fished two days inshore, catching 14 roosters from 20- to 65-pounds, and numerous jacks. Arturo on the panga “Janeth,” also took four nice roosters for one day inshore.

Ed Kunze

Water temperature 78 - 84
Air temperature 75 - 88
Humidity 63%
Wind SSW 9 mph
Conditions: Scattered Clouds
Visibility 7 miles
Sunrise 7:11 a.m. CDT
Sunset 8:22 p.m. CDT

Sardina Make the Difference

REPORT #1014. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 06/10/06
East Cape
After an unbelievable 10 day period, the inshore fishing action has settled down a click or two. Plenty of large roosters can be found cruising well within casting range. Pairing off, they seem to be more interested in making whoopee than chasing the many bait schools along the shore.

Down toward Cabo Pulmo, a few miles offshore, the YFT bite has been consistently good all week as well some dorado, billfish and, for the very fortunate, a wahoo or two.

Different from last year is the availability of sardina for chum, which can make the difference between a good day and an incredible day. The sardina allow the guides to keep the tuna school in casting range; an occasional dorado, skipjack, needlefish or mystery bite keeps everybody happy. Take Mike Little, Calgary, Alberta, fishing the day before his wedding day (now that’s a Bachelor Party I could get into) whacked the tuna on the fly all morning with fish to 20 pounds. Then a large dorado – teased up on the way back to the hotel – capped off his last day of singledom.

Water temperature 74-85
Air temperature 71-96
Humidity 78%
Wind: WNW 4 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 6:02 a.m. MDT
Sunset 8:04 p.m. MDT

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

Tim Linsky owner of the charter boat “Aristokat” visited Lopez Mateos to explore the area before bringing the boat down later this season. Fishing inside the bay he found halibut, grouper and spotted bay bass. The next day, he headed out to Isla Magdalena. Surf action was great as a variety of fish had driven a school of sardines into the surf and a feeding frenzy ensued. Locals were trapping halibut, corvina, and small snook by hand. Tim managed to catch a 20 pound halibut.

The windy conditions offshore continue to prevent much exploration. Water temps are steadily creeping up and once the wind lightens up and the boats can spend some time outside, the action should begin to pick up.

Down at San Carlos, they are also experiencing good action inside the bay with both Los Barriles and Devil’s Curve being the hot spot for small snook, corvina and a few leopard grouper.


Water temperature 61 - 66
Air temperature 65-77
Humidity 86%
Wind: WNW 20 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 6:36 a.m. MDT
Sunset 8:16 p.m. MDT


Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
This week has had a lot of disruptions from the weather, causing slow fishing. We had one morning where I recorded 5.25 inches of rain between 3:30 and 8:00. For the week, at 12 inches of rain, we have had an almost average year for Southern California.

The large influx of fresh water from the rivers has pushed the blue water out to the 8 mile mark, and cooled the inshore areas substantially. Plus, the inshore waters have very low visibility.

The bright side is the weather map shows this unsettled pattern leaving us alone this next week, and we should be able to get back to some decent fishing.

Ed Kunze

Water temperature 78 - 84
Air temperature 75 - 84
Humidity 83%
Wind NE 2 mph
Conditions: Scattered Clouds
Visibility 7 miles
Sunrise 7:10 a.m. CDT
Sunset 8:17 p.m. CDT

No Gloom this June

REPORT #1013. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 06/03/06
East Cape
Large schools of small roosters have been everywhere, attracted by bait schools that are hanging just outside of casting range from the beach. Using hookless teasers, our guide Josh Dickinson convinced Mark Saba, from Maryland, how effective the technique can be. Josh consistently enticed fish from a couple hundred feet away close enough for Mark to get plenty of shots; and by the end of the day he landed three and hooked a few more.

Fishing from a panga, most of the fish are being taken from a drifting boat as the roosters follow the chum into casting range. Wed. (5/31), Matt Weaver, Bozeman, Mont., had a mixed school of sierra and roosters long enough to land seven roosters on a small sardina patterns and 20+ sierra, up to eight pounds. Josh and Matt will be talking about that day for some time to come.

Yesterday, Lance Peterson and Don Murnane, visiting from Chatham, NJ, also had a good beach day. He spent most of the day running up and down the sand casting to some grande pez gallo, with plenty of lookers but no takers until late in the day when the schoolies came after the teaser in packs. The day’s action also included jack crevalle, ladyfish, and look down.

Offshore, tuna, dorado and marlin are all on the chew if you are willing to take the boat ride. Most of the dorado and tuna are in the "reasonable" size category for the average fly angler – from the single digit to 20 or more pounds. Josh, using sardina for chum, kept the dorado and tuna around the boat so Homer Tollenaere and his wife, from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, could cast small sardina patterns with great success. With all the bait and large schools of fish we are seeing, June 2006 should be a great one.


Water temperature 74-83
Air temperature 73-96
Humidity 78%
Wind: W 2 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 6:02 a.m. MDT
Sunset 8:01 p.m. MDT

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

Water temperatures continue to creep up slowly on the outside. Windy conditions continued to hamper the boats from doing much exploring offshore. Inside the esteros, corvina, leopard grouper, a few small snook and enough mystery bites to keep things interesting. Down at Devil’s Curve, tight to the west side of the channel there were a few palometa to be found.

In San Carlos, several angers reported fair fishing near the bridge at the entrance to town. Catches included small grouper, spotted bay bass and a few smaller corvina at slack tide.
Enrique Soto reported a few yellows out at the entrada first thing in the morning and as the day wore on some corvina and bonito under the bird schools. The shallows off the sandy beaches at Belchers produced plenty of the smaller variety halibut.



Water temperature 61 - 66
Air temperature 65-77
Humidity 86%
Wind: WNW 17 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 6:36 a.m. MDT
Sunset 8:13 p.m. MDT


Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
The 80º blue water is only two miles off the beach. Fishing has been good. Sailfish are being taken at a rate of about two or three fish a day per boat. A few smaller 20 pound class yellowfin tuna are showing up, enough to keep things from getting boring.

Plus, the blue marlin are still coming to baits, on an average of one boat out of three.

The only drawback is we just got our first rains of the year this week, and even though 95% of our rain is always at night, the wind has made for two or three uncomfortable days on the water.

Adolpho, on the panga “Dos Hermanos,” told me he had a great week inshore on roosters and jack crevalle. Most of his fish were taken near the close-by White Rocks, or just a couple of miles below.

Ed Kunze

Water temperature 78 - 84
Air temperature 78 - 80
Humidity 83%
Wind ESE 15 mph
Conditions: Thunderstorms
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 7:10 a.m. CDT
Sunset 8:17 p.m. CDT