Skipjack charge beach
Capt. Gary Graham
March 21, 2011
Baja Sur - Saltwater Fishing Report
Endless Season Update March 20, 2011
REPORT #1249 "Below the Border"
Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
East Cape
Lance Peterson found some black skipjack along the beaches within casting range of his flyrod allowing him to catch a few. He even sent photos to prove it!
A recent report that the gillnetters are back and raping the East Cape beaches again with their deadly net fences. Along with a promise of photos to follow is disappointing. No promises, but if you see them in your front yard send your photos. (Be sure to make sure any numbers on the panga are visible)
Several of the hotels are reporting that the striped marlin are moving up from the south, while anglers are spotting lots of tailers from Las Arenas south, but so far, these stripers have been picky biters.
Yellowtail from 20 to 50 pounds remain the most consistent bite, from in front of the hotels south to Las Arenas in around 200 feet of water. Averaging two or three per boat per day, with some boats taking as many as ten, better than half the fish are taken on jigged iron, the rest on big live sardina.
The larger variety of dorado, to 40 pounds, are being found in warmer water, ten to twenty miles outside, due east. Unusually warm water around 78 degrees is holding some nice fish.
Inshore has been producing big pompano to ten pounds and good sized pargo have been taking live sardina at Punta Arena. The roosterfish are around in good numbers and already being seen feeding on the schools of sardina.
Current East Cape Weather http://tiny.cc/EastCapeWeather303
Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico
As whale watching season winds down attention returns fishing both in the Esteros and outside the bay. Water temps remain lower than usual. However there are some nice sized yellows and white seabass to be found weather permitting.
Still little to report inside the bay with few, if any fishing recently.
Current Magdalena Bay Weather http://tiny.cc/MagBayWeather150
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
The blue water is still way out beyond the 50 mile mark, but at least clean water has moved into about the 18 mile areas. Offshore fishing still remains slow, and will probably stay this way for a few more weeks. The boats are averaging less than a sailfish or striped marlin a day each.
Mike Bulkley, with Captain Francisco of the super panga Huntress, had this to say when they fished on Tuesday: We ran one trip offshore and managed to get 4 Dorado under a floating weed pile. No other strikes. We came back inshore and caught Bonita about a mile off the beach. The blue water is about 18-20 miles out and not really blue, more clean than green. Saw one sail free jumping on the 12 mile line in green water. The next day Francisco went back to the same spot at 22 miles and a 240º heading and released 3 sailfish.
Again, about the only high note has been the inshore action. It has been excellent for sierras, jack crevalle, and even quite a few pompano…Ed Kunze
Current Zihuatanejo Weather http://tiny.cc/zihuatanejo582
Cabo San Lucas
The only area with any consistent marlin action was outside the 1150 to the Seamount and along the 1,000 fathom curve, where most boats found a few fish. The best catch reported was four releases for five baited fish. A few boats were able to find a marlin closer inshore just off the beach on the Cortez side. There hasn't been much bait around except for squid offshore, which may be what caused the slow fishing.
Some porpoise pods were found traveling with small yellowfin tuna… the best concentration just to the south of the San Jaime and 30 miles to the south of the Cape. The first boats on the scene did well and limits were possible in the right school. Even boats not lucky enough to be the first one there were still able to scratch out enough fish to keep the anglers happy.
There were a few dorado caught by boats headed offshore for striped marlin in the warmer water, a couple weighed at least 30 pounds, but most were in the 15-pound class.
Inshore is producing the best catches. Sierra from four to seven pounds is biting well with sardina being the key to good results. Most of the action is occurring on the Cortez side of the Cape up around the Cabo Real beach. On the Pacific side past the lighthouse there's been some nice yellowtail to 35 pounds, but you have to work to find the fish as they were following the small bait balls in 150 to 200 feet of water. A good trip results in five or so of these tough fighters. There were also snapper and grouper to liven things up…George and Mary Landrum
Current Cabo Weather http://tiny.cc/cabo191
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