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Baja Mexico: Magdalena Bay, Baja Sur & East Cape.
Capt. Gary Graham
January 30, 2003
Baja Sur - Saltwater Fishing Report
REPORT FROM GARY GRAHAM'S BAJA ON THE FLY:
PROVIDING QUALITY SALTWATER FLY-FISHING 365 DAYS A YEAR IN BAJA
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: [email protected]; USA toll-free (800) 919-2252;
Mexico 011-52-624-14-10373
Wed., Jan. 29, 2003
EAST CAPE, MAGDALENA BAY AND ZIHUATANEJO CONDITIONS
EAST CAPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
IN GENERAL: Wind one day and none the next. But if you pick the right day
the fishing is pretty special. Dorado and tuna again dominated the catches
with limits all around for the few boats that went out. Yesterday (1/28),
outdoor writer Gene Kira, Baja columnist for Western Outdoors publications,
took a morning off from his reporting schedule and demonstrated once again
why his Baja Catch is so popular. Using the same techniques he describes in
his book, he caught more tuna and dorado than you could shake a Rebel lure
at. Even with all of my encouragement I understand he still left his flyrod
in the case!
Yvonne and I are in San Mateo for the International Sportsman Exposition
(ISE Show) and have our booth (#1432) set up. We have already seen some of
our old friends and can't wait for the show to open later this morning.
Yvonne and I had our lucky fish and chips dinner at the Prince of Wales Pub.
This year, Yvonne got in and out without breaking her foot. My first Power
Point extravaganza presentation is today at 2 p.m. and then again on Fri. at
7 p.m. in the Fly-Fishing Theater.
This is a brand new program using the latest technology to combine slides
and video on saltwater techniques. If you're anywhere in the San Francisco
Bay Area and want to improve your saltwater skills, be sure to see this
program. In addition, there will be special prizes provided by a variety of
manufacturers including Action Optics, AirFlo Fly lines, JW Outfitters, Guy
Harvey Productions and David Communications for a quiz held at the end of
the program. This is cutting edge A/V technology and a far, far cry from
those old clunky 35mm slide presentations so common at fishing clubs and
outdoor shows.
AIR & SEA -
Water temperature 69-72
Air temperature 60°-82°
Humidity about 94%
Wind Calm
Conditions Cloudy (FEW) : 20000 ft
Visibility 16 miles
Sunrise 6:57 a.m. MST
Sunset 6:05 p.m. MST
Feb. 1 New First Quarter Feb. 9 Full Feb. 16 Feb. 23 Last Quarter
· OFFSHORE: Both the tuna and dorado have continued to bite with a
vengeance.
· INSHORE: The sierra are almost a slam dunk. Be sure to use some wire
for these toothy guys.
· BEACH: Getting better, but still less than perfect conditions.
BILLFISH - With the number of fish being seen it could get interesting when
they decide to bite.
YELLOWFIN TUNA - Most of the ones being caught are not footballs, but in the
30- to 50-pound class that will make your flyrod look like a bow in search
of an arrow.
DORADO - A 10-weight fly-fishing outfit $600, holographic popper $7.50,
20-pound dorado smacking the popper – Priceless.
ROOSTERFISH - Tough to get through the sierra.
JACK CREVALLE - Again, the sierra are getting in the way.
BARRILETE OR MEXICAN SKIPJACK - Forget 'em. Go look for tuna and dorado!
PARGO AND CABRILLA - Always a few to be had around the rocky points.
SIERRA - Just before sunup is the best time.
MAGDALENA BAY, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
Wed., Jan. 29, 2003
IN GENERAL: Whales are the focus this time of year, but there seems to be
plenty of corvina throughout the mangroves. A few pompano, grouper and
snapper are beginning to show up in the main channel just south of Devil’s
Curve.
Water Temperature 67-73
Air Temperature 60°-78°
Humidity 94%
Wind Calm
Conditions Clear
Visibility 3 miles
Sunrise 7:08 a.m. MST
Sunset 6:10 p.m. MST
Feb. 1 New First Quarter Feb. 9 Full Feb. 16 Feb. 23 Last Quarter
YELLOWTAIL - Best bet is out at the entrada in deep water.
CORVINA - A corvina take on the surface is worth the trip!
SNOOK - Look for the dead mangroves with a deep hole in front of them. Use a
Clouser or Deep Diver and fish the current. Best area right now is up toward
Devil's Curve
HALIBUT - Usually the sandy beaches are best, but we have been getting a few
up in the esteros.
SIERRA - Look for them under the birds out in the open areas of the bay.
ZIHUATANEJO, MAINLAND MEXICO
Sat., Jan. 25, 2003
Please note the date. We only provide reports on a weekly basis for this
area.
IN GENERAL: The fishing this week has just been incredible. Sailfish, tuna,
dorado, roosterfish and even a couple of huge marlin were all being caught.
There were many days where the boats were flying every flag they had, and
there were still fish unaccounted for. Several boats have been averaging
between 5 and 7 sailfish a day and another 3 or 4 dorado in the 20- to
25-pound class. We had a lot of boats with double digit sailfish counts this
week. In the five years I have lived here, I have only seen the fishing like
this a couple of times before.
The fly-fishermen have also been taking advantage of the numbers of fish and
are doing fabulous as well. P. J. Cunningham, from Idaho, fished with me for
two days and had 12 sailfish come to the boat. He hooked 6. Greg Sharp from
Little Rock, Ark., fished one day with our other guide Paul Phillips. They
had 7 fish come to the boat and he hooked 4. Also, both P.J. and Greg each
got a 20-pound class dorado that was teased to the boat.
As of this writing, the International Billfish Tournament just completed its
first day, with a total of 129 boats signed up. Before 10 a.m. a 121-pound
sailfish and a 735-pound black marlin had already been weighed at the dock.
The big black was hooked by Pulgo on the private yacht "Gorda," using
50-pound test line, and took only 1-hour to bring it in. Captain Amando on
the panga "3 Hermanos" took the big sailfish.
Paul Phillips, fishing the tournament with Santiago on the panga "Gitana,"
was fighting a nice dorado and they had left one outrigger bait out in case
it would entice the mate. As they gaffed the dorado, the boat was dead in
the water. That is when a 160-pound yellowfin took the cut bait. It bit only
7 miles off the beach in front of Ixtapa.
Water Temperature 82º
Air Temperature 75°-88º
Humidity 74%
Wind calm
Conditions Scattered Clouds (SCT) : 15000 ft
Sunrise 7:17 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:38 p.m. CST
Feb. 1 New First Quarter Feb. 9 Full Feb. 16 Feb. 23 Last Quarter
For more Information on Baja on the Fly's Zihuatanejo trips, go to:
http://www.bajafly.com
-- Zihuatanejo Report by Baja on the Fly's Ed Kunze
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