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., April 26, 2003 Report covers the period Wed.-Fri. (4/23-4/25) EAST CAPE, MAGDALENA BAY AND ZIHUATANEJO CONDITIONS EAST CAPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO IN GENERAL: As of 8:10 this morning (4/26) when we took our morning call from guide Jeff DeBrown, there was no wind and a dead flat sea. Winds and bumpy conditions began to subside a day or two ago, paving the way for football-size tuna and dorado. It was not wide open, but enough to keep things interesting. Reports of cooler water up towards Punta Pescadero sent most of the fleet in the opposite direction off Punta Arena. There were a few wahoo caught on the color line at the lighthouse for the early birds. Just received a copy of David Klausmeyer's new book “Tying Contemporary Saltwater Flies.” In addition to a gaggle of great saltwater flies, he was kind enough to include both my See Thru Deceiver (Page 28) and Baja Deep Diver (page 47.) If you want to see more go to http://www.bajafly.com/storefront.htm. Also thanks to Richard Alves, there are online instructions for my Baja Deep Diver. Go to http://www.fishsniffer.com/fly/fom/030419bajadeepdiver.html for details. AIR & SEA - Water temperature 70-74 Air temperature 66°-81° Humidity about 45% Wind SSE at 7 mph Conditions Scattered Clouds (SCT) : 20,000 ft Visibility 15 miles Sunrise 5:46 a.m. MST Sunset 6:43 p.m. MST Apr. 23 Last Quarter May 1 New May 9 First Quarter May15 Full May 22 Last Quarter · OFFSHORE: Few larger tuna, mostly the football variety. The dorado were better quality and still a fair amount of billfish for those who were interested. · INSHORE: Get ready, as we slide into May, I expect some spectacular action. · BEACH: With May and June just around the corner, the anticipation builds. BILLFISH - An occasional sailfish already and the water is still on the cool side. YELLOWFIN TUNA - Look for the porpoise with birds on them. DORADO - No schoolies to talk about, but some brutes showing up in the teasers every once in a while. ROOSTERFISH - As the volume of sardina increase along the shore it is getting better and better. JACK CREVALLE – Don’t think these guys are going to miss the party. They love sardina. BARRILETE OR MEXICAN SKIPJACK - A few in front of La Ribera. PARGO AND CABRILLA - Starting to hear rumbles of some quality fish on a few of the rock reefs. SIERRA - Punta Colorada or La Ribera around the bait receivers. MAGDALENA BAY, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO Sat., April 26, 2003 Report covers the period Wed.-Fri. (4/23-4/25) IN GENERAL: Some of the locals are reporting a fair to good yellowtail snap out on the Thetis. Also, a few dorado and tuna in the same neighborhood. Back at Punta Belcher, the halibut in skinny water continue to jump on a slow retrieved chartreuse Clouser. The esteros had little pressure this week. Water Temperature 60-66 Air Temperature 55°-78° Humidity 97% Wind Calm Conditions Clear Visibility 3 miles Sunrise 5:51 a.m. MDST Sunset 6:53 p.m. MDST Apr. 23 Last Quarter May 1 New May 9 First Quarter May15 Full May 22 Last Quarter YELLOWTAIL - Thetis sounds like the best bet, but what a ride in a panga! I think I will pass. CORVINA - Our holographic popper got some attention this week. They couldn't leave it alone. SNOOK - Now if I could get one of these guys to eat the popper I would be stoked. HALIBUT - Shallow water along the sandy beaches at Punta Belcher producing some 10-pounders. SIERRA - Slow. ZIHUATANEJO, MAINLAND MEXICO Please note the date. We are only providing weekly (not twice-a-week) reports for this area. Sat., April 26, 2003 Report covers the period Wed.-Fri. (4/23-4/25) IN GENERAL: With the 80º blue water only a mile off the beach, the fishing has been very good and a number of species are in the count. Most notable is the number of yellowfin tuna. Jan Gladstone from New Jersey fished with Luis Marciel on the panga “Gringo Loco” and caught 13 tuna on his first day. On the second day he took another 12 tuna and told me when Luis came up on the breaking fish, he would get up on the bow and start casting. All day, he only made 10 casts that did not draw a strike using an S&G lure in 3-ounce size. Dave Owen from Ferndale, Wash., fished with Arturo on the “Whiskey III” and lost a tuna estimated over 300-pounds. The major concentrations of tuna are all between 30- and 35-miles from Zihuat. Bay. There has also been decent sailfish action. Ed Day and John Lofton from Newport Beach, Calif., fished with Cali on the “Vamonos II,” releasing 3 sailfish and keeping 1 wahoo. The day before, Cali had also scored on a wahoo of about 50-pounds. The “Yellowfin II” got 3 sails and a nice dorado. Water Temperature 75º-80º Air Temperature 72°-86º Humidity 83% Wind Calm Conditions Haze Smoke Visibility 8 miles Sunrise 6:23 a.m. CST Sunset 7:02 p.m. CST Today First Quarter Apr.16 Full Apr. 23 Last Quarter May 1 New May 9 First 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