“Grande” Rooster Thrills…Disappoints

REPORT #1062 “Below the Border” Saltwater Fly-Fishing reports since 1996
Endless Season Update May 12, 2007

East Cape
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East Cape Beach produces quality jack for Lance Peterson
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In the oddity department, an Oarfish was found, caught, captured? Near the beach at East Cape this week.
While the roosters were not exactly numerous close to the beach there were a few quality shots and patience on the hunt finally paid off Friday when a true "Grande" roosterfish came in from the deep water. After chasing a fly in classic fashion, the rooster with its comb fully extended, tracked the fly for a short distance and then devoured it. A brand new fly on a razor sharp hook wasn't enough to keep the fish hooked up and the fish came unbuttoned after a short fight. Those big ones are really tough to get a good hook set into. After all the hard work, it was brutally tough to see a "Grande" swim away. But that's roosterfishing...the high's are high and the lows are low. Next time!
At least the jack crevalle were kind enough to eat flies with some frequency and take some of the sting out of big rooster loss. Early in the week, Lance battled with one of his best jacks ever. When those fish get over 20lb they are a force to be reckoned with.
The panga fleet had some great days on roosters to 10lb's just off the beach. Lance, fishing with Brad Ellis on his panga, “Macaira”, had some great action teasing roosterfish with live bait. In just a couple of hours they had lots of chances and Brad hooked 3 nice Pez Gallo on the new fly.
Dorado action was great for the few lucky ones who stumbled on the right school. For others, it was a single here and there. Yellowfin action disappeared when the Mexican seiners, led by a helicopter overhead, wiped out the school. However, by the end of the week the Seiners had been run off by the government and the YFT action picked back up.
While there are plenty of billfish to look at, getting them to bite is the tough part.
Water temperature 65-74
Air temperature 75-87
Humidity 77%
Wind: ENE 2-3 knots
Conditions: Partly Cloudy
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 7:15 a.m. MDT
Sunset 8:19 p.m. MDT

Magdalena Bay, Baja Mexico

The weather and Estero fishing both improved late in the week. The spotted bay bass, halibut and grouper finally decided to bite along with a few corvina. Out at the entrada the small yellows, along with schools of bonito, continued to put on a show, chasing bait on the surface. Down lower in the water column a few decent sized grouper were also willing to bite a slow-retrieved chartreuse Baja Deepdiver.

Out at the Entrada, the big swells, pushed by the wind, made it difficult to get under the bird schools feeding on the sardines that were chased to the surface by firecracker yellows and small bonito.

Offshore, strong winds and big swells prevented many boats from getting outside the Entrada.

Water temperature 65 - 72
Air temperature 67 -89
Humidity 61 %
Wind: NW 12 - 20 knots
Conditions: Sunny
Visibility 13 miles
Sunrise 6:44 a.m. MDT
Sunset 8:02 p.m. MDT

Zihuatanejo, Mainland Mexico
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Jim (Doc) Coulthurst of Portland, OR with his Z-What Rooster
After this last week's short down-turn from the effect of the full moon, the fishing for all species has been turning on again. Last week's 114 boat annual sailfish tournament (the 40th) also hurt the fishing early in the week. There were just too many boats out there pounding the water. But, sailfish averages are again close to 6 to 8 strikes a day, one boat in three is getting a shot at a blue marlin, a few dorado are being taken, and the yellowfin tuna are at the thirty mile mark.

Plus, the roosterfish are starting to show on the beaches. In fact, this last Wednesday they really put on a great show down at Puerto Vicente Gro. Fly fishing client, Jim (Doc) Coulthurst of Portland, OR, fished with Cali and me in one of the three pangas set up for sport fishing in the Port (meaning it has a shade cover).
Doc is an experienced guide in the Northwest states, but this was his first time for roosters.

By 11:00, we had raised 20 roosters on a hookless popper, giving Doc five legitimate shots with the fly. He hooked two, but was only able to get one to the boat for photos. The roosters were all on the small side, averaging between 12 and 25 pounds. The big boys should follow in a couple of weeks.

Doc finished up the day catching several black skipjack tuna. At times there were so many tuna breaking the water, it sounded like a rainstorm. With acres of fish on the surface, it was almost a fish a cast.

Even Cali got into the action. With his first time ever at casting a fly rod, he managed to land several skipjack from the bow. He even talked about it with the other captains at the municipal pier in Zihuatanejo. He is hooked!

Ed Kunze
Water temperature 80 - 84
Air temperature 78-99
Humidity 77%
Wind: Calm
Conditions: Mostly Sunny
Visibility 5 miles
Sunrise 7:15 a.m. CDT
Sunset 8:10 p.m. CDT