Roosters Rule, Jacks Follow!

REPORT #1060 “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update April 28, 2007

East Cape

Roosterfish action speeded up just in time for Doug Booth’s (Tustin, CA) inshore trip Saturday. The 8 to 20lb class pez gallo put on a real show tearing up bait on a flat calm sea as frigate birds dipped and dived above the frenzy. This classic East Cape action lasted a couple of days until the North wind came roaring back down the Sea of Cortez once again causing lumpy and off color inshore conditions. Back on the beach, the North wind made sight fishing tough as the wave action churned up the shore line. Nevertheless, bright sun allowed for decent fish spotting and if you were in the right spots, the jack crevalle were fairly numerous and were responding to flies with some aggression. A few good sized roosters were in the mix too. Our Guide, Lance Peterson, reported that they were picky as usual but he did manage to get some hard follows. However, getting one to eat the fly was a different story.

Offshore the north winds made for a tough week until Thursday when the wind backed off again. That is all it took for the billfish to begin to bite again. Thirty miles offshore a few boats found some pods of porpoise producing some of the best YFT action in several weeks. Hopefully, the action will continue this week if the north wind stays away.

Water temperature
65-74
Air temperature
62-82
Humidity
77%
Wind:
NNW 5-7 knots
Conditions:
Sunny
Visibility
5 miles
Sunrise
6:47 a.m. MDT
Sunset
7:45 p.m. MDT

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

Continued cooler water temps offshore have pushed most of the fish further down the coast. Entrada action continues with sierra, yellows and bonito found feeding on the surface under the bird schools.

Corvina provided the best action inside the esteros along with a few sierra found up above Lopez Mateos. Grouper, pargo and snook seemed to be among the missing this week or maybe it was the anglers that were missing.

Water temperature
65 - 72
Air temperature
60 -82
Humidity
68 %
Wind:
NW 7-9 knots
Conditions:
Sunny
Visibility
12 miles
Sunrise
6:53 a.m. MDT
Sunset
7:55 p.m. MDT

Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico

The fishing this week has really turned on for the blue water. For the inshore action, the roosters are right on schedule and starting to make their migration back. There are a few showing up on the beaches again.

The biggest news is the blue marlin and sailfish. Each day, one out of every three boats are getting a shot at a blue. This is normal for the month of May, but it is late April, and they are week or so early. We have averaged at least 5 blues a day for the daily 18 to 20 boat fleet. In addition, with the arrival of the blue marlin, the big 200 pound plus yellowfin tuna will not be far behind. Most of the tuna and blue marlin action in May will be at less than the 20 mile mark.

Plus, we are averaging an incredible 5 to 6 released sailfish a day per boat this week. Some boats are posting double digit numbers of releases.

Mike Griffin, of Anchorage, told me he fished with Captain Poli on the Don Gordo II this last Wednesday. With 20 sailfish raised and striking the baits in the spread, they had run out of baits by 11:00. Two elderly couples were very satisfied with the day and their 4 sailfish releases, so their captain gave Poli his remaining baits. They finished the day with 25 strikes, of which they had two triples, two doubles, and three singles. Most of the action was within 12 miles of the lighthouse at Zihuatanejo Bay.

Mike told me there were acres of porpoise, and birds crashing on bait everywhere. There were free jumping sails in every direction, and every boat in the fleet was hooked up at the same time. They could not even get the entire compliment of trolling rods out before they were hooked up. With only two rods out, sometimes they did not make more than 50 yards before they were bit again. Two of the fish they caught were over the 100 pound mark. Mike said it he had never had a better day on the water.

Adolpho, on the panga Dos Hermanos, told me he got 5 roosters in 3 days of fishing inshore, and a few jacks are starting to show up also.
Ed Kunze

Water temperature
80 - 84
Air temperature
72-99
Humidity
88%
Wind:
WSW 8 knts
Conditions:
Partly Sunny
Visibility
5 miles
Sunrise
7:22 a.m. CDT
Sunset
8:06 p.m. CDT

Jack’s are Back!

REPORT #1059 “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996 Endless Season Update April 21, 2007

East Cape

Baja on the Fly Guide Lance Peterson with his best Jack in 2007..so far!

Sporadic north winds influenced the fishing this week! On the less windy days the billfishing was excellent with many boats racking up multiple scores. Dorado, while spread out throughout the bay, were mostly singles and still not grouped up in schools. YFT catches could only be classified as dismal. Cecilia “Pudge” Kleinkauf, Women’s Flyfishing©, Anchorage, AK, finished up on Monday and the group ranging from novice to seasoned anglers all came away from the trip with plenty of bragging rights until they return next year. Baja on the Fly guide, Lance Peterson, took the day off on Friday and sent us the following report. “Had great fun fishing the beach all day. Literally hundreds of jacks with a few chasing the flies were enough to keep it interesting and provided non-stop action. When the scales settled, the score was one big jack landed as they continued to prove how tough they can be to catch from the shore. Also had some great rooster action with some follows but no takers; I'm absolutely spent from running down fish. Great day.”

Water temperature 65-74
Air temperature 59-85
Humidity 59%
Wind: NNE 8-11 knots
Conditions: SunnyVisibility 8 miles
Sunrise 6:53 a.m. MDTSunset 7:42 p.m. MDT

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

Strong winds and high seas kept the local boats inside this week. Entrada action under the bird schools improved with enough sierra and yellows to bend the rods of the few anglers there. Devil’s Curve produced a few grouper, small pargo and the corvina were suckers for surface plugs or poppers.
Closer to San Carlos at the bridge early morning action also included corvina and small groupers using Chartreuse Clousers retrieved slowly along the rocky bottom.

Water temperature 65 - 72

Air temperature 58 -90

Humidity 43 %

Wind: NNW 15-20 knots
Conditions: Sunny
Visibility 12 milesSunrise 6:59 a.m. MDTSunset 7:52 p.m. MDT

Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico

Fishing has improved considerably this last week. We are now getting a potpourri of several blue water species, including sailfish, blue marlin, dorado, and yellowfin tuna. Sailfish are still the predominate catch, with most fish being taken between 18 and 21 miles from Zihuatanejo Bay. The 80º blue water is at about 15 miles. Santiago on the panga, Gitana, has been averaging about 8 sailfish a day raised to the spread. With Santiago, 1st time blue water fly fishing client, Mark Pinski of Cameron Park, CA, managed to tag and release two sails on the fly on Thursday. Adolpho, on the panga, Dos Hermanos, is back to finding decent inshore action on jack crevalle and black skipjack tuna, and with May just around the corner, the outlook is very promising..
Ed Kunze

Water temperature 80 - 84

Air temperature 63-87

Humidity 43%

Wind: Calm

Conditions: Partly Sunny

Visibility 3 miles

Sunrise 7:26 a.m. CDT

Sunset 8:04 p.m. CDT

Bills Come Early!

REPORT #1058 “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update April 14, 2007
East Cape

Cecilia “Pudge” Kleinkauf, owner of Women’s Flyfishing©, Anchorage, AK, arrived early in the week with a group of fishing buddies to enjoy some Baja sun and flyfishing. It didn’t take long to get the party started! First day out, with Pudge’s coaching, Jen Hall, Boston, MA, landed her first striped marlin on the fly. Not to be outdone, Maria Knutson, Anchorage AK, landed her first sailfish. Yes, read SAILFISH. They have arrived early this season.

Most of the marlin, sailfish and dorado action was due east anywhere from 14 – 35 miles from the Hotel Buenavista Beach Resort. The action continued to build throughout the week and some of the boats had as many as 9 flags a flying as a north wind chased them back to the dock Friday afternoon. Though most of the dorado were singles, the quality was decent with many of the fish exceeding fifteen pounds. Many of them were caught on bait, but there was enough fly action to keep things interesting.

With a lack of sardina locally, two boats opted to make the run up to Isla Ceralvo thirty miles to the north where sardina was available. These two boats found excellent fly rod action for skipjack lasting most of the day with the aid of the sardina.

Inshore there were a few jacks caught. Long time client, Allison Osinski, San Diego, CA, landed her “personal best” jack crevalle estimated to weigh 22 lbs. While there were a few roosters found cruising close to shore and a few near misses none were caught. Even tossing the leftover sardina in front of them didn’t stir up much action --- only a few ladyfish and one lone rooster. As the water temps continue to climb, the roosterfish action should begin to get better.

Water temperature
65-78
Air temperature
60-84
Humidity
64%
Wind:
N 12 - 16 knots
Conditions:
Sunny
Visibility
5 miles
Sunrise
6:59 a.m. MDT
Sunset
7:40 p.m. MDT


Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico
Another “cookie cutter” week of moderate action both at the Entrada for small yellows and grouper and inside the esteros where there was some surface action for corvina using small poppers. Fishing further down in the water column near the bottom, with slow retrieved chartreuse Clousers, tricked a few small grouper and pargo.

As the waters have cooled offshore the action has slowed as well. None of the local boats headed out this week and we didn’t hear any reports from boats traveling either up or down the coast.
Water temperature
65 - 72
Air temperature
64 -85
Humidity
43 %
Wind:
SW 10 knots
Conditions:
Sunny
Visibility
3 miles
Sunrise
7:08 a.m. MDT
Sunset
7:48 p.m. MDT

Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
Fishing still remains on the slow side, however there are definite signs of improvement. At least things were improving until we were hit by a 6.3 earthquake at mid week. Earthquakes apparently affect the vibration sensitive lateral lines of the game fish, and they absolutely refuse to bite for at least 24 hours after a quake.
Centered only about 60 miles South of Zihuatanejo, the quake did no damage at all.
Santiago, on the panga Gitana, told me he was raising 4 to 5 sailfish a day in an area between 18 and 21 miles from Zihuatanejo Bay. Dan and Alicia Sauder fished with Santiago for three days, releasing 6 sails and had a nice blue marlin come unbuttoned.
Inshore fishing is only showing a few black skipjack tuna and smaller jack crevalle.
May will be here in a few weeks, and May is usually one of our best months of the year for tuna and marlin.
Ed Kunze
Water temperature
80 - 84
Air temperature
71-90
Humidity
43%
Wind:
ESE 4 knots
Conditions:
Partly Cloudy
Visibility
4 miles
Sunrise
7:31 a.m. CDT
Sunset
8:02 p.m. CDT

Easter Week without Wind? Almost!

REPORT #1057 “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update April 7, 2007

Yvonne and I recently acquired a Road Trek, a self-contained van, so that we could spend more time exploring Baja. This week I made my first trip to Baja in the rig and it has been great. Internet access is a must for me and I can’t believe that every RV Park I have stayed in on the trip down had wireless access. Baja is a changing!

East Cape

It has been a while since East Cape had an Easter week with no wind! On Monday, the wind just died and the Sea of Cortez was like grease through Thursday. On Good Friday the wind arrived just in time to greet the Locals celebrating "Semana Santa" on East Cape Beaches.

Offshore action has included good marlin counts with even a few early sailfish in the mix. If you were up for a long boat ride, you could have found fair numbers of dorado to the north and a smattering of tuna way south.

The sight fishing conditions were near perfect until Thursday when the clouds came rolling in. While you could find action on small roosters and a few ladyfish in the likely spots, the larger variety of roosterfish were among the missing in the shallows. Schools of big jacks are around but are still locked into their milling/daisy chaining behavior, making them tough to catch. Ever so often they cruise close to shore and on occasion will light up and chase a well placed fly. Although there are few sardina to be found along the beach, there are quite a few ballyhoo and pockets of mullet so far.

Water temperature
65-74
Air temperature
60-90
Humidity
47%
Wind:
SW 13 knots
Conditions:
Cloudy
Visibility
20 miles
Sunrise
7:05 a.m. MDT
Sunset
7:37 p.m. MDT

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

Didn’t hear of much action outside this week. In the Esteros, there was another big tide and fast current. This week yielded so-so action for corvina, spotted bay bass and a few grouper.

Even the Entrada’s yellow action slowed this week and about the only thing biting consistently was the small halibut in the shallows near the sandy beaches at Belchers.
Water temperature
65 - 72
Air temperature
64 -81
Humidity
47 %
Wind:
SW 10 knots
Conditions:
Cloudy
Visibility
3 miles
Sunrise
7:14 a.m. MDT
Sunset
7:45 p.m. MDT

Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico

Under the full moon period, the fishing has been a bit on the slow side, with most of the action beyond the 20 mile mark.
Sea temperatures have held at 80 degrees plus which is unusual. for this time of the year. Normally early April current, brings a current of cold green water pushing the blue water out beyond the 40 mile areas.
Inshore was lightly fished this week with so-so results. Ed Kunze
Water temperature
80 - 84
Air temperature
76-86
Humidity
65%
Wind:
SW 8 knots
Conditions:
Partly Cloudy
Visibility
11 miles
Sunrise
7:46 a.m. CDT
Sunset
8:01 p.m. CDT