REPORT #1197 "Below the Border" Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
East Cape
The teeth of winter always come out in January.
The recent stretch of north winds seems mild compared to recent U.S. headlines declaring "bone chilling cold" enveloping most of the country. Below the border visitors and locals alike are content with the current 54 to 78 degree sunny weather.
Lance Peterson had an upbeat report of more fish feeding along the shore with the subsiding wave action…typical winter roosterfish, 5 pounds or so scattered in the usual spots along with jacks. While he hadn't fished the grey light recently, the sierra had been coming within fly casting range when he last fished. We're due for a couple of flat days so conditions should improve.
Mark Rayor also commented on the recent north winds. He went on to say that one of his boats was up at Punta Perico on a dive trip this week. The local pangeros were catching some decent sized YFT's to 30 pounds and there are some new shark buoys outside that were loaded with dorado.
Current East Cape Weather http://tiny.cc/EastCapeWeather303
Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico
The reports of the continuing wahoo snap as well as the limits on dorado and tuna for the few anglers fishing make it seem almost like November. In addition, the marlin are finally around and feeding on a few bait balls.
But it is January and much to everyone's relief the whales are here, right on schedule. This week marked the first new-born calf of the year. The weather has been perfect…no wind or swell.
And finally, the grouper, sierra and corvina are biting full speed in the esteros...Bob Hoyt
Current Magdalena Bay Weather http://tiny.cc/MagBayWeather150
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
The 80° blue water is still holding about 8 miles off the coast. Sailfish action has been very good this week, but a lot depended on whether your captain went North out of Zihuatanejo Bay, or South. For instance, the boat going to the North are averaging 1 or 2 sailfish a day, and boats to the South are doing much better, as summarized by Mike Buckley for the super panga Huntress on a trip earlier this week: We went 4 for 5 on sailfish yesterday about 20 miles south. Bait has been scarce over the holidays. Water temp was 83 and clear.
A few blue marlin have been caught, with more expected in the upcoming month.
This morning (Friday) was the first time in my 12 years of living here I had to cancel a trip due to rain at this time of the year. We have had a very unseasonable low over us the last three days, and even a little wind to make things a bit uncomfortable on the water.
Adolfo and Cheva, on the pangas Dos Hermanos I and II, are reporting good sailfish action in the blue water, and very good jack crevalle action to both the North and South. Adolfo went down near Puerto Vicente Guerrero earlier this week and found the roosters. They released 10 before the clients had enough of the hard fighting fish and headed home...…Ed Kunze
Current Zihuatanejo Weather http://tiny.cc/zihuatanejo582
Cabo San Lucas
As the water continues to cool the number of larger marlin is diminishing. However, as long as there are large bait in the area there is a chance at a blue or black marlin. The only large fish caught recently was a black marlin around 450 pounds between the 95 and 1150 area.
Striped marlin action has been very sporadic with the off-days outweighing the good days. The favorite and best producing area continues to be from the Lighthouse on the Pacific side to the Lighthouse on the Cortez side. The expected action at the Finger and Golden Gate Banks has yet to happen, and it may be awhile before it does.
Football-sized tuna were the most common caught, with only a few boats scoring on the better quality fish from 30 to 40 pounds. There were few however with the Pacific side between the Golden Gate and the San Jaime Bank seeming to produce the best; at least these areas were reachable by the day charters. The Gordo Banks also produced an occasional larger fish, up to 100 pounds, but it was a scratch fishery, nothing steady.
The cooling waters have slowed the dorado action dramatically. About the only dorado action is beneath anything floating out in open water. Most boats were happy to get several dorado and a few were lucky enough to get a half-dozen during a trip. We had fly fishermen who caught a few on the fly every day…after hooking one on the troll, casting to following fish resulted in some in the 10 to 18 pound class. Most of this action occurred just up the beach on the Pacific side.
There were a couple of days when I heard of boats getting one or two wahoo a day, mostly coming from the area of Gray Rock.....George and Mary Landrum
Current Cabo Weather http://tiny.cc/cabo191
