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 - Wed., April 24, 2002 EAST CAPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO IN GENERAL: Ray Cannon called it a fish pile up, Gene Kira talks about the seemingly overnight influx of gamefish that occurs in the spring. While about a month earlier than usual, I think I can safely say this is it! Boats are racing back to shore with so many blue marlin flags fluttering from their outriggers that I am sure it is costing them several knots of speed. A decent dorado bite continues and inshore is still going off like a firecracker. If the overcast, cooler and windy conditions would back off, everything would be perfect. As always, just when you need them the most, the sardinia seemed to have disappeared and the bait concessions have little to sell. AIR & SEA: If you had looked at the satellite weather map this week you can barely see the Baja Peninsula for the clouds. Mostly Cloudy Hi 98° Lo 75° Wind: W /7 mph Humidity: 58% Dewpoint: 65° Visibility: 15 Water Temps 72-76 . OFFSHORE: Billfish are showing up in the pattern in so many numbers they are driving the fly guys crazy. This is one of those times when a handful of shots for the day is not uncommon. . INSHORE: Lack of sardinia along the shore has slowed things down a tad. There are still some quality fish around. It’s just a little tougher to get shots without chum to keep them close. . BEACH: Still cold and windy, and without the schools of sardina it has become more of a blind casting game. BILLFISH - Full of squid, but still want to play. YELLOWFIN TUNA - Not yet. DORADO - A few schoolies, mostly larger fish traveling smaller groups. Good-sized ones coming up in the spread while trolling for marlin. ROOSTERFISH - It is an early morning deal, but larger fish hanging on the drop-off at Punta Arena. JACK CREVALLE - Remember the gear guy I told you about who caught the big jack on a dead squid? He emailed me the other day to get a copy of a photo I shot and said that the day after I saw him at Punta Arena he caught another one that was even bigger right in front of Punta Colorada. BARRILETE OR MEXICAN SKIPJACK - Improving in front of La Ribera. PARGO AND CABRILLA – The two Ranchos – Leonero and Buenavista – have reefs in front of them that continue to hold some quality fish. Rent one of their kayaks and give it a shot. SIERRA - Some larger variety out near the lighthouse. 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 Wed., April 24, 2002 IN GENERAL: Same story here: cooler, overcast and windy conditions keep even the most determined fly-fisher close to the beach. Heard a few rumors of yellowtail at the entrada, but nothing that I could confirm. Up near the Power Plant there were a few corvina and several smaller snook caught using a small chartreuse Clouser. I looked at the Satellite Sea Temps provide by Terrifin and it looks like we can expect the offshore to get active in the next month or so. There is a warm water current working its way up the west coast of Baja and is now up as far as Punta Tosca. I would not be surprised if the tuna and dorado made an appearance offshore soon. AIR & SEA: Still overcast, with windy conditions in the afternoon. Temperature 63° F / 17° C Humidity 81% Dewpoint 58° F / 14° C Wind Calm Pressure 29.94 in / 1014 hPa Conditions Overcast Visibility 3 miles / 5 kilometers YELLOWTAIL - Maybe a few down deep, but don't hold your breath. CORVINA - When things get slow, go check out the bridge at the entrance to Puerto San Carlos. SNOOK - Warmer water near Power Plant holding a few smaller fish. HALIBUT - Find a sand beach and give it a go. SIERRA - A few around the commercial pier. Catch of the Week Photo: http://www.bajafly.com/weeklycatchmagbay.htm