Baja Mexico: Magdalena Bay, Baja Sur & East Cape.
Capt. Gary Graham
September 4, 2004
Baja Sur - Saltwater Fishing Report
Howard Puts Damper on Baja Bite
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., September 04, 2004. Report covers the period Sat.-Fri. (8/28-9/03)
EAST CAPE, MAGDALENA BAY, ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO; AND SAN JOSE, GUATEMALA CONDITIONS EAST CAPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
Gary and Yvonne will be visiting the following clubs this week. For more info visit their websites.
Sept. 7 Santa Barbara Fly Fishing Club http://www.sbflyfishers.com
Sept. 8 Conejo Fly Fishing Club http://www.cvff.org
Sept. 9 Pasadena Casting Club http://www.pasadenacastingclub.org
EAST CAPE
IN GENERAL: This week hurricane Howard came meandering past, bringing some much-needed rain to East Cape as its outer rings swirled over the tip of Baja. While fishing seemed to be unaffected, the unsettled conditions that prevailed most of the week kept most of the fleet closer to the dock.
AIR & SEA -
Water temperature 81-88
Air temperature 72-92
Humidity about 82%
Wind: Southeast 10 mph
Conditions: rain
Visibility 6 miles
Sunrise 7:02 a.m. MDT
Sunset 7:32 p.m. MDT
Sept. 6, Last Quarter; Sep. 14, New; Sept. 21, First Quarter; Sep 28, Full.
+ OFFSHORE: Sails provided the bulk of the action this week.
+ INSHORE: The dorado seemed to ignore the unsettled conditions and continued to bite from Rancho Buenavista all the way to the lighthouse at Punta Arena.
+ BEACH: Wind waves and storm surge chewed up the beach pretty well. Best bet was early morning.
BILLFISH – Slow for everything except the sails that could care less about a little rough seas.
YELLOWFIN TUNA – Moved further offshore but the good news is it was a better quality of fish in the 20- to 30-pound range.
DORADO – Close, inside of three miles from the beach produced steady action, weather permitting.
ROOSTERFISH\JACK CREVALLE – Dirty water caused by the storm slowed the bite down this week.
BARRILETE OR MEXICAN SKIPJACK – Still can be found in the same zone as the dorado.
PARGO AND CABRILLA – Rocky outcropping are the best right now.
SIERRA – A few around the bait receivers at La Ribera.
MAGDALENA BAY, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
IN GENERAL: Tough to get outside with the lump caused as Howard passes by out to the west. Water temperatures continue to climb which is a good omen for a good fall season offshore. Esteros were less productive this week because of some large tide swings caused by full moon.
Water Temperature 67-78
Air Temperature 76-82
Humidity 97%
Wind SSW 8 mph
Conditions Clear
Visibility 3 miles
Sunrise 7:08 a.m. MDT
Sunset 7:41 p.m. MDT
Sept. 6, Last Quarter; Sep. 14, New; Sept. 21, First Quarter; Sep 28, Full.
YELLOWTAIL – Bird schools producing the best action both in and outside the entrada if the weather permits.
CORVINA – Bridge at the entrance to town was the go-to spot for those who chose not to venture out in the bay because of the weather.
SNOOK – Not this week.
HALIBUT – Mostly smaller ones.
SIERRA – A few mixed in the bird schools at the entrada.
ZIHUATANEJO, MAINLAND MEXICO
IN GENERAL: The 80º clean blue water is only about 1 mile of the beach. Overall, the fishing can be rated as decent. Most boats are averaging between two and three sailfish releases per day, but the tuna and dorado are scarce again.
The big news is still with the outstanding roosterfish bite that has not let up for about two months now, along with lots of huge jack crevalle. In fact, some of the best jack fishing is taking place inside Zihuatanejo Bay.
Even though the roosterfish are outstanding, you normally only dream of a day like the one Luis Marciel had with his client Pat Johnson of Tulsa, Okla., on the panga “Gringo Loco.” They were fishing the Pantla area when a huge area of fish erupted on bait just off the beach. Mixed in with the gamefish were large sierra, jacks, and roosters. When it was all over and done, fishing with surface poppers to the breaking fish, Pat and his fishing partner had 10 roosters averaging between 35- and 45-pounds, 7 jacks of about 12- to 15-pounds, and 2 sierra. They were absolutely exhausted, and told Luis to head back to the dock before 11.
Luis told me they had lost at least 10 more big roosters on short strikes, and at one point a large jack was literally battling with a large rooster to see who could get the popper first.
Baja on the Fly’s, "Jacks or Better Fly Fishing Tournament" Oct. 6-10 has only two openings left.
http://www.bajafly.com
Water Temperature 80-84
Air Temperature 78-87
Humidity 83%
Wind Calm
Conditions: Thunder Storms
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 7:32 a.m. CDT
Sunset 7:56 p.m. CDT
Sept. 6, Last Quarter; Sep. 14, New; Sept. 21, First Quarter; Sep 28, Full.
Baja on the Fly's Zihuatanejo report by Ed Kunze
SAN JOSE, GUATEMALA
While decent action can be found offshore for sails along with a few tuna and dorado, the locals are about the only ones here to take advantage. Back closer to shore, the roosters can be seen cruising the backside of the waves looking for bait.
Water Temperature 75-84
Air Temperature 80-84
Humidity 100 %
Wind Calm
Conditions Clear
Visibility 7 miles
Sunrise 5:51 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:12 p.m. CST
Sept. 6, Last Quarter; Sep. 14, New; Sept. 21, First Quarter; Sep 28, Full.
Baja on the Fly's Guatemala report by Brian Barragy and Lissa M. McFarlin.
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