North Wind Follows Paul’s Near Miss

REPORT #1034 “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 10/28/06

East Cape

A near miss by “Paul” brought some rain and early north winds with a few nice days mixed in making for an interesting week. While there is plenty of bait inshore and along the beach, the off-color water persisted throughout Las Palmas Bay. Early in the week, Claus Donath, Buenos Aires, Argentina struggled with the tough conditions. During his two days of fly-fishing he managed to land his first rooster on the fly and had some ladyfish action as well.

While tuna could be found below Los Frailes, if you didn’t get there early you were out of luck and had to face a rough ride back to the hotel. While there were a few dorado for the persistent angler, the action was mostly singles – not the schools that produce non-stop action.

On the marlin front, action continued at a moderate pace on the good weather days and tough on the windy days.


Water temperature 74-85
Air temperature 71-90
Humidity 73%
Wind: NE at 10 kph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 15 miles
Sunrise 7:22 a.m. MDT
Sunset 6:43 p.m. MDT


Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

Offshore action for dorado and tuna continued to be productive and the marlin bite improved from the previous week. Closer to shore, the grouper action was great within five miles of the boca.

Enrique Soto reported that the entrada continued to produce fair action for firecracker-sized yellowtail on the surface, while further down in the water column they found a few leopard grouper to 20 pounds. West of the entrada five to 20 miles there were plenty of dorado under the shark buoys.

The esteros, while lightly fished this week, still had corvina, grouper and decent pargo action at both Devil’s Curve and up north of Lopez Mateos.

Water temperature 74 - 84
Air temperature 69-82
Humidity 92%
Wind: W 5 kph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 6 miles
Sunrise 7:31 a.m. MDT
Sunset 6:48 p.m. MDT

Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
Currents have the water conditions a bit mixed this week. On a 180° heading, we have 86° blue water at 12 miles. But, on a 220° heading we have 83° blue water at 22 miles.

This lack of a defined pattern has hurt the fishing somewhat. We are only averaging 1 or 2 sailfish per day / per boat. A few 20- to 25-pound class dorado are still showing, but the tuna left the area.

The main action is still inshore, and on the beaches. On the beaches, the roosterfish are averaging at least 4 to 5 fish per day / per boat. Klaus Meyer of Texas fished one day with Santiago on the “Gitana” and caught four roosters to 45 pounds.

Fly-fishermen are doing very well inshore on the black skipjack tuna, a few sierras, and the smaller jack crevalle.

Ed Kunze
Water temperature 78 - 87
Air temperature 75 - 91
Humidity 100%
Wind SE 6 kph
Conditions: Cloudy\rain
Visibility 7 miles
Sunrise 7:43 a.m. CDT
Sunset 7:15 p.m. CDT

East Cape Transition Time

REPORT #1033 “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 10/21/06

East Cape
Adopt a Billfish
After a long, hot summer, East Cape has begun to cool down. Strong north winds for the past several days chewed up the beach this week, slowing the action down. Inshore, the action continued for pompano, jack crevalle, ladyfish, roosters and sierra that can be found from Buena Vista all the way down to the Lighthouse. While there is some off color water, it has not shut off the bite.

Most of the billfish action was soaking baits down deep which is not good for the fly guys. I understand there are plenty of YFTs down below Los Frailes, all the way to Gordo Bank, almost long-range trip in the opinion of most. Rounding out the week were a few dorado spread throughout Palmas Bay.


Water temperature 74-85
Air temperature 69-90
Humidity 74%
Wind: NNW at 9 kph
Conditions: Partly Cloudy
Visibility 3 miles
Sunrise 7:19 a.m. MDT
Sunset 6:48 p.m. MDT

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico


While offshore was definitely on the upswing this week as the seas began to finally settle down, it was not up to the usual Mag Bay standards. The Riviera Sportfishers Yachts held their 10th Annual Rendezvous, finding most of the action closer to the entrada than the Thetis Bank as the cooler water pushed down from the northwest. Plenty of dorado for everyone and most boats averaging 3-4 marlin per day. Closer to shore at Lopez, the yellowfin and skipjack tuna action remained consistent. In the esteros, the grouper action along with some nice-sized pargo kept the rods bent.

Chugey Sepulveda from the Pflueger Institute just returned from the ridge where they tagged 20 wahoo with archival tags. He wrote, “The tags are externally visible and worth $500 for their return. All of the fish were tagged near the 13.” He reported that there was a consistent morning and late evening bite for the wahoo with Marauders being the most consistent lure “On our last day of fishing, (10/16) we re-captured one of our tags, so we are hopeful some of the boats down that way might get a tag or two.”

Chugey Sepulveda, Ph.D.
Senior Research Scientist
Pfleger Institute of Environmental Research
901-B Pier View Way
Oceanside, CA 92054
(760) 721-1404

Water temperature 74 - 84
Air temperature 74-86
Humidity 75%
Wind: N 15 kph
Conditions: Scattered Clouds
Visibility 2 miles
Sunrise 7:27 a.m. MDT
Sunset 6:54 p.m. MDT





Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
The sailfish have been steady at an average of about two to a boat per day. Going into the new moon phase, this average should pick up a bit.

A nice bonus is the dorado have finally started to show, with some of the boats getting a couple of the nice 25 pound fish. One commercial pangero, working a floating tree limb, managed to get 10. This same pangero also told me the yellowfin tuna are now showing at the 25 mile mark.

The rains this last week had some dirty water flows out of the rivers, creating a turbid inshore situation. This did hurt the rooster fishing this last week. But, talking to Adopho on the panga Dos Hermanos, he feels in three days we are back into the great action.

Cali and I, driving along the dirt road at Playa Blanca today, spotted some birds and lots of small jack crevalle crashing the backside of the surf line. The water was a bit green, but the bait and the fish are definitely here.

Ed Kunze
Water temperature 78 - 87
Air temperature 77 - 84
Humidity 100%
Wind SE 6 kph
Conditions: Cloudy\rain
Visibility 7 miles
Sunrise 7:40 a.m. CDT
Sunset 7:18 p.m. CDT

Magdalena Bay Delivers

REPORT #1032 “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 10/14/06

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

Toward the end of the week offshore reports were that the dorado were as thick as tortilla chips at the guacamole bowl, but few marlin. Earlier in the week however, there was a good show of marlin at 45/35 about 45 miles from Lopez Mateos. Unfortunately they seemed pretty lethargic.

Earlier this past week, Lance Peterson guided Sam and Janet Farish, Atlanta, GA, at Loreto and this is excerpts of his Loreto report: “Off to a good start. Founds lots of roosters today...almost all cookie cutter copies of about 5lbs. Good action. Had several teased up which ate the fly big time so the Farishes are happy.

It went really well again today… dorado and lots of skipjack. Sam caught the big bull he wanted...about 30lb.”

Lance Peterson and the Farishes moved to Lopez Mateos the last few days. Lance’s report:
“Fishing here at Lopez Mateos has been very productive. Heavy winds prevented us from fishing offshore today. Thursday, we made it out some 28 miles and were immediately rewarded with yellowfin tuna and doubles on dorado. While it wasn't WFO, we had no trouble finding enough fish to keep the anticipation level high. Friday, we stayed in the bay and found excellent action on pargo, corvina, white sea bass, and the odd long jaw leatherjack. Top water action was at points unbelievable with violent takes and almost unstopable runs into the mangroves. Lots of gear lost but lots of great fish landed. Another amazing day!

The wind was rippin today and it's still blowing a little even now. I really hope it lays down so we can exit the entrada tomorrow (Saturday) and go for it.
We saw a pair of bald eagles today...a sight not often seen in Baja!
Sergio is the best captain I've fished with in Mexico bar none. We have really clicked and have been a great team.”


Water temperature 74 - 84
Air temperature 74-83
Humidity 88%
Wind: S 6 kph
Conditions: Scattered Clouds
Visibility 6 miles
Sunrise 7:24 a.m. MDT
Sunset 7:00 p.m. MDT


East Cape
Unsettled conditions persisted into the week and fishing slowed down a few clicks from the previous weeks. Most of the marlin action was on drifting baits down deep. Dorado action was spread out with mostly singles and no schools. If you wanted Yellowfin tuna, it was a long boat ride either way - up toward Cerralvo Island or the other direction - from outside of Cabo Pulmo all the way down to Destiladeras.

Inshore the roosterfish action improved close to shore with lots of smaller fish chasing the hookless teasers right to the boat transom.

From the beach, ladyfish and pompano were to be found and if you could locate the sardina, the roosters and jacks weren’t far behind.


Water temperature 74-89
Air temperature 68-93
Humidity 84%
Wind: NNE at 7 kph
Conditions: Partly Cloudy
Visibility 3 miles
Sunrise 7:15 a.m. MDT
Sunset 6:53 p.m. MDT



Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
The 86° blue water is still just a short boat ride. And, as we get out of the full moon phase, the fishing has picked up. There has yet to be any dorado or tuna in the counts, but we have so few boats going out, we are not getting much on the water coverage.

Most boats are getting 2 to 3 sailfish a day average.

The inshore action has been outstanding. Captain Cheva on the Dos Hermanos fished with fly fishing guide Brent Darby of Idaho for one day. Using the fly rod, he caught 6 sierra, 8 black skipjack tuna, and several small jack crevalle.

Plus, the rooster fish action on the back side of the waves is still fantastic. Each boat is averaging 4 to 6 fish a day.

Ed Kunze
Water temperature 78 - 87
Air temperature 72 - 92
Humidity 100%
Wind E 5 kph
Conditions: Cloudy\rain
Visibility 7 miles
Sunrise 7:38 a.m. CDT
Sunset 7:24 p.m. CDT

Fall Season Begins…Everywhere!

REPORT #1031 “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 10/07/06
East Cape
With the baggage requirements changing more often that the price of bait in Baja we thought a link to TSA’s latest update might be helpful.
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm#1

No storms on the horizon and great weather for the week! Dorado and tuna continued to be the crowd pleasers, though the tuna were a lot more picky than last week.

While plenty of billfish were seen, getting them to bite was a different story. We did hear of one billfish that was hooked on the fly by a woman fishing in the middle of the tuna bite outside of Punta Arena. She hooked it while her husband was getting beat up by a tuna..go figure.

Our guide, Lance Peterson returned this week and of course headed straight for the beach. He reported that he had found good conditions and some smaller roosters and jacks to play with. Also, a decent ladyfish bite filled in the gaps in the action.


Water temperature 74-89
Air temperature 72-94
Humidity 94%
Wind: WSW at 3 kph
Conditions: Partly Cloudy
Visibility 9 miles
Sunrise 7:13 a.m. MDT
Sunset 7:00 p.m. MDT

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

Beginning just a few miles off the beach, the dorado were thick this week. And plenty of yellowfin were found just outside Boca de Soledad - five miles. Most of the marlin action reported was down below the Entrada near the pinnacle. Chip on the “Old Reliable” reported good marlin action on the fly with double digit follows every day.

Estero action continued to be on the slow side with very little pressure. Up at Lopez Mateos one angler reported a few small yellows, some fair sized grouper and a few pargo to round out his day.

Water temperature 64 - 78
Air temperature 74-87
Humidity 95%
Wind: NE 8 mph
Conditions: Scattered Clouds
Visibility 6 miles
Sunrise 7:21 a.m. MDT
Sunset 7:07 p.m. MDT


Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
Boats freshly painted, reels cleaned and oiled, fish arriving, everything is ready…all we need is clients!
The 85° blue water is only a short 7 mile ride out of the harbor. The full moon is hurting the fishing for the sailfish a bit, but overall the sailfish have been decent. The average has been two to three per boat, per day.

With the rain season essentially over, and the inshore waters clearing up, the roosterfish are still the main action. The boats are averaging 4 to 5 roosters a day each.


Ed Kunze
Water temperature 78 - 87
Air temperature 76 - 99
Humidity 100%
Wind E 5 kph
Conditions: Cloudy
Visibility 7 miles
Sunrise 7:37 a.m. CDT
Sunset 7:29 p.m. CDT