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., June 15, 2002 EAST CAPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO IN GENERAL: Bill Campbell and his wife Joey, visiting us from Reno, had a great week of panga fishing inshore. While Joey stuck to the more traditional method of using conventional tackle, Bill poised with flyrod in hand and every time Joey hooked a fish, he was ready to cast to the fish following hers. Using this method, they both managed to catch a large variety of species including large dorado, tuna, skipjack, jack crevalle, roosterfish and even a few pargo. This was Bill’s second trip this year and he is coming back with 12 of his closest friends in Oct. AIR & SEA - Had a little bit of local weather conditions that included more wind than we would like and some menacing clouds that went away by yesterday (6/14). Hi 88° Lo 73° Wind: Strong winds out of the North on Thurs. and then it switched around on Fri. to light breezes out of the East Humidity: 78% Visibility: 15 Water Temps 79-84 . OFFSHORE: The best billfish action seemed to be up to the north toward the 88 where there was a hard-edged temperature break for most of the week. Fishing along that edge produced multiples for many of the boats fishing there. There were also a good number of larger dorado mixed in as well. . INSHORE: Dorado, sailfish and wahoo all have moved in on the color line near Punta Arena stretching down to Los Barracas. While fishing the beach at Punta Arena yesterday (6/14) I could see a large dorado (read 45+ pounds) chasing bait a scant 50 feet outside of my casting range. The day before, we had seen a sailfish doing the same thing in the same area. BEACH: While there is a lack of sardina to be found anywhere along the beach, the action has held up remarkably well. Small-to-20 pound fish can be found along the beaches on both sides of Rancho Leonero. The cut at La Ribera is holding small roosters, jacks and even a few halibut. Out at Punta Arena, the home of the big roosters, action slowed down a tad this week with fewer shots at the big boys. BILLFISH - Well, the blues have arrived bringing their lightweight cousins the sailfish with them. This should be a great summer for the billfish enthusiasts. YELLOWFIN TUNA - Nowhere near the catches we would normally have this time of year. A few footballs mixed in with the skipjack, but it’s a crapshoot. DORADO - Yeah, bring him, mostly big one with big shoulders traveling in small packs. ROOSTERFISH - I can safely say there have been more roosters caught from the beach on fly this year than ever before. JACK CREVALLE - Best consistent action out at the scallops at Punta Arena. Use larger flies and a 10-weight to throw large flies to them. Fish the drop-offs. BARRILETE OR MEXICAN SKIPJACK - Pretty much everywhere a few miles offshore, I could even see large schools from the beach near the lighthouse yesterday. PARGO AND CABRILLA - Reef in front of Rancho Leonero is the best bet. SIERRA - Bait receiver at Punta Colorado is where I would look or the receiver in front of Palmas de Cortez. Catch of the Week Photo: http://www.bajafly.com/weeklycatch.htm MAGDALENA BAY, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO Sat., June 15, 2002 IN GENERAL: Thump, grumble, growl . . . like a sleeping giant, we are starting to hear rumblings that Magdalena Bay may be springing to life. A rumor here, a good catch there make me believe that things are beginning to stir. So, I think a trip to Puerto San Carlos is in order next week to find out for myself. Larry Kenny, Abenaki Publishers (Saltwater Fly Fishing and American Angler magazines), and maybe my friend Don Sloan will join me in a quick trip late next week to see what’s up. AIR & SEA: Still cooler than normal with the wind still being a factor. Air Temperature 60 - 72 Water Temperature 60 - 66. YELLOWTAIL - Aha, they are there and coming to the surface on slack tide at the entrada. Nice sized fish to 20-pounds so the rumor goes. CORVINA - They are back and biting. SNOOK - With the warmer water showing up get ready. Almejas Bay is my bet. HALIBUT – Sure, but I didn't come all this way to catch small halibut. SIERRA – Let’s focus on the yellowtail. Catch of the Week Photo: http://www.bajafly.com/weeklycatchmagbay.htm