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., Aug. 14, 2002 EAST CAPE AND MAGDALENA BAY FISHING CONDITIONS EAST CAPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO IN GENERAL: Van Rollo and John Barr, Boulder, Colo., continued to have an excellent trip. Sat. through Mon. (8/9-9/12) they spanked the dorado, racking up an impressive count of 42 only a few miles off the beach. When that slowed down, we went back inside and they caught 18 roosters in one morning on small See Thorough Deceivers. Still not ready to give up, they fished structures for critters and caught pargo, cabrilla, grouper, rockfish and a gazillion needlefish. Then it was back outside for a shot at skipjack and then an estimated 140-pound striped marlin caught and released. Overall, the six days was a roaring success with 20 species; and while we didn't keep score of everything, here are some of the numbers: 42 dorado, more than 40 roosters, double digit jack crevalle, one striped marlin, skipjack, bonito, golden jack, and sierra. Other critters include pargo, cabrilla, grouper, rockfish and a gazillion needlefish. AIR & SEA - Perfect weather with light breezes in the p.m., unseasonably cool evenings. Hi 92° Lo 79° Wind: Mild breezes in the p.m. Humidity: 63% Dewpoint: 69° Visibility: 15 Water Temps 79 - 85 . OFFSHORE: Billfish still the main staple with a few quality dorado and even fewer tuna. . INSHORE: It’s a better bet right now. Frankly, it’s flat “going off.” . BEACH: We have been using pangas for the week, but I can tell you from first hand observation that La Ribera or Punta Colorada are the places to be at gray light. La Ribera has roosters and ladyfish while Punta Colorada has sierra, roosters and lots of jacks – both crevalle and green that will gobble a small, sparse, olive over white See Through Deceiver in a heartbeat. BILLFISH - Blues and stripers with a few sailfish mixed in. Actually quite a few sails up toward Punta Perico. YELLOWFIN TUNA - Just not happening like it should. DORADO - The trash line several miles offshore disappeared and it is tough to find the groups again. ROOSTERFISH - Take your pick: inshore or beach. JACK CREVALLE - Plenty of small ones with a few 20-pounders mixed in. Saw a few in the twenties near Punta Colorada that didn't want to bite. I take that back – one nice one bit a Flash Fly and put on a blistering run of 150 yards before the tippet parted (another way of saying the leader broke.) BARRILETE OR MEXICAN SKIPJACK - Pretty scarce this week for some reason. PARGO AND CABRILLA - Rock structure holding a wide variety of critters. SIERRA - We had a double at Punta Colorada. Catch of the Week Photo: http://www.bajafly.com/weeklycatch.htm MAGDALENA BAY, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO Wed., Aug. 14, 2002 IN GENERAL: Wow! Three good reports in a row. Out in the Pacific, the stripers, dorado and tuna are beginning to put on a good show and according to Brian Freitag, of Mag Bay Tours, the white seabass are biting out in front of Santa Maria Bay. Back in the esteros, Enrique Soto reports a continued up-tick in the fishing for all species in a number of different spots. One of the better ones is Devil’s Curve with some better quality snook in the mid-teens being caught on Baja Deep Divers in chartreuse. AIR & SEA: Sunny and hot with light afternoon breezes. Air Temperature 70 - 80 Water Temperature 69 - 82 YELLOWTAIL - You are going to get down in the water column so use a Baja Deep Diver and 300 grain shooting head. CORVINA - Not very big but aggressive on a Clouser either chartreuse or olive. SNOOK - Look for the deep holes along the main channels and fish the edges, letting your fly sweep out into the channel. HALIBUT - Too much other stuff going on, but there are plenty of smaller ones near the sandy beach across from San Carlos. Try a slowly retrieved chartreuse Clouser. SIERRA - Pretty slim pickings. Catch of the Week Photo: http://www.bajafly.com/weeklycatchmagbay.htm