EAST CAPE AND MAGDALENA BAY FISHING CONDITIONS Sat., March 16, 2002 EAST CAPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO IN GENERAL: Plenty of dorado and marlin flags were seen flying on most of the fleet boats this week Billfish and dorado from Punta Arena to Las Frailes – 10 to 20 miles offshore – had most of the fleet making the journey down that way. Back inshore, there was a nice wad of dorado just three miles out in front of Rancho Leonero. In addition, jacks and roosters provided some fast paced action from Rancho Leonero to Punta Colorada. The sierra are still mixed in, creating the dilemma of whether to use wire bite tippet or not. Yvonne and I attended the grand re-opening of Jeff Solis's San Diego Fly Shop in Solana Beach last night and we, together with the other 75 attendees, thought that Jeff and his crew are ready for prime time. They’re at 124 Lomas Santa Fe Dr., Solana Beach, Calif. 92075 (phone 858 350 3111). The shop’s just a long double haul from the beach and should provide the kind of fly shop that the San Diego area has been waiting for. I can't stand it any longer. I am heading back to the East Cape this morning and will be back on the beach early tomorrow (Sun.) morning to see if the jacks are biting as well as the recent reports indicate. AIR & SEA: Sunny Hi 81° Lo 63 Wind: S /11 mph Humidity: 88% Dewpoint: 61° Visibility: 15 Sea Temps: 68 - 72 degrees. . OFFSHORE: It is worth the ride down the coast for some good action on both marlin and dorado. . INSHORE: Sierra, jacks and roosters at Punta Colorada were the best bet. . BEACH: Lots of jacks just below Rancho Leonero BILLFISH - Seems to be heating up early this year YELLOWFIN TUNA - Should be making their spring debut anytime. DORADO - Plenty of action down Punta Arena way. ROOSTERFISH - Several large schools reported in front of Punta Colorada and better yet, they are biting! JACK CREVALLE - Both beach an inshore action very good right now. BARRILETE OR MEXICAN SKIPJACK - A few bonito here and there. PARGO AND CABRILLA - Explore the rocky points or reefs along shore. Try using a floating line and a holographic popper and you may get a trophy pargo. SIERRA - Still a good showing tight to the beach. Don't forget the wire bite tippet! Watch for the bait schools close to shore. Catch of the Week Photo: http://www.bajafly.com/weeklycatch.htm MAGDALENA BAY, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO Sat., March 16, 2002 IN GENERAL: Dorado, small yellowfin tuna are not too far outside the entrada. Those and yellowtail down deep at the entrada attracted most of the attention by the few boats fishing this week. And, yes, there’s still plenty of whale watching activity going on with loads of mothers with their newborn calves to watch. AIR & SEA: Clear skies and 70-60 degrees with some wind in the afternoon. YELLOWTAIL - Not much on the surface, most of the action is down 75-100 feet near the entrada. CORVINA – Devil’s Curve and the Power Plant are holding some smaller fish. SNOOK - Plenty of fish around in some of the deeper holes up toward Devil’s Curve. HALIBUT - Punta Belcher and the sand beaches across from San Carlos yielded catches of halibut to seven pounds. SIERRA - Still slow. Catch of the Week Photo: http://www.bajafly.com/weeklycatchmagbay.htm