Baja Mexico: Magdalena Bay, Baja Sur & East Cape.
Capt. Gary Graham
March 27, 2004
Baja Sur - Saltwater Fishing Report
Promises, Promises
REPORT FROM GARY GRAHAM'S BAJA ON THE FLY:
PROVIDING QUALITY SALTWATER FLY-FISHING 365 DAYS A YEAR SOUTH OF THE BORDER. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: [email protected]; USA toll-free (800) 919-2252; Mexico 011-52-624-14-10373
Fri, March 26, 2004. Report covers the period Sat.-Thurs. (3/18-3/25)
EAST CAPE, MAGDALENA BAY, ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO; AND SAN JOSE, GUATEMALA CONDITIONS
EAST CAPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
IN GENERAL: Early in the week produced great catches of yellowfin tuna, though it was a long run below Las Frailes. Tues. (3/23), a rough south wind struck. It was Victory at Sea and the tuna did a vanishing act. For the rest of the week, most of the action was inshore with sierra, pargo and one of the best roosterfish shows in recent memory. Roosters from 20-50 pounds were chasing baitfish to the surface and the frigates were swooping down from above. For the flyrodder, the sierra and skipjack provided fair to good action.
AIR & SEA -
Water temperature 66 - 75
Air temperature 71-77
Humidity about 44%
Wind Calm
Conditions Clear
Visibility 15 miles
Sunrise 6:17 a.m. MST
Sunset 6:32 p.m. MST
Mar. 28 First Quarter, April Full, April 11 Last Quarter, April 19 New
o OFFSHORE: After the south wind it has taken a few days for things to settle back down. Were encountering some tuna and dorado, but the marlin are few and far between.
o INSHORE: Sierra, skipjack and closer to the beach a few smaller roosters and jacks were to be found.
o BEACH: A great sign of things to come: Sardina are beginning to show along the beaches near La Ribera and Punta Colorado.
BILLFISH The few found were a lo-o-o-ong way out.
YELLOWFIN TUNA Not wide open like it was, but a few showing up a long way off.
DORADO More wishful thinking than fact. A few boats are coming up with some of the larger variety.
ROOSTERFISH The larger variety are showing early afternoon about a half-mile offshore under the frigates. Tough to get on a feather, but fun to try.
JACK CREVALLE Found a few good-sized schools with mostly fish less than 10 pounds. Vickie Vaughn, visiting all the way up the coast from Anchorage, Alaska, landed an eight-pounder from the beach on Thurs. (3/25).
BARRILETE OR MEXICAN SKIPJACK Quiet.
PARGO AND CABRILLA Rocky points the best bet.
SIERRA Be out early or you will miss the grab.
MAGDALENA BAY, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
Puerto San Carlos:
IN GENERAL: Wind continued to hamper fishing most of the week. There were a few yellows out at the entrada, but most of them a chock full of red crab and not very hungry. One may still find a few halibut on the sandy beaches, fair corvina and plenty of cabrilla up in the esteros. Rumor has it that there is a good show of tuna in the 50-80 pound class 35 miles NW of the Pinnacle, but with all the wind no one has been able to get there.
Lopez Mateos: Diana Hoyt, MagBay Outfitters reports:
Windy outside for weather with few fish caught. Inside the bay theres a wide-open bass bite with limits of cabrilla for Christopher and Michael Schwab of Valley Center, Calif. Chris also caught one six-pound snook and a saltwater catfish at Boca de Soledad.
Water Temperature 64 -70
Air Temperature 69-81
Humidity 36%
Wind NW at 4 mph
Conditions Haze
Visibility 6 miles
Sunrise 6:24 a.m. MST
Sunset 6:40 p.m. MST
Mar. 28 First Quarter, April Full, April 11 Last Quarter, April 19 New
YELLOWTAIL Try a red Clouser at the entrada and see if you can fool em into thinking it is a red crab!
CORVINA Slowed down a tad, but a few to be had if you work at it.
SNOOK One at Lopez Mateos was all I heard of this week.
HALIBUT A few throughout the bay on the sandy beaches
SIERRA Try the pier early morning
ZIHUATANEJO, MAINLAND MEXICO
IN GENERAL: The 78Ί blue water is still holding at 6 to 8 miles, and the overall fishing is picking up. Several boats caught more than three sailfish each day, with Captain Pepino, on the Whisky II, releasing five for his best day.
The tuna are out near the 1,000-fathom curve (32 miles), but the action is fantastic when you get there. The fish are ranging in size from 30-pound schoolies, to 250 pounds-plus gorillas. It all just depends on what school of fish you come across.
Anybody who is seriously chasing blue marlin, once they get out to the 1,000 fathom curve, their chance for a big blue is almost a sure thing.
Roosterfish are picking up also. Several have been taken and they are averaging between 30- and 40-pounds.
Water Temperature 72-78
Air Temperature 77-93
Humidity 62%
Wind WSW at 12 mph
Conditions Scattered Clouds (SCT) : 25,000 ft
Visibility 7 miles
Sunrise 6:45 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:57 p.m. CST
Mar. 28 First Quarter, April Full, April 11 Last Quarter, April 19 New
Baja on the Fly's Zihuatanejo report by Ed Kunze
SAN JOSE, GUATEMALA
IN GENERAL: The weather once again has not been very co-operative, but the fishing has been good. The high boat for the week released 40 of 60 sails and there was also a marlin released on light tackle. Overall there were several days where boats were releasing 20 to 40 sails.
http://www.guatemalaflyfishing.com
Water Temperature 79-84
Air Temperature 82-90
Humidity 59 %
Wind SW at 9 mph
Conditions Mostly Cloudy (BKN) : 20,000 ft
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 6:03 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:14 p.m. CST
Mar. 28 First Quarter, April Full, April 11 Last Quarter, April 19 New
Baja on the Fly's Guatemala report by Brian Barragy and Lissa M. McFarlin.
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