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 Wed., Feb. 19, 2003 EAST CAPE, MAGDALENA BAY AND ZIHUATANEJO CONDITIONS EAST CAPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO IN GENERAL: A black and purple popper worked just right for Sean Harper, Granada Hills, CA who seemed to have luck on his side. Not only did he pick the right time for his vacation, missing the worst rain storm of the year in California, but he also landed two out of ten nice-sized dorado. The hot spot for Sean was just a few miles offshore near Cardinal. The tuna seemed a little tougher this week. Plenty of boats were out looking for the porpoise holding tuna. If you got lucky and were one of the early boats to find them, sashimi was your prize at cocktail hour. AIR & SEA - Water temperature 68-72 Air temperature 63°-88° Humidity about 63% Wind NNW at 5 mph Conditions Clear Visibility 15 miles Sunrise 6:45 a.m. MST Sunset 6:17 p.m. MST Feb. 23 Last Quarter Mar. 2 New Mar. 11 First Quarter Mar. 18 Full · OFFSHORE: Seems to be more up and down the shore with the best dorado action within a few miles of the shore · INSHORE: With dorado so close, the sierra and roosters took a backseat. · BEACH: It is only February but we are beginning to see a few signs of spring. Our Guide, Jeff DeBrown, on a trip to the store spotted a good-sized ball of sardina getting whacked by small rooster and jacks close to the beach in front of the Pemex Station. He raced back home, grabbed his trusty 8wt. and sped back but all that was left were the scales. I’ll bet he will be carrying fishing gear in the car for the rest of the Season! BILLFISH – Wassup with this? The number of billfish being seen recently would make me believe that it’s May and not March! YELLOWFIN TUNA – Significantly slower this week, but who’s complaining. It is February. DORADO – Plenty with only a few rats mixed in. ROOSTERFISH – Check out the beach between Palmas de Cortez and Rancho Buena Vista Hotel. . JACK CREVALLE – Plenty of smaller ones. The trick is to be there when they get ready to eat. BARRILETE OR MEXICAN SKIPJACK – Who knows! Everybody wants dorado. PARGO AND CABRILLA – Right now it is pretty much an old man’s game……slow. SIERRA – Early! Early! Early! Is best. MAGDALENA BAY, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO Wed., Feb. 19, 2003 IN GENERAL: You can sure tell it is Whale Watching Season by the number of boats cruising the bay. You would think that you were looking at a tuna boil at East Cape. So far the number of whales frolicking (my editor censored me) in the bay is less than last year which means that more boats are looking for fewer whales and it can get pretty crowded just behind the whale’s tail. Anyway, back to fishing. Big Halibut caught near Santa Margarita Island - now there’s a headline. Just remember twelve pounds is huge at Magdalena Bay. On with the count, two sheepfaces or is it sheephead, red snapper, grouper and a wide-open barely legal barracuda bite. With a report like that you can understand why no one bothered to fish up in the Esteros this week. Water Temperature 67-70 Air Temperature 60-°79° Humidity 100% Wind Calm Conditions Clear during the day Foggy in the mornings Visibility 8 miles Sunrise 6:55 a.m. MST Sunset 6:23 p.m. MST Feb. 23 Last Quarter Mar. 2 New Mar. 11 First Quarter Mar. 18 Full YELLOWTAIL – If you can get though the barracuda and skipjack you have a chance. CORVINA – Has gillnetting finally taken it’s toll? SNOOK – Tides have been less than ideal, the tide chart looks much better for March HALIBUT – Sand beach in the lee of Santa Margarita Island was the place to be. SIERRA - Punta Belcher is pretty good right now.