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 011-52-624-14-10373 Sat., January 18, 2003 EAST CAPE, MAGDALENA BAY AND ZIHUATANEJO CONDITIONS EAST CAPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO IN GENERAL: Cerviche and sierra is the best choice on the fishing menu these days. If that doesn’t turn you on try the dorado either in front of Punta Pescadero or go a little farther up toward Muertos Bay. If there is no wind down head down toward Cabo Pulmo on the outside, sounds like a good bet for both tuna and dorado. Following Gary’s new Power Point presentation to the Diablo Fly Fishing Club in Walnut Creek, CA 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 Wednesday January 29th at 2:00 P.M. AIR & SEA - Water temperature 69-75 Air temperature 69°-75° Humidity about 63% Wind Calm Conditions Clear Visibility 15 miles Sunrise 7:00 a.m. MST Sunset 5:58 p.m. MST Full Jan. 18 Jan. 25 Last Quarter Feb 1 New First Quarter Feb. 9 · OFFSHORE: Dorado are the best bet this week. · INSHORE: Sierra creating the most buzz this week · BEACH: Tough, but doable early morning to mid morning BILLFISH – Pretty slow. YELLOWFIN TUNA - A few down south, but if the wind blows it can be 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 Sat., January 18, 2003 IN GENERAL: Full moon and lots of current slowed down the activity up in the esteros. Still, plenty of corvina, pompano, halibut and cabrilla provided fair action. Out at the Entrada a few small grouper and lots of cabrilla were all the guys could come up with. Water Temperature 68-73 Air Temperature 60°-82° Humidity 85% Wind Calm Conditions Clear Sunrise 7:11 a.m. MST Sunset 6:03 p.m. MST Full Jan. 18 Jan. 25 Last Quarter Feb 1 New First Quarter Feb. 9 YELLOWTAIL – Not much to talk about this week.. 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 – Strong currents made it tough this week. HALIBUT - Sandy beaches and out toward the Entrada. SIERRA - Birds and bait in the open water almost guarantees a take. ZIHUATANEJO, MAINLAND MEXICO Sat., January 18, 2003 IN GENERAL: The fishing has been outstanding. With the 80º blue water on the beach, the gamefish moved in closer to shore. The best areas are only 2 to 7 miles out, with boats averaging about three to five dorado of about 20 to 25 pounds, and 3 to 5 sailfish a day. If big yellowfin are your bag, now is the time. Relatively close at 17 to 20 miles and biting anything that hits the water. One panga “Porpy” has been targeting them for the last four days and has brought home at least one tuna a day weighing in at least at a100-pounds. The roosterfish bite is doing very well up near Pantla (15 miles) as well as down near Petatlan (26 miles). Boats focusing on roosters are getting 2 to 4 fish a day. They are averaging about 30 to 40 pounds. Ray River from Minn. fished with Luis on the panga Gringo Loco and got a 50-pound rooster, a 25-pound jack crevalle, and three dorado in the twenty pound class. Some notable catches reported were from German on the Bacalao II who released 7 sailfish, Santiago on the panga Gitana released 5 as well as a nice dorado, and Poli on the El Gordo released 7 sailfish and 2 dorado. Water Temperature 82º Air Temperature 73°-87º Humidity 94% Wind calm Conditions Clear Sunrise 7:18 a.m. CST Sunset 6:35 p.m. CST 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 ZIHUATANEJO, MAINLAND MEXICO Sat., January 18, 2003 IN GENERAL: The fishing has been outstanding. With the 80º blue water on the beach, the gamefish moved in closer to shore. The best areas are only 2 to 7 miles out, with boats averaging about three to five dorado of about 20 to 25 pounds, and 3 to 5 sailfish a day. If big yellowfin are your bag, now is the time. Relatively close at 17 to 20 miles and biting anything that hits the water. One panga “Porpy” has been targeting them for the last four days and has brought home at least one tuna a day weighing in at least at a100-pounds. The roosterfish bite is doing very well up near Pantla (15 miles) as well as down near Petatlan (26 miles). Boats focusing on roosters are getting 2 to 4 fish a day. They are averaging about 30 to 40 pounds. Ray River from Minn. fished with Luis on the panga Gringo Loco and got a 50-pound rooster, a 25-pound jack crevalle, and three dorado in the twenty pound class. Some notable catches reported were from German on the Bacalao II who released 7 sailfish, Santiago on the panga Gitana released 5 as well as a nice dorado, and Poli on the El Gordo released 7 sailfish and 2 dorado. Water Temperature 82º Air Temperature 73°-87º Humidity 94% Wind calm Conditions Clear Sunrise 7:18 a.m. CST Sunset 6:35 p.m. CST 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