Baja Mexico: Magdalena Bay, Baja Sur & East Cape.
Capt. Gary Graham
May 19, 2001
Baja Sur - Saltwater Fishing Report
A Summer of Sizzle
EAST CAPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
Sat., May 19, 2001
TEMPERATURES: High of 88 with a low of 74.
STRIPED MARLIN - They are beginning to bite and the blue marlin and sailfish
are here as well.
YELLOWFIN TUNA - Cabo Pulmo went off like a candle yesterday (5/18), with
limits all around for the boats there.
DORADO - Sargasso (floating pods of seaweed) close to shore from Punta
Pescadero to Punta Colorado produced great catches for everyone that found a
patch.
ROOSTERFISH - Some quality fish in front of both hotels.
JACK CREVALLE - Good catches continue from both the pontoon boat and the
shore.
BARRILLETE OR MEXICAN SKIPJACK - A few scattered everywhere.
PARGO AND CABRILLA - Dropped off considerably this week.
.. OFFSHORE: Here we go! Sailfish and marlin on the 88, blue marlin out in
front of La Ribera, dorado under almost anything floating made for a good
week.
.. INSHORE: Early morning in front of the Buena Vista Beach Hotel about is as
good as it gets.
.. BEACH: La Ribera continues to hold lots of sardinia and the afternoons
have been great.
.. QUICK COMMENT - The pontoon boat has been producing great action first
thing in the morning and a few mornings it kept going and going until 11
a.m. Roosters, jacks, sierra, ladyfish, pompano and even grande triggerfish.
Hutch and Paige Hutchinson, from Flagstaff Ariz., regional business managers
for Orvis, dropped by for a few days to sample our fishing and left shaking
their heads. One day on the panga they caught dorado, skipjack, ladyfish and
had a great time. The next day they went out for a half day on the pontoon
boat and caught six roosters plus ladyfish. Paige caught her first rooster
on the fly and Hutch hooked into the “jack from hell” and two hours later
released what appeared to be a 30 pound monster on 16-pound tippet.
Britisher Ray Barker Smith and Marlene White have continued to rack up an
impressive score on the late-arriving dorado.
See our new feature Catch of the Week:
http://www.bajafly.com
MAGDALENA BAY, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
Sat., May 19, 2001
Temperatures: 78-degree high; low in the mid 60's. Fair skies with some wind
in the afternoon.
TUNA - Still waiting for them to arrive.
YELLOWTAIL - A few down deep at the entrance.
CORVINA - Fair catches near Devil’s Curve and up toward Lopez Mateos.
SNOOK - Still quiet.
HALIBUT - Near the sand dunes on Magdalena Island.
.. QUICK COMMENT - This is the perfect time to be exploring the esteros at
low tide to figure out where to be fishing on the outgoing tide. Look for
deep holes close to mangrove cover and then return later on the tide to see
what might live there.
CHECKLIST OF THINGS TO BRING TO THE EAST CAPE
· _______ FISHING CLOTHING - Lightweight, fast-drying technical clothing.
Long sleeve shirts and long pants if you burn easily.
· _______ TENNIS SHOES, BOAT SHOES OR RUBBER SOLED SANDALS.
.. _______ HAT - For protection from the sun.
· _______ POLARIZED SUN GLASSES. (All dark glasses are not Polarized. Be
sure yours are.)
· _______ WINDBREAKER OR SWEATSHIRT.
· _______ SHORTS.
· _______ SWIM SUIT.
· _______ COSMETICS OR SHAVING GEAR.
· _______ SUN PROTECTION (lotion or block.)
· _______ LIP BALM.
· _______ SEASICKNESS MEDICATION.
· _______ TYLENOL OR ASPIRIN.
· _______ BENEDRYL SPRAY OR OINTMENT.
· _______ FLASHLIGHT (For walking on the beach at night.)
· _______ CAMERA, EXTRA FILM.
· _______ VIDEO CAMERA AND TAPES (Optional.)
.. _______ EXTRA BATTERIES.
.. _______ SNORKEL EQUIPMENT (Optional. Can be rented there.)
.. _______ U.S. $1 DOLLAR BILLS (For tips.)
SHIRTS AND SHOES ARE REQUIRED IN THE DINING ROOM
FISHING GEAR YOU MAY NEED:
See Gary Graham’s “No Nonsense Guide to Fly Fishing Southern Baja” or his
website: www.bajafly.com
· ________8-, 9-, or 10-weight rod for surf fishing and casting. A 9-weight
is ideal if you are bringing only one rod. Add a 12-weight if you are
fishing from a boat. Rental tackle is available, but must be reserved.
· ________Reel(s) direct or anti-reverse, anodized. Good disc drag and
plenty of backing. Reels with a quick take-apart feature are ideal for
cleaning.
· ________Lines - Beach and Inshore: Intermediate or sink-tip for rocky
areas. Full line (350 grain) or shooting head for sandy areas. Offshore:
10- or 12-weight rod. Full flyline (650 grain) shooting head/intermediate.
For marlin and big tuna: 14-weight, quality reel, lots of backing 125#, and
36-inch bite tippet. Extra fly lines and shooting heads -- better safe than
sorry.
· ________Leaders and Tippet.
· ________Stripping Basket.
· ________Flies. Contact your fly shop for the most current flies in use.
· ________Hook sharpener.
· ________Foot protection for the rocks.
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