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., April 16, 2003 Report covers the period Sat.-Tues (4/12-4/15) EAST CAPE, MAGDALENA BAY AND ZIHUATANEJO CONDITIONS EAST CAPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO IN GENERAL: Fishing could not have been much better until yesterday (4/15) when promptly at 11 a.m. the wind came whistling in. Even that did not shut off the bite for those who braved the high seas. Everything went off with the offshore producing remarkable catches of marlin, dorado and a few small tuna. Back inshore, the roosters and jacks kept the ball rolling. Peter White House,(yes, that’s his real name) Sausalito, Calif., caught his first rooster on the fly before the wind came in. Earlier in the week, Michael Klingler finished up his family outing and couldn’t stop talking about the roosters and ladyfish. He was excited and kept saying he would see us next year. Tom Vitolo, Chandler, Ariz., along with his fishing partner Tim Griffin from Denver, after a slow start had great action the second half of their trip. They fished exclusively from the beach and landed a variety of species including several nice roosters. What do our guides do on their day off? Fish, of course and for Jeff Solis, San Diego, it paid off big time last Sun. when he landed his career-best rooster . . .a fat 30-pounder on Rooster Alley. What made it really sweet was that I was there with three cameras hanging from my neck and was able to document the event with both video and digital. The shots I got were my career best and will soon be included in my next PowerPoint presentation for the Fall. AIR & SEA - Water temperature 68-74 Air temperature 63.5°-84° Humidity about 57% Wind NNW at 9 mph Conditions Scattered Clouds (SCT) : 12,000 ft Visibility 12 miles Sunrise 5:54 a.m. MST Sunset 6:379p.m. MST Apr.16 Full Apr. 23 Last Quarter May 1 New May 9 First Quarter · OFFSHORE: Flat seas held till yesterday and I think this was the best fishing we have had this year! · INSHORE: Same story just closer and those who stayed close to shore were not disappointed. Buzz Fedorka, Telluride, Colo., told me at dinner last night about a 35-pound yellowtail he had caught the day before. It was his first in many a year. · BEACH: Roosters went off with a bang this week with numerous catches ranging from a few pounds (there are no small roosters from the beach) to Solis's hefty 30-pounder. BILLFISH - Still plenty to talk about, even with rough seas yesterday R.E. Hazard checked in with his two for the day. His grandson, Derek Tresize said that it was the best five days fishing he had ever had and that they had caught over one hundred fish on their Blackman Cruiser "Dusty B." YELLOWFIN TUNA - Sounded like mostly smaller fish with 30 being the heaviest I heard off. DORADO - The buzz has been all spring about the size very few smaller ones. ROOSTERFISH - Going off is several different areas including Rooster Alley, Bartle Beach and Roca de Caca. JACK CREVALLE - Roosters held the spotlight this week. BARRILETE OR MEXICAN SKIPJACK - Slow going this week. PARGO AND CABRILLA - A pick, but not anything to get excited about. SIERRA - Fish crashing on sardina, cast, whoops no fly, must be sierra! MAGDALENA BAY, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO Wed., April 16, 2003 Report covers the period Sat.-Tues (4/12-4/15) IN GENERAL: Strange stuff going on. Last week reports of albacore, this week the locals are talking about dorado under many of the shark buoys on a 240° line extending out 35-miles. Also, schools of yellowtail up on Thetis with a few dorado mixed in. Back at the entrada, the water is full of langostia and has essentially shut off the bite. Back up in the esteros the best action this week was the corvina. Water Temperature 64-68 Air Temperature 61° - 74° Humidity 60% Wind NW at 6 mph Conditions Clear Visibility 3 miles Sunrise 6:00 a.m. MST Sunset 6:48 p.m. MST Apr.16 Full Apr. 23 Last Quarter May 1 New May 9 First Quarter YELLOWTAIL - Offshore from 15 miles off to the Thetis. CORVINA - Pier and all the way up to Devil’s Curve. SNOOK - Not much going on this week. HALIBUT - This has been the go-to fish all winter. Try any of the sandy beaches with a chartreuse Clouser. SIERRA - Only a few spotted this week.