Baja Mexico: Magdalena Bay, Baja Sur & East Cape.
Capt. Gary Graham
November 20, 2004
Baja Sur - Saltwater Fishing Report
Zihuatanejo Sailfish Close and Hungry
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 or 760/746-7260; Mexico 011-52-624-14-10373
Sat., Nov. 20, 2004. Report covers the period Sat.-Fri. (11/14-11/20)
EAST CAPE, MAGDALENA BAY, ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO; AND SAN JOSE, GUATEMALA CONDITIONS
EAST CAPE
IN GENERAL: When we returned from Magdalena Bay on Tuesday the North winds were still around. This weekend however, is beautiful and expected to stay that way through Tuesday. Still a few left over tuna and dorado offshore and inshore the skipjack, roosters and jacks seem to be the best bet. With the nice weather I would expect to see a few smiling faces in the bar tonight even though the season is pretty much over.
AIR & SEA –
Water temperature 75-80
Air temperature 71-77
Humidity about 51%
Wind: SSE 8 mph
Conditions: Scattered Clouds
Visibility 15 miles
Sunrise 6:36 a.m. MST
Sunset 5:32 p.m. MST
Nov. 26, Full; Dec. 4, Last Quarter; Dec. 11, New, Dec. 18, First Quarter;
+ OFFSHORE: Tuna and dorado best bet.
+ INSHORE: Get out early in case the wind blows.
+ BEACH: Sticks to La Ribera the best bet for jacks and a few roosters.
BILLFISH – Only a few stragglers.
YELLOWFIN TUNA – Porpoise and birds will be the best clue.
DORADO – Look under anything floating.
ROOSTERFISH\JACK CREVALLE – Plenty of small jacks and a few good sized roosters up and down the beach from Rancho Buena Vista to La Ribera.
BARRILETE OR MEXICAN SKIPJACK – Breezing schools in front of La Ribera.
PARGO AND CABRILLA – Rocky points and pinnacles in front of La Ribera best bet.
SIERRA – Bring wire or lots of flies!
MAGDALENA BAY, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
IN GENERAL: Jamie Pierre, Seattle, WA, along with his band of brothers headed over to Lopez Mateos to fish offshore with Mag Bay Outfitters using their 26-foot catamaran, “Mar Gato”, skippered by Ruben Duran and an offshore panga with local pangero, Sergio, they headed out the Boca to see what was shaking. Turned out to be a wide open Yellowfin bite only 12 miles off the beach. Limits all around for both days. Unfortunately, with the Pacific cooling off quickly, the dorado, wahoo and billfish seem to have headed further down the coast ending what many consider a lackluster season. In the Esteros up at Boca Santo Domingo on the last day the group found a few sierra, pargo, grouper and lost one large corvina.
On another subject, Don Juan, a 72’ Elliott owned by John Lyddon from Southern California was anchored just off the pier in town. This is the first time in a number of years that a Sportfishing yacht has managed to come in through the Boca. Bob Hoyt of Mag Bay Outfitters had provided a guide to lead them in.
I met Don Juan’s Captain, Billy Callinan, while I was there last week and he told me about the wide open pompano bite at Santo Domingo. With the Don Juan backed up to the mangroves they landed three pompanos up to thirty-two pounds. The last time I can remember hearing stories like this was when the legendary Captain Gene Grimes use to make forays up into the mangroves with the 90’ Legend.
Water Temperature 69-75
Air Temperature 68-73
Humidity 100%
Wind WSW 11 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 3 miles
Sunrise 6:37 a.m. MST
Sunset 5:37 p.m. MST
Nov. 26, Full; Dec. 4, Last Quarter; Dec. 11, New, Dec. 18, First Quarter;
YELLOWTAIL – Entrada holding mostly smaller fish.
CORVINA – Even these guys have been tough to come by this week.
SNOOK – Not one snook bite for the entire week.
HALIBUT – Very good if you’re interested.
SIERRA – Plenty of very small ones.
ZIHUATANEJO, MAINLAND MEXICO
IN GENERAL: Ed Kunze reported in by telephone this morning since his computer crashed. Here is his abbreviated report; as predicted, this week produced some excellent sailfish opportunities and the good news is they are very close to the beach. Only a short two miles and you are in the thick of things. Boats are averaging half-dozen shots a day.
Water Temperature 80-83
Air Temperature 77-87
Humidity 66%
Wind WSW 6 mph
Conditions: Scattered Clouds
Visibility 6 miles
Sunrise 6:59 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:09 p.m. CST
Nov. 26, Full; Dec. 4, Last Quarter; Dec. 11, New, Dec. 18, First Quarter;
Baja on the Fly's Zihuatanejo report by Ed Kunze
SAN JOSE, GUATEMALA
IN GENERAL: With the weather beginning to settle down this week we are looking forward to an increase in the sailfish action offshore. Be sure to pick up the December issue of Pacific Coast Sportfishing for an in-depth feature “Vela! Vela! Vela!” by Ray Rychnovsky on Guatemala fishing that talks about the double digit days in the World’s best sailfish hole. If you want to get up to speed on teasing techniques, check Gary’s column, “How to be a Tease”, in the same issue.
Water Temperature 78-82
Air Temperature 80-84
Humidity 62 %
Wind Calm
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 7 miles
Sunrise 6:05 a.m. CST
Sunset 5:32 p.m. CST
Nov. 26, Full; Dec. 4, Last Quarter; Dec. 11, New, Dec. 18, First Quarter;
San Jose, Guatemala report by Brian Barragy and Lissa McFarland
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