Baja Mexico: Magdalena Bay, Baja Sur & East Cape.
Capt. Gary Graham
August 21, 2004
Baja Sur - Saltwater Fishing Report
East Cape Bonanza; Others Merely Great
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
Aug.21, 2004. Report covers the period Sat.-Fri. (8/14-8/20)
EAST CAPE, MAGDALENA BAY, ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO; AND SAN JOSE, GUATEMALA CONDITIONS
EAST CAPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
IN GENERAL: Wham! Bam! The early bird gets the tuna and dorado. With the action so close to the hotels (15 minutes at the most) it is essential to have a quick breakfast and be on your boat early. Have those rods locked and loaded when you get on the boat or you will be watching your buddy getting yanked while you are desperately trying to get rigged. See-Through Deceivers and Sea Habits with olive backs are doing the trick. If the tuna aren’t visible on the surface, use Clousers and let it sink further down in the water column. Sardina for chum has been tough to come by this week so that is another reason to push away from the breakfast table early.
I can’t say enough good things about Sea Watch that has spearheaded a massive letter writing campaign, (link included), that helped convince Mexican officials to hold off long lining while they examine effects on the fragile Sea of Cortez. Like no one knows the damage it does.
Sea of Cortez and letter links
For all our friends in Phoenix, Arizona, Gary and Yvonne will be on of the presenters at the “Outdoors Arizona” Outdoor Recreation Expo, Aug. 27-29 at the Phoenix Civic Plaza. Check your local newspaper for Gary’s schedule.
FRI.: Aug. 27
2:00 p.m.
Baja on the Fly/Gary Graham-Sportsmen’s Warehouse Stage
Baja on the Fly/Gary Graham-Outdoors Arizona Stage
5:30 p.m.
SAT., Aug. 27
Baja on the Fly/Gary Graham-Sportsman’s Warehouse Stage
11:00am
3:00 p.m.
Baja on the Fly/Gary Graham-Outdoors Arizona Stage
SUN.: Aug. 28
10:00 a.m.
Baja on the Fly/Gary Graham-Sportsman’s Warehouse Stage
3:00 p.m.
Baja on the Fly/Gary Graham-Outdoors Arizona Stage
AIR & SEA -
Water temperature 81-88
Air temperature 82-94
Humidity about 69%
Wind: SE 2 mph
Conditions: Scattered Clouds
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 6:57 a.m. MDT
Sunset 7:45 p.m. MDT
August 23 First Quarter; August 29, Full; Sept. 6 Last Quarter. Sep. 14 New
+ OFFSHORE: It that time of year that a flyrodder can expect a decent number of shots at the sails.
+ INSHORE: From La Ribera to Punta Colorada is producing excellent catches for tuna, fat skipjack and a good mix of small- to medium-sized dorado.
+ BEACH: Had a Bubba class rooster, 50+ chase a mullet practically to my feet, didn’t know if I should cast or run. Plenty of lookdowns, pompano and small jacks to keep you busy between Bubbas.
BILLFISH – Grab your 12-weight and come on down.
YELLOWFIN TUNA – The spot looks like a parking lot for boats. but the tuna don’t seem to mind.
DORADO – Not wide open, but close. Had a couple of clients the other day that were worn out before the dorado quit.
ROOSTERFISH\JACK CREVALLE – Olive Clousers worked for most using a short, abrupt retrieve.
BARRILETE OR MEXICAN SKIPJACK – Want an IGFA record? There are some potential ones swimming around right now.
PARGO AND CABRILLA – Sight casting to pargo? It happened this week along the sandy beach at Rooster Alley.
SIERRA – A few around, but wire not practical with so many other exotics. If you see them use flies tied on long shanks and you may get lucky and not lose the fly when they bite.
MAGDALENA BAY, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
IN GENERAL: It is that time of year when everyone begins to look to the outside for any signs that offer a clue about what kind of action will be seen in the fall. A few reports of dorado and striped marlin have begun to crop up. There are reports of a few below Tasco, more 20 miles west of the entrada around the shark buoys. Small yellows, a few decent-sized groupers provided fair action earlier this week. Corvina continue to dominate the estero scene with a few pompano, pargo, leopard grouper and only a few smaller snook.
Water Temperature 67-78
Air Temperature 75-84
Humidity 23%
Wind West 17 mph
Conditions Scattered clouds
Visibility 3 miles
Sunrise 7:03 a.m. MDT
Sunset 7:55 p.m. MDT
August 23 First Quarter; August 29, Full; Sept. 6 Last Quarter. Sep. 14 New,
YELLOWTAIL – Can be found breezing under the bird schools or hanging around the pinnacles at the entrada.
CORVINA – Pier, bridge at the entrance to San Carlos or Devils Curve all producing some action.
SNOOK – Just a few smaller variety.
HALIBUT – Cruise the shallows near a sandy beach with your Polaroid’s and you can sight cast to the flat rascals.
SIERRA – Only a rumor or an excuse for every fly lost.
ZIHUATANEJO, MAINLAND MEXICO
IN GENERAL: Conditions remain fairly unchanged for the last two weeks. The dorado are still a no show, but we are finally getting some of overdue rains to wash material out of the rivers to help hold the dorado. The added benefit of our late evening rains is it really cools things down a bit.
We are still getting an average of 2 to 3 sailfish a day per boat, and the 25-pound class tuna are at the 15 mile mark.
The big action is still with the roosterfish and jack crevalle. The roosters are 4 to 6 fish a day, averaging 35 to 45 pounds.
What the smaller jacks lose in size (averaging about 10- to 12-pounds), they make up for in quantity. Fifty fish days are not uncommon if you want to target them.
Baja on the Fly’s, "Jacks or Better Fly Fishing Tournament" Oct. 6-10 still has a few openings. http://www.bajafly.com
Water Temperature 80-84
Air Temperature 80-87
Humidity 79%
Wind SE 8 mph
Conditions: Thunder Storms
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 7:30 a.m. CDT
Sunset 8:07 p.m. CDT
August 23 First Quarter; August 29, Full; Sept. 6 Last Quarter; Sep. 14, New
Baja on the Fly's Zihuatanejo report by Ed Kunze
SAN JOSE, GUATEMALA
With few clients around, the locals have the action all to themself and are finding good sailfish action within an hour of the harbor. Add a few tuna and dorado to the count and there are plenty of smiles all around. Inshore, the roosterfish are ready and waiting though few boats are targeting them.
Water Temperature 79-85
Air Temperature 82-87
Humidity 79 %
Wind SE 11 mph
Conditions T-Storms
Visibility 7 miles
Sunrise 5:50 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:21 p.m. CST
August 23, First Quarter; August 29, Full; Sept. 6, Last Quarter; Sept. 14, New
Baja on the Fly's Guatemala report by Brian Barragy and Lissa M. McFarlin.
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