03-06-2004, 02:24 AM
REPORT FROM GARY GRAHAM'S BAJA ON THE FLY:
PROVIDING QUALITY SALTWATER FLY-FISHING 365 DAYS A YEAR SOUTH OF THE BORDER. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: bajafly@bajafly.com; USA toll-free (800) 919-2252; Mexico 011-52-624-14-10373
Fri., March 05, 2004. Report covers the period Sat.-Thurs. (2/28 - 3/4)
EAST CAPE, MAGDALENA BAY, ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO; AND SAN JOSE, GUATEMALA CONDITIONS
EAST CAPE, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
IN GENERAL: Fair to good fishing greeted those willing to brave the unusually cool weather that most of Baja experienced this week. Offshore, a few billfish and dorado could be found. Back closer to shore, the sierra, jacks and a few skipjack were the catch of the day.
AIR & SEA -
Water temperature 66-70
Air temperature 50 - 68
Humidity about 46%
Wind WSW at 9 mph
Conditions Scattered Clouds (SCT) : 23,900 ft
Visibility 15 miles
Sunrise 6:36 a.m. MST
Sunset 6:24 p.m. MST
Mar. 6 Full, Mar. 13 Last Quarter, Mar. 20 New, Mar. 28 First Quarter
o OFFSHORE: More billfish than one would expect for this time year are
they early-coming or late-leaving? Quien Sabe?
o INSHORE: Cool or not, the sierra continue to bite along with a few jacks and skipjack.
o BEACH: Be there early or not at all
BILLFISH - Not too bad for early March.
YELLOWFIN TUNA - Still no Charley sightings.
DORADO - Punta Pescadero shark buoys are a good place to start.
ROOSTERFISH - They seem to be a bit early, too!
JACK CREVALLE - Find the sardina and you will be in the right spot.
BARRILETE OR MEXICAN SKIPJACK - Tin boat guys are finding a few off of La Ribera.
PARGO AND CABRILLA - Poppers and floating line may do the trick.
SIERRA - Early, early, early is the ticket.
MAGDALENA BAY, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
Puerto San Carlos:
IN GENERAL: Rain on Wed., with cool temps had the group bundled up like they were fishing the Oregon coast. A few leopard grouper, fair sized corvina, pompano on surface poppers gave everyone a few giggles. The snook continued their illusive ways with only a few bites and no successes. One great note: a pod of five whales posed for a photo op on our way back to the launch ramp.
Water Temperature 66-74
Air Temperature 50 - 69
Humidity 94%
Wind Calm
Conditions Clear
Visibility 6 miles
Sunrise 6:45 a.m. MST
Sunset 6:31 p.m. MST
Mar. 6 Full, Mar. 13 Last Quarter, Mar. 20 New, Mar. 28 First Quarter,
YELLOWTAIL - Entrada is the best bet.
CORVINA – Devil’s Curve produced fair to good action both early morning and later in the day.
SNOOK - This group found out they were as tough as they had heard.
HALIBUT - Shallow sandy beach and a slow-retrieved Clouser should do the trick.
SIERRA - Belcher's or entrada the best bet.
ZIHUATANEJO, MAINLAND MEXICO
IN GENERAL: The 80º blue water has moved back in, and we found some decent sailfish action at the18 mile mark. Baja on the Fly client Doug Boutilier, with Captain Martin on the panga “Isamar,” raised five. He was able to tag and release two sailfish using my 14-weight and dorado pattern fly.
The overall sailfish action has definitely picked up, especially when compared to the last three weeks. Arturo, on the panga “Whisky III,” took a very nice dorado of about 55-pounds. Also, a blue marlin or two are being hooked by the fleet every day.
For inshore action, Martin went about 26 miles up the coast and got 10 jack crevalle on spin cast gear and poppers for his client. Roosterfish are still hiding, or simply are just not here.
Water Temperature 72 - 78
Air Temperature 73 - 87
Humidity 55%
Wind SW 7 mph
Conditions Clear
Visibility 10 miles
Sunrise 7:01 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:53 p.m. CST
Mar. 6 Full, Mar. 13 Last Quarter, Mar. 20 New, Mar. 28 First Quarter
Baja on the Fly's Zihuatanejo report by Ed Kunze
SAN JOSE, GUATEMALA
IN GENERAL: This week we have a couple of new things to report – A party tried the inshore activity early in the morning and they picked up a few wahoo right off the surf line. Wahoo catches are typically very rare in Guatemala. The second item that is a first for me to report is that the flyrodders who were out this week were able to have the same rough average of releases on sails as the conventional guys. In addition to the always great action on sails, three marlin were released. The dorado, which have been scarce this year, have started showing up, and if you are interested you can find them. The run to the sails continues to fluctuate daily. Some days they are in close, at about 15 miles, and the next day you have to run 30 miles to find the fish, but the fishing has been productive.
http://www.guatemalaflyfishing.com/sailfish101.htm
Water Temperature 79-84
Air Temperature 80-95
Humidity 53 %
Wind SSE at 9 mph
Conditions Scattered Clouds (SCT) : 1,800 ft
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 6:17 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:12 p.m. CST
Mar. 6 Full, Mar. 13 Last Quarter, Mar. 20 New, Mar. 28 First Quarter
Baja on the Fly's Guatemala report by Brian Barragy and Lissa M. McFarlin.
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