Dorado Thick….Magdalena Bay

REPORT #1036 “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 11/11/06
 
East Cape

Early in the week, just a few miles off the beach outside the off color water our client, Dr. Ted Hard, from Santa Rosa, CA, found good dorado action landing a good sized dorado on the fly. While skipjack could be found closer to the hotels, if you wanted tuna action you had to be willing to make the long trip down below Las Frailes and risk a rough ride home if the north wind kicked up. Billfish were still in limited numbers offshore with only a few to be found throughout Las Palmas Bay. Beach action was basically an early bird’s game with a few sierra, ladyfish and even some roosters found chasing small schools of sardina.
Water temperature 74-86
Air temperature 73-92
Humidity 88%
Wind: NNW at 4 kph
Conditions: Cloudy
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 6:26 a.m. MST
Sunset 5:38 p.m. MDT


Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

I arrived in Lopez Mateos Wednesday and began fishing on Friday.
We found marlin action ten miles straight out from Santa Maria Bay. As we reported previously, dorado were thick and almost a nuisance, ranging from ten to twenty lbs. with an occasional bull twice that size. We raised an even dozen marlin. They were not as aggressive as we would like with only a few getting close enough for a shot. We did land one and Jack Balch from Diablo, CA, had one on the fly that broke the hook. Closer to Lopez Mateos, the tuna action was non-stop inside of ten miles. Alan Hyman and Bruce Q. Vale both landed their first of many yft’s and dorado on the fly. Needless to say, everyone enjoyed the fresh fish dinner Friday night. After flat calm weather all week, the wind has picked up a bit but it is still very fishable.


Water temperature 74 - 84
Air temperature 68-80
Humidity 88%
Wind: NNE 5 kph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 6 miles
Sunrise 6:46 a.m. MST
Sunset 5:44 p.m. MST





Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
Sailfish have still been a bit slow, with an average of only 1 or 2 fish per boat, per day. But, this should change as the 82° blue water is back to the 10 mile mark, and we are getting out of the full moon phase.

The inshore fishing has been very good, for both conventional gear fishermen and fly rodders.

Travis Watkins fished 2 days with Martin on the panga Isamar, catching what could be considered the average for this last week. The full moon had scattered the bait fish, but they still managed 2 roosters, about 30 black skipjack tuna, an equal number of jack crevalle, and 6 sierra.

Ed Kunze
Water temperature 78 - 87
Air temperature 78 - 100
Humidity 89%
Wind ESE 9 kph
Conditions: Cloudy\rain
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 6:46 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:13 p.m. CST