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| Around 10% of the world's total fish species can be found just within the Great Barrier Reef. |
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| Starfish can re-grow their arms. In fact, a single arm can regenerate a whole body. |
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| Starfish do not have blood. Their blood is actually filtered sea water. |
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| Starfish don't have brains. Special cells on their skin gather information about their surroundings |
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| Not all animals with the word fish in their names count as fish. |
| Though their names may suggest otherwise, cuttlefish, starfish, and jellyfish aren’t actually fish. Generally-speaking, fishes must have skulls, gills, and fins. Surprisingly, though, not all fishes have proper spines. |
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| In three decades, the world's oceans will contain more discarded plastic than fish when measured by weight, researchers say. |
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| As of 2020, there were 34,000 known fish species around world. That’s more than the number of species in all other vertebrates: birds, reptiles, mammals, and amphibians combined. |
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| Just how man species of fish are there? |
| As of 2020, there were 34,000 known fish species around world. That’s more than the number of species in all other vertebrates: birds, reptiles, mammals, and amphibians combined. |
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| Even Catfish are finicky |
| Taste Buds ? Catfish have a more refined sense of flavor than humans. Our 10,000 taste buds may seem like a lot, but catfish can have as many as 175,000. This helps them find the exact location of their next meal. |
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| A bit of Humor |
| My brother has 2 German Shepherds named Rolex and Timex. You guessed it they are Watch Dogs. |
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From Jan 01, 1999 To Apr 30, 2024
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Apr 7, 2007; 10:40AM - Easter Week without Wind? Almost!
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Category: Saltwater Fly Fishing Reports
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Author Name: Gary Graham
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REPORT #1057 “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update April 7, 2007
Yvonne and I recently acquired a Road Trek, a self-contained van, so that we could spend more time exploring Baja. This week I made my first trip to Baja in the rig and it has been great. Internet access is a must for me and I can’t believe that every RV Park I have stayed in on the trip down had wireless access. Baja is a changing!
East Cape
It has been a while since East Cape had an Easter week with no wind! On Monday, the wind just died and the Sea of Cortez was like grease through Thursday. On Good Friday the wind arrived just in time to greet the Locals celebrating 'Semana Santa' on East Cape Beaches.
Offshore action has included good marlin counts with even a few early sailfish in the mix. If you were up for a long boat ride, you could have found fair numbers of dorado to the north and a smattering of tuna way south.
The sight fishing conditions were near perfect until Thursday when the clouds came rolling in. While you could find action on small roosters and a few ladyfish in the likely spots, the larger variety of roosterfish were among the missing in the shallows. Schools of big jacks are around but are still locked into their milling/daisy chaining behavior, making them tough to catch. Ever so often they cruise close to shore and on occasion will light up and chase a well placed fly. Although there are few sardina to be found along the beach, there are quite a few ballyhoo and pockets of mullet so far.
Water temperature 65-74
Air temperature 60-90
Humidity 47%
Wind: SW 13 knots
Conditions: Cloudy
Visibility 20 miles
Sunrise 7:05 a.m. MDT
Sunset 7:37 p.m. MDT
Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico
Didn’t hear of much action outside this week. In the Esteros, there was another big tide and fast current. This week yielded so-so action for corvina, spotted bay bass and a few grouper.
Even the Entrada’s yellow action slowed this week and about the only thing biting consistently was the small halibut in the shallows near the sandy beaches at Belchers.
Water temperature 65 - 72
Air temperature 64 -81
Humidity 47 %
Wind: SW 10 knots
Conditions: Cloudy
Visibility 3 miles
Sunrise 7:14 a.m. MDT
Sunset 7:45 p.m. MDT
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
Under the full moon period, the fishing has been a bit on the slow side, with most of the action beyond the 20 mile mark.
Sea temperatures have held at 80 degrees plus which is unusual. for this time of the year. Normally early April current, brings a current of cold green water pushing the blue water out beyond the 40 mile areas.
Inshore was lightly fished this week with so-so results.
Ed Kunze
Water temperature 80 - 84
Air temperature 76-86
Humidity 65%
Wind: SW 8 knots
Conditions: Partly Cloudy
Visibility 11 miles
Sunrise 7:46 a.m. CDT
Sunset 8:01 p.m. CDT
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Mar 31, 2007; 03:45PM - Spring Forward…..Wind Back
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Category: Saltwater Fly Fishing Reports
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Author Name: Gary Graham
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REPORT #1056 “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 03/31/07
East Cape
Mexico switched to daylight savings time this week, just as the north wind cranked back up shutting down what had been some good early season beach fishing. Water conditions quickly went from clean and fairly warm, to off color and cooler as the relentless wind waves pounded the beach. Earlier in the week the first pods of larger roosterfish in the 10 to 15 lb range could be seen cruising the beach in groups of a half dozen or so. The smaller juveniles roosters (1 or 2 lbs) are still numerous as well. While not exactly spring-style beach action, it was great to have a few cruisers to cast to. The jack crevalle have been seen schooling near-shore in larger groups. They are still in their milling/spawning behavior and they continue to be tough on the fly. That being said, they will indeed eat a fly if you are persistent and lucky enough to get a few chances. Sea lions have them spooked as well, which doesn't help the bite.
Offshore fishing action prior to the return of the wind included a good showing of striped marlin for those willing to run south...way south. Tuna action was found under the porpoise throughout Las Palmas Bay before the wind stirred things up.
Water temperature 65-78
Air temperature 55-82
Humidity 70%
Wind: NNW 11-15 knots
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 6 miles
Sunrise 7:12 a.m. MDT
Sunset 7:34 p.m. MDT
Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico
Little action reported by the steady stream of yachts pounding up the coast toward California in less than ideal traveling weather. The best action found was on the finger bank below Tasco.
Whale watching season is over and attention has turned back to fishing by the locals. So far the action has been spotty; the Entrada produced a few small yellows along with a few bonito. With big tides creating ripping currents, the Esteros also performed poorly this week only yielding a few grouper, corvina and spotted bay bass.
Water temperature 65 - 72
Air temperature 55 -86
Humidity 64 %
Wind: WNW 6-9 knots
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 7:20 a.m. MDT
Sunset 7:42 p.m. MDT
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
Fishing has been a bit slow this week. The blue water moved out to the 15 mile mark, and then back in to 10 miles.
According to the Terrafin Satellite Surface Temperatures, the water within the normal fishing zone of 30 miles is a blustery 84º, with the preferable 80º water about 40 miles. This explains why most sailfish are being taken between 18 and 20 miles, with the tuna and blue marlin coming from the 40 to 45 mile mark.
Adolpho on the panga, Dos Hermanos, told me he did have one decent day on sails, releasing four. He also said the inshore action is very slow. Adolpho is one of our absolute best roosterfish and jack crevalle captains, and if he says it is slow, then do not waste your time trying for them.
Ed Kunze
Water temperature 80 - 84
Air temperature 74-86
Humidity 83%
Wind: NNW 4 knots
Conditions: Partly Cloudy
Visibility 7 miles
Sunrise 7:42 a.m. CDT
Sunset 7:59 p.m. CDT
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Mar 24, 2007; 02:05PM - Transition Time in Baja
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Category: Saltwater Fly Fishing Reports
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Author Name: Gary Graham
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Transition Time in Baja
REPORT #1055 “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 03/24/07
[b]East Cape[/b]
[img]http://www.bajafly.com/report/lady.jpg[/img]
[b]Feeding Lady[/b]
Water temperature 65-78
Air temperature 62-75
Humidity 57 %
Wind: NNW 7 to 9 knts
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 6:27 a.m. MST
Sunset 6:39 p.m. MST
The transition from winter to spring is in full swing and hopefully it won’t be long before the north winds will only be a fading memory. Most of the action offshore was down to the south and included some football tuna that have begun to arrive along with the continuing striped marlin bite. Unfortunately, dorado action slowed down a click or two this week.
Inshore the small roosters and sierra led the way along with a few ladyfish and pompano. We’re still seeing the larger variety jacks but they seem to be afflicted with a serious case of lockjaw.
[b]Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico[/b]
Water temperature 65 - 72
Air temperature 55 -82
Humidity 82 %
Wind: WNW 13 knots
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 6:26 a.m. MST
Sunset 6:39 p.m. MST
The few boats heading offshore found slim pickings from the Entrada all the way out to the Thetis Bank. The preponderance of bait in the water, mostly squid, may have had a lot to do with it. Back at the Entrada the bite also had slowed for the firecracker yellows for the same reason.
Action was a bit better in the Esteros with corvina providing the best action. There were also a few grouper, pargo and plenty of spotted bay bass to be found at slack tide up above Lopez Mateos.
[b]Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico [/b]
Even though the incredible blue marlin bite of last week has not continued at its torrid pace, we have not exactly had a 'should have been here last week' situation either.
A full half of the 15 boat fleet is still getting at least a shot at a blue marlin, with an average of about three blues a day being hooked. Cheva, on the panga, Dos Hermanos II, told me how he had a double on two marlin going a respectable 230 and 300 pounds. They got them both to the boat, and with what is probably the understatement of the year, he said, “it was a 'bit confusing at times”.
The sailfish action is still only averaging about 1 fish per boat per day. A few yellowfin tuna are being taken at the 40 mile mark by the commercial pangeros.
We had some high surf this week, and the jack crevalle action slowed down a bit, but there are tons of black skipjack tuna. (This is one of the reasons the marlin are plentiful - the small tuna is a favorite food of a marlin.) The hard-fighting small tuna are providing very good action for fly rodders.
Ed Kunze
Water temperature 80 - 84
Air temperature 66-86
Humidity 83%
Wind: Calm
Conditions: Partly Cloudy
Visibility 2 miles
Sunrise 6:46 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:57 p.m. CST
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Mar 10, 2007; 04:35PM - Roosters a Plenty
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Category: Saltwater Fly Fishing Reports
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Author Name: Gary Graham
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REPORT #1053 “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 03/10/07
East Cape
Water temperature 65-72
Air temperature 54-87
Humidity 28 %
Wind: N 4 knots
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 6:33 a.m. MST
Sunset 6:22 p.m. MST
The Baja winter pattern continued this week with a few great days and more wind on the others. The jacks that had been frequently spotted along the beach seemed to have disappeared, being replaced by small groups of “young and dumb” juvenile roosters quite willing to bite almost anything in front of them. Give them a couple of months and they will become much more selective. The winds continue to scatter the small baitfish along the shore. There were also a few schools of pompano spotted flashing and grubbing in the sand but they seemed to have lockjaw and weren’t interested in anything offered. The local panga fishermen have been scoring on pargo a short distance off the beach.
Offshore much of same action as the past few weeks - fair billfish action with an occasional dorado up to the north.
Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico
Water temperature 65 - 72
Air temperature 56 -83
Humidity 65 %
Wind: WNW 11 to 15 knots
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 6:41 a.m. MST
Sunset 6:43 p.m. MST
The local panga fishermen claim that they have been spotting a number of marlin chasing bait balls with the birds not far behind near the Thetis bank. Closer to shore there are still a few dorado to be found, though not the bonanza experienced a couple of months ago.
Most of the locals are taking advantage of one of the best whale watching seasons in recent memory. Both Puerto San Carlos and Lopez Mateos have had a steady steam of tourists from all parts of the globe seeking a photo op with a whale.
With light pressure, the Esteros have yielded good catches of pompano, corvina, with a few snook and grouper caught near Devil’s Curve.
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
The 80° blue water is just off the beach. However, most of the action appears to be a long boat ride off shore. For blue water action within 20 miles of the beach, the counts have been way down this last week. We have been averaging about one sailfish per boat per day. There have been very few dorado, but the blue marlin count is still respectable, with about 4 or 5 blue marlin a day being reported.
While fishing with Adan on the Gitana II this week, John Erickson of Wisconsin got a 180 pound blue on Tuesday, with John Torres catching a 220 pound blue on Friday.
At 40 miles, the commercial pangeros are getting yellowfin tuna in the 60 to 90 pound range. Plus, they are reporting a lot of sailfish and marlin in the same area. Apparently, there is a large concentration of bait along a current line at 40 miles, and this has been holding the game fish.
The inshore action for jack crevalle is still red hot. Now is the time for the light line and fly rod enthusiast to hit the water. You will be exhausted before noon.
Ed Kunze
Water temperature 80 - 84
Air temperature 71-87
Humidity 83%
Wind: SE at 4 mph
Conditions: Partly Cloudy
Visibility 2 miles
Sunrise 6:59 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:55 p.m. CST
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Mar 3, 2007; 09:44AM - Wind the Trend
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Category: Saltwater Fly Fishing Reports
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Author Name: Gary Graham
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REPORT #1052 “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 03/03/07
[img]http://www.bajafly.com/report/turtle.png[/img]
[b]Cali and Ed Kunze found this sea turtle down at Vicente, Gro. The large gill net must have been demolished by a cargo ship, and left in pieces. They managed to cut the animal free[/b]
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
Water temperature 80 - 84
Air temperature 69-86
Humidity 65%
Wind: WSW 9 MPH
Conditions: Mostly Sunny
Visibility 6 miles
Sunrise 7:03 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:52 p.m. CST
The water is starting a cooling trend, which is normal for this time of the year. At 30 miles, we have only 79° water, and not the 84° of weeks past. The blue water has moved out a bit also, and is about 18 miles from Zihuatanejo Bay.
The fleet is averaging between 1 and 3 sailfish a day, per boat. A few dorado are still being taken, but only about 1 for every 6 boats on the water. The blue marlin are still doing very well, but not quite as hot as last week. There are still at least 3 to 4 blues a day being recorded by the 30 boat fleet.
There is still no sign of the tuna, but with the cooling water, it will not be long.
Inshore, the jack crevalle action is hot. There are a lot of them, but not too many in the 20 pound range yet. Most of the jacks are in the low teens.
Ed Kunze
East Cape
Water temperature 65-72
Air temperature 62-78
Humidity 28%
Wind: N 13 knots
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 17 miles
Sunrise 6:39 a.m. MST
Sunset 6:22 p.m. MST
This week was back to normal with strong winds beginning mid- to late morning each day. Those who made it out early enough had fair action for small roosters, sierra and ladyfish. Big jacks were still a tease as they continued their spooky behavior while milling well within casting range. Once the wind cranked up, it was Bloody Mary time at the pool.
The few boats that ventured out hightailed it back when the north wind came blasting down the Sea of Cortez. The lucky ones found a few marlin and dorado outside of Punta Pescadero.
Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico
There were strong winds on the Pacific side as well, but with most of the attention devoted to whales cavorting in the bay it didn’t seem to matter. The few that chose fish over mammals were not disappointed fishing in the Esteros. There were enough corvina and grouper, and all the spotted bay bass they wanted to keep the rods bent for most of the day until the winds picked up in the afternoon.
Water temperature 65 - 72
Air temperature 58 -80
Humidity 9%
Wind: NNW 13 mph
Conditions: Partly Cloudy
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 6:48 a.m. MST
Sunset 6:29 p.m. MST
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Feb 24, 2007; 02:08PM - Love is in the Air
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Category: Saltwater Fly Fishing Reports
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Author Name: Gary Graham
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REPORT #1051 “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 02/25/07
East Cape
A little nice weather and suddenly there are more flags flying from the riggers. The gold ones account for the sprinkling of dorado found scattered around Las Palmas Bay. And then there’s the blue and white marlin flags also beginning to fly: Good billfish action was 15 -18 miles to the north with a report of one boat hooking seven marlin earlier in the week. This combination has the locals predicting an action-packed April for billfish as they begin to spawn.
Inshore, grande class jack Crevalle put on a show out in front of Punta Colorada, driving the sardina bait balls all the way up onto the sand. It seemed to be “love in the air” as they went into their milling\\mating mode, but they ignored all offerings made by frustrated anglers taking advantage of the mild winds flinging this and that at them.
Water temperature 65-72
Air temperature 55-80
Humidity 86%
Wind: NNW 17 to 24 knots
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 6:45 a.m. MST
Sunset 6:19 p.m. MST
Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico
The word must have gotten out about the excellent whale watching this year! Every hotel in Magdalena Bay is sporting a “No Vacancy” sign.
Offshore there are still reports of marlin being spotted but few boats are available to take advantage of the late/early show (take your pick). Most of the dorado have disappeared as the water temps continue to cool down.
The only action of any significance in the Esteros this week seemed to be a decent corvina bite with a few larger ones in the ten pound class.
Water temperature 65 - 72
Air temperature 50 -80
Humidity 78%
Wind: NE 8 to 11 knots
Conditions: Partly Cloudy
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 6:54 a.m. MST
Sunset 6:26 p.m. MST
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
This has been a very mixed week. Our bread and butter fish, the sailfish, has been fairly slow. We are only averaging one or two fish per day per boat, with many boats not seeing a thing. But, the blue marlin action has been incredible.
On one day this week, we reported 14 large blue marlin with the tourist sport fishing fleet out of the municipal pier in Zihuatanejo, plus another 6 from the private boats in Marina Ixtapa. And, this does not count the other 10 blue marlin caught by the commercial pangeros. For the entire fleet, including the commercial pangeros, we put about 40 boats on the water and caught 30 blue marlin in one day!
The other days in this week have not been quite so plentiful, but we are still seeing a minimum of 10 blue marlin a day being hooked and landed.
One notable catch was made by Bill Hermann from Washington, while fishing on the Gaby with Captain Margarito. Margarito called me on my cell phone at 9:00 and they were almost back to the pier already. His clients had enough excitement for the day. The 426 pound blue marlin had wiped them out.
Another notable catch was made by Onno Van Veen of Holland. He fished 6 days with Santiago on the panga Gitana, releasing 2 sailfish, 1 striped marlin, and a blue marlin of about 100 pounds. All fish were taken on the fly.
The party of four in the Bob Stevens group out of Seattle, WA, fished on two pangas at Vicente Gro. for one day. I was on one panga, with Cali on the other. Between us, we tagged and released 3 sailfish for the 4 fly fishermen. Of course, the guy paying the tab, Bob Stevens, never even had a shot.
There has been very little action inshore.
Ed Kunze
Water temperature 80 - 84
Air temperature 76-88
Humidity 82%
Wind: SE 15 mph
Conditions: Mostly Sunny
Visibility 6 miles
Sunrise 7:08 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:51 p.m. CST
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Feb 17, 2007; 02:26PM - Sierra Snap
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Category: Saltwater Fly Fishing Reports
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Author Name: Gary Graham
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REPORT #1050 “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 02/17/07
East Cape
Beach and inshore action this week was dominated by a better-than-normal sierra bite that went on from gray light until well after sunrise. Our guide reported that between releasing fish and retying flies on, he barely had time to take any photos. If you were lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time, the small roosters and ladyfish could be found chasing small schools of sardina right to the beach. Offshore there was still consistent billfish and dorado action to the north outside of Punta Pescadero, as well as to the outside of the color break near the Punta Arena.
Water temperature 65-70
Air temperature 58-77
Humidity 62%
Wind: Calm
Conditions: Partly Cludy
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 6:51 a.m. MST
Sunset 6:15 p.m. MST
Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico
Remarkably, the whale count continues to climb. Enrique Soto, Puerto San Carlos, reported seeing over fifty whales on a three hour trip on Friday. Huge schools of large squid have mysteriously appeared during the week and have been washing up on the sandy beaches. Inside the Esteros, the corvina fishing exploded this week for the few anglers fishing there. There were also a few snook caught at Devil’s Curve.
Offshore, in spite of the windy conditions earlier in the week, local shark fishermen found both marlin and dorado west of the Entrada, 10 – 22 miles.
Water temperature 65 - 72
Air temperature 64 -79
Humidity 41%
Wind: Light
Conditions: Partly Cloudy
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 7:00 a.m. MST
Sunset 6:22 p.m. MST
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
This week's trend is still staying true to the improving fishing from last week. The sailfish average is holding at between two and three sails per boat per day, but the blue marlin have showed up to join the party. Early in the week, foretelling what was to come, several huge blues were taken. A couple came in around 750 pounds, and a few more between 450 and 650 pounds. But, on Thursday, six big blues hit the dock, and then yesterday (Friday), another eight. Plus, several more were taken by the private boats based out of Marina Ixtapa.
Keep in mind, more of these marlin are lost than are actually hooked. Almost every boat in the blue water is getting a shot at one. Almost all the blues are being taken on a slow trolled live black skipjack tuna.
The inshore action is kind of unknown at this time, as most captains are telling their clients to try for the marlin.
Ed Kunze
Water temperature 80 - 84
Air temperature 75-89
Humidity 82%
Wind: SE 15 mph
Conditions: Mostly Cloudy
Visibility 6 miles
Sunrise 7:12 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:48 p.m. CST
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Feb 10, 2007; 01:39PM - Drat They’re Rats!
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Category: Saltwater Fly Fishing Reports
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Author Name: Gary Graham
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REPORT #1049 “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 02/10/07
TELL THE PACIFIC COUNCIL --NO LONGLINES http://www.savethefish.org/action_items_Pacific_LL.htm
East Cape
Wow - a week of more better days than bad! This week provided some of the best winter conditions so far in 2007.
Molly Semenik, a guide on the Yellowstone River from Livingston, MT, hit the beach early mid-week. The weather was calm and offered perfect beach fishing conditions. Molly had more “firsts” than on a high school prom night! Rat roosters showed up for the beach party determined to snatch every fly that came close and of course, no Baja beach party would be complete without a ladyfish or two! All in all, Molly enjoyed a memorable Baja fishing day.
Offshore it was the same story with good if not great winter dorado action and there were even striped marlin bites in the mix for variety. While there was some tuna action report below Las Frailes, there were not many takers for the long ride. Chances are the dreaded north wind will soon return and it will be the old, “you should have been here last week”.
Water temperature 65-70
Air temperature 54-79
Humidity 67%
Wind: NW at 4 knts.
Conditions: Sunny
Visibility 4 miles
Sunrise 6:55 a.m. MST
Sunset 6:11 p.m. MST
Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico
Finally, decent weather for the yachts traveling up and down the coast of Baja. Out front they are reporting a few marlin and dorado bites strung all the way from the Thetis Bank to below Tasco. No bonanza - just a steady pick. Good conditions for checking out some of the local high spots for grouper and some “home guard” yellows.
Just outside the Entrada was a busy place with birds crashing on schools of sardine pushed to the surface by small yellows, bonito and skipjack.
Snook action slowed at Devils Curve with corvina, small grouper and pargo providing the best action.
For the locals the good news is the continued increase in the number of whales showing up inside the bay, attracting a steady stream of “ooohs and aaahers” with digital cameras in hand.
Water temperature 65 - 72
Air temperature 57 -78
Humidity 80%
Wind: W 5 kts
Conditions: Cloudy
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 7:05 a.m. MST
Sunset 6:17 p.m. MST
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
We have had a very pleasant surprise this week. The fishing has actually been better during the full moon phase, than it was the week before.
A current of cooler, 81° water, moved in, with clean blue water only a half mile out in front of Zihuatanejo Bay, and the cobalt blue water is only 5 miles out. The game fish came with the blue water. Each boat is averaging between two and three sailfish a day. And, several nice blue marlin were caught this week.
Plus, at 12 miles, there is a large area of 10 to 30 pound yellowfin tuna. The tuna have been hard to stay on, because they pop up and down, and when they are up, they are moving fast. This is when you wish you had a San Diego long range boat, with hundreds of scoops of chum bait available.
Inshore we are seeing a lot of jack crevalle cruising the beaches, plus we are now having a very good all day long bite on the large jacks inside the bay.
Ed Kunze
Water temperature 80 - 84
Air temperature 68-87
Humidity 82%
Wind: Calm.
Conditions: Mostly Cloudy
Visibility 6 miles
Sunrise 7:16 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:45 p.m. CST
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Feb 3, 2007; 01:12PM - Now, That’s a WSB!
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Category: Saltwater Fly Fishing Reports
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Author Name: Gary Graham
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REPORT #1048 “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 02/03/07
TELL THE PACIFIC COUNCIL --NO LONGLINES http://www.savethefish.org/action_items_Pacific_LL.htm
Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico
Whale watching continues to dominate the activity at both Lopez Mateo and San Carlos. Enrique reported sighting over 40 whales near the Entrada. Between whales he also managed to find the firecracker yellows under the bird schools. Here’s proof that they eventually grow up! This is a second hand report I received this week:
”Thank you for your info on white sea bass in Mag bay last week. We didn’t fish the location you sent, but found another one outside the bay after looking for an anchor spot after running from bad weather off shore.”
“The spot produced white seabass and yellow tail in the 45-52 lb range. They bit all night the evening of January 23/24, it was absolutely freezing cold with 40 knot winds. These were particularly aggressive fish that required 80-100 lb test to successfully land them. Even with International 50s and 100 lb test, we still only managed to land 8 out of 20 hook ups. The preferred technique was 16oz dropper loops and a live mackerel. Several yellowtail that were brought within site were estimated to be over 60 lbs before breaking off on 100 lb and in one case, 130 lb test.”
“The catch include personal best fish for the Captain (Mike Pritchard – 52 lb yellow tail), the deckhand/cook Dusty (45lb WSB and 50lb YT), and myself (42LB WSB).”
Mike Reader
Lance Peterson while on a recent whale watching trip at Lopez also found some time to fish (go figure) and reported that the Spotted Bay Bass bite was all you wanted.
Water temperature 65 - 72
Air temperature 46 -80
Humidity 81%
Wind: NE 6 - 8 kts
Conditions: Cloudy
Visibility 3 miles
Sunrise 7:09 a.m. MST
Sunset 6:13 p.m. MST
East Cape
Some of that cold snap to the north seems to have found its way all the way down the Baja Peninsula. In “shorts only” country, that is big news as everyone is digging out their one pair of long pants and jackets.
Before breakfast and before the wind gets going, sierra are the best bet. For a few lucky anglers, a small rooster now and then along with an occasional ladyfish can be added to the catch.
Not far offshore, some small dorado are still hanging around along with a sprinkling of billfish that should be wearing fur coats.
Water temperature 65-70
Air temperature 47-75
Humidity 86%
Wind: NNW at 13 - 18 knts.
Conditions: Sunny
Visibility 4 miles
Sunrise 6:59 a.m. MST
Sunset 6:09 p.m. MST
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
The fishing has been very poor this last week. And, with the full moon phase coming up, I do not see an improvement. This certainly is a dilemma. For sailfish, we should have been having one of the best weeks of the year. It is possible the El Niño affect has delayed the main body of fish getting here, or maybe they are going to by-pass us completely on their way down to Guatemala and Costa Rica.
This last week saw almost as many dorado taken as sailfish, and that was less than a one per boat average. Yesterday (Friday), Efra on the panga Tequila, was high boat in the fleet with three sailfish raised, and they hooked all three. He fished an area at 14 miles on a 180° heading out of Zihuatanejo Bay.
Mike O'Keefe of England, fished with Martin on the panga “Isamar” for 4 days. To find the fish, and to cover more water, they fast trolled marlin lures. They did manage to hook three sails on the fly.
Cali made the 35 mile run down to Vicente Gro. on the panga “Zapatito Gordo”. Three days in the blue water only yielded 1 sailfish, a dorado, and a nice blue marlin. Two days inshore yielded 2 small roosters (5 to 7 pounds), and about 20 small jacks (2 to 5 pounds).
About the only decent bite going on right now are the large jack crevalle (10 to 15 pounds) hitting in the early morning inside Zihuatanejo Bay.
Ed Kunze
Water temperature 80 - 84
Air temperature 70-93
Humidity 82%
Wind: Calm.
Conditions: Mostly Cloudy
Visibility 7 miles
Sunrise 7:18 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:42 p.m. CST
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Jan 27, 2007; 01:41PM - Whale Ho!
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Category: Saltwater Fly Fishing Reports
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Author Name: Gary Graham
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REPORT #1047 “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 01/27/07
Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico
The whale and tourist migration seemed to have peaked simultaneously this week. More visitors continue to flock into both Puerto San Carlos and Lopez Mateos to take advantage of the opportunity to pet, kiss or just get up close and personal with some of the largest sea creatures in the world’s oceans.
The few boats that fished outside this week found the same kind of action that Captain Peter Groesbeck on the Stealing Time reported last week. However, better weather allowed the Southern Comfort and the other few boats around to cash in on the consistent marlin action under the bird schools - mostly multiples strung along the 100 fathom curve from Santa Maria to the Entrada. The action seems to be slowly sliding south following the warm water currents that compress down toward the tip of Baja. Though there were fewer than last week, the dorado bite remained decent.
Back inside, the best inshore action is the firecracker yellows mixed in with the bonito under the bird schools at the Entrada. With most of the boats whale watching this week, the Estero had little if any fishing pressure this week.
Water temperature 69 - 72
Air temperature 57 -75
Humidity 74%
Wind: WNW 7 - 9 kts
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 3 miles
Sunrise 7:11 a.m. MST
Sunset 6:08 p.m. MST
East Cape
Winter reports on fishing at East Cape can differ, depending on who you ask; if you ask a local, the answer this week would be, “We had a few nice days.” Most hotel visitors would answer, “It blew most of the week with only a few decent days.” So there you have it!
Here at East Cape this time of the year (winter), the good days are the exception, not the normal. But during spring, summer and fall, you’ll find that almost every day is a great day. This week, on the good days, there were a few marlin to be found, as well as some dorado and some football sized tuna under the porpoise. Inshore, the early morning sierra action was enough to get a few of the locals out early.
Water temperature 69-73
Air temperature 42-75
Humidity 84%
Wind: NNW at 8 - 11 knts.
Conditions: Partly Cloudy
Visibility 4 miles
Sunrise 7:01 a.m. MST
Sunset 6:02 p.m. MDT
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
The fishing and water conditions have changed a bit this week. Late last week we had a low pressure move in on us, creating a strong afternoon wind which moved the blue water out to the 20 mile mark. Fishing was very slow.
But since Wednesday, conditions have stabilized and we are getting decent fishing again. Each boat is averaging two to three sailfish a day. Plus, Santiago, on the panga, Gitana, took a nice 230 pound blue marlin.
Adolpho, on the panga, Dos Hermanos, told me the inshore waters are so slow he is not even trying to fish for the jacks or roosters. The only thing going on with the inshore is a very abundant black skipjack tuna bite.
Ed Kunze
Water temperature 82 - 84
Air temperature 73-94
Humidity 82%
Wind: ESE 3 knt.
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 7 miles
Sunrise 7:20 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:38 p.m. CST
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