Time Falls Back…Fish Turn On!

Endless Season Update 10/27/2007
REPORT #1086 "Below the Border" Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
East Cape

The time change tonight should indicate that it’s time for the East Cape season to wind down. Guess someone forgot to tell fish!

Yellowfin tuna are on the chew like it’s their last meal. Joe and Nick Turano, from Houston, Texas, must have left a few for the clients this week. YFT’s mixed with Baja Wasabi flies had everyone out of breath and sore by mid-morning and eager to head out and troll teasers for billfish.

No rest for the wicked! Billfish action was more like June than the last week of October, preventing anyone from any kind of a breather before the first sail appeared in the pattern.

North wind and beach fishing should never be in the same sentence so until yesterday when the wind died, the boat action was a much better choice.

Water temperature 77-85
Air temperature 69-92
Humidity 78 %
Wind: NNW 7 to 10 knots
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 7:22 a.m. MDT
Sunset 6:44 p.m. MDT

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

As the Sea of Cortez begins to taper off, the action offshore kicks into full gear. Reports of WFO action are spread out from Thetis to the north all the way to below Pta. Tosca to the south.

Wahoo, dorado, yellowfin tuna (great for that midday sashimi) and double digit billfish combined with super weather has everyone predicting an action packed November.

As far as the Esteros go, no one seems to be paying much attention with all the action outside.

Water temperature 72 - 82
Air temperature 61 -90
Humidity 79%
Wind: WNW 10 to 13 knots
Conditions: Sunny
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 7:31 a.m. MDT
Sunset 6:50 p.m. MDT
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
The 84 degree blue water is still only a couple of miles off the beach; however the full moon period slowed us down this week. We are only averaging about 1 sailfish per boat, per day.

The bright note is the late season rains have brought the dorado in numbers. Near shore, the smaller school dorado, averaging 8 to 12 pounds are biting very well. Off shore, the larger adults are readily taking the trolled sailfish baits.

About the best recorded catch of the week was when Keith Bell, of Pensacola FL, fished one day with Ruben on the Vamonos III, catching 1 sailfish and 5 dorado. The dorado averaged between 25 and 30 pounds.

The inshore waters have cleaned up since the rains, but the action on the roosters was also affected by the moon phase and has slowed down. Keith Bell wanted to try for the roosters on the fly rod, so he and I went down to Puerto Vicente Guerrero. We only raised 4 roosters, and they did not take the fly. However there were hundreds of jack crevalle, busting small sardines in the shallows. The jacks were averaging about 5 pounds, plus there were a few sierra.

Ed Kunze
Water temperature 80 - 84
Air temperature 76-95
Humidity 78%
Wind: Calm
Conditions: Cloudy
Visibility 4 miles
Sunrise 7:43 a.m. CDT
Sunset 7:17 p.m. CDT

Center Stage: Billfish and Tuna

Endless Season Update 10/20/2007
REPORT #1085 "Below the Border" Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996







East Cape
The billfish and tuna action picked up this week which was fortunate as the dorado bite that had been the ‘crowd-pleaser’ for the past month backed way off this week.

Long time clients, Joe and Nick Turano, from Houston, Texas, had a great first day: they raised 11 billfish, hooked1 marlin and 3 sails. On the second day the north wind and conditions were against them, and they had only one shot at a sail and a few sierra inside. Undeterred they headed out again on the third day and had an excellent day, cashing in on a serious yellowfin tuna bite.

Beach action suffered from the windy conditions as the wind waves turned the water the color of Starbucks coffee. The good news is the sierra have returned and could be found feeding on sardina. Instead of using wire, try using flies tied on long shank hooks. You may lose a fly or two but you will definitely have more takes.


Water temperature 77-85
Air temperature 73-95
Humidity 73 %
Wind: N 2 to 3 knots
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 3 miles
Sunrise 7:24 a.m. MDT
Sunset 7:03 p.m. MDT

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

Windy and sloppy conditions this week kept most of the locals on the beach. More yachts arrive every day to find the billfish action out fifteen miles southwest of Pta. Tosca toward the pinnacles. Down farther toward the Finger Bank reports of 10-20 fish days are not uncommon.

Dorado action and football sized tuna can be found outside the bumps in front of Boca de Soledad.

Water temperature 72 - 82
Air temperature 70 -92
Humidity 82%
Wind: NW 11 to 15 knots
Conditions: Sunny
Visibility 7 miles
Sunrise 7:28 a.m. MDT
Sunset 6:56 p.m. MDT

Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
The 82° blue water was only a 1.5 miles off the beach earlier in the week. The offshore action was a bit slow, with only a 1 or 2 sailfish per day / per boat average. There were also a few dorado scattered around in the catches.

The inshore action for roosters was just incredible until tropical storm Kiko settled in here late in the week and dumped 10 inches of rain on us for a 48 hour period. We even had a port closure on Friday.

On Wednesday, one day before Kiko hit, Cali and I went down to Puerto Vicente Guerrero with fly fishing client, Andre from British Columbia. Using a hookless popper, we raised 16 roosters and 4 jack crevalle. Andre was able to hook 4 roosters.

The inshore waters are now very dirty from the huge volume of water coming out of the numerous small rivers here. It will take at least a week to get settled down and the roosterfish action should be excellent again.

However, because of the debris floating out of the rivers, the dorado and tuna should be making another decent appearance this next week.
Ed Kunze

Ed Kunze
Water temperature 80 - 84
Air temperature 72-91
Humidity 83%
Wind: Calm
Conditions: Cloudy
Visibility 6 miles
Sunrise 7:41 a.m. CDT
Sunset 7:21 p.m. CDT

Big Bite…Bigger Bucks

THE BUCK STOPS HERE

Endless Season Update 10/13/2007
REPORT #1084 "Below the Border" Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996

East Cape

The first North Winds of the season kicked up a few days early in the week, causing wind waves and off-color water. Though the water temps remained good, it didn’t begin to clean up until late in the week.

The offshore action was scattered from a few miles offshore to forty miles out. A good striper bite, along with a few sails and two blues, was reported.

The tuna overshadowed the dorado this week with some fifty pound class tuna showing up under the porpoise.

Overshadowed maybe, but the dorado bite remained consistent again this week under debris found close to shore.

In spite of the North Winds making for tough fly fishing days, Lance reported the bait schools were still hanging out in the same spots and a diligent caster could expect to connect. Roosters, jacks to 5 lb's. and ladyfish were the most active feeders. Once again, his best results were had with small, sparse baitfish patterns and clousers. Chartreuse was an effective color in the off-color water.

Last weekend, October 4 through October 7, East Cape’s Mark Rayor and his team, Captain Jesus, ‘Chuy” Cota and Juan Diego Romero, fished the first annual La Paz Gold Cup Black and Blue Marlin Tournament on Mark’s boat, the Jen Wren. The tournament was held by local developers in the La Paz area: Costa Baja Resort and Marina, Playa de LaPaz, Snell Real Estate, Maravia Country Club Estates, La Concha Pearl, Bahia los Suenos, Mosquito Fleet, Scott O’Hara and Jim House. This group of developers put up the prize money and volunteered their time to organize and carry out this charity event. James Curtiss and Gabriel Ley were Tournament Chairs. The Rotary Club of La Paz was selected as the recipient of the charity money for their cause: to provide prosthetics for children in need

First prize was one million pesos, the equivalent to about $100,000 US dollars, plus a new Ford Lobo truck if the fish exceeded 400 pounds! But there was a twist in the rules that made things even more interesting; a $50 per pound penalty was imposed on any team weighing a fish under the 200 pound minimum. What a fantastic idea! We are lucky to have one of the best fisheries in the world and this certainly discourages the killing of short fish. It also raised extra money for a good cause. Full Report click here

Water temperature 77-85
Air temperature 73-95
Humidity 73 %
Wind: N 5 to 6 knots
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 3 miles
Sunrise 7:24 a.m. MDT
Sunset 7:03 p.m. MDT

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

Bob Hoyt, Mag Bay Outfitters, reported that the weather turned sideways early in the week and few boats ventured outside. He did hear of excellent marlin action on the high spot below Punta Tosca for the boats traveling down the line toward Cabo San Lucas.

The Esteros produced grouper, corvina plus the usual spotted bay bass with the best area being up toward Boca Santo Domingo.

Water temperature 72 - 82
Air temperature 61 -94
Humidity 93%
Wind: NW 14 to 19 knots
Conditions: Sunny
Visibility 3 miles
Sunrise 7:24 a.m. MDT
Sunset 7:05 p.m. MDT

Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
The 81° blue water is about 15 miles out, with most of the fish being taken between the 18 and 20 mile mark. Sailfish are averaging about 1 to 2 fish a day per boat.

However, this last week has seen another surge of blue marlin coming into the area. On Thursday, Hans Clausen of Denmark fished with Santiago on the panga Gitana, catching two marlin, with the largest going 285 pounds.

The yellowfin tuna have not shown for a few days, and have either moved out of the area, or further out and past the 1,000 fathom line.

The dorado, while not as plentiful as in weeks past, are still averaging about 20 pounds.

The roosterfish and jack crevalle action is still excellent, with the action all up and down the coast

Ed Kunze
Water temperature 80 - 84
Air temperature 77-96
Humidity 87%
Wind: WSW at 2mph
Conditions: Partly Cloudy
Visibility 6 miles
Sunrise 7:39 a.m. CDT
Sunset 7:26 p.m. CDT

October Sizzles On!

Endless Season Update 10/06/2007
REPORT #1083 "Below the Border" Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996

East Cape

The outstanding fishing at East Cape continues to sizzle, making up for the slower fishing earlier in the season. Strong billfish and dorado action provided lots of smiles this week.

The sailfish turned on this week, adding to the blue marlin and striper mayhem that began just a few miles offshore and continued out as far as forty miles. John Lowther, of Phoenix, AZ, finished up his trip early in the week and called it one of the best he has seen for his group in several years.

Showing a level of consistency not seen up to this point this year, the dorado action could only be rated as “hot” for the past several back-to-back weeks.

Tuna action has slowed somewhat, causing a change in menu from sushimi to chips and guacamole at happy hour.

Lance Peterson spent his week plying the hot sand beaches and reported consistent action on smaller roosters and jacks to 5lbs. When you find the sardina in the shallows, you’ll find ladyfish, pompano, and the odd pargo or cabrilla rounding out the catch. Small to mid-sized sardina patterns tied “sparse” have yielded good results.

Water temperature 82-88
Air temperature 66-86
Humidity 84%
Wind: Calm
Conditions: Partly Sunny
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 7:13 a.m. MDT
Sunset 7:01 p.m. MDT

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

Bob Hoyt, Mag Bay Outfitters, reported excellent bay fishing again this week including grouper, several snook and a good surface bite for bragging sized corvina

Outside was only fished lightly but the bull dorado and small YFT’s were plentiful.

A few yachts making their way down the coast toward Cabo are reporting 78 degree water and a few marlin as well as dorado schools all the way down the ridge.


Water temperature 64 - 78
Air temperature 71 -90
Humidity 79%
Wind: NNW 6 to 8 knots
Conditions: Mostly Clear
Visibility 6 miles
Sunrise 7:21 a.m. MDT
Sunset 7:09 p.m. MDT

Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
The 82° blue water is only about 5 miles off the beach, and the contact line is producing dorado and yellowfin tuna.

The dorado action is steady, but the tuna are breezing in and out. It’s more of a matter of luck and being at the right place at the right time for the tuna. The dorado are averaging a hefty 20 pounds, with several much larger being taken. The tuna are ranging from footballs, up to about 60 pounds.

The sailfish action is at the 12 mile mark, and we are averaging about 2 fish a day/per boat.

The roosterfish action is still excellent all up and down the coast. However, with the entire fleet consisting of only 4 or 5 boats a day, there are very few people fishing the roosters, and few being reported.

Ed Kunze
Water temperature 80 - 84
Air temperature 76-96
Humidity 83%
Wind: NNW at 3 mph
Conditions: Partly Cloudy
Visibility 6 miles
Sunrise 7:37 a.m. CDT
Sunset 7:31 p.m. CDT