An East Cape Chill, a Blistering Guatemala, Others In-Between 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 Fri., Jan. 02, 2004. Report covers the period Sat.-Thurs. (12/25 - 1/1) EAST CAPE, MAGDALENA BAY, ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO; AND IZTAPA, GUATEMALA CONDITIONS EAST CAPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO IN GENERAL: North winds continued to hamper fishing most of the week. On the days that the wind did back off it was still tough. AIR & SEA - Water temperature 67°-73° Air temperature 67° - 73° Humidity about 83% Wind NW at 12 mph Conditions Mostly Cloudy Visibility 12 miles Sunrise 6:57 a.m. MST Sunset 5:40 p.m. MST Jan. 7 Full, Jan. 14 Last Quarter, Jan. 21 New, Jan. 28 First Quarter o OFFSHORE: The few boats venturing out have scored on a few dorado up toward Punta Pescadero. By mid-morning most are scurrying back for their respective hotels. Cold margaritas and a swim seem like a much wiser decision. o INSHORE: If you like sierra, you should be here, just remember the wire! o BEACH: Gray light is a must. Sierra usually shut off as the sun climbs higher. BILLFISH – Always a few homeguard, you just have to find them. YELLOWFIN TUNA – Seemed like they would never stop biting, but they have. DORADO – Punta Pescadero shark buoys rumored to have a few lurking about. ROOSTERFISH – Find the sardinia and you should find a few small ones. JACK CREVALLE – Lighthouse to La Ribera is the right neighborhood. BARRILETE OR MEXICAN SKIPJACK – A few bonito and that is about it. PARGO AND CABRILLA – Who knows? Try a popper over the rock structure dotting East Cape beaches. SIERRA - Gray light just at dawn is best before the sun gets too high. MAGDALENA BAY, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO IN GENERAL: Peter Chan and Susan Rosen, vacationing from New York on a last minute whim, decided to give the esteros a shot and they were not disappointed. They found plenty of corvina, pompano and grouper to put a bend in their flyrods the past few days. They are back out this morning trying get tight with an illusive snook. Water Temperature 66°-74° Air Temperature 69°- 77° Humidity 59% Wind NNE 4 mph Conditions Scattered Clouds. Visibility 3 miles Sunrise 7:11 a.m. MST Sunset 5:49 p.m. MST Jan. 7 Full, Jan. 14 Last Quarter, Jan. 21 New, Jan. 28 First Quarter YELLOWTAIL – Plenty at the entrada under the bird schools, pretty selective this week. Try a slow-retrieved chartreuse Baja Deep Diver. CORVINA – No shortage here SNOOK – A challenge, but worth the effort. HALIBUT – Sandy beach and a slow retrieved Clouser will work every time. SIERRA – No takers this week . . . that’s anglers, not fish. ZIHUATANEJO, MAINLAND MEXICO IN GENERAL: The 80º blue water is only a couple of miles off the beach and the sailfish fishing has been outstanding. We are in our absolute busiest time of the year, with almost 40 boats a day chartered. Most boats are releasing 4 to 7 sailfish a day, and are raising 10 to 15 in the spread. Dan Smith, a fly-fisherman and Alaska salmon guide on a “busman’s holiday,” has averaged 4 releases a day on sailfish. He had one fantastic day of 6 releases. Inshore, the large jacks are still on the beaches, with a lot of sierra about a quarter of a mile out. The roosterfish action has cooled down a little bit, but this may be from lots of fishing pressure and not from the fact they are not here. Water Temperature 79º-86º Air Temperature 73° - 89º Humidity 83% Wind Calm Conditions Mostly Cloudy (BKN) : 25,000 ft Visibility 8 miles Sunrise 7:16 a.m. CST Sunset 6:22 p.m. CST Jan. 7 Full, Jan. 14 Last Quarter, Jan. 21 New, Jan. 28 First Quarter Baja on the Fly’s Zihuatanejo report by Ed Kunze IZTAPA, GUATEMALA IN GENERAL: During the week of Christmas, as can be expected, there was not a flood of activity. On Dec. 26-28, there were 4 boats out and they experienced some great action. The boats were able to average 16 releases out of 24 shots on sailfish, with the high boat for the week having a day where they released 31 of 45. We also had one boat go out for a half day of inshore fishing where they left the dock at 1:45 in the afternoon and returned a little after 5:30 in the evening and they were able to connect with 5 roosterfish out of 8 shots. Mr. and Mrs. Threeton were thrilled, since they were able to fly in from the U.S., head from the airport to the boat, and turn a travel day into a half-day of fishing filled with great action. Water Temperature 80º-85º Air Temperature 80°-84º Humidity 100% Wind North at 5 mph Conditions Clear Visibility 8 miles Sunrise 6:27 a.m. CST Sunset 5:47 p.m. CST Jan. 7 Full, Jan. 14 Last Quarter, Jan. 21 New, Jan. 28 First Quarter Baja on the Fly's Guatemala report by Brian Barragy and Lissa M. McFarlin. And from all of us – a very Happy, Healthy and Fishy New Year!