Baja Mexico: Magdalena Bay, Baja Sur & East Cape.
Capt. Gary Graham
August 14, 2004
Baja Sur - Saltwater Fishing Report
East Cape Bonanza; Sails Sizzle in Guatemala
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
Sat., Aug. 14, 2004. Report covers the period Sat.-Fri. (8/7-8/13)
EAST CAPE, MAGDALENA BAY, ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO; AND SAN JOSE, GUATEMALA CONDITIONS
EAST CAPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
IN GENERAL: There are fish everywhere! That was the greeting I received when I walked out on the pier at Buenavista Beach Resort on Fri. afternoon. Judging from the number of flags flying from the outriggers, the fishing and the weather have definitely heated up from last week. Lots of football sized tuna and dorado a few miles in front of the hotels. All the fish are close enough for the kayakers to get in on the action. Out a few miles further, the sailfish were ready to play in numbers that justified packing the 12-weight and a few Billfish Babies. From the beach, olive Clousers for the first hour and a half after gray light had few refusals. The bite was solid for various jacks, lookdowns and pompano while I watched the clients board the boats and the kayakers load and launch their rigs equipped with everything from bait tanks to depth sounders.
Due to a massive letter writing campaign, (link included), Mexican officials are holding off long lining to examine effects on the fragile sea.
Sea of Cortez and letter links
AIR & SEA -
Water temperature 75-87
Air temperature 89-96
Humidity about 69%
Wind: E 10 in the PM
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 6:54 a.m. MDT
Sunset 7:52 p.m. MDT
August 15 New, August 23 First Quarter; August 29, Full; Sept. 6 Last Quarter.
+ OFFSHORE: So many sails that the guys looking for the blue dogs considered them pests. More blue bites than catches by far.
+ INSHORE: Hard to distinguish the offshore from inshore with all the dorado and tuna being caught at the high spot in front of La Ribera.
+ BEACH: Hard to pick the right fly with so much variety, pargo, triple tail, jacks and I almost forgot . . . BIG roosters.
BILLFISH – Heated up nicely this week.
YELLOWFIN TUNA – Plenty and close.
DORADO – More tuna than dorado, but enough to keep it interesting.
ROOSTERFISH\JACK CREVALLE – Olive Clousers worked for most.
BARRILETE OR MEXICAN SKIPJACK – There are a few schools on the surface between La Ribera and Punta Colorada with most of them weighing in at 10+ lbs.
PARGO AND CABRILLA – Even found a few on sandy beaches with zip cover.
SIERRA – Sardina took a hike this week so not much surface action which is where the Sierra usually show.
MAGDALENA BAY, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
IN GENERAL: Action remained about the same as last week, few yellows and grouper at the entrada. Corvina and pompano providing the best action up in the esteros most of the week. Offshore, the locals are reporting a few marlin and dorado have been found outside of Punta Tasco.
Water Temperature 67-78
Air Temperature 75-84
Humidity 23%
Wind 4 mph from the WNW
Conditions Scattered clouds
Visibility 3 miles
Sunrise 6:57 a.m. MDT
Sunset 8:07 p.m. MDT
August 15 New; August 23, First Quarter; August 29, Full; Sept. 6 Last Quarter.
YELLOWTAIL – Mostly firecrackers with an occasional mystery bite that never stops.
CORVINA – Devils curve produced a few on poppers close to the mangroves.
SNOOK – Quiet
HALIBUT – Always a few to be found on the sandy beach at Punta Belcher.
SIERRA – Still a few rumored down at the south end of the bay.
ZIHUATANEJO, MAINLAND MEXICO
IN GENERAL: Conditions and fishing remain unchanged from the last couple of weeks. We are still not getting any rain to push debris out of the rivers and hold the dorado. The heat and humidity are fairly severe, but will cool off as the late August and September rains kick in.
The 80º plus blue water is only a few minutes run off the beach and most boats are averaging two to three sailfish per day. The 15- to 30-pound tuna are still at the 10 mile mark and providing good light line action.
Inshore, the incredible roosterfish and jack crevalle bite is still holding up. There are few fishermen, but the boats that do target them are averaging between 4 and 6 of the 30- to 45-pound roosters a day.
Baja on the Fly’s, "Jacks or Better Fly Fishing Tournament" Oct. 7-10 still has a few openings. http://www.bajafly.com
Water Temperature 80-84
Air Temperature 80-89
Humidity 79%
Wind WSW 6 mph
Conditions: Thunder Storms
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 7:28 a.m. CDT
Sunset 8:12 p.m. CDT
August 15 New; August 23 First Quarter; August 29, Full; Sept. 6 Last Quarter.
Baja on the Fly's Zihuatanejo report by Ed Kunze
SAN JOSE, GUATEMALA
Quite a few boats went out this week, most of them with owners and their families, but there were a couple of clients who also came down. The fishing has been out about 30-35 miles. The weather is hot! Not much rain lately, just real calm. The fishing has been pretty good, considering it's low season. They have been raising10-15 sailfish a day per boat on the days they went out, with a couple dorado scattered throughout. Great conditions inshore for roosterfish.
Water Temperature 79-85
Air Temperature 82-86
Humidity 79 %
Wind Calm
Conditions T-Storms
Visibility 7 miles
Sunrise 5:49 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:26 p.m. CST
August 15 New, August 23 First Quarter, August 29, Full, Sept. 6 Last Quarter,
Baja on the Fly's Guatemala report by Brian Barragy and Lissa M. McFarlin.
More Fishing Reports:
