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., May 31, 2003. Report covers the period Wed.-Fri. (5/28-5/30) EAST CAPE, MAGDALENA BAY AND ZIHUATANEJO CONDITIONS EAST CAPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO IN GENERAL: The week began with peaks and valleys and ended up with more peaks than valleys. Offshore, finding warm, clean, bluewater was the key. Unfortunately, to find those conditions the boats were running several hours. When reaching the area, the action was impressive with billfish, tuna and large dorado eager for almost anything that hit the water. Meanwhile, back on the beach, it was "Good News-Bad News.” From La Ribera to Punta Arena I can't remember the last time we traveled that whole distance without seeing anything. Then, back at Rooster Alley, we began seeing both quality roosters and jacks every few minutes. Don Sloan, visiting from Borrego, Calif., (you remember him from last year) began his three week trip with a 17-pound jack his first day out. He fooled it with one of Lance Petersons "Chivo Lisa” patterns that I had tied up for him. Sam Talarico was there to record the whole event with his camera both top as well as underwater. Can't wait to see the photos from the three rolls he shot. Speaking of photos I have attached a photo of our guide Lance Peterson preparing to release Amy Potter's rooster caught several weeks ago. Goodbye World Record! AIR & SEA - Water temperature 74-82 Air temperature 70°-83° Humidity about 33% Wind North at 5 mph Conditions Clear Visibility 12 miles Sunrise 6:32 a.m. MST Sunset 8:00p.m. MST June 7 First Quarter June 14 Full June 21 Last Quarter June 29 New · OFFSHORE: Go the distance and you won't be disappointed. · INSHORE: Still tough fishing with little bait to found in the stock spots. · BEACH: Rooster Alley is the place to be and that's where I will be as soon as I finish this report! BILLFISH - Out in the blue water it was multiples behind the boats yesterday (Fri.). YELLOWFIN TUNA - Mostly footballs in the same area as the billfish. DORADO - Big rascals, just not many. ROOSTERFISH - Plenty of shots for everything from small to you can't be serious JACK CREVALLE - We officially declare Big Toro Season open. BARRILETE OR MEXICAN SKIPJACK - Several in the mid-teens this week. PARGO AND CABRILLA - The locals are whacking them at night or maybe it is just an excuse for a beach party. SIERRA - No bait, no sierra. MAGDALENA BAY, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO Sat., May 31, 2003. Report covers the period Wed.-Fri. (5/28-5/30) IN GENERAL: Few clients this week so it is difficult to access conditions. I did hear of a few grouper and pargo up toward Lopez Mateos late week. Weather has turned the corner and warmed up considerably. Water Temperature 60-66 Air Temperature 61°-80° Humidity 81% Wind Calm Conditions Clear Visibility 3 miles Sunrise 6:37 a.m. MDST Sunset 8:11 p.m. MDST June 7 First Quarter June 14 Full June 21 Last Quarter June 29 New YELLOWTAIL - With the warmer water starting to creep in, look for more surface activity during the next month. CORVINA – Devil’s Curve, Power Plant and Pier all producing fair catches. SNOOK - Slow this week. HALIBUT - Very little activity. SIERRA - Quiet for now. ZIHUATANEJO, MAINLAND MEXICO Please note the date. We are only providing weekly (not twice a week) reports for this area. Sat., May 31, 2003. Report covers the period Sat.-Fri. (5/24-5/31) IN GENERAL: The excellent fishing is still continuing with not just the smaller yellowfin tuna and sails, but the big tuna have also come on very strong. Ed Garvis of Anaheim, Calif- took a 202 pound tuna fishing with Arturo on the “Whisky III.” The panga “Moramay” lost a huge tuna at deep color when the rod broke. Armando on the panga “Janeth” got a 252-pounder for his client Nick Borsch visiting all the way from Holland. Bruce Scott from Spokane, Wash., released three sails and caught 8 tuna in the 20-pound class while fishing with Santiago on the panga “Gitana.” Captain Calli on the “Vamonos II” released 8 sails for his clients in one good day of fishing. He was working an area 12 miles out of Zihuatanejo Bay on a 210º heading. I have been curious for a couple of years about our yellowfin tuna here. I have seen experienced clients take almost an hour and a half to bring in an 80-pound fish. The gear was correct, etc. The only difference I could see is the tuna was longer and skinnier than the normal yellowfin. When Garvis got his 202-pounder this week, it took him 10 hours of tough stand-up fishing. Ed is an experienced tuna fisherman. Last year he and his favorite captain, Arturo, teamed up for 4 fish between 210 and 305 pounds. I did not see this fish, but Ed told me it was almost as long as the as his 300-pounder of last year, but this one kicked his tail. Is this a different strain of yellowfin tuna? Water Temperature 75º-80º Air Temperature 77°-91º Humidity 83% Wind Calm Conditions Scattered Clouds (SCT) : 25,000 ft Visibility 8 miles Sunrise 7:11 a.m. CDST Sunset 8:14 p.m. CDST June 7 First Quarter June 14 Full June 21 Last Quarter June 29 New 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