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., Dec. 18, 2002 EAST CAPE, MAGDALENA BAY AND ZIHUATANEJO CONDITIONS EAST CAPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO IN GENERAL: It never fails that all of our clients go home and the wind goes with them. I am beginning to see a pattern here. Flat, calm conditions that have prevailed since Sun. (12/15) provided an opportunity for a few to go in search of dorado off Punta Pescadero. They found some decent fishing with a few to 20-pounds. Back closer to shore, the roosters and jacks joined the sierra in their never-ending search for some sardina. Out in front of the house they found a few at gray light and it was non-stop action for a little while. 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 55°-82° Humidity about 51% Wind WNW at 5 mph Conditions Clear Sunrise 6:53 AM MST Sunset 5:40 PM MST Full Dec. 19 Dec. 26 Last Quarter Jan. 2 New First Quarter Jan. 10 · OFFSHORE: Dorado offer the best shot and maybe a billfish if you hold your mouth right. · INSHORE: Early mornings are dynamite, the rest of the day OK with sierra leading the way. · BEACH: Gray light and dusk the best bet. BILLFISH - Few here and there, but no concentration. YELLOWFIN TUNA - A few if you don't mind a long boat ride. DORADO - Find the right shark buoy and you will be smiling. ROOSTERFISH - They haven't left, but it takes some work to find them. JACK CREVALLE - Lots of green jacks and a few larger ones mixed in. 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 - Plenty around according to the tin boat fleet and that means plenty of ceviche is being served in the trailer parks. MAGDALENA BAY, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO Wed., Dec. 18, 2002 IN GENERAL: Reports are sketchy now, but it definitely sounds like the offshore is beginning to cool down . . . particularly for the marlin. It remains decent for dorado, wahoo and tuna as we slide down the backside of what was considered to be a pretty good season offshore. Inside Magdalena Bay, fishing has continued to heat up and we are expecting some great action on our trip early in Jan. Snook, grouper, pargo as well as corvina should keep us busy for the three days of fishing we have planned. 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 62°-71° Humidity 86% Wind Calm North at 4 mph Conditions Haze Sunrise 7:05 AM MST Sunset 5:44 PM MST Full Dec. 19 Dec. 26 Last Quarter Jan. 2 New First Quarter Jan. 10 YELLOWTAIL - Seemed to have gone deeper in the water column as the water temperatures begin to recede. CORVINA - A few better quality fish near the power plant as well as the pier early morning and late afternoon until dusk. SNOOK - The size spread this week went from a few pounds to one that weighed in at 15-pounds HALIBUT - No one targeted them this week, but I am sure they are still around. SIERRA - Look for the bird schools strung out all the way to the entrada. ZIHUATANEJO, MAINLAND MEXICO Wed., Dec. 18, 2002 IN GENERAL: The 82º blue water is only a mile off the beach, the seas are dead calm, and the fishing has almost gone ballistic. Sailfish, big tuna, blue marlin, roosterfish . . . we got them all this week, and in very good quantities. The private boat Aleta Negra, owned by Karl Peters of Nashville, Tenn., released two very nice blue marlin of about 250-pounds each. The Don Gordo with Captain Poli got an estimated 180-pound blue. A 175-pound yellowfin tuna was boated by the panga La Llammara and several tuna are being caught each day averaging between 60- and 80-pounds. The tuna are being caught off the porpoise, out 16 miles on a 180º heading. Most boats are averaging three to four sailfish a day, with 20-pound class dorado (usually caught on a blind strike). When John Wilkenson of Marquette, Mich., fly-fished with Captain Santiago and me on the panga Gitana, we raised 6 sailfish. Two came to the boat and John hooked them both. One sail threw the fly after a series of leaps, and the other was tagged and released. Luis Marcial on the panga Gringo Loco fished with Jeff Swan of Oklahoma and took 11 roosters in two days of fishing. None of the fish were under 20-pounds, and a few of them were 40-pounds plus. Water Temperature 82º Air Temperature 75°-86º Humidity 74% Wind calm Conditions Clear Sunrise 7:09 AM CST Sunset 6:18 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