REPORT FROM GARY GRAHAM'S BAJA ON THE FLY: PROVIDING QUALITY SALTWATER FLY-FISHING 365 DAYS A YEAR IN BAJA FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: [email protected]; USA toll-free (800) 919-2252; Mexico 011-52-614-14-10373 Wed., Oct. 23, 2002 EAST CAPE, MAGDALENA BAY AND ZIHUATANEJO CONDITIONS EAST CAPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO IN GENERAL: Fishing this week has been fair to good. The inshore continues to provide the better options for the fly-fisher with an abundance of species to shoot for including roosters, jacks, skipjack and ladyfish. Michael Cobb, visiting from Spain, finished up a successful trip with a nice 40-pound rooster on his last day. AIR & SEA – Different. We had a little rain the past several afternoons – not a lot, but enough to get the cars dirty. Some wind in afternoon, but flat calm in the morning. Temperature 88° F / 72° F Humidity 89% Wind calm Conditions clear Sunrise 7:18 AM MDT Sunset 6:50 PM MDT Full Oct 29 Last Quarter Nov 4 New Nov 11 First Quarter Full Nov 19 Water Temps in the mid-80's offshore. · OFFSHORE: Sailfish still are dominating the billfish scene with tuna being the other option a lot further out. Dorado have been scarce the past week. · INSHORE: Still the crowd-pleaser for our groups with ladyfish, roosters, some big skipjack (15-pounds or so) providing excellent action. · BEACH: Ladyfish - the poor man's tarpon - are putting on a great show all the way from Buena Vista Beach Resort to Rancho Leonero. Roosters are still cruising the surf line (probably looking for a ladyfish appetizer), with some classified as a genuine Bubba. Look for diving birds and you'll probably find jacks working the bait buffet. BILLFISH - Sailfish best, others just so-so. YELLOWFIN TUNA - Same report different day. They are a long way off and it can be a hit or miss deal for the flyrodder . DORADO - Mostly singles which are not great for the flyrod. If it is flat, you may find a few swimming along the surface. Throw a little chum and sometimes they will get excited enough to take a well-presented fly. ROOSTERFISH - Lots of smaller fish and some big guys if you have the patience to wait until they show. JACK CREVALLE - Mostly smaller ones, but even a small one will remind you why they're called Toro. BARRILETE OR MEXICAN SKIPJACK - The larger variety showed up this week. PARGO AND CABRILLA - Still some of the smaller ones around structure at Punta Colorada and Punta Ignacio. SIERRA - Still among the missing or they are the mystery bite that takes your fly. MAGDALENA BAY, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO Wed., Oct. 23, 2002 IN GENERAL: Our "go-around" trip, bringing an offshore cruiser from La Paz all the way down the Sea of Cortez to Cabo San Lucas, then turning right and coming up the Pacific side to Magdalena Bay in preparation for our annual Marlin 101 series beginning next Fri., is history. It was a great adventure. The group from Montana got to see a lot of Baja from a new perspective. We anchored each night at a different anchorage and fished into the night and then all day as we made our way to Magdalena Bay. They caught everything from marlin to trumpet fish – more than 20 different species by my count. Then, to top it off, they had the opportunity to snorkel and photograph a couple of dorado we brought to the boat. All-in-all it was a memorable experience for all of us. Now on to the important stuff. With many rumors indicating everything from wide open to terrible fishing off of Magdalena, I was anxious to see what the conditions were for myself. What I found was fishing that lives up to the Magdalena Bay reputation. We arrived at our first spot below Tosca at 11:30 and by 2:30 had caught a dozen dorado, three wahoo and had two marlin strikes. Continuing up the line toward the entrada, we found our first bird flock with large schools of sardines being chased by marlin and tuna in less than a half-hour. Later, on the way in, I spoke with Punky Langston, a fellow Tuna Club Member who was taking his boat the Double Hookup home from La Paz. He hooked 12 marlin and landed seven in an entirely different area than we had been fishing. Suffice to say I imagine this may be one of those Mag Bay years that has made it famous. Water Temperature 72 - 79 Temperature 81° F - 62 °F Humidity 83% Wind calm with some wind in the afternoon Conditions Scattered Clouds Sunrise 7:28 AM MDT Sunset 6:56 PM MDT Oct 21 Full Oct 29 Last Quarter Nov 4 New Nov 11 First Quarter Full Nov 19 YELLOWTAIL - Saw a few boats fishing for them as we came in, but no hookups. CORVINA - Pretty much throughout the bay. SNOOK - Several of the smaller esteros including Mario's Spot and Los Barriles produced a few smaller ones and one 20-pound toad. HALIBUT - Sandy beaches always the best. SIERRA - We couldn't find any at Belchers or anywhere else as we traveled up to San Carlos. ZIHUATANEJO, MAINLAND MEXICO REPORT BY BAJA ON THE FLY'S ED KUNZE Wed., October 23, 2002 Water Temperature 72 - 79 Temperature 90° F - 77 °F Humidity 83% Wind calm with some wind in the afternoon Conditions Scattered Clouds (SCT) : 8000 ft Overcast (OVC) : 25000 ft Sunrise 6:40 AM MDT Sunset 6:22 PM MDT Full Oct 29 Last Quarter Nov 4 New Nov 11 First Quarter Full Nov 19 IN GENERAL: The full moon has slowed the fishing down a little, but the boats are still averaging two 20 to 25 pound dorado and a couple of sailfish. Capt. Calli on the Vamonos II got 4 dorado and 2 sailfish with Capt. Efrain on the sister boat Vamonos III got 2 dorado and 2 sailfish. Capt. Adolpho Lara on the Suerte Ruby not only got his two dorado and a sailfish for his clients, but also took a 544 pound blue marlin. Depending on the current in Nov., every other year can be outstanding for blue marlin, and with this large blue coming in the middle of Oct., it may be a great year. Captain Adolpho on the panga Dos Hermanos is booked every single day for roosterfish to Nov. 20. He reports he is doing very well and releasing several each day. For more Information on our Zihuatanejo trips, go to: http://www.bajafly.com/Zihuatanejo.htm