Sizzle to Drizzle
Endless Season Update 08/18/2007
REPORT #1076 "Below the Border" Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
East Cape

Richard Negley Gill, of San Antonio, TX, arrived with his buddy, John “Cuarto” Smith IV, early in the week in search of their first billfish on the fly. Fishing on Mark Rayor’s boat, Jen Wren, they averaged a handful of shots per day. They each achieved their goals, and then some! Smaller, striped marlin dominated the action. They only connected with one dorado for the entire trip.

Richard spent several afternoons patrolling the beach near his hotel. He had shots at some smaller roosters but they weren’t biting. He did catch a variety of other fish including pompano, short fin corvine, etc.

Clients Kurt Ransohoff, Santa Barabra, CA, and Tom Lorish, Seattle WA, spent two days panga fishing and caught plenty of small roosters, pompano, ladyfish and too many of the ever-present needlefish. They also took a shot at the yellowfin tuna that have been loitering near La Ribera. Unfortunately most of the action was deep and not suitable for the fly.

With the sardina thick in spots, the bait guys have plenty to sell. The sardina have attracted schools of 5-6 lb. roosters along with jack crevalle, sierra, green jacks, triggerfish, and enough needlefish to be a nuisance.

While the weather has been great most of the week, this morning (Saturday) it is overcast and sprinkling.

Water temperature 78-87
Air temperature 67-89
Humidity 91%
Wind: Calm
Conditions: Partly Cloudy
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 6:56 a.m. MDT
Sunset 7:50 p.m. MDT


Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico


I am leaving East Cape this morning and heading for Lopez Mateos to check out the recent reports of great dorado and tuna action. Lightly fished this week, the offshore action continued to produce excellent catches of dorado and tuna. Closer to the Boca there have been schools of smaller yellowtail chasing bait on the surface.

The area near Boca Santa Domingo provided the best action for grouper, corvina and a few pargo plus several snook bites that didn’t work out.

Water temperature 64 - 76
Air temperature 70 -87
Humidity 91%
Wind: E 3 knots
Conditions: Mostly Cloudy
Visibility 7 miles
Sunrise 7:02 a.m. MDT
Sunset 8:00 p.m. MDT


Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico

Unsettled weather late this week made fishing fairly tough. We had very little rain, but the port was closed on Friday due to wind conditions.

Prior to the barometer taking a nose dive, the sailfish action was averaging about 1 to 2 fish per boat/day.

Also early in the week the 60 to 80 pound yellowfin tuna had made a very good showing at the 1,000 fathom line (30 miles), with the bite lasting until the port closure.
Plus, for the boats who traveled the distance for the tuna, the sailfish action was much better than the boats who stayed in the traditional 10 to 14 mile areas.

There was not much action on roosters early this week, and the unsettled weather prevented anybody looking for them later.

Ed Kunze
Water temperature 80 - 84
Air temperature 74-91
Humidity 93%
Wind: ENE at 2 knots
Conditions: Partly Cloudy
Visibility 3 miles
Sunrise 7:29 a.m. CDT
Sunset 8:11 p.m. CDT