REPORT FROM GARY GRAHAM'S BAJA ON THE FLY: PROVIDING QUALITY SALTWATER FLY-FISHING 365 DAYS A YEAR IN BAJA Sat., Sept. 21, 2002 EAST CAPE AND MAGDALENA BAY FISHING CONDITIONS EAST CAPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO IN GENERAL: Tuna! Tuna! Tuna! Take your pick, football- to VW-size seem to Be everywhere. Finally, the tuna have arrived in big numbers and it isn't a two-hour ride to get to them. They aren't biting full speed yet, but enough to make it very interesting. One local reported that he was trolling a spreader bar with rubber squids and a huge tuna inhaled the whole thing and just kept going. If they are that big it should be pretty easy to sight cast to one. AIR & SEA - This morning the weather was a 10. Flat calm with a nice cooling breeze in the afternoon. You don't even need the air conditioner in the evening. Temperature 86° F / 77° F Humidity 74% Wind NNE at 3 mph Conditions Partly Cloudy (FEW): 4000 ft Sunrise 7:11 AM MDT Sunset 7:24 PM MDT Moon Phase Full Moon 21 Last Quarter 29 New Oct. 6 1st Quarter Oct. 13 Water Temps in the mid-80’s · OFFSHORE: While the tuna have everybody excited, the sailfish action is dominating the billfish scene with more sails than blues and stripes combined. · INSHORE: It all snapped right back after the unsettled conditions early in the week. A few dorado and the smaller tuna are everywhere. There is still a pretty good show for the bigger roosters. · BEACH: Find the sardina and don't leave them. Smaller jacks and roosters are putting on a show from Rancho Leonero to Punta Colorada. Early morning and late afternoon as the sun is setting is best. BILLFISH - Sailfish not wide open but good enough for dedicated fly-rodder that has his heart set on a sailfish on the fly. YELLOWFIN TUNA - You fly-rodders better be careful what you wish for. Sight cast to the wrong one and your four-piece rod may end up a six piece. DORADO - Sounds like the dorado are starting to move down the Sea of Cortez and I expect to see more schoolies showing up in the next few weeks. ROOSTERFISH - Smaller fish early morning and late afternoon. Enough bigger ones swimming along the seam midday to keep the sight casting guys happy. JACK CREVALLE - Plenty of smaller fish showing right now and every once and a while a larger toro shows up. BARRILETE OR MEXICAN SKIPJACK - Look for the schools feeding on the surface, then shut down up-wind and drift into the school. PARGO AND CABRILLA - Rocky points will be your best shot. SIERRA - A few here and there. Catch of the Week Photo: http://www.bajafly.com/weeklycatch.htm MAGDALENA BAY, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO Sat., Sept. 21, 2002 IN GENERAL: Iselle came rolling up the West Coast and brought with it some high seas and 40 knots of wind. Private boaters and the tuna seiners were all hiding out in any protected anchorage they could find. By yesterday (9/20) afternoon, the winds had dissipated and everyone was getting ready to head back out this morning. Temperature 85° F - 72° F Humidity 91% Wind Calm Visibility Clear Conditions Clear Sunrise 7:19 AM MDT Sunset 7:32 PM MDT Moon Phases Full Moon 21 Last Quarter 29 New Oct. 6 1st Quarter Oct. 13 Water Temperature 67 - 78 YELLOWTAIL - Most of the fish are hanging close to the bottom. CORVINA - The West Side of the bridge was pretty good this week. SNOOK - With the poor weather it was slim pickings most of the week. HALIBUT - Most of the fish are less than five pounds SIERRA - Under the bird schools near Punta Belcher the best bet. The private boats anchored there waiting out the storm were catching a few. Catch of the Week Photo: http://www.bajafly.com/weeklycatchmagbay.htm