bajafly
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Posts: 387
Registered: 9-11-2003
Location: Escondido
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The Sounds of an Early Spring
REPORT FROM GARY GRAHAM'S BAJA ON THE FLY:
PROVIDING QUALITY SALTWATER FLY-FISHING 365 DAYS A YEAR IN BAJA FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: bajafly@bajafly.com; USA toll-free (800) 919-2252; Mexico
011-52-624-14-10373
Fri., Feb 6, 2004. Report covers the period Sat.-Thurs. (1/21 - 1/28)
EAST CAPE, MAGDALENA BAY, ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO; AND IZTAPA, GUATEMALA CONDITIONS
EAST CAPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
IN GENERAL: Ladyfish, roosters (small), sierra (early morning) and jacks up to 20-pounds had our guide Tim Stelzer smiling as he got in some R&R time
between the north winds. There were even a few dorado and marlin caught further offshore this week. But the winds . . . ah, the winds!
AIR & SEA -
Water temperature 66-73
Air temperature 60 - 66
Humidity about 52%
Wind North at 7 mph
Conditions Mostly Cloudy (BKN) : 4,000 ft
Visibility 15 miles
Sunrise 6:57 a.m. MST
Sunset 6:08 p.m. MST
Feb. 6 Full Feb. 13 Last Quarter Feb. 20 New, Feb. 27 First Quarter
o OFFSHORE: Shark buoys to the north near Punta Pescadero seemed to be one of the better places to start this week. Even if the north wind blows
you still have a decent ride home.
o INSHORE: Began to pick up noticeably as the wind subsided.
o BEACH: Early morning sierra for the effort.
BILLFISH - A few stragglers or early arrivals, who knows?
YELLOWFIN TUNA - Charlie's missing.
DORADO - Not a barnburner, but a few here and there.
ROOSTERFISH - Smaller variety began to show this week.
JACK CREVALLE -Toro, toro, toro and big ones at that.
BARRILETE OR MEXICAN SKIPJACK - A few bonito.
PARGO AND CABRILLA - Floating lines and poppers over the rocks can be
productive . . . and lots of fun.
SIERRA - Gray light just at dawn is best before the sun gets too high.
MAGDALENA BAY, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
Puerto San Carlos:
IN GENERAL: The whale population continues to grow and everyone, it seems, is out looking for the giants. There are many calves to ooh and aah over.
Water Temperature 66-74
Air Temperature 59- 69
Humidity 36%
Wind North at 2 mph
Conditions Clear
Visibility 7 miles
Sunrise 7:07 a.m. MST
Sunset 6:14 p.m. MST
Feb. 6 Full Feb. 13 Last Quarter Feb. 20 New, Feb. 27 First Quarter
YELLOWTAIL - Several larger fish caught at the entrada this week.
CORVINA - Slowed down a tad this week.
SNOOK - Disappeared completely this week.
HALIBUT - Punta Belcher produced a few.
SIERRA - Look for the bird schools.
Puerto Lopez Mateos:
IN GENERAL: We've been fishing out of Lopez Mateos for the last 10 days and the fishing has been good. Our four trips to the Boca Santa Domingo
produced 25-40 fish per day: corvina from 2.5- to 12.5-pounds as well as pargo up to 12-pounds and up to six
species of various grunts and small pargo (up to 3 pounds); also botete and midshipmen all on live bait or pieces of shrimp.
We would purchase the shrimp from fishermen as they were coming in from a night of fishing, usually $100 pesos per kilo. Many times all you need are
the heads and bodies of the little ones, which leaves lots of big tails for supper. Captain Ruben Duran put us on to some excellent fishing areas and
techniques.
We used small lead head jigs with scampi tails as well as live bait shrimp rigs. We also spent one day at Devil's Curve south of Lopez Mateos,
fishing only jigs and crocs. We caught many small to medium cabrilla and leatherjackets, and we also hooked, but sadly lost, a trophy golden jack
(palometta) on a 1.5 oz. chrome croc. My friend would have had this jack replica mounted if he had landed it.
One trip outside for giant black sea bass produced nothing, but this was not for lack of trying. Sea conditions were horrible and we are looking
forward to next year and trying again.
Baja on the Fly?s Lopez Mateos report by Brad Murakami, bajasurbrad@hotmail.com
ZIHUATANEJO, MAINLAND MEXICO
IN GENERAL: Early this last week a 74 cold water current moved in and pushed the blue water way out. The fishing was severely affected, and most
notable, was the three day International Sailfish Tournament. Of 100 boats in the event, only about 150 sailfish were caught.
Later in the week, the blue water came back in to about 22 miles, and the next day it was at 8 miles. The fishing has definitely improved. Most boats
are now averaging a couple of sailfish, with a few dorado showing up. Captain Calli, on the ?Vamonos II? managed 4 sailfish and two dorado for his
clients on his best day.
The cooler water has been beneficial for the yellowfin tuna fishing, however. Every day at least one 200-pound tuna is hitting the docks. The tuna are
holding under the porpoise and anywhere from 3 miles off the beach to 30 miles.
Few roosterfish are being caught, however, Captain Seis, on the panga ?Moramy,? managed a 35 pound fish, on a slow trolled live bait, at the entrance
to Marina Ixtapa.
A couple of other pangas reported huge areas of large jack crevalle near the airport and White Rocks.
Water Temperature 73-86
Air Temperature 71 - 86
Humidity 70%
Wind West at 12 mph
Conditions Mostly Cloudy (BKN) : 25,000 ft
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 7:17 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:42 p.m. CST
Feb. 6 Full Feb. 13 Last Quarter Feb. 20 New, Feb. 27 First Quarter
Baja on the Fly's Zihuatanejo report by Ed Kunze
IZTAPA, GUATEMALA
IN GENERAL: The action the last week has been steady. There were quite a few anglers out sampling the Guatemalan action on the fly, and they were
able to average an excellent 6 releases on sails per day out of 14 shots in 8 trips out. On the conventional side, the average was somewhat better,
16 of 25 on sails. The high boat for the week had an exceptional hookup ratio, going 28 of 30. That is what we like to see. There were once again
dorado and tuna present if you were looking for them. Inshore, we had no one out.
Gary Graham came down this week to start a 10 day hosted set of trips and on the first day out they had over 40 sails in the pattern behind the boat,
so the bite, I am happy to report, is picking up again. Full stats on this week?s action will follow in next week?s report. Once again I would like
to remind everyone that Gary is having a billfish clinic in early April, so if you want to hone your billfish skills or would like to try it for the
first time, this would be a great opportunity for some intensive instruction . . . casting, hooking, playing and landing sailfish and potentially
marlin on a fly.
Water Temperature 80-85
Air Temperature 80-84
Humidity 70 %
Wind Calm
Conditions Clear
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 6:30 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:04 p.m. CST
Feb. 6 Full Feb. 13 Last Quarter Feb. 20 New, Feb. 27 First Quarter
Baja on the Fly's Guatemala report by Brian Barragy and Lissa M. McFarlin.
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Packoderm
Super Nomad
Posts: 2116
Registered: 11-7-2002
Member Is Offline
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The Sounds of an Early Spring
When I opened this post, I was expecting something Mike Mumphreville-esque:
Ah the rejuvenatingly serene sounds of the coming spring - the sound of junebugs chirping in the lush mesquite trees juxtaposed to the stark, opaque
desert air...  Mike, I love you man!
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