Spring Forward…..Wind Back

REPORT #1056 “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 03/31/07
East Cape

Mexico switched to daylight savings time this week, just as the north wind cranked back up shutting down what had been some good early season beach fishing. Water conditions quickly went from clean and fairly warm, to off color and cooler as the relentless wind waves pounded the beach. Earlier in the week the first pods of larger roosterfish in the 10 to 15 lb range could be seen cruising the beach in groups of a half dozen or so. The smaller juveniles roosters (1 or 2 lbs) are still numerous as well. While not exactly spring-style beach action, it was great to have a few cruisers to cast to. The jack crevalle have been seen schooling near-shore in larger groups. They are still in their milling/spawning behavior and they continue to be tough on the fly. That being said, they will indeed eat a fly if you are persistent and lucky enough to get a few chances. Sea lions have them spooked as well, which doesn't help the bite.
Offshore fishing action prior to the return of the wind included a good showing of striped marlin for those willing to run south...way south. Tuna action was found under the porpoise throughout Las Palmas Bay before the wind stirred things up.
Water temperature
65-78
Air temperature
55-82
Humidity
70%
Wind:
NNW 11-15 knots
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
6 miles
Sunrise
7:12 a.m. MDT
Sunset
7:34 p.m. MDT










Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico
Little action reported by the steady stream of yachts pounding up the coast toward California in less than ideal traveling weather. The best action found was on the finger bank below Tasco.

Whale watching season is over and attention has turned back to fishing by the locals. So far the action has been spotty; the Entrada produced a few small yellows along with a few bonito. With big tides creating ripping currents, the Esteros also performed poorly this week only yielding a few grouper, corvina and spotted bay bass.
Water temperature
65 - 72
Air temperature
55 -86
Humidity
64 %
Wind:
WNW 6-9 knots
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
5 miles
Sunrise
7:20 a.m. MDT
Sunset
7:42 p.m. MDT




Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
Fishing has been a bit slow this week. The blue water moved out to the 15 mile mark, and then back in to 10 miles.

According to the Terrafin Satellite Surface Temperatures, the water within the normal fishing zone of 30 miles is a blustery 84º, with the preferable 80º water about 40 miles. This explains why most sailfish are being taken between 18 and 20 miles, with the tuna and blue marlin coming from the 40 to 45 mile mark.

Adolpho on the panga, Dos Hermanos, told me he did have one decent day on sails, releasing four. He also said the inshore action is very slow. Adolpho is one of our absolute best roosterfish and jack crevalle captains, and if he says it is slow, then do not waste your time trying for them.
Ed Kunze
Water temperature
80 - 84
Air temperature
74-86
Humidity
83%
Wind:
NNW 4 knots
Conditions:
Partly Cloudy
Visibility
7 miles
Sunrise
7:42 a.m. CDT
Sunset
7:59 p.m. CDT

Transition Time in Baja

REPORT #1055 “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 03/24/07

East Cape
Water temperature
65-78
Air temperature
62-75
Humidity
57 %
Wind:
NNW 7 to 9 knts
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
5 miles
Sunrise
6:27 a.m. MST
Sunset
6:39 p.m. MST

The transition from winter to spring is in full swing and hopefully it won’t be long before the north winds will only be a fading memory. Most of the action offshore was down to the south and included some football tuna that have begun to arrive along with the continuing striped marlin bite. Unfortunately, dorado action slowed down a click or two this week.

Inshore the small roosters and sierra led the way along with a few ladyfish and pompano. We’re still seeing the larger variety jacks but they seem to be afflicted with a serious case of lockjaw.

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico
Water temperature
65 - 72
Air temperature
55 -82
Humidity
82 %
Wind:
WNW 13 knots
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
5 miles
Sunrise
6:26 a.m. MST
Sunset
6:39 p.m. MST
The few boats heading offshore found slim pickings from the Entrada all the way out to the Thetis Bank. The preponderance of bait in the water, mostly squid, may have had a lot to do with it. Back at the Entrada the bite also had slowed for the firecracker yellows for the same reason.

Action was a bit better in the Esteros with corvina providing the best action. There were also a few grouper, pargo and plenty of spotted bay bass to be found at slack tide up above Lopez Mateos.

Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
Even though the incredible blue marlin bite of last week has not continued at its torrid pace, we have not exactly had a "should have been here last week" situation either.

A full half of the 15 boat fleet is still getting at least a shot at a blue marlin, with an average of about three blues a day being hooked. Cheva, on the panga, Dos Hermanos II, told me how he had a double on two marlin going a respectable 230 and 300 pounds. They got them both to the boat, and with what is probably the understatement of the year, he said, “it was a "bit confusing at times”.

The sailfish action is still only averaging about 1 fish per boat per day. A few yellowfin tuna are being taken at the 40 mile mark by the commercial pangeros.

We had some high surf this week, and the jack crevalle action slowed down a bit, but there are tons of black skipjack tuna. (This is one of the reasons the marlin are plentiful - the small tuna is a favorite food of a marlin.) The hard-fighting small tuna are providing very good action for fly rodders.
Ed Kunze
Water temperature
80 - 84
Air temperature
66-86
Humidity
83%
Wind:
Calm
Conditions:
Partly Cloudy
Visibility
2 miles
Sunrise
6:46 a.m. CST
Sunset
6:57 p.m. CST

Wind Gone? This Week Anyway…

REPORT #1054 “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 03/17/07

East Cape
Water temperature
65-72
Air temperature
61-91
Humidity
90 %
Wind:
W 5 knots
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
5 miles
Sunrise
6:26 a.m. MST
Sunset
6:29 p.m. MST

The excellent weather all the way down the Sea of Cortez this week allowed the East Cape beaches to continue to produce good action for the small roosters (can’t wait until they grow up!). The jacks and pompano that were spotted had a case of lockjaw but there were some good sized croaker that were hot for small Clouser retrieved slowly over the bottom.

Offshore, the local Captains were all smiles as the marlin and dorado action heated up along with the weather. The locals are saying that it is an early spring but I suspect there is still a bit more north wind to come.


Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico
Water temperature
65 - 72
Air temperature
61 -90
Humidity
60 %
Wind:
WNW 8 knots
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
5 miles
Sunrise
6:34 a.m. MST
Sunset
6:36 p.m. MST
The Lopez Mateo’s estero fishing was great for our clients, Charles Kittrell and his nephew, from Carmel, CA, with double digit catches of grouper, corvina and spotted bay bass every day they fished. The panga fleet from Puerto San Carlos flocked to the Entrada where there are still plenty of whales to be seen. Enrique Soto reported a few firecracker yellowtail could be found under the bird schools as well as bonito.

Offshore the marlin and dorado are still hanging around but there are few boats heading out to chase them and there are only a small number of yachts traveling up and down the line from So. Cal to Cabo.
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
In two words: Blue Marlin! It is that good. Every boat in the fleet is getting at least a shot at a blue. The twenty boat fleet is averaging at least 8 caught blue marlin a day, with as many as 11 caught blues this last Tuesday.

The sailfish count is down, but everybody is slow trolling a large black skipjack tuna, which is way too big an offering for a sail to consider.

Margarito, on the Gaby caught two blues in one day for client, Sandy Week. They went 230 and 300 pounds. Adan, on the panga Gitana II took three marlin this week. They went about 120 pounds, 280 pounds, and 480 pounds.

Santiago, on the Gitana told me he only fished the blue water one day, releasing one sailfish, and catching a 40 pound class dorado.

Santiago has been fishing mostly inshore this week, and said the jack crevalle action is outstanding.
Ed Kunze
Water temperature
80 - 84
Air temperature
74-96
Humidity
83%
Wind:
ENE at 5 mph
Conditions:
Partly Cloudy
Visibility
2 miles
Sunrise
6:53 a.m. CST
Sunset
6:56 p.m. CST

Roosters a Plenty

REPORT #1053 “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 03/10/07

East Cape
Water temperature
65-72
Air temperature
54-87
Humidity
28 %
Wind:
N 4 knots
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
5 miles
Sunrise
6:33 a.m. MST
Sunset
6:22 p.m. MST


The Baja winter pattern continued this week with a few great days and more wind on the others. The jacks that had been frequently spotted along the beach seemed to have disappeared, being replaced by small groups of “young and dumb” juvenile roosters quite willing to bite almost anything in front of them. Give them a couple of months and they will become much more selective. The winds continue to scatter the small baitfish along the shore. There were also a few schools of pompano spotted flashing and grubbing in the sand but they seemed to have lockjaw and weren’t interested in anything offered. The local panga fishermen have been scoring on pargo a short distance off the beach.

Offshore much of same action as the past few weeks - fair billfish action with an occasional dorado up to the north.
Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico
Water temperature
65 - 72
Air temperature
56 -83
Humidity
65 %
Wind:
WNW 11 to 15 knots
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
5 miles
Sunrise
6:41 a.m. MST
Sunset
6:43 p.m. MST
The local panga fishermen claim that they have been spotting a number of marlin chasing bait balls with the birds not far behind near the Thetis bank. Closer to shore there are still a few dorado to be found, though not the bonanza experienced a couple of months ago.

Most of the locals are taking advantage of one of the best whale watching seasons in recent memory. Both Puerto San Carlos and Lopez Mateos have had a steady steam of tourists from all parts of the globe seeking a photo op with a whale.

With light pressure, the Esteros have yielded good catches of pompano, corvina, with a few snook and grouper caught near Devil’s Curve.


Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
The 80° blue water is just off the beach. However, most of the action appears to be a long boat ride off shore. For blue water action within 20 miles of the beach, the counts have been way down this last week. We have been averaging about one sailfish per boat per day. There have been very few dorado, but the blue marlin count is still respectable, with about 4 or 5 blue marlin a day being reported.

While fishing with Adan on the Gitana II this week, John Erickson of Wisconsin got a 180 pound blue on Tuesday, with John Torres catching a 220 pound blue on Friday.
At 40 miles, the commercial pangeros are getting yellowfin tuna in the 60 to 90 pound range. Plus, they are reporting a lot of sailfish and marlin in the same area. Apparently, there is a large concentration of bait along a current line at 40 miles, and this has been holding the game fish.

The inshore action for jack crevalle is still red hot. Now is the time for the light line and fly rod enthusiast to hit the water. You will be exhausted before noon.
Ed Kunze
Water temperature
80 - 84
Air temperature
71-87
Humidity
83%
Wind:
SE at 4 mph
Conditions:
Partly Cloudy
Visibility
2 miles
Sunrise
6:59 a.m. CST
Sunset
6:55 p.m. CST

Wind the Trend

REPORT #1052 “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 03/03/07

Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
Water temperature
80 - 84
Air temperature
69-86
Humidity
65%
Wind:
WSW 9 MPH
Conditions:
Mostly Sunny
Visibility
6 miles
Sunrise
7:03 a.m. CST
Sunset
6:52 p.m. CST
The water is starting a cooling trend, which is normal for this time of the year. At 30 miles, we have only 79° water, and not the 84° of weeks past. The blue water has moved out a bit also, and is about 18 miles from Zihuatanejo Bay.

The fleet is averaging between 1 and 3 sailfish a day, per boat. A few dorado are still being taken, but only about 1 for every 6 boats on the water. The blue marlin are still doing very well, but not quite as hot as last week. There are still at least 3 to 4 blues a day being recorded by the 30 boat fleet.

There is still no sign of the tuna, but with the cooling water, it will not be long.

Inshore, the jack crevalle action is hot. There are a lot of them, but not too many in the 20 pound range yet. Most of the jacks are in the low teens.
Ed Kunze

East Cape

Water temperature
65-72
Air temperature
62-78
Humidity
28%
Wind:
N 13 knots
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
17 miles
Sunrise
6:39 a.m. MST
Sunset
6:22 p.m. MST
This week was back to normal with strong winds beginning mid- to late morning each day. Those who made it out early enough had fair action for small roosters, sierra and ladyfish. Big jacks were still a tease as they continued their spooky behavior while milling well within casting range. Once the wind cranked up, it was Bloody Mary time at the pool.
The few boats that ventured out hightailed it back when the north wind came blasting down the Sea of Cortez. The lucky ones found a few marlin and dorado outside of Punta Pescadero.

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

There were strong winds on the Pacific side as well, but with most of the attention devoted to whales cavorting in the bay it didn’t seem to matter. The few that chose fish over mammals were not disappointed fishing in the Esteros. There were enough corvina and grouper, and all the spotted bay bass they wanted to keep the rods bent for most of the day until the winds picked up in the afternoon.
Water temperature
65 - 72
Air temperature
58 -80
Humidity
9%
Wind:
NNW 13 mph
Conditions:
Partly Cloudy
Visibility
5 miles
Sunrise
6:48 a.m. MST
Sunset
6:29 p.m. MST