EAST CAPE AND MAGDALENA BAY FISHING CONDITIONS REPORT FROM GARY GRAHAM'S BAJA ON THE FLY: PROVIDING QUALITY SALTWATER FLY-FISHING 365 DAYS A YEAR IN BAJA - THE ONLY ORVIS EXPEDITION COMPANY IN BAJA - Sat., April 20, 2002 EAST CAPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO IN GENERAL: The stage is set, everyone is in their places and as soon as the clouds go away and the water temperatures come up a few degrees, the curtain can be brought up on what may be one of the best springs in recent years. As more and more hungry gamefish come into the area they will find a large selection of bait to satisfy their appetites. The number of billfish being seen grows every day and as soon as the dorado school up, the action should be brisk. Speaking of brisk, Cole Ginter, from Sparks, Nev., on his first day offshore chasing striped marlin, brought an estimated 150-pounder to the boat in just over an hour with his trusty 12-weight. I think we made it too easy for him and now he expects one every day! His buddy, Clark Knauss, also from Sparks, spent the rest of the trip tying to duplicate Cole’s feat. I would like to thank International Gamefish Association (IGFA) for renewing my appointment as their Representative for Baja for another two years. AIR & SEA: I’ve never seen this many clouds in Baja. With the clouds comes cooler temperatures and like I keep saying, “I don’t do cold.” Sunny Hi 92° Lo 69° Wind: VA/0 mph Humidity: 78% Dewpoint: 61° Visibility: 10 Water Temps 69-72 . OFFSHORE: Plenty of billfish and dorado in the area. The billfish are plugged with squid and not very aggressive on artificial lures. Most of the dorado are singles found trolling and it is just a matter of time before they begin to school up. . INSHORE: Pargo and sierra are still hanging on the reef in front of Rancho Leonero. At La Ribera, the sardina disappeared and so did the roosters and jacks. Further down toward Punta Colarada the small jacks and roosters were found chasing sardina. If you get to Punta Arena early you will be rewarded with good fishing for some quality roosters and sierra. But you have to get there early or you’ll miss it for sure. . BEACH: Cold and windy says it all. As soon as the sun comes out and the wind backs off it will snap back. BILLFISH – Tough but plenty of shots. YELLOWFIN TUNA – Nope. DORADO – No schoolies, but some singles here and there. ROOSTERFISH – Check out the bigger guys early at Punta Arena near the lighthouse. JACK CREVALLE – A few cruisers in the seam between Punta Colorada to the Lighthouse. BARRILETE OR MEXICAN SKIPJACK – So-so. PARGO AND CABRILLA – Rancho Leonero producing the best action in the morning around the bait guy. SIERRA - Everywhere. The larger ones are out at Punta Arena early morning. Use clear or opaque wire bite tippet, not the black variety. Catch of the Week Photo: http://www.bajafly.com/weeklycatch.htm MAGDALENA BAY, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO Sat., April 20, 2002 IN GENERAL: Explore, explore and then explore some more. Right now the best game plan is to pick an estero (estuary) and spend some time exploring it at low tide so that you know where the deeper holes are. Then go back to those holes and fish on either an incoming or outgoing tide. Fish them like you were fishing for steelhead, using the current to sweep your fly out toward the center of the channel. When you get bit, hold on tight and let the current help hold the fish mid-channel so you have a chance to land the bigger ones. AIR & SEA: Still overcast, with windy conditions in the afternoon. YELLOWTAIL – Scarce, hit or miss for a few down deep at the entrada. CORVINA – When things get slow, go check out the bridge at the entrance to Puerto San Carlos. SNOOK – Check out Devil’s Curve. HALIBUT - Sandy beaches with a chartreuse Clouser are a good bet. I know this sounds redundant, but that’s where they are. SIERRA - A few around the commercial pier. Catch of the Week Photo: http://www.bajafly.com/weeklycatchmagbay.htm