bajafly - 4-8-2006 at 08:42 AM
REPORT #1005. ?Below the Border? Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 04/08/06
East Cape
Early arrival at the Shark Buoys
Too bad there were only a few visitors to enjoy the great fishing early this week. "Shooting fish in a barrel," was how one client described the
fishing when I arrived here in East Cape last Friday afternoon. But then the north wind roared back in on Wednesday (4/5) leaving white caps and lumps
in its wake.
Yesterday (4/6) the Matt Smith party of three from Indiana had a pretty decent beach trip despite the breezes. They nailed some croakers and a jack.
Meanwhile, inshore fishing turned on nicely, with pargo, grouper and ladyfish hitting the decks.
Skippers are finding quality dorado under the shark buoys, striped marlin and sails outside, and, if you go far enough and are lucky, you might even
find a few tuna to bend your stick. Inshore, skipjack and white bonito provided the best action. On the good days the beach yielded a few ladyfish,
pompano and if you pay attention you might find few decent-sized jacks to sight cast to. If that is not enough, rumors of grande yellowtail in shallow
water up towards Muertos Bay have some of the locals chomping at the bit. As the winter-to-spring transition continues, it appears to be shaping up to
be an exciting springtime at East Cape.
As of last Sunday, all flights have been cancelled by Aero California and that has thrown Baja travel into a tailspin. Word is that the Mexican
government yanked their license. Competition for the remaining flights on other carriers has driven the cost of tickets through the roof. Hopefully,
there will be some resolution during the next few weeks.
Baja on the Fly
Water temperature 62-70
Air temperature 68-82
Humidity 60%
Wind: NW 8 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 7:04 a.m. MST
Sunset 7:37 p.m. MST
Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico
Grouper can be a handful on a flyrod
I spent the early part of the week in Lopez Mateos and it could only be described as cold and windy. I don?t think I took off my sweatshirt once
during the day. However, by Friday it warmed up and the wind quit blowing. Inside the bay there was a decent leopard grouper bite for some 10- to
20-pounders up above Lopez Mateos. Not much to talk about outside, but judging by the number of big tuna boats anchored in Santa Maria Bay on Thursday
hiding from the weather, there must be a slug of tuna somewhere in the vicinity. The number of whales around San Carlos and the entrada is diminishing
rapidly. Lastly, still a few firecracker yellows can be found under the bird schools at the entrada.
Water temperature 60 - 66
Air temperature 64-78
Humidity 99%
Wind: WNW 11 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 7:11 a.m. MST
Sunset 7:46 p.m. MST
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
The blue water is still only a very short three mile ride, with water temperatures hitting 80?. The fleet is averaging about two sailfish a day, per
boat. Adan, on the panga ?Gitana II? did have a four sailfish release day for his clients. His brother Santiago, on the ?Gitana,? fishing with Martin
and Rachel Patrick, released two sailfish and a 170 pound blue marlin. Doug Leach, also fished a day with Santiago using the flyrod, hooking a couple,
and releasing one sail, and a dorado.
The inshore action is still strong for the large jack crevalle and there are lots of black skipjacks.
Ed Kunze, Zihuatanejo
Water temperature 78 - 84
Air temperature 78 - 87
Humidity 83%
Wind WNW 6 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 7:34 a.m. CST
Sunset 8:00 p.m. CST
San Jose, Guatemala
The record-breaking catches seen during March madness in Guatemala is over with new records set. There are enough stories to dominate Happy Hours
wherever fishermen gather for sometime. April began with the fish being less concentrated as they spread out looking for bait. There was consistent
action beginning at 20 miles for both sails and an occasional marlin in calm seas.
Water temperature 78 - 82
Air temperature 70- 84
Humidity 94%
Wind: N 4 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 6 miles
Sunrise 5:54 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:15 p.m. CST
Pompano - 4-8-2006 at 09:27 AM
Good timing!...I am on my way back soon. Hopefully to catch some nice bulls.
The earliest dorado I ever caught were on the Ides of March (15th) in 1988. Trolling Mexican-flag feathers near Ille del Fonso. We were killing time
while cruising towards Loreto and they hit...we forgot about Loreto.
Bob and Susan - 4-8-2006 at 09:37 AM
"Inshore, skipjack and white bonito provided the best action. On the good days the beach yielded a few ladyfish, pompano and if you pay attention you
might find few decent-sized jacks..."
don't get caught
on the contrary...I do the catching....
Pompano - 4-8-2006 at 09:41 AM
Diver - 4-8-2006 at 10:05 AM
That looks like my old boat !!
Maybe you were a previous owner ?? 
It was a "holy" boat; 26' Aquasport with 300 hp outboard !
[Edited on 4-8-2006 by Diver]
Diver...
Pompano - 4-8-2006 at 10:26 AM
would rather chase them in this one....getting too stiff for those uncomfy center consoles these days.
[Edited on 4-8-2006 by Pompano]
Diver - 4-8-2006 at 10:45 AM
Careful of the "modified" deep V on some of those comfy cruisers, they don't cut it in the soup !
I had a 28' Carver that swayed like a cork and bounced like a rock.
Pompano - 4-8-2006 at 11:08 AM
Diver...I thought you had better sea-sense than to buy a Carver..narrow beamed, top heavy, and a real wallower in heavy seas.
This is a Tolly 26..almost 11ft beam and one of the roomiest 26 footers ever made. A real classic. We took one through the San Juans and to Tofino
on west coast of Vancouver. A real true camping/fishing combo that hopefully will serve us well in the Cortez...which is a millpond compared to the
north Pacific coasts.
Felipa, on the other hand, has her favorite, too...sigh.