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., Jan. 08, 2003 EAST CAPE, MAGDALENA BAY AND ZIHUATANEJO CONDITIONS EAST CAPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO IN GENERAL: Wind, Wind, Wind! I drove all the way from Magdalena Bay on Mon. and Tues. and the wind was ripping all the way up the gulf. I haven't seen that many whitecaps in a long time. With the continued strong winds in California, I expect that it will take a while for the breezes to subside south of the border. In the meantime, the dorado are still around along with a few stripers as well. Inshore, the roosters remain in the area along with some nice-sized jacks. We will be doing a special presentation for the Diablo Fly Fishing Club in the San Francisco Bay area on Jan. 14. Stop by if you are in the area or take a look at their website: http://www.diablovalleyflyfish.org/january2003meeti.html AIR & SEA - Water temperature 69 - 73 Air temperature 68°-73° Humidity about 82% Wind WNW at 14 mph Conditions Overcast Visibility 15 miles Sunrise 7:00 a.m. MST Sunset 5:52 p.m. MST First Quarter Jan. 10 Full Jan. 18 Jan. 25 Last Quarter Feb 1 New · OFFSHORE: Dorado and marlin remained the best bet when the wind backs off. · INSHORE: Mostly sierra caught, some larger roosters seen chasing ladyfish from Rancho Leonero to Punta Colorada. · BEACH: Still an early morning deal. The best reports were from La Ribera where some larger jacks could be seen chasing sardina in the large wind waves. BILLFISH - Right time, right place, could happen. YELLOWFIN TUNA - Rumors persist about some big guys down Las Frailes way. The problem is no one wants to brave the rough trip home. DORADO - Punta Pescadero shark buoys are the best bet and it is a better ride home if the wind comes up. ROOSTERFISH - Still some of the larger variety, look for the ladyfish being chased on the surface. JACK CREVALLE - La Ribera in front of the pangas on the beach, early morning. BARRILETE OR MEXICAN SKIPJACK - No one stayed out long enough to find them. PARGO AND CABRILLA - Almost all of the rock reefs are holding a few. SIERRA - Anywhere from Rancho Buena Vista to Punta Colorada close to shore; and don't forget the wire. MAGDALENA BAY, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO Wed., Jan. 08, 2003 IN GENERAL: Our trip is over and everyone had a ball! Ben Mintz, of Chatsworth, Calif., caught everything from cabrilla to corvina ultimately racking up about a half-dozen species. However, he and the rest of the group got a lesson in how elusive snook could be. Don Sloan, Borrego, Calif., my old fishing partner, was the corvina champ for the three days and also managed to farm a few quality snook. Paul Weaver, Carlsbad, Calif., owner of Farewell Harbour Resort in British Columbia, joined us for his first trip to Magdalena Bay and found out that his 7-weight was just a tad light for the critters he encountered. We had perfect weather except for some fog in the mornings and that was not a problem with my trusty GPS. All in all, everyone had a great time and we are planning another trip for late Feb. Water Temperature 67 - 69 Air Temperature 68°-73° Humidity 89% Wind Calm Conditions Foggy in the morning Sunrise 7:12 a.m. MST Sunset 5:56 p.m. MST First Quarter Jan. 10 Full Jan. 18 Jan. 25 Last Quarter Feb 1 New YELLOWTAIL - They found a few just a few miles outside the entrada. CORVINA - Some quality fish to be had. I picked up a 6- or 7-pounder with a chartreuse Baja Deep Diver. SNOOK - We saw quite a few, but no cigar. HALIBUT - Small fish, but plenty of 'em. SIERRA - Look for the bird schools in the bay. We saw a humongous one as we drove into Puerto San Carlos last Fri. ZIHUATANEJO, MAINLAND MEXICO Wed., Jan. 08, 2003 IN GENERAL: The 78º blue water is on the beach and even inside Zihuatanejo Bay. The main attraction has been the fantastic dorado action. Most of the 20- to 30-pound dorado are being taken within 6 miles of shore, but even the tuna fishermen are getting them at 35 miles. The sailfish have slowed down a little this week with the average being two per boat. Matt Field fished a day on the panga Isamar with Captain Martin and got 4 dorado and 2 sailfish. Martin also fished with Bob Nelson, from San Clemente, releasing 8 sailfish and catching 11 dorado in 3 days of fishing. Don, Zack, and Adam Mcisacc, from Vancouver, Wash., fished with Luis Marciel on the Gringo Loco one day and had quite an experience. They went out for tuna and, at 30-miles found a long line which had been cut and all balled up by the propellers of a passing large ship. The long line was from a local panga and may have had two miles of nylon chord, hooks and swivels; but it had also trapped a sea turtle. The first thing they did was get the turtle released. They then saw the bait, and lots of it. Dorado were flashing through, so the smaller outfits were brought out and 5 dorado were boated. Then the big tuna came to the dance, but they did not show themselves till after one was already hooked. The 200-pound tuna were literally getting the fishermen wet from jumping close to the boat as they chased the baitfish. In the meantime, Don had his hands full with a 200-pound plus tuna on a 50-pound outfit. He lost the fish after 2 hours. Before leaving the area, the final thing Luis did was to go back to the “hotel of death” and get the long line in the boat. He will have a lot of outrigger lanyards and nylon rope for several months to come. Another fantastic catch came from Adolpho on the panga Dos Hermanos. He got three roosterfish for his clients up near the Pantla area. They went 45-, 50- and 75-pounds! Water Temperature 82º Air Temperature 68°-88º Humidity 78% Wind calm Conditions Scattered Clouds Sunrise 7:14 a.m. CST Sunset 6:23 p.m. CST First Quarter Jan. 10 Full Jan. 18 Jan. 25 Last Quarter Feb 1 New 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