2006 Out the Gate . . . No Wind . . . Swordfish

REPORT #992. “Below the Border� Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update 01/7/06
Yvonne and Gary will be at the International Sportsmen’s Expo in San Mateo, Calif., January 13 to 15. Gary has a new PowerPoint program he will be presenting in the California Theater all three days: Friday, 4:30; Saturday, 1:30; and Sunday, 11:30. Show Schedule
East Cape
2006 got off to an unusual start. Jennifer Rayor, Vista Sea Sports, described the weather on New Year’s day as absolutely stunning. Then, on Jan. 2, Felipe Valdez, the youngest brother of Valdez family that owns and operates the Hotel Buena Vista, went out to catch sierra for the kitchen and stumbled across a swordfish sunning itself on the surface. The swordy must have made a New Year’s resolution to inhale the first mackerel thrown at it. Yep, you got it – one cast, one bite and Felipe’s first swordfish 25 minutes later. What does this have to do with fly-fishing? Nothing. With the north wind blowing the rest of the week, it was downhill from there. This morning (1/7) it looks like we may get another break from the wind.
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2006 Dawns with Promise
Baja on the Fly

Water temperature 69-73
Air temperature 69-73
Humidity 52%
Wind: NNW 6 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 6:59 a.m. MST
Sunset 5:44 p.m. MST
Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
The 80º blue water is just outside Zihuatanejo Bay and the fishing has been excellent. Most of the action is coming from the 12- to 15-mile mark on a 210º heading. We are getting lots of sailfish, dorado, blue marlin, and striped marlin. Actually, the striped marlin are somewhat unique for this area, but this last week has seen a bunch of them taken.

Some notable catches were made by Adolpho on the panga “Dos Hermanos� this week. Offshore, he had a one day total of eight sailfish releases. He then took the 45 mile run south to Papanoa and got four roosterfish and 15 large jack crevalle. Yesterday (1/6) he went 35 miles north and got four roosters and 31 of the large jacks.

Rick Erdman and his wife, annual clients of Santiago on the panga “Gitana,� fished three days. They released 10 sailfish and caught an additional three striped marlin. Plus, another 70 year old client from Chicago fished yesterday (Friday) with Santiago. They were back at the dock before noon. The client was worn out with four sailfish and a striped marlin.

John Ring of Lodi, Calif., fished with me one day, tagging and releasing his first sailfish on the fly. And his 11 year old son David also released his first sailfish when we did a bait and switch drop back using a 20-pound spin outfit with a circle hook. David fought the fish alone the entire 30 minutes it took to get the sail to the boat for a photo and release.

The dorado are averaging one or two to a boat per day, and about 25- to 30-pounds. The fleet is averaging two to three blue marlin a day
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Ed Kunze, Zihuatanejo

Water temperature 80 - 84
Air temperature 73 - 84
Humidity 66%
Wind SSW 6 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 8 miles
Sunrise 7:18 a.m. CST
Sunset 6:26 p.m. CST
San Jose, Guatemala
The first week of 2006 really fizzled the first few days, maybe both the anglers and fish partied too hard welcoming in the New Year. Mid-week, the fishing began to get its groove back providing enough action to keep bars buzzing at Happy Hour. In addition to the customary sailfish bite, there were just enough blue marlin to make the angler think about which rod to grab. There were even a few fat dorado streaking into the pattern with a gold and turquoise flash to confuse the game plan further.


Water temperature 78 - 82
Air temperature 66- 80
Humidity 68%
Wind: NE 17 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 6:29 a.m. CST
Sunset 5:50 p.m. CST

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

The same big surf that has been pounding the California coastline for the past several weeks found its way down here. Between the wind and big surf it has been impossible to even get out Boca de Soledad, so most of the boats are staying closer to home. Even the fishing inside in the esteros has been less than wonderful. With whale-watching season just around the corner, the locals spent most of the week in preparation. For the few diehards, there were plenty of spotted bay bass, corvina and small halibut to mess with.


Water temperature 68-73
Air temperature 69-75
Humidity 31%
Wind: WNW 11 mph
Conditions: Clear
Visibility 6 miles
Sunrise 7:13 a.m. MST
Sunset 5:53 p.m. MST