Weather You Like it or Not REPORT #979. “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996 Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico Torrential rains greeted the early-arriving participants for our catch and release “Jacks or Better” tournament. Several anglers including Bruce Pratt, from Beaufort, South Carolina and last year’s winner Brian Berger from San Francisco, found plenty of action in the jack department, both landing fish in the 10- to 20-pound class on Wed. (10/5). By Fri. morning when the pre-fish day was scheduled, the sun was shining and the boats headed out in search of some action. http://www.bajafly.com/Newsletter/DSC00973.JPG Ed Kunze Water temperature 80 - 84 Air temperature 78 - 86 Humidity 55% Wind: SE 5 mph Conditions: Scattered Clouds Visibility 10 miles Sunrise 7:37 a.m. CDT Sunset 7:29 p.m. CDT Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico Otis came and went and left some grumpy seas along with wind and rain which prevented anyone from fishing outside. The esteros were not wonderful, but did provide some diversion while waiting for Otis to pass. Spotted bay bass, a few grouper and trigger fish were all that could be found. When things finally settled down later in the week, a few boats were able to get outside. Water temperatures dropped a few degrees to the 77-78 range, but the YFT didn’t seem to care and were found half way out to the Thetis Bank. With few boats out, it is difficult to say where the marlin, wahoo and dorado ended up after the storm. Water temperature 70-81 Air temperature 71-86 Humidity 79% Wind: W 17 Conditions: Mostly Cloudy Visibility 5 miles Sunrise 7:21 a.m. MDT Sunset 6:58 p.m. MDT East Cape Everyone is watching the storm containing the leftovers of “Stan,” which is meandering up the Mexican coast. Stan dumped plenty of rain on Guatemala and the West Coast of Mexico including Zihuatanejo. Unsettled conditions this week slowed the fishing down a tad. With few clients willing to head out, the reports were sketchy at best. There are still the squid out a few miles (go figure). Some tuna are out in front of La Ribera, but they are driven down quickly as more boats land on them. Offshore, billfish remain the best target. Dorado finally are showing, but don’t get me wrong – it’s not a bonanza. Along the beach, wind waves have made the water the color of a bad cup of coffee. http://www.bajafly.com/Newsletter/mexsat_720x486108.jpg Baja on the Fly Water temperature 80-88 Air temperature 78-96 Humidity 55% Wind: SE 12 mph Conditions: Mostly Cloudy Visibility 12 miles Sunrise 7:12 a.m. MDT Sunset 6:50 p.m. MDT San Jose, Guatemala Hurricane “Stan” caused some heavy flooding to some parts of Puerto San Jose. A few of the private houses in the Villas del Pacifico Compound were flooded with two to three feet of water but most are OK. At the resort, a few large trees were fallen and some flooding to the employee quarters and parking lot but the resort is OK and open for business. Currently the roads to both the Villas and Marina Sol are closed but should open soon. Because of the poor weather no boats fished this week. Water temperature 78 - 82 Air temperature 77- 80 Humidity 94% Wind: WSW 9 mph Conditions: Light Drizzle Visibility 6 miles Sunrise 5:53 a.m. CST Sunset 5:46 p.m. CST For additional information: [email protected] USA toll-free (800) 919-2252 or 760/746-7260; Mexico 011-52-624-14-10373 or (760) 670 4916