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., March 29, 2003 EAST CAPE, MAGDALENA BAY AND ZIHUATANEJO CONDITIONS EAST CAPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO IN GENERAL: Eric Genz-Mould, visiting us from up the Pacific Coast in Bothell, Wash., finished a successful trip, fishing from both beach and panga. Tuna to 65-pounds, jacks to 15, plenty of dorado to 20-pounds and skipjack were enough for them to begin planning their next Baja adventure. Yesterday (3/28) the wind blew out of the south and it was Victory at Sea in the afternoon. Regardless of the sea conditions, the big dorado and marlin put on a pretty good show. Alaskan Pudge Klienkauf, catching a breath of spring by visiting from Anchorage with her "Women's Angling" group, reported multiple hookups on marlin and a few dorado. It’s not exactly what you’d call wide open, but not bad either. Both of her group’s boats were sporting marlin, dorado and tuna flags for the trip. Right now, there are few sardina to be found and while there are dorado close to shore in the off-color water, it is tough to keep them around the boat for long. Closer to the beach there seem to be more roosters and jacks than normal for this time of the year, but without the bait for chum it is tough to get the shots. We did finally find a few schools of sardina between La Ribera and Punta Colorada and as you would expect, the jacks, roosters and dorado had found them as well and it was very good fishing as long as it lasted. This morning, the north wind is howling, but a few of our more persistent clients were out at “zero dark hundred” to give the beach a whirl and see if the jacks and roosters would cooperate. Here is an interesting story from a Canadian publication about California tackle manufacturer Steve Abel's trip last year to Magdalena Bay I thought you’d find interesting. His is similar to our trip, except that he uses a long-range boat with18 anglers instead of the 4 we take on our Flyrod Marlin 101 series. http://www.nationalpost.com/search/site/story.asp?id=CAF1FD5B-E622-4694-B3CD -485B779BDC53 AIR & SEA - Water temperature 68-72 Air temperature 69°-81° Humidity about 61% Wind NW at 5 mph Conditions Clear Visibility 12 miles Sunrise 6:11 a.m. MST Sunset 6:32 p.m. MST Apr. 1 New Apr. 9 First Quarter Apr.16 Full Apr. 23 Last Quarter · OFFSHORE: Once you get out to the clean water (17 miles today) there were a few dorado and marlin to be found. The few porpoise schools found yesterday, were not holding many tuna. I only heard of a few caught. · INSHORE: Look for the birds and bait for some fast paced action for dorado, jacks and roosters. · BEACH: La Ribera to Punta Colorada is the hot spot this week with plenty of bait and birds and fish crashing close to shore. BILLFISH - If you are interested you can expect a few shots a day. YELLOWFIN TUNA - Slowed a click the latter part of the week, but don't bypass the porpoise if you see them. DORADO - A few both inshore and offshore. ROOSTERFISH - It is definitely an early show this year JACK CREVALLE - Plenty of 15 pounders to stretch out your backing. BARRILETE OR MEXICAN SKIPJACK - Same neighborhood as everything else look for the sardina schools and pelicans diving. PARGO AND CABRILLA - Work the rocky points with chartreuse Clouser for best results. SIERRA - Oddly enough I didn't hear of any this week. MAGDALENA BAY, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO Sat., March 29, 2003 IN GENERAL: Pretty slow this week primarily because of lack of anglers. There have been a few fish found up at Devil’s Curve or at Los Barriles Estero. Nothing extraordinary, but a consistent pick for the determined fly fisher. Chartreuse or olives have been the best colors for the snook, pargo and grouper. Water Temperature 65-70 Air Temperature 62-°73° Humidity 89% Wind Calm Conditions Clear. Some high clouds Visibility 3 miles Sunrise 6:18 a.m. MST Sunset 6:40 p.m. MST Apr. 1 New Apr. 9 First Quarter Apr.16 Full Apr. 23 Last Quarter YELLOWTAIL - It is time and the bite should happen soon. CORVINA - Still the go-to fish if all else fails. SNOOK - South end of the bay is the best bet right now for the bigger fish. A little closer to San Carlos try Devil’s Curve. HALIBUT - Try any of the sandy beaches with a chartreuse Clouser. SIERRA - Spread out throughout the open bay. ZIHUATANEJO, MAINLAND MEXICO Sat., March 29, 2003 The fishing would have to be rated as being poor. The 74º off-colored water is still out to about the 20-mile mark, and the only boats getting any sailfish, marlin or tuna are traveling about 45 miles to the blue 80º water. Inshore is also very slow with only a few chulas, black skipjack, dorado, and sierras being taken. Water Temperature 63º - 80º Air Temperature 68°-87º Humidity 58% Wind Calm Conditions Mostly Cloudy (BKN) : 25,000 ft Visibility 10 miles Sunrise 6:39 a.m. CST Sunset 6:58 p.m. CST Apr. 1 New Apr. 9 First Quarter Apr.16 Full Mar. 23 Last Quarter 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 International Game Fish Association needs your support. If you are not already a member, please take the time to JOIN TODAY! http://www.bajafly.com/igfaapplication.htm