More fish . . . Too Much Wind

REPORT #981. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 10/22/2005
East Cape
Justin Cordonnier, Mario Proia, Dana Erikson and Jon Weber – Atlantic striper and bluefish guys from the East Coast – came in search of action and weren’t disappointed. By the end of their trip they had caught 15 species and tallied more firsts than a 21st birthday party: everything from bonefish to Humboldt squid. Inshore, they found jacks, roosters, ladyfish, pompano; moving a few miles further off the beach outside of Cabo Pulmo they connected with YFT, skipjack, white bonito, dorado and even a wahoo.
Still few sardina to be found, however the squid cut into chunks did the trick. Tuna and dorado couldn’t resist the chum line of one inch cubes thrown out in handfuls. We had a chum line on both ends of the boat and it worked like a charm. Justin, casting from the bow, hooked both dorado and yellowfin tuna on a well-placed See Through Deceiver with a hint of turquoise.
By Tuesday, (10/18) the north wind began to ramp up and the rest of the week went south. On the water there more holes than a Baja back road and the wind waves on the beach had turned the water the color of bad tequila. Lance did manage to guide his clients to a few small roosters and jacks at the sticks near La Ribera. By early this morning the wind began to back off and we are hoping for a repeat of last weekend.

Baja on the Fly

Water temperature
80-84
Air temperature
77-88
Humidity
31%
Wind:
NW 11 mph
Conditions:
Scattered Clouds
Visibility
10 miles
Sunrise
7:18 a.m. MDT
Sunset
6:47 p.m. MDT

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

While lumpy seas made fishing tough, the results were good for the few who ventured out. Below and inside the Thetis Bank, a few marlin were located feeding on the surface. Dorado and tuna could be found back closer toward the boca (mouth) into Lopez Mateos. The shark buoys west of the entrada were producing the fair catches of dorado and also a few marlin.

Up in the esteros, the bite continued to be slow, with plenty of cabrilla as usual, but the corvina, leopard grouper and pargo were in short supply. There were a few yellowtail found deeper in the water column.

Several of the East Coast yachts that made the long journey to get in on the hot marlin bite Magdalena Bay is known for have been heard complaining that the fishing has been disappointing for them. Too bad. I guess ballyhoo don’t work here as well as they do on the other coast. The West Coast yachts traveling up and down the coast past Magdalena Bay have been reporting good to great fishing for the past several weeks. Local knowledge must help.

Water temperature
70-77
Air temperature
68-79
Humidity
60%
Wind:
WNW 17
Conditions:
Clear
Visibility
5 miles
Sunrise
7:28 a.m. MDT
Sunset
6:53 p.m. MDT
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
Things sure have turned around since the heavy rains from the remnants of tropical storm Stan hit us two weeks ago. I was sure they would take a turn for the better, because we are now out of the rainy season, and getting back into a normal pattern.

The inshore waters are approaching 80º again and the fishing reflects it. Adolpho, on the panga “Dos Hermanos,” got 7 roosters for his client, and a couple of large jacks. They fished the antennae area near Petalan. Most of the fish were taken by casting large surface poppers. A few were taken slow trolling a live bait.

The bluewater is still a ways offshore, but the 84º water is closer in. Santiago on the panga “Gitana” is doing about the average, with three sailfish released for his client for two days of fishing. As we come out of the full moon cycle, the bluewater fishing shall also improve dramatically.

Water temperature
80 - 84
Air temperature
78 - 87
Humidity
94%
Wind:
WSW 8 mph
Conditions:
Overcast
Visibility
10 miles
Sunrise
7:41 a.m. CDT
Sunset
7:19 p.m. CDT

San Jose, Guatemala
With all the recent storm activity, the water has be off-color and fishing has been tough. Everyone is hoping that the fringes of Wilma don’t extend the poor conditions. Activity should begin to pick up right after the first of the month as the fleet begins to ramp up for the upcoming season.

http://www.bajafly.com/Newsletter/guatstrom.jpg
Les Kagel

Water temperature
78 - 82
Air temperature
79- 89
Humidity
100%
Wind:
W 11 mph
Conditions:
Scattered Clouds
Visibility
6 miles
Sunrise
5:55 a.m. CST
Sunset
5:39 p.m. CST
For additional information: mailto:bajafly@bajafly.com
USA toll-free (800) 919-2252 or 760/746-7260;
Mexico 011-52-624-14-10373 or (760) 670 4916