Baja Mexico: Magdalena Bay, Baja Sur & East Cape.
Capt. Gary Graham
October 16, 2004
Baja Sur - Saltwater Fishing Report
Start Early . . . Crawl Back Home by Noon
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., Oct. 16, 2004. Report covers the period Sat.-Fri. (10/09-10/15)
EAST CAPE, MAGDALENA BAY, ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO; AND SAN JOSE, GUATEMALA CONDITIONS
EAST CAPE
IN GENERAL: Grab a handful of flies including the “Wasabi” and some “See-Through” Deceivers and your trusty 10-weight and I promise you that you’ll be worn out by noon. Hit the dorado early and then head out a bit further and whack the yellowfin. Better check that backing before you get here. Sashimi with cocktails, dorado for dinner and a crimson Baja sunset . . . priceless.
AIR & SEA -
Water temperature 79-85
Air temperature 74-87
Humidity about 57%
Wind: 4 mph
Conditions: Scattered Clouds
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 7:16 a.m. MDT
Sunset 6:51 p.m. MDT
Oct. 20, First Quarter; Oct. 27, Full; Nov. 4, Last Quarter; Nov. 12, New
+ OFFSHORE: Tuna, tuna, tuna is the mantra this month. A rapidly- retrieved Wasabi fly and hang on.
+ INSHORE: Better be locked and loaded when you step on the boat. The dorado are only a few minutes away.
+ BEACH: No major storms this year so the beach is in good shape and there are enough roosties cruising to make things interesting. There’s enough variety to fill in the blanks between shots at the big guys.
BILLFISH – OK, not wide open, just OK.
YELLOWFIN TUNA – Look out! They are coming in all sizes from football to gorilla.
DORADO – No shortage this week.
ROOSTERFISH\JACK CREVALLE – Hit the beach early or late if you haven’t had enough during the day. Begin right in front of your hotel and round ‘em up.
BARRILETE OR MEXICAN SKIPJACK – Breezing schools in front of La Ribera.
PARGO AND CABRILLA – Rocky points best.
SIERRA – They are back and aggressive.
MAGDALENA BAY, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
IN GENERAL: Calm mornings and wind in the afternoons has everyone watching over their shoulder. Offshore 210- 240˚ beginning at 10 miles there are plenty of shark buoys holding herds of dorado and enough wahoo to make you think wire might be a good idea. While few marlin are being spotted, the bait balls that attract them are beginning to be spotted out in the zone. A recent trip to the Thetis Bank yielded only dorado. When the wind comes up, head back to the entrada and chase the yellows under the bird schools. There are also a few grande sierra mixed in, more wire??? Up in the esteros, it is mostly corvina and a few leopard grouper to bend your stick.
Water Temperature 72-79
Air Temperature 72-82
Humidity 69%
Wind 11 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 7:25 a.m. MDT
Sunset 6:58 p.m. MDT
Oct. 20, First Quarter; Oct. 27, Full; Nov. 4, Last Quarter; Nov. 12, New
YELLOWTAIL – Mostly firecrackers with a few 10 pounders to keep you honest.
CORVINA – Spread out throughout the bay. Try Devil’s Curve to start.
SNOOK – This week you can spell it S-N-I-P-E.
HALIBUT – Sandy beach at Belchers on the south side.
SIERRA – I heard of one that was 10 pounds.
ZIHUATANEJO, MAINLAND MEXICO
IN GENERAL: The 80º blue water is only a mile off the beach. The overall action could be rated as decent. The boats are still averaging 2 to 3 sailfish releases each, per day. Brian Berger of San Francisco, fishing on the panga Dos Hermanos II, released two sailfish on the fly. Brian is the winner of this year's Baja on the Fly Jacks or Better Roosterfish Fly Fishing Tournament, and stayed over an extra day to practice on his blue water techniques for his return in Dec. for the Sails and Tales Tournament.
A few good sized dorado of about 20 to 25 pounds are showing again, but the incidental catch is averaging less than one fish per boat.
NEWS STORY: Oct. 12 – In a come-from-behind finish, the Berger brothers, Brian from San Francisco and Michael from Pasadena, placed 1st and 2nd in the first annual Jacks or Better catch and release fly-fishing tournament.
Jacks or Better was sponsored by Baja on the Fly and the Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Hotel Association of Ixtapa & Zihuatanejo.
First place winner Brian received a 10-weight Abel rod and Super 10 Abel reel loaded with Gel-spun backing and a Scientific Anglers 375 Integrated flyline. Additionally, he received an invitation to participate in the 2005 Rolex Inshore Tournament as well as a paid entry to the “Sails and Tales” to be held in Zihuatanejo, Dec. 3-7, 2004.
Michael’s second place finish produced a 10-weight Abel Rod and Super 10 reel loaded Gel-spun backing and a Scientific Anglers 375 Integrated flyline.
Adolpho Aleman, high skipper for the two-day event received a special pair of Kaenon polarized eye wear, hat and shirt.
Yellow Dog Travel provided Scott Kelley, of Juneau, Alaska, a special award for the largest roosterfish caught that was hooked just after competition hours concluded.
All participants received bags filled with items donated by the event’s sponsors: Abel Products, Yellow Dog Fly Fishing Adventures, Scientific Anglers, IGFA Rolex Tournament, Outdoors America and Arizona, Dr. Slick Instruments for Anglers, the Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo Visitors Bureau, Rainy’s Flies, Kaenon Eye Wear, Newport Blue, Mexfish.com, Terrafin SST-View, Promotions West, Sol Sun Products, Ichthyo-sys, Soft-tex and Frank Smethurst “Rasta”.
Concurrently with “Jacks or Better” was a “Guide’s Challenge,” consisting of casting and other fly-fishing activities.
Overall winner was Jim Klug, Bozeman, Mont., a scant nine points in front of John Ryzanych, of Castro Valley, Calif. Who locked up second place with a first place win in both the Fly Design and Accuracy casting events, Klug won $1,000; Ryzanych received a pair of Kaenon Eye Wear polarized glasses and assorted clothing.
The 2005 Jacks or Better tournament has been set for Oct. 4-8.
Water Temperature 80-83
Air Temperature 79-86
Humidity 74%
Wind NNE 2 mph
Conditions: Chance of Rain
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 7:39 a.m. CDT
Sunset 7:22 p.m. CDT
Oct. 20, First Quarter; Oct. 27, Full; Nov. 4, Last Quarter; Nov. 12, New
Baja on the Fly's Zihuatanejo report by Ed Kunze
SAN JOSE, GUATEMALA
As the 2004-’05 season begin, a few clients are beginning to trickle in and the sailfish are waiting along with a few marlin here and there. A report of a few roosters with big shoulders cruising the back side of the beach break brings up another intriguing possibility.
Water Temperature 75-82
Air Temperature 80-84
Humidity 94 %
Wind NNE 6 mph
Conditions: Chance of Rain
Visibility 7 miles
Sunrise 5:54 a.m. CST
Sunset 5:42 p.m. CST
Oct. 20, First Quarter; Oct. 27, Full; Nov. 4, Last Quarter; Nov. 12, New
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