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., May 08, 2002 EAST CAPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO IN GENERAL: Last week we suggested hanging strings of garlic around our necks to ward off the evil winds. Well, somebody must have done it. And it worked. This week has been the best weather so far and the fishing is right behind it. While not wide open, there have been good catches offshore and inshore. Surprisingly, the beach has been the least productive, though there is more and more mullet appearing along the beaches from Los Barriles to Punta Arena. One notable catch was by our friend Brian O’Keefe, here for a Scott Rod sales conference. He managed to sneak away one afternoon to Punta Arena near the lighthouse and using a trusty bonefish pattern landed one of the better catches of roosterfish in recent memory. A 40-pound rooster from the beach is a goal for all of us to shoot for. AIR & SEA: Cool mornings and warm days with some high clouds, only light breezes in the afternoon. Hazy Hi 92° Lo 62° Wind: N/25 mph Humidity: 51% Dewpoint: 61° Visibility: 15 Water Temps 75-79 . OFFSHORE: Back on track, not wide open, but pretty good. . INSHORE: Peter Sheppard, from South Hamilton, and William T. (Terry) Carpenter, of Essex, both in Mass., in three days of fishing racked up an impressive species list that included sierra, skipjack, grouper, ladyfish and roosterfish. Terry even had a premature release on a billfish that had him shaking his head just like the fish. . BEACH: Seeing plenty of roosters that just aren't quite ready to make a mistake. BILLFISH - Picked up again this week. YELLOWFIN TUNA - Oh well, you can't have everything. DORADO - Not many schoolies, but plenty of quality singles. ROOSTERFISH - La Ribera for the smaller guys and better quality out at the lighthouse JACK CREVALLE - No grandes this week. Mostly smaller fish in front of the hotels. BARRILETE OR MEXICAN SKIPJACK - Between Rancho Leonero and Buenavista Beach Hotel a couple of miles off the beach there are all you want. PARGO AND CABRILLA - I saw quite a few at Punta Ignaticio yesterday. SIERRA - A few, but it has definitely tapered off. 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., May 08, 2002 IN GENERAL: Weather has improved and so has the fishing. Snook, corvina and halibut dominated the catch this week. AIR & SEA: Clear skies with breezy conditions in the afternoon. Air Temperature 62 - 75 Water Temperature 60 - 68. YELLOWTAIL - None reported. CORVINA - Take your pick: the esteros, the bridge or Power Plant all are producing good catches. SNOOK - Devil's Curve produced a few to 10 pounds. HALIBUT - Sand beaches near Magdalena City was the most productive this week. SIERRA - Pretty slow this week. Catch of the Week Photo: http://www.bajafly.com/weeklycatchmagbay.htm