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 Sat., Dec. 14, 2002 EAST CAPE, MAGDALENA BAY AND ZIHUATANEJO CONDITIONS EAST CAPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO IN GENERAL: Could someone please turn off the fan! North winds continue to plague the East Cape. Early- to mid-morning is fishable, but the rest of the day belongs to the wind surfers. Those that do brave the elements are finding decent dorado fishing up toward Punta Pescadero. If you're thinking of getting away from it all for the Holidays, all the hotels have openings for Christmas week, New Year's Eve and the season from here on. Join us by going out at first light on New Year's Day to try to nail the first rooster or ladyfish of the year from the beach in front of our house. AIR & SEA - Water temperature mid- to high-70s Air temperature 66°-79° Humidity about 51% Wind 12 - 15 knots our of the North Conditions Scattered Clouds (SCT) : 3,000 ft Sunrise 6:50 AM MST Sunset 5:38 PM MST Full Dec. 19 Dec. 26 Last Quarter Jan. 2 New First Quarter Jan. 10 · OFFSHORE: Pretty slim. · INSHORE: Early morning so-so, and by mid-morning it is over. · BEACH: Early morning the wind is not yet going, but the left-over wind waves make fishing tough. BILLFISH - Few and far between. YELLOWFIN TUNA - Supposedly a few down south, but be prepared to get beat up coming home. DORADO - Just keep casting and stripping around the shark buoys in front of Punta Pescadero. ROOSTERFISH - Still there, but tough to spot. JACK CREVALLE - Some smaller ones along the shore BARRILETE OR MEXICAN SKIPJACK - Much closer than the tuna and a lot easier ride home. PARGO AND CABRILLA - Try the rocky outcroppings down by Punta Colorada SIERRA - Tie on some wire tippet material and a Baja Deep Diver and try out in front of La Ribera MAGDALENA BAY, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO Sat., Dec. 14, 2002 IN GENERAL: I am back in California and the 2002 Flyrod Marlin 101 Series is history. The weather was about the best we have ever had with calm seas and light breezes until Wed. (12/11), final day. Plenty of dorado, wahoo and yellowfin tuna, but the marlin fishing was slow at best with only one or two a day showing during the first five days. Finally, on the last afternoon, we found enough to make the trip interesting with 10 events in rapid succession beginning at noon. Feeders and tailers contributed to the excitement. We had six shots, four takes and hooked two. We all hated to begin the slide back to the anchorage and ended up not getting back until well after dark. Inside Magdalena Bay, the fishing continued to produce good catches of corvina, grouper and a few snook. We will be taking our first Magdalena Bay mangrove trip of 2003, Jan. 3-7. There's still time if you want to join me for a shot at the snook and other critters, or just the opportunity to see the incredible Mag Bay mangroves, call Yvonne at 800 919 2252 or visit http://www.bajafly.com/magjantrip.htm Water Temperature low- to mid-70s Air Temperature 60°-75° Humidity 88% Wind Calm Conditions Scattered clouds Sunrise 7:02 AM MST Sunset 5:42 PM MST Full Dec. 19 Dec. 26 Last Quarter Jan. 2 New First Quarter Jan. 10 YELLOWTAIL - A few around the entrada, but not biting very well. CORVINA - Very consistent throughout the bay. Use a chartreuse Clouser on almost any sandy bottom. SNOOK - Several fish in the 10 pound class up to the north end of the bay. HALIBUT - Sand beach straight across from Puerto San Carlos to the west is holding a few to 10 pounds. SIERRA - Look for the bird schools in the bay. ZIHUATANEJO, MAINLAND MEXICO Sat., Dec. 14, 2002 IN GENERAL: The 82º blue water still remains only about a mile off the beach. Most charters are targeting sailfish and are getting an average of two or three per day. The 20- to 25-pound dorado are being taken at a rate of one or two per boat and are being caught as incidental catches while trolling for the sails. Captain Arturo, on the panga Janeth, targeted the dorado one day, getting six for his clients. There are a lot of the smaller yellowfin tuna in the 15- to 30-pound range, but very few boats are traveling the 25 miles to find them. The water temperature is cooling down a little and this should bring in the big tuna and blue marlin. Water Temperature 82º Air Temperature 68°-88º Humidity 83% Wind calm Conditions Mostly Cloudy Sunrise 7:01 AM CST Sunset 6:13 PM CST Full Dec. 19 Dec. 26 Last Quarter Jan. 2 New First Quarter Jan 10 For more Information on Baja on the Fly’s Zihuatanejo trips, go to: http://www.bajafly.com/Zihuatanejo.htm -- Zihuatanejo Report by Baja on the Fly's Ed Kunze