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. 15, 2003 EAST CAPE, MAGDALENA BAY AND ZIHUATANEJO CONDITIONS EAST CAPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO IN GENERAL: If you want to fish the East Cape right now, it is basically an early- to mid-morning proposition. Plenty of sierra inshore, while on the outside it’s dorado and a few marlin. North, up toward Punta Pescadero, is the best bet for the dorado and further offshore for the few billfish around. Closer to shore, the sierra are providing the best action. Following Gary’s new Power Point presentation to the Diablo Fly Fishing Club in Walnut Creek, Calif., on Tues. (1/14) night, a longtime club member told him it was “the best presentation we have had in the last 20 years.” Mighty high praise, indeed! It’s cutting edge A/V technology and a far, far cry from those old clunky 35mm slide presentations so common at fishing clubs and outdoor shows. Gary will be doing his Power Point extravaganza at the International Sportsman in San Mateo 1/29-2/2. If you’re anywhere near Northern California, check their website for more information and speaking schedules: http://www.sportsexpos.com/Consumer/San-Mateo.cfm AIR & SEA - Water temperature 70-75 Air temperature 63°-84° Humidity about 88% Wind NW at 7 mph Conditions Clear Visibility 15 miles Sunrise 7:00 a.m. MST Sunset 5:56 p.m. MST First Quarter Jan 10 Full Jan. 18 Jan. 25 Last Quarter Feb 1 New First Quarter Feb. 9 · OFFSHORE: Right place, right time and you could be wired up to a good sized dorado. Try under the shark buoys at Punta Pescadero. · INSHORE: Sierra, by far are the best bet right now. Still some quality roosters and jacks chasing bait in front of the hotels and all the way to La Ribera. · BEACH: The earlier the better! BILLFISH - Tough going right now. YELLOWFIN TUNA - A few down south, but what a crummy ride home. DORADO - Punta Pescadero shark buoys are the best bet and it is a better ride home if the wind comes up. Also some reported up further at Muertos Bay and you even get a little protection from the wind. ROOSTERFISH - Bait and birds mean roosters chasing bait. JACK CREVALLE - Same deal for the jacks. BARRILETE OR MEXICAN SKIPJACK - None reported this week. PARGO AND CABRILLA - Good reports from the local pangeros catching them commercially. SIERRA - It is that time of year. MAGDALENA BAY, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO Wed., Jan. 15, 2003 IN GENERAL: The big news was the whales began arriving in big numbers to the north at Scammon’s Lagoon, so it won't be long before they will be cavorting here in Magdalena Bay. The esteros were lightly fished this week, but with good results for corvina, mangrove snapper and a few palometa amarillo. Offshore continues to cool off. Water Temperature 68-73 Air Temperature 64°-75° Humidity 75% Wind Calm Conditions Clear Sunrise 7:12 a.m. MST Sunset 6:01 p.m. MST First Quarter Jan. 10 Full Jan. 18 Jan. 25 Last Quarter Feb 1 New First Quarter Feb. 9 YELLOWTAIL - Best bet is down deep at the entrada. CORVINA - Continued to be almost a sure thing. Chartreuse and flash is the right combination either in a Clouser, Baja Deep Diver or Deceiver-style pattern. SNOOK - fewer currents on a quarter moon improved everyone's chances. Use a slow retrieve and let the current sweep a Baja Deep Diver in either red or chartreuse into the channel and hang on. HALIBUT - Sandy beaches the best bet. SIERRA - Birds and bait in the open water almost guarantees a take. ZIHUATANEJO, MAINLAND MEXICO Wed., Jan. 15, 2003 IN GENERAL: The 78º blue water is still on the beach, the seas are calm, and the fishing is holding an incredible pace. Even though the boats are getting two to five sailfish per day, the main action is with the 20- to 35-pound dorado. Steve Talbot, escaping from Minnesota snow, had a typical couple of days on the water. The first day he went with Captain Arturo on the panga Janeth. They got three roosterfish from 35- to 50-pounds. They also got an estimated 25-pound jack crevalle. On the way back, Arturo worked a current line and they got five of the 20-to 35-pound dorado. They next day they fished on the Gaby with Captain Margarito. They got two sails and seven dorado. The tuna are averaging about 60- to 80-pounds with some running into the 200-pound category. With the dorado only 6 miles out, not many charters are going after the tuna. 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 First Quarter Feb. 9 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