bajafly
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“Ocho Ocho” - the Place to Go
Endless Season Update 04/09/2009
REPORT #1161 "Below the Border" Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
East Cape
Best action reported is to the north, close to the 88. Loads of dorado and some marlin.
Closer to shore, anything floating seems to be holding schools of small dorado.
Same story inshore with a continuing run of quality roosters mixed in with some big-shouldered jacks north of Punta Pescadero all the way to Muertos.
Water temperature 67-73
Air temperature 57-87
Humidity 60%
Wind: NNW 8 to 11 knots
Conditions: Sunny
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 7:03 a.m. MST
Sunset 7:38 p.m. MST
Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico
Outside, the dorado can be found around the shark buoys and the small yellowfin tuna are within ten miles of Boca de Soledad. There’s still some
decent action at the Entrada for small yellows and some remaining sierra.
Estero action has been spotty. The few anglers fishing there found small snook, grouper and snapper at Devil’s Curve.
Water temperature 67 - 73
Air temperature 52 -81
Humidity 55 %
Wind: WNW 14 to 19 knots
Conditions: Partly Sunny
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 7:10 a.m. MST
Sunset 7:47 p.m. MST
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
For all species, the fishing here has really been very slow this week. Historically, this is a typical April trend. Then when the cooler water current
moves out, the fishing rebounds after the first week of May.
The blue water is still holding between 10 and 12 miles out, but the average is only about 1 sailfish per boat, per day. I was on the beach early this
morning watching the night fishermen bring in their catch, and even it was very small. However, this could be attributed to the full moon phase. There
was one commercial fisherman who had a few football sized yellowfin tuna, but he said he had to go 50 miles to find them.
Even the inshore jack crevalle action, which has been so hot the last few weeks, completely shut off this week.
Ed Kunze
Water temperature 78 - 83
Air temperature 68-86
Humidity 72%
Wind: Calm
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 7:40 a.m. CST
Sunset 8:00 p.m. CST
Cabo San Lucas
This time of year the Sea of Cortez, specifically up at the Punta Gorda area around the Inman Banks is where you’ll find the best striped marlin
action…mostly tailing fish and you’ll need to be pretty accurate with your casts. However, if you manage to get bait within 10 feet, the chances are
pretty good of getting a hookup. The better scoring boats are releasing 5 to 7 fish per day; others, one or two.
A few nice yellowfin were recently caught at the Gorda Banks, nothing earthshaking but some decent fish to 50 pounds. There were also several pods of
dolphin that did have fish with them, 10 to 20 pound football-sized fish. Most were on the Cortez side of the cape.
There have been scattered 20+ pound dorado in the warmer waters offshore on the Sea of Cortez. Hook one up and there’s a fair chance of getting
another following behind the hooked one. Spotting the frigates feeding was the key, although blind trolling resulted in some as well.
Inshore action has definitely been good. Sierra and yellowtail continue to dominate the inshore action. While not large, the sierra are in great
numbers once the schools were found. There has been great action just outside the beach on the Pacific side at Pueblo Bonita Sunset Resort and on the
Cortez side outside the Cabo Del Sol Golf Course. Most boats have been able to get limits for their anglers using sardina as live bait, but
blue/silver swimming plugs and hootchies did well also. A few yellowtail in the 8 to 10 pound class with a few fish to 25 pounds and an occasional
fish that could not be stopped. Added to the mix of fish caught were the occasional pargo and amberjack as well as some small roosterfish.
George & Mary Landrum
Water temperature 75 – 78
Air temperature 61 – 91
Humidity 62%
Wind: WNW 14 to 19 kts
Conditions: Sunny
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 7:04 a.m. MST
Sunset 7:38 p.m. MST
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Bernardo
Junior Nomad
Posts: 44
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Where can I find maps with locations of such fishing areas as "Gordo Banks"?
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6342
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Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
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"Close to the 88"
What and where is the 88. PLus I'll go along with Bernardo's question.
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bernardo
Where can I find maps with locations of such fishing areas as "Gordo Banks"? |
google.com
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Baja&Back
Senior Nomad
Posts: 549
Registered: 9-10-2004
Location: Vancouver, Canada / todo de Baja
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Mood: Rarin' to go South!
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Gene Kira's Baja fishing book. Probably the best source ever (other than having your very own Popeil Pocket Panguero)
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ZThomas
Junior Nomad
Posts: 62
Registered: 4-9-2008
Location: Reno
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The 88 is an offshore bank east of the southern end of Isla Cerralvo. It's roughly 22 miles from Ensenada de los Muertos, maybe 40 or so from Los
Barriles. It rises to a minimum depth of 88 fathoms--thus the name.
As for charts, both Baja Directions and the Fish-n-Map Co. make fishing charts showing the 88 and other offshore banks. The Baja Directions charts are
more colorful (and more expensive), but I use and sell the Fish-n-Map charts. In my opinion, they're more valuable. The only thing they lack (except
for the Pacific north chart) is GPS corodinates for named spots. But with a large bank like the 88, you can get close enough just by eyeballing the
coordinates from the lat and lon scales along the chart edges.
Finally, yes, The Baja Catch is an invaluable resource, but it focuses predominantly on inshore fishing with cartop baots and light tackle. It
actually contains very little information about fishing locations that aren't safely accessible in a 13-foot aluminum boat--so there's not much
coverage of offshore banks like the 88.
ZT
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Cypress
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7641
Registered: 3-12-2006
Location: on the bayou
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Mood: undecided
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Baja fishing? Go for it! You're at least 20 years too late.
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Cardon Man
Super Nomad
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Registered: 8-28-2003
Location: Thetis Bank
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Mood: !Al Chingaso!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Cypress
Baja fishing? Go for it! You're at least 20 years too late. |
Same could be said of pretty much anywhere in this hemisphere. But the fact is...There's still damn fine fishing opportunities in Baja.
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Cypress
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7641
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Location: on the bayou
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Cardon Man, That all depends upon your definition of "fine fishing".
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Cardon Man
Super Nomad
Posts: 1319
Registered: 8-28-2003
Location: Thetis Bank
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Mood: !Al Chingaso!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Cypress
Cardon Man, That all depends upon your definition of "fine fishing".
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Well observed. 
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bajafly
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Location: Escondido
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Maps
| Quote: | Originally posted by Bernardo
Where can I find maps with locations of such fishing areas as "Gordo Banks"? |
Here you go
Los Arenas
http://www.mexfish.com/lapz/lapz/ventmp/ventmp.htm
East Cape
http://www.mexfish.com/ecap/ecap/ecapmp/ecapmp.htm
Tip of Baja
http://www.mexfish.com/baja/baja/cabosmp/cabosmp.htm
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9009
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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Good luck using those for any REAL navigation to them.
I agree with Zack. The Fish-n-Map is the best, although not as "pretty" as the Baja Directions maps.
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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8084
Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
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Is that Dave Harris holding the dorado?
We haven't fished together in a decade.
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akbear
Nomad
Posts: 203
Registered: 8-23-2003
Location: Buena Vista BCS
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Here are the email and phone # of Baja Directions.
1-800-999-9006
http://www.bajadirections.com
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BajaBruno
Super Nomad
Posts: 1035
Registered: 9-6-2006
Location: Back in CA
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Gene Kira's book is a great resource, as Baja&Back says, and I never leave home without it, but Hook is correct--the charts are crude and drawn
from memory (though one better than mine). They are good for general reference rather than specific points.
But then, I've never found a Baja chart that could be trusted for a reliable lat/lon fix, be it British Admiralty or the better fishing charts. I
have plotted points on the map, followed my GPS to the lat/lon, and often found that the chart was up to one mile off, regardless of source.
I agree with CardonMan that there is fine fishing in Baja--some of the best to be had anywhere if you are willing to chase it, and I reject the
BaHumbug of Cypress--one can still love their lover, even after a few wrinkles show.
Christopher Bruno, Elk Grove, CA.
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baitcast
Super Nomad
Posts: 1785
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I,m afraid when Cypress went south he hooked up with a less than capable panga,he should have found a mentor who was willing to help him out.
A bad day fishin the gulf is better than you can find most anywhere and I have fished a whole lot of places.
Hell you don,t even need a boat down there to have a great time,just find a nice sandy beach and have at it,an example is this pic,my bud
hooked up to one of many corvina on a lonely beach,location is classified
Just a little old 14' tin boat opens up a whole world of fishin to a guy,and thats all I have to say about that.
Rob
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Cypress
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7641
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Location: on the bayou
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baitcast, Wrong I was only fishing from a kayak, cut bait, lures, yea I caught fish. Mentor? Been fishing all my life, commercial, sports, and govt.
research. Believe me, I know when a fishery is in serious trouble.
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