bajafly - 1-18-2009 at 05:24 PM
Endless Season Update 01/14/2009
REPORT #1149 "Below the Border" Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
East Cape
The box below compares the cost of the 2009 Mexican Fishing licenses with the cost in 2008. The price of the
licenses actually went up about 8%. However, the peso rate increased in favor of the dollar by about 31%. The
lesson here is to purchase your Mexican License with pesos and it will be cheaper than it was last year.
Mexican Fishing license cost two year comparison
2008 1 USD =10.9076 MXN 2009 1 USD = 14.2829 MXN
2008 1 day license 130 pesos ($11.92) Weekly 260 pesos ($23.84) Annual 500 pesos
($45.84)
2009 1 day license 136 pesos
($9.17) Weekly 290 pesos ($20.30) Annual 540 pesos
($37.81)
There are few guests at the hotels so most of the boats are not heading out. North winds blew most of the week
creating a left over lump along the beach which prevented even the tin boat fleet from getting a couple of hours
fishing in before the relentless wind pounded the beach in the afternoon.
Water temperature 67-73
Air temperature 57-77
Humidity 65%
Wind: NNW 9 to 12 knots
Conditions: Sunny
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 7:03 a.m. MST
Sunset 5:53 p.m. MST
Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico
The annual influx of tourists arrived in search of a close encounter with the rapidly growing number of whales that
have begun arriving from the North. Every year the number of visitors seems to grow. Meanwhile the fishing
almost comes to a standstill while the town puts on a short lived, eco-friendly image. An image that quickly
disappears when the ‘big guys’ leave.
Bob Hoyt
Water temperature 67 - 73
Air temperature 56 -78
Humidity 68 %
Wind: WSW 5 to 6 knots
Conditions: Sunny
Visibility 7 miles
Sunrise 7:13 a.m. MST
Sunset 5:58 p.m. MST
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
It is still only a short ride to the 83º blue water, and the outstanding fishing for sailfish continues. And, we were in
the middle of the full moon phase last week. It is hard to believe, but the great fishing we have now is going to
get even better in this next few weeks.
Each boat in the fleet is averaging between four and six sailfish a day, and at least one 20+ pound dorado. Most of
the blue water action is taking place between the 12 and 13 mile mark.
The individual counts are almost too numerous to list, but a few examples are like Martin on the Nautilius,
averaging five sailfish and a dorado per day, with a high day of nine sailfish released. Martin also hooked a large
blue marlin, but lost it after a few minutes. Annual returning fishermen,
Billy and Barbara Gray of Hilton head, South Carolina fished 3 days with Santiago on the panga, Gitana, releasing
19 sails, and then one day with Adan on the panga Gitana II, releasing seven. There is a large group of fishermen
from Denmark here now, and they are having a blast. The days they fish the blue water, they gets lots of sails and
dorado. The days they are inshore, they are getting lots of jack crevalle and sierras. The only thing missing
inshore are the roosters, but they will be back in May.
Ed Kunze
Water temperature 78 - 80
Air temperature 73-89
Humidity 65%
Wind: Calm
Conditions: Mostly Cloudy
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 7:20 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:31 p.m. CST
Cabo San Lucas
The striped marlin have continued to bite at the Golden Gate Bank. Catch rates varied from between two to ten
fish per day. Running to the diving pelicans and frigates and throwing a couple of live baits in among the feeding
seals and marlin resulted in many hook-ups on both marlin and pelicans. The striped marlin have also begun to
show just off of the lighthouse on the Pacific side. Along the flats at the point, the bait has begun to stack up and
many boats are fishing there instead of making the run to the Golden Gate Bank.
There were also a few yellowfin between 15-20 pounds found among porpoise off of Gray Rock, and the same
type of action was occasionally found 8-10 miles off the beach on the way to the San Jaime Bank on the Pacific
side.
There were decent catches of dorado averaging 12 pounds this week from the Pacific side of the Cape just a few
miles off the beach. Farther off shore at 10+ miles, the fish seemed to be bigger... one boat came in with three
dorado over 35 pounds
The sierra bite is picking up and the fish are good sized, between 8 and 10 pounds, and a few quality yellowtail
are starting to pop up occasionally off of the Rocky points, as well as pargo to 25 pounds right in the rocks. Many
of the pangas working just offshore for dorado and striped marlin are doing fairly well.
George & Mary Landrum
Water temperature 73 - 82
Air temperature 54 - 85
Humidity 67%
Wind: ENE 2 to 2 knots
Conditions: Mostly Cloudy
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 7:03 a.m. MST
Sunset 5:55 p.m. MST