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., Aug. 10, 2002 EAST CAPE AND MAGDALENA BAY FISHING CONDITIONS EAST CAPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO IN GENERAL: This has been one of our better periods and there doesn’t appear to be anything on the horizon to cool it off. Van Rollo and John Barr, Boulder, Colo., have had non-stop action for the past three days. Fishing close to the beach from a panga, they enjoyed a solid five hours casting to boiling roosters, jacks, sierra and assorted other species on their first day, both catching plenty. John’s comment was that he felt like he had caught over 50 fish. I don't think it was quite that many, but it was a great day. Second day, same action in the morning and then out a few miles in front of the hotel they had five dorado for nine casts. Five for nine means they were batting over .500! On Fri. (8/9) we hotfooted back to the dorado hot spot. It was a “long run.” I think it took five minutes to go about two miles. By the time the scales settled for the day, they had eight dorado up 40 pounds. AIR & SEA - After the rain squall on Tues., everything snapped right back to normal with the bonus of plenty of debris washed out of the arroyos that provided cover for the dorado. Hi 93° Lo 78° Wind: Flat calm until Fri. and then some mild breezes Humidity: 63% Dewpoint: 69° Visibility: 15 Water Temps 77 - 85 . OFFSHORE: This is the week of the Bisbee tournament, so there’s lots of focus on billfish with poor results. Only a few blues, more sails and a few stripes. There were some porpoise schools found that produced tuna to 40 pounds. I did hear of one dorado that weighed 56 pounds. . INSHORE: Punta Colorada was the hot spots this week producing plenty of roosterfish, jack and pompano action tight to shore. The dorado have been only a few miles out in front of Rancho Deluxe. . BEACH: Our focus has been from a boat all week, but judging from the action we had a few yards off the beach I suspect it would be good. There are still the ladyfish, small jacks and roosters on the beach from Buenavista Beach Resort to Rancho Leonero. BILLFISH - Blues and stripers with a few sailfish mixed in. YELLOWFIN TUNA - There were at least three schools of porpoise yesterday holding fish to 40 pounds. DORADO - The trash line several miles offshore is producing some excellent catches. ROOSTERFISH - Take your pick: inshore or beach. JACK CREVALLE - Plenty of small ones with a few 20-pounders mixed in. BARRILETE OR MEXICAN SKIPJACK - Not too many skipjack and only an occasional bonito. PARGO AND CABRILLA - The reefs near Punta Colorada are producing good catches of fish. SIERRA - A couple caught at Punta Colorada. Catch of the Week Photo: http://www.bajafly.com/weeklycatch.htm MAGDALENA BAY, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO Sat., Aug. 10, 2002 IN GENERAL: Enrique Soto reported good action in several areas inside the bay that included snook, leopard grouper, corvina, pompano, and spotted bay bass. The good news was the bite was spread out and not just in one spot. Maybe things are beginning to turn on. On the outside on a 210 heading 23 to 28 miles out there have been reports of dorado and the first of the marlin are moving into the area. AIR & SEA: Sunny and hot with light afternoon breezes. Air Temperature 69 - 82 Water Temperature 69 - 82 YELLOWTAIL - Everything is down deep so use Baja Deep Diver and 300 grain shooting head. CORVINA - A fast two handed retrieve with small Clousers yielding good results. SNOOK - Look for the deep holes along the main channels and fish deep in the water column. HALIBUT - Plenty of smaller ones near the sandy beach across from San Carlos. Try a slowly retrieved chartreuse Clouser. SIERRA - A few inside Santa Margarita Island. Catch of the Week Photo: http://www.bajafly.com/weeklycatchmagbay.htm
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