Cows Hit the Beach

Even the livestock enjoys a morning stroll on the beach.

Endless Season Update January 24, 2010
REPORT #1199 "Below the Border" Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
East Cape


Mark Rayor reported, "very nice weather this week. Tin boaters are getting limits of sierra and an occasional small dorado. Not much traffic on the charter boats. I did hear that one Palmas boat got a couple of dorado to 35 pounds and a sailfish. Our dive instructor recorded 75 degree surface temp and 73 degrees at 80 feet of depth this week. Much warmer than normal. Air temps have been nice also. We have not had to light up our fireplace and are sleeping with windows open. As you can see in the photo I shot this morning even the livestock enjoys a morning stroll on the beach."

Current East Cape Weather http://tiny.cc/EastCapeWeather303

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

Storms in southern California brought windy conditions until Sunday when the wind stopped. Prior to the storms many marlin had be see outside along with huge schools of dorado.

Current Magdalena Bay Weather http://tiny.cc/MagBayWeather150

Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico

Historically, this week has been the best week of the best month of the year for sailfish action, with several boats flying double digit release flags on a daily basis.
I am not going to jump on the bandwagon and blame it on global warming, but we certainly have not had that kind of a week. This last two weeks have not been anything like what we expected.

At 80°, the water temperature is correct, but the blue water has been out there somewhere off the charts. However, even though the game rich deep blue water is a long ways off, the water is "clean" at about 6 miles, and we are catching a few sailfish.

It appears the fleet is averaging about 1 to 2 sailfish per boat per day.

For fly fishing, we have actually been having a bit better luck than the conventional gear fishermen. We have been averaging about 6 sailfish a day raised to the spread, 2 to 4 strikes a day, and 2 hooked fish.

Last Sunday, fly fisherman Gary Lien of Seattle fished with Arturo and me on the panga Janeth. He hooked two sails. But, the next day he fished with Margarito, and they never even had a shot at a fish.

Meanwhile, I went down to Puerto Vicente Guerrero with fly fisherman Gary Meger and his son James of Toronto Canada, and we had a very good day. First we fished the inshore to see if the roosters were still there. We raised 4 large ones, and Gary had a legitimate shot at a 40 pounder as he turned on the fly.

We then went out to the 9 mile mark and Gary hooked a sail, James tagged and released a sailfish, and Gary also hooked an estimated 140 pound blue marlin.

Unfortunately, a hooked fish does not always translate to a tagged and released fish. Gary's sailfish gave us one of the most photogenic leaps I have ever seen. And, I did not have my camera in hand, as I was getting the teaser rod out of the way. About 30 feet from the boat, the sailfish went vertical, with the early sun gleaning off its silver sides for the entire length of his body. The bright pink, red, and white fly was hanging from the corner of the mouth, and the cut leader about 5 feet behind.

The marlin, lit up with incredible hues of ultra violet, teased to the boat´ perfectly, and ate Gary's fly just like you read in the books. As he took line, we were all congratulating ourselves, and then the hook pulled. We still have no idea why..…Ed Kunze

Current Zihuatanejo Weather http://tiny.cc/zihuatanejo582


Cabo San Lucas

Striped marlin have been spotty and difficult to find, and most often they were not in the feeding mood. The few marlin spotted, combined with the rough seas, convinced most anglers to target other species.

Several blue and a black marlin in the 600 to 800 pound range were reported feeding on dorado just off of the lighthouse on the Pacific side. An occasional large marlin was spotted on the Cortez side as well, but there were no reported hook-ups.
Smaller school-sized yellowfin tuna were found along the ridge between the Golden Gate and the San Jaime Banks, but when the winds kicked up, the tuna catch became confined to an occasional hook-up on the Gordo Banks.

Small dorado averaging twelve pounds were taken just off the beach along the Cortez coastline between the Santa Maria Bay and Red Hill, but catch numbers have diminished as the water temps continue to cool.

There was a decent bite on wahoo averaging 30 pounds in the same area as the dorado, probably feeding on the same baitfish. While there were no big numbers, there were about two dozen caught each day. A few boats came in with two or three per trip.
Due to strong winds and big swells, most of the action took place on the Cortez side of the Cape.

Most days, the action was fair for sierra but the fishing really shined when schools were found and the anglers were able to get limits on fish averaging five pounds. There was sporadic, wide-spread action on other near-shore species such as snapper and grouper.......George and Mary Landrum

Current Cabo Weather http://tiny.cc/cabo191

Wind Howls as Playoffs Loom

Endless Season Update January 16, 2010
REPORT #1198 "Below the Border" Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996

Will Long, with his first tuna on a 12-weight rod earlier this month off Cabo.

East Cape


Plenty of north wind and few visitors resulted in the lack of fishing information available this week. I guess the theory is, if you can't say anything good, don't bother!

According to Lance Peterson, it's wind, wind, wind and just when you've had your fill...more wind! Of course, the first sign of calm and the fish become active along the shoreline. Small schoolie roosters and good-sized sierra put on an early show as they dart to and fro feeding on tiny baitfish until the wind begins, and then they disappear.

Meanwhile, many fantasize about how good the fishing must be offshore while they sit with eyes glued to their TVs waiting for the kickoff to begin this weekend's playoffs.

Current East Cape Weather http://tiny.cc/EastCapeWeather303

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

Rumors of of-color water on the Thetis discouraged anyone from considering a trip there. While there is still decent action for small tuna and dorado about ten miles off outside the Bocas, there are few visitors to care.

Most of the interest is in the arriving whales that can be found cavorting in the bay. The crowds are not as large as some years but there are more and more buses arriving loaded with tourists eager to gawk at the huge mammals.

Current Magdalena Bay Weather http://tiny.cc/MagBayWeather150

Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico

The 80° water is still with us, but the sailfish action tapered off this last week. There were days where some boats did not even get a strike. Part of the reason was the blue water took off to parts unknown. However, the blue water is coming back now, and we are out of the full moon period.

Fly fishing client, Enrique Amorte of Argentina, and I fished a day down at Puerto Vicente Guerrero, and much to our surprise, the roosterfish were there. Normally they are gone to parts South by now, but we raised seven. And, they were huge. All of them were 40 pound fish or more.

The bite died off about 9:30, so we went out 9 miles and had two solid strikes on sailfish.

Yesterday, Gary Meger of Toronto and I went North with Arturo on the panga Janeth. We started out with the sailfish and only had one strike. So we went back inshore. Along the beach at Saladita we raised a couple of small roosters and small jack cravelle. But, when we got to the beach at Buena Vista, we got in to a lot of nice jacks, and a few more large roosters.…Ed Kunze

Current Zihuatanejo Weather http://tiny.cc/zihuatanejo582


Cabo San Lucas

Striped marlin are still being caught close to home, but not in any great numbers. A few boats went to the Golden Gate and Finger Banks to check out the activity and reported that there was no bait to be found in either place, but reports from boats transiting the area between Mag Bay and Cabo have reported good numbers of fish midway, so hopefully they will soon appear here.

There have been some yellowfin in the 20- to 30-pound class south of the San Jaime Banks and were found with the white bellied porpoise but only the first few boats on the scene have been having any luck.

Though scattered, the dorado saved quite a few charters this week. I am surprised that they are still around with the water as cool as it is, but most boats have been able to get a few in the fish box by the end of the day. Watching the frigate birds has been the best way to find them.

Inshore the bite has been hit or miss on the sierra. There are still a few small roosterfish being caught and I had a report yesterday of a couple of small yellowtail as well. Some decent snapper and grouper are starting to show up in the fish wells also......George and Mary Landrum

Current Cabo Weather http://tiny.cc/cabo191

54 to 78 Degrees Outscores Bone Chilling Cold

The teeth of winter always come out in January.

Endless Season Update January 9, 2010
REPORT #1197 "Below the Border" Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996

East Cape

The recent stretch of north winds seems mild compared to recent U.S. headlines declaring "bone chilling cold" enveloping most of the country. Below the border visitors and locals alike are content with the current 54 to 78 degree sunny weather.

Lance Peterson had an upbeat report of more fish feeding along the shore with the subsiding wave action…typical winter roosterfish, 5 pounds or so scattered in the usual spots along with jacks. While he hadn't fished the grey light recently, the sierra had been coming within fly casting range when he last fished. We're due for a couple of flat days so conditions should improve.

Mark Rayor also commented on the recent north winds. He went on to say that one of his boats was up at Punta Perico on a dive trip this week. The local pangeros were catching some decent sized YFT's to 30 pounds and there are some new shark buoys outside that were loaded with dorado.

Current East Cape Weather http://tiny.cc/EastCapeWeather303

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

The reports of the continuing wahoo snap as well as the limits on dorado and tuna for the few anglers fishing make it seem almost like November. In addition, the marlin are finally around and feeding on a few bait balls.

But it is January and much to everyone's relief the whales are here, right on schedule. This week marked the first new-born calf of the year. The weather has been perfect…no wind or swell.
And finally, the grouper, sierra and corvina are biting full speed in the esteros...Bob Hoyt

Current Magdalena Bay Weather http://tiny.cc/MagBayWeather150

Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico

The 80° blue water is still holding about 8 miles off the coast. Sailfish action has been very good this week, but a lot depended on whether your captain went North out of Zihuatanejo Bay, or South. For instance, the boat going to the North are averaging 1 or 2 sailfish a day, and boats to the South are doing much better, as summarized by Mike Buckley for the super panga Huntress on a trip earlier this week: We went 4 for 5 on sailfish yesterday about 20 miles south. Bait has been scarce over the holidays. Water temp was 83 and clear.

A few blue marlin have been caught, with more expected in the upcoming month.

This morning (Friday) was the first time in my 12 years of living here I had to cancel a trip due to rain at this time of the year. We have had a very unseasonable low over us the last three days, and even a little wind to make things a bit uncomfortable on the water.

Adolfo and Cheva, on the pangas Dos Hermanos I and II, are reporting good sailfish action in the blue water, and very good jack crevalle action to both the North and South. Adolfo went down near Puerto Vicente Guerrero earlier this week and found the roosters. They released 10 before the clients had enough of the hard fighting fish and headed home...…Ed Kunze

Current Zihuatanejo Weather http://tiny.cc/zihuatanejo582


Cabo San Lucas

As the water continues to cool the number of larger marlin is diminishing. However, as long as there are large bait in the area there is a chance at a blue or black marlin. The only large fish caught recently was a black marlin around 450 pounds between the 95 and 1150 area.

Striped marlin action has been very sporadic with the off-days outweighing the good days. The favorite and best producing area continues to be from the Lighthouse on the Pacific side to the Lighthouse on the Cortez side. The expected action at the Finger and Golden Gate Banks has yet to happen, and it may be awhile before it does.

Football-sized tuna were the most common caught, with only a few boats scoring on the better quality fish from 30 to 40 pounds. There were few however with the Pacific side between the Golden Gate and the San Jaime Bank seeming to produce the best; at least these areas were reachable by the day charters. The Gordo Banks also produced an occasional larger fish, up to 100 pounds, but it was a scratch fishery, nothing steady.

The cooling waters have slowed the dorado action dramatically. About the only dorado action is beneath anything floating out in open water. Most boats were happy to get several dorado and a few were lucky enough to get a half-dozen during a trip. We had fly fishermen who caught a few on the fly every day…after hooking one on the troll, casting to following fish resulted in some in the 10 to 18 pound class. Most of this action occurred just up the beach on the Pacific side.

There were a couple of days when I heard of boats getting one or two wahoo a day, mostly coming from the area of Gray Rock.....George and Mary Landrum

Current Cabo Weather http://tiny.cc/cabo191

"Na na na na..na na na na...hey hey, hey hey!

Endless Season Update January 2, 2010
REPORT #1196 "Below the Border" Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996

East Cape


Ryan Eardly - age 10 Michigan jack cravelle Caught on a ranger surface popper lure while fishing with his dad, Pete, and Ramon out of Majahua (about 20 miles North of Zihuatanejo). Photo by Ed Kunze

Compared to what is happening throughout the U.S., the relatively warm weather reinforces why many of us choose Baja. The only white stuff around here is the froth on the cold Cerveza and margaritas not snow on the ground.

Sailfish the last week of the year along with dorado. Sure there is a little wind here and there.

Some mornings the tin boats barely catch a limit of sierra before they can be seen scurrying back to shore as the wind picks up.

Everyone's betting that the first flat day will yield plenty of first of the year catches.

Current East Cape Weather http://tiny.cc/EastCapeWeather303

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

Whale watching is center stage or will be when the whales complete their journey down the coast. Meanwhile the wahoo bite that won't quit has continued to provide limits for the few brave souls willing to make the bumpy ride uphill to Thetis. Water temperatures continue to remain in the low seventies. If they hold up it could be quite a January.

Not many bothering to fish in the Esteros with all the holiday activities and whale watching preparations going on.

Current Magdalena Bay Weather http://tiny.cc/MagBayWeather150

Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico

The 80° blue water is about 8 miles off the beach. Between the full moon phase and a barometer which has been bouncing up and down, the sailfish fishing has backed off a bit compared to the previous few weeks. Each boat is averaging one to two sailfish a day. Plus, most every boat is getting a shot at a decent 20-pound dorado or two.

The larger numbers of rooster fish have fairly much left the area, but Adolfo, fishing up near the river bar at Union, is picking up one or two a day. Plus, he is also getting several nice hard fighting jack cravelle..…Ed Kunze

Current Zihuatanejo Weather http://tiny.cc/zihuatanejo582


Cabo San Lucas

A few decent blue marlin and black marlin in the 400-pound class were recently found on the Pacific side close to the beach. In the case of the blue marlin, they were feeding on dorado, and on the Outer Gorda Bank feeding on bolito in the case of the black marlin. A few decent-sized sailfish were found as well; a few stripers were caught every day, but the best results were three fish in one day. At least they were close to home, almost on our doorstep. The action was between the lighthouse and the Solmar Hotel and deep drifting with live bait or slow trolling them on top produced the best results. However, most boats were getting shut out on the billfish.

Football sized tuna were caught but only a few boats got into fish in the 30- to 40-pound range. Though the yellowfin were few and far between, the Pacific side between the Golden Gate and the San Jaime Bank seemed to produce more than most areas. The Gordo Banks continued to produce an occasional larger fish, up to 100 pounds.

What happened to the dorado? One week it was great and then all of a sudden they seemed to disappear! From the coastline to Todo Santos only one striped marlin and one dorado were produced; up until recently, it was no problem getting limits on dorado in that area.

Sierra action had been great but recently the bite has really dropped off; most boats were happy to get a few in the box. Small roosterfish and a few bottom fish rounded out the inshore action....George and Mary Landrum

Current Cabo Weather http://tiny.cc/cabo191