REPORT #1169 "Below the Border" Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
East Cape
Angler's name is Ellie Crocker, fishing aboard the Santi I with Captain Victor Saizar. They also caught 5 snappers that day. Ellie is a Phys Ed teacher at Lanier Middle School in Houston TX. She is visiting her brother-in-law Capt George Landrum. The next day they caught 3 more snook in the 20-30 lb range. The 3rd day she reeled in 8 roosterfish of various sizes.
Marlin are fickle and not too interested in lures or ballyhoo or anything else. But a few reports have come in with 120 to140 pound fish being caught and released. Those caught have been around 25 to 35 pounds. A few sailfish were reported and there are reports of an occasional tuna south in the Frailes area. The dorado are scattered but are being found under floating objects. Those caught have been around 25 to 35 pounds.
Much larger roosters are spread out throughout Palmas Bay, with the Frailes area producing the really big fish. Anglers have released at least a dozen over 50 pounds. Live mullet is the best bait for the larger fish. Lots of jacks, mixed with pompano and pargo, are making for stellar inshore fishing. One huge dog-toothed snapper (about 60+ pounds) was caught recently.
Lance Peterson reported: “The beach game is always a challenge. No boat, no chum, just sight casting and a teaser man, if you're lucky enough to have one. Even when it's "game on" it's super physical…running, casting, and plowing through the deep sand to find the next shot. There has been a ton of bait and a good amount of gamers along the beach. Roosters and jacks a plenty. If you're able to get on the bite the action has been amazing and the fish have been anywhere from 5 pounds to way over 40 pounds. Good stuff for sure.”
“There has also been a tremendous number of jack crevalle in the high teens to twenty pounds.”
Water temperature 72-82
Air temperature 65-98
Humidity 72%
Wind: ENE 3 to 4 knots
Conditions: Partly Sunny
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 6:31 a.m. MST
Sunset 8:03 p.m. MST
Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico
The Esteros have been producing good catches of small grouper, halibut and cabrilla. The Estero at Santa Maria Bay had consistent action for corvina and small halibut in the channel at the entrance.
Outside at the shark buoys there are dorado to 25 pounds and tonnage of football sized yellowfin.
Bob Hoyt
Water temperature 69 - 77
Air temperature 66 -97
Humidity 81 %
Wind: WNW 16 to 22 knots
Conditions: Mostly Sunny
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 6:36 a.m. MST
Sunset 8:14 p.m. MST
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
Offshore fishing was very slow here this last week. Our 26th Annual Sailfish/Marlin/Dorado tournament, which is normally held on the first weekend of May, was delayed to this last week due to the earlier flu scare.
However, even with the delay, 90 boats entered the 2 day tournament this last week, but only caught a total of 34 sailfish and 2 blue marlin, no dorado. With the full moon cycle coming up, I do not expect things to improve.
We are seeing a lot of red tide along the coast right now, stretching about 7 miles on either side of Zihuatanejo Bay. The other areas are not affected, having good clean water and very favorable conditions for jack crevalle and roosters.
In fact, the close by red tide has actually pushed the baitfish into the bay, with the jacks following. Some of the best fishing right now is inside Zihuatanejo Bay.
Ed Kunze
Water temperature 78 - 83
Air temperature 77-94
Humidity 59%
Wind: Calm
Conditions: Sunny
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 7:10 a.m. DST
Sunset 8:19 p.m. DST
Cabo San Lucas
Striped marlin by the dozens between the 95 spot and the 1150, but they were not interested in biting. Some boats were throwing baits every five minutes to fish, but rarely found one that was hungry. Now the numbers are diminishing. The depth sounders were showing squid with marlin around them; one theory was that the marlin were stuffing themselves with squid and were not in the mood to expend energy chasing lures or caballito and mackerel. Putting out artificial squid as lures brought more attention. The marlin are moving closer, and at this writing, they were pretty concentrated three to four miles off of the Cape.
Big news this week: the snook showed and were biting…how long will it last??
There are pargo in the rocks and live bait is still the way to go. You have to button down the drag on these guys or they will rock you. There have been some nice sized jacks in with them.
On the Cortez side, roosters from 5 to 35 pounds have begun to show. Live bait slow-trolled in 15 to 30 feet of water brought fish to the boat for pictures. There have been very few sierra caught and the yellowtail bite has slowed down.
George & Mary Landrum
Water temperature 75 – 78
Air temperature 70 – 93
Humidity 45%
Wind: WNW 16 to 21 knots
Conditions: Partly Sunny
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 6:33 a.m. MST
Sunset 8:02 p.m. MST
