Spring Arrives in Mid Summer

Endless Season Update July 25th, 2010

REPORT #1224 "Below the Border" Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996

East Cape

Bill Heim of Ontario, CA. He comes and fishes with Vista Sea Sport every year with his son and brother. In past years, his father also came on the trips but passed away eariler this year at 86.

 

No storms on the horizon, but there was few hours of rain followed by a strong wind from the east. Las Palmas Bay is somewhat of a divided playing field with the warmer water up to the north toward Las Arenas and cooler water from the Punta Arena lighthouse down.

In the warmer water the yellowfin bite has been outrageous for some. A good number of larger gorilla sized fish have been kicking serious *** leaving spent anglers and in some cases plenty of broken tackle. The fish are being found under the numerous porpoise schools found anywhere from five to forty miles offshor
More dorado seem to be showing up daily and there have been a few more wahoo landed as well.

Along the shore and from the beach the big roosters continue to be caught…some exceeding fifty pounds.

Next week brings the first of the Bisbee Black and Blue series to East Cape and teams are already out scouting for the hot spot.
With the water temperatures continuing to climb, more and more billfish are moving into the area. Blues are being spotted and a few are hooked and released every day. Striped marlin are throughout the bay and there have been some sails caught and released just outside of Punta Pescadero.

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


Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

The weather has been nice, but with some wind. Plenty of tuna outside along with some marlin farther out. Shark buoys are holding some larger dorado.

On the north-facing beaches on Magdalena Island, there have been some nice-sized snook along with some white seabass.

Inside the Esteros grouper and corvina provided the best action this week..... Bob Hoyt
Current Magdalena Bay Weather http://tiny.cc/MagBayWeather150

Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico

The surface water temperature satellite photo from Terrafin shows a scrambled egg pattern from the shoreline to over 50 miles out, bouncing around between 82 and 84 degrees. However, this has had less of an effect on the fishing than the blue water moving out to about 20 miles.

The clean water is still found at about the six-mile mark, but the game fish are mostly being taken in the blue water, meaning runs of 20 to 28 miles.

The boats not making the run are only averaging about o0ne sailfish or a striped marlin a day each.
The boats going the distance are each averaging about three fish a day. Sometimes it is two sailfish and one striped marlin like Adolfo had on the panga Dos Hermanos, or two striped marlin and one sailfish like Cheva on the Dos Hermanos II.

The blue water has been pushed out this week due to the large volume of fresh water coming from the numerous nutrient rich streams and rivers we have here on the coast. This last week has seen rain almost every night, and even a couple of daytime rains. Some of the early morning rains were very intense, with one particular two-hour deluge of about 6” between 5:00 and 7:00 in the morning.
The Terrafin satellite photo measuring the chlorophyll (pigment from organic plant life) of the water shows the results of this occurrence with high concentrations of chlorophyll in the vicinity of the rivers and streams, and out about five to six miles. (The less chlorophyll, the deeper blue the water.)
And, because of the high concentrations of chlorophyll and stained water coming out of the rivers, the good roosterfish action we were having early in the week was disrupted substantially.
It has come down to finding clean water where you find the roosters; Paul Ruzumna, of Chicago, fly fished with Cheva and me on the panga Dos Hermanos. We first tried casting to the two to three pound green jacks (cocineros) in the boiling waters off the rocks at the White Rocks. Then we went after roosters, finally getting one around 18 pounds about noon. …Ed Kunze


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

Cabo San Lucas

We are seeing quite a few striped marlin, with 65% of the boats releasing one or two fish. Many that did not get marlin were targeting dorado or tuna. Along with the warm water came the blue and black marlin. There were several blues to 400 pounds and a fifteen-year-old girl released a marlin estimated to be 250 pounds. As is usually the case, find the bait, and you find the fish.

The small tuna were holding near shore around the Chileno bay area and offshore along the 1,000 fathom line. Near shore resulted in striped marlin and a few black marlin; working the bait offshore resulted in a few striped marlin and all the blue marlin.
The yellowfin bite slowed though a few to 100 pounds were still being found around the Gordo Banks, but you had to be there early to get hooked up. Offshore, boats were finding small pods of dolphin that held school and football-sized fish averaging 15 pounds.
Almost every boat that went out caught at least one dorado and some of them were nice-sized fish! We had one client who fly fished for three days; on the first day he released a striped marlin and kept a dorado of about 12 pounds, the second day he caught two dorado of about 15 and 18 pounds and on the third day he hooked up a dorado estimated to be 40+ pounds, only to lose the fish close to the boat after a long fight. Most of the fish were found close to shore (within four miles), just to the south and 15 degrees either direction.
Red snapper dominated the inshore as the rocks were producing for guys using live or cut bait. The key was to get the bait as close to the foamy pockets between the rocks without getting hung up, and fishing with the drag set at almost full in order to get the fish away from the rocks quickly. Many of the pangas took advantage of the dorado and did a lot of fishing just off the beach...… George and Mary Landrum
Current Cabo Weather http://tiny.cc/cabo191

Tuna in the Anchorage

Could have been a contender dorado; unfortunately it was not caught in the Dorado Shootout this weekend.

Endless Season Update July 17th, 2010

REPORT #1223 "Below the Border" Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996

East Cape

As expected the cooler off-color water is receding, but this week brought another oddity. For several days there were YFT's being caught among the mooring balls of the hotels. Nothing huge but if you went out 30 to 40 miles where the porpoise play, there were some up to 75 pounds.

There were plenty of the smaller fish caught in the Dorado Shootout this weekend but getting a big one was tough .

The billfish action has remained steady but has had little pressure with most anglers choosing the other species as their preferred target.

The epoch roosterfish bite continued another week producing some 50+ pound fish almost daily. There has also been an appearance of schools of sierra , usually more of a winter event.

Lastly, the pargo bite yielded a few fish to 25 pounds.

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

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

Preparations for the big First Flyfishing Tournament which will be held August 13, 14, 15th are underway; as usual when there is a big event planned everyone gets tight-lipped about the fishing. .... Bob Hoyt

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

Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico

The 80° blue water is practically on the beach. The fishing is really decent, as each boat fishing the blue water is averaging two sailfish a day, and at least 1 dorado of 20-25 pounds. However, not many boats fished this week, with only four or five boats going out a day.

We had been getting rain at night, but today and yesterday we had rain in the morning and early afternoon. However, the fishing has not been affected.

Adolfo, on the panga Dos Hermanos, fished the beach all week and did excellent on roosters. He told me the water has cleaned up after the heavy rains of a couple of weeks ago and in the last two days he released 11 roosters, with five “long releases”. He also told me there are more roosters than jack crevalle.

Cheva, on the panga Dos Hermanos II, fished for roosters today, releasing three in the rain. They could have had more, but the clients had had a good time and wanted to go back to the hotel. The last three days, Cheva had been fishing the blue water with a total of four sailfish, two striped marlin, three dorado, and a blue marlin. A great three days anywhere…Ed Kunze

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

Cabo San Lucas

The warm water has finally brought in some blue marlin. Several were released this week and a few were brought in for weighing. Most of them were in the 200-pound class, but there were a couple reported to be over 300 pounds, and one was about 500 pounds. The striped marlin bite improved as well with the fish finally starting to bite on a regular basis. There were no big numbers posted by anyone, but almost everyone was releasing one a day and having shots at a few others during their trips. A few decent sized sailfish were caught, with most of them in the 90 to 100 pound range; there were a few smaller ones around 60 pounds, still these were nice fish. A couple of blacks were reported from boats that were working near to shore for dorado.

Even though we were seeing big tuna last week, and boats were going to the Gordo Banks to target them, boats from Cabo did not have great results. With these large fish you really needed to be on the spot at first gray light, but the boats fishing from San Jose got a few as they only had a 20 minute run instead of two hours. In our area there were plenty of fish in the 10 to 20 pound class with a few going to 30 pounds. These fish were found with the porpoise and while it did take some time to find them, once you did, at least for the first few boats, the action was good,. A good catch was eight fish with most boats catching three or four. A few never found them or had other targets in mind.

Dorado were a little larger on average as we expected to happen with the warmer water. The fish were not concentrated in one area;, they were scattered out, one or two here and there. The key for dorado was finding a frigate bird that was staying in one area and occasionally swooping down to the water. The larger fish were in the 25 to 30 pound range while the average was 15 to 20 pounds.

Inshore fishermen found red snapper averaging seven pounds as they worked the rocks on the Pacific side of the Cape. There were also quite a few nice roosterfish and larger jack crevalle found cruising just outside the breakers ..… George and Mary Landrum

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

Green is Not Good

Congratulations to Lance Erik Peterson of Port Angeles, Washington, USA, for his new IGFA World Record Grouper, broomtail, Tippet M-10 kg (20 lb), 5 lb 0 oz, Puerto Lopez Mateos, Baja, 20-Feb-10

Endless Season Update July 11th, 2010

REPORT #1222 "Below the Border" Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996

East Cape


What had been rated as one of the best bites of the year was temporally stalled by a cold, green current, which along with the two Mexican super-seiners equipped with helicopters prowling the water, put the fish down. There were a few lucky boats that found bigger tuna but most had to settle for the smaller grade. Some smaller dorado were found closer to shore but there were none of the large bulls that had been seen recently.

The striped marlin, with an occasional blue and a few sailfish, continued to be the hot ticket for those who targeted them.
Inshore, the roosters, jacks and pargo didn't seem to be bothered by the unusual cooler water.

Lance Peterson reported tough fishing from the beach with overcast skies, coupled with the wind and larger swells making sight fishing difficult. When the roosters were found, they were in their spawning behavior and had little interest in what was offered.


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

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

Few folks were fishing this week but the reports from the locals continue. Marlin, dorado and tuna (including a few bluefin) added to the what is being called the 'oddest season'.

In the esteros, the grouper are quality-sized and biting well.... Bob Hoyt

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

Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico

The 80° blue water is still just a couple of miles off the coast, and the sailfish bite is holding up. After last week’s 15 inches of rain in a 4-day period, I am really surprised the blue water wasn’t pushed out farther with the massive intrusion of fresh water from the coastal rivers and streams that are abundant on our coast.
The rain did affect the roosterfish and jack crevalle action and it will probably take another week to get back to decent fishing again. Adolfo, on the panga Dos Hermanos, told me the inshore is still too murky from the runoff and has been fishing offshore. He is releasing an average of three sailfish and getting either a shot or catching a blue marlin or striped marlin each day for his clients. Plus, due to the heavy outflow of trees, grass, etc. out of the rivers, a few dorado are showing. I heard an unconfirmed report of a 55-pound dorado being taken today (Thursday).

Neither Santiago or Adan on the Gitana pangas fished much this week, but did well fly fishing with the Steve Powers fly fishing group this last week.

Martin on his 35' cruiser had five strikes on sailfish, but managed to only catch and release two for the one day he fished.......…Ed Kunze

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


Cabo San Lucas

Although nowhere near as hot as it should be (at least not on the Pacific side), the weather has really started to heat up here in Cabo. The Sea of Cortez though, is another question; it has been in the 90’s and that is where most of the fish are being caught. It seems like the marlin bite has finally stabilized with striped marlin being the number one catch in Cabo. A a few blues are also beginning to be found.

After marlin, yellow fin tuna were the most likely catch. While a few large fish were found up in the Punta Gordo area, nearer to home, there were scattered football-sized tuna between 12 and 25 pounds.

A few small dorado were caught recently with a couple of larger fish reported as well. Most of them were in the 8 to 10 pound class with an occasional fish in the 20 to 25 pound range.

The odd wahoo were still being taken here and there up to 45 pounds.

Boats fishing inshore encountered sierra in good numbers, along with some roosterfish, jack crevalle and skipjacks.

Inshore fishing was mostly conducted on the Cortez side of the Cape due to the wind. Pangas were doing all right, but not great, on snapper and small grouper. A few nice amberjack to 60 pounds were caught. Small bonito and football yellowfin tuna were caught as well as a few striped marlin were found very close to the beach which got the panga fishermen excited. The wind and swells made the water close to the beach a bit off color.… George and Mary Landrum

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

The Return of the Sardina!

All in all, this will be remembered as one of those weeks when you should have been here! photo Mark Rayor, Vista Sea Sports and Ruth Moran.

Endless Season Update July 4th, 2010
REPORT #1221 "Below the Border" Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996

East Cape



East Cape fishing exploded in the week leading up to the 4th of July. Lots of fish…big fish, and finally the sardina have returned.

Yellowfin action continues to be extraordinary! There have been many schools of porpoise with tuna to 150 pounds beneath them. The good news is that the porpoise schools are spread out allowing the fleet to do the same. Action begins as close as the lighthouse and can be found in any direction.

The dorado action is on the upswing as well, though most of the schoolie fish are on the smallish side. However, just when you least expect it, in comes a 30 to 40 pounder.

Then there is the giant of a wahoo (104 pounds) caught off La RIbera by a father and son from Colorado who were fishing with skipper Ramon from La Ribera on Los Amigos.

Billfish, sails, stripers and blues, are there for the taking for those interested. Inshore the Humboldt squid are there to get everyone started in the morning before heading out for a big one.

Then the rooster fish action has produced more Bubba's than a Catfish Noodling tournament in the south. All in all, this will be remembered as one of those weeks when you should have been here.

When the action gets this good, anglers often end up getting hooked, literally. Here is a refresher on what to do when it happens…the removal part not the other!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTUQXpg76xQ

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

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

In keeping with the oddest Baja fishing season in memory, there have been reports of marlin mixed in with the yellowfin tuna, but, as we know reports are as common as Pacifico's at a Mexican fiesta. The photos made the difference this time. In 71 degree water on the 23's , they caught two and broke off several marlin on the light gear they were using for the small tuna with plenty more marlin mixed in.

More weird stuff: WFO for halibut in Santa Maria Bay…go figure... Bob Hoyt

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


Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico

We had been experiencing some fantastic action in the early part of this last week. The 84° blue water was just off the beach and the sailfish were going strong. Plus, we were recording some incredible catches of roosterfish and jack crevalle inshore. And then the rains came…

Adolfo, on the panga Dos Hermanos, told me his clients caught 18 roosterfish on Sunday. They were taken on surface poppers and slow-trolled live bait. He was working the areas south of Valentine and down to the antennas. He went back on Monday, and the roosters were gone, but he got about 15 jack crevalle, which are not so sensitive to the huge volume of fresh water lowering the salinity of the coast line. Due to the wind and intensity of the rain, he didn’t even try to fish on Wednesday.

From Sunday evening through Thursday afternoon, we have gotten 15 inches of rain, which really screws up the inshore fishing by bringing in tonnage of silt and fresh water from the numerous local rivers and streams. The silt makes the water look like weak hot chocolate and the fresh water lowers the salinity. It will take a couple of weeks to get things settled down again.

Our normal heavy rain comes at night, in the form of thunder showers, but we have had intermittent heavy rain at any hour of the 24 hour day. Other than the month of September, this
is very unusual.

There is a group of fishermen who have been fighting the elements, and considering the conditions they are fishing in, they are doing well. There are ten fly fishermen here from the California's central valley, chartered through Mike Powers of American Fishing Company in Sacramento. Without the five pangas they are going out in daily, there would have been only three or four boats on the water each day this week.

So far, Adan on the panga Gitana is the high boat in the fleet, raising 15 sailfish, teasing 10 to the boat, with the fly clients hooking six. Please understand, a hooked fish on the fly is not exactly a fish brought to leader. The line gets wrapped around the reel, hooks are not set firmly enough to withstand the incredible aerobatics of a sailfish, the angler is standing on the fly line, etc.
Second captain honors go to Fernando, with two sailfish actually getting to the boat for photos.

When the sailfish action died off on Thursday, all of the group’s boats found the schools of small yellowfin tuna, which were willing to eat the fly. Plus, there were schools of the small pelagic sharks, which rarely get larger than four feet, but have a large shark’s appetite......…Ed Kunze

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


Cabo San Lucas

There was a decent preview of summer fishing this week with striped marlin being a bit more active than last week, blue marlin showing up and a few swordfish showing as well. The striped marlin were found pretty close, as was everything else, mainly due to the fact that the farther out you went, the rougher the water became! Striped marlin were seen tailing on the surface but for the most part were ignoring the normal caballito and mackerel live baits. The boats that did the best were hooking small bonito close to shore,,,then slow trolling them. There were a few fish found that would eat the other baits, so it was not a waste of time or money to buy them, but the bonito seemed to work better. There was a nice blue marlin of 600 to 700 pounds caught and released (I saw the video) two miles off of Gray Rock. There was also a 150-pound swordfish caught around the 95 spot on Wednesday.

Yellowfin were being caught every day and there were a few large fish found up in the Punta Gorda area. Not as many of the larger fish as there were last week, but if you were one of the lucky boats, the fish were going up to 100 pounds. Nearer to home, there were scattered football fish to 25 pounds.

A few small dorado were caught this week, a few more than were showing up last week, and there were a couple of larger fish reported as well. Most of them were in the 8 to 10 pound class but the larger fish were around 20 to 25 pounds.

Inshore fishing was mostly conducted on the Cortez side of the Cape due to the wind. Pangas were doing all right, but not great, on snapper and small grouper. A few nice amberjack to 60 pounds were caught. Small bonito and football yellowfin tuna as well as a few striped marlin were found very close to the beach and got the panga fishermen excited. The wind and swells made the water a bit off color very close to the beach.

Our fingers are still crossed that the storms stay away, and it appears as if the winds have died down, at least for now. If the water warms back up (it has been in flux all week) the fishing should definitely keep improving. … George and Mary Landrum
Current Cabo Weather http://tiny.cc/cabo191