Baja Mexico: Magdalena Bay, Baja Sur & East Cape.
Capt. Gary Graham
January 10, 2004
Baja Sur - Saltwater Fishing Report
Fri., Jan. 09, 2004. Report covers the period Sat.-Thurs. (1/02 - 1/8)
EAST CAPE, MAGDALENA BAY, ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO; AND IZTAPA, GUATEMALA
CONDITIONS
EAST CAPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
IN GENERAL: Typical winter conditions with a few good days and others
that . . . well, as for the wind, “thar she blows.” With only a few
boats heading out, it is tough to get a clear and accurate idea of the
conditions.
AIR & SEA -
Water temperature 67°-73°
Air temperature 59° - 74°
Humidity about 68%
Wind North at 10 mph
Conditions Clear
Visibility 12 miles
Sunrise 7:01 a.m. MST
Sunset 5:49 p.m. MST
Jan. 14 Last Quarter, Jan. 21 New, Jan. 28 First Quarter, Feb. 6 Full
o OFFSHORE: There are a few dorado to be found under the shark buoys
off of Punta Pescadero, which is a pretty good direction to head. If the
north wind kicks up it is a nicer ride home.
o INSHORE: Sierra continue to be the best action. There are a few
jacks and pompano in front of La Ribera.
o BEACH: All the hotels had some action out in front for sierra early
morning. It is mostly an early morning deal and over by 9 a.m. at the
latest.
BILLFISH – A few here and there, sure no concentration. The lucky ones
stumble on one and claim it’s skill. The unlucky ones claim it is slow
fishing.
YELLOWFIN TUNA – They will be back.
DORADO – Patience pays off at Pecadero, find the right shark buoy and it
is smiles all around.
ROOSTERFISH – Not much to talk about.
JACK CREVALLE – Right place, right time, look for birds and bait.
BARRILETE OR MEXICAN SKIPJACK – A few bonito and that is about it.
PARGO AND CABRILLA – Not much to report.
SIERRA - Gray light just at dawn is best before the sun gets too high.
MAGDALENA BAY, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
IN GENERAL: Peter Chan and Susan Rosen, New York, finished up their
spur-of-the-moment trip with an impressive list of species including
cabrilla, leopard grouper, corvina, pompano, barracuda and tales of
disappearing fly lines. (Sounds like someone got snookered.) Outside on
a 210 heading 17-20 miles, the yellowfin tuna were ready to rumble and
there were several gorilla class (100+ pounds) reported by several of
the local pangeros.
Water Temperature 66°-74°
Air Temperature 64°- 73°
Humidity 59%
Wind NW 6 mph
Conditions Scattered Clouds.
Visibility 3 miles
Sunrise 7:13 a.m. MST
Sunset 5:53 p.m. MST
Jan. 14 Last Quarter, Jan. 21 New, Jan. 28 First Quarter, Feb. 6 Full
YELLOWTAIL – Lots to look at, unfortunately not very aggressive.
CORVINA – 2004 hasn’t slowed them down a bit.
SNOOK – Just when you decide there aren’t any, something takes your fly
and never stops. Hmmm . . .
HALIBUT – It has slowed down a bit. You need to find the right sandy
beach now.
SIERRA – Slow but steady.
ZIHUATANEJO, MAINLAND MEXICO
IN GENERAL: The 80º blue water is still holding at 6 miles and, even
with the full moon, the sailfish are cooperating. Almost every boat is
raising between 8 and 12 fish a day, with many boats hooking as many as
7 to 8 fish each.
A few 25-pound class dorado are being caught, but only by about one boat
in five.
The roosterfish action has slowed down considerably, with Pete Richards
of Charlotte, N.C. getting the largest one of the week, a 42-pounder.
The jack crevalle action is very good, with the 12- to 20-pound jacks
busting bait about a 1/4 mile off the beach.
There is still no sign of the tuna.
Water Temperature 79º-86º
Air Temperature 75° - 89º
Humidity 83%
Wind Calm
Conditions Partly Cloudy (FEW) : 6,000 ft
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 7:18 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:226 p.m. CST
Jan. 14 Last Quarter, Jan. 21 New, Jan. 28 First Quarter, Feb. 6 Full
Baja on the Fly’s Zihuatanejo report by Ed Kunze
IZTAPA, GUATEMALA
IN GENERAL: Happy New Year to all. For the week between Christmas and
New Year, there were a total of 292 Sailfish released out of 429 shots.
The average was roughly 10 sails per boat pre day, with the high boat
for the week releasing 34 of 52. The Dorado are showing up in good
numbers.
Water Temperature 80º-85º
Air Temperature 80°-84º
Humidity 77%
Wind N 14mph
Conditions Clear
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 6:29 a.m. CST
Sunset 5:50 p.m. CST
Jan. 14 Last Quarter, Jan. 21 New, Jan. 28 First Quarter, Feb. 6 Full
Baja on the Fly's Guatemala report by Brian Barragy and Lissa M. McFarlin.
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