Baja Mexico Fly Fishing Encounters

David Reed and a spectacular Rooster fish.   He came specifically to fly fish with us for a BIG Rooster fish from the beach.  I am glad we could deliver!! 

Yep, it’s David Reed behind that buff with a great Jack from the beach. 

Just one of the many patches of Sargasso weed we’ve had in the area this week holding Dorado beneath them.
 
David Schaffert and a very big Dorado that came from under the Sargasso weed.
 
Another great Dorado that David caught under the Sargasso.

David Schaffert from Olympia, Washington and a very big  Pompano on the fly. 

This is Julie Scott (above) and her husband Nob Scott (below) displaying their first ever Rooster fish.  Way to go guys!  See you again in June!

Steve Dobrin with his first ever Rooster fish.  This is one of several Steve caught while fishing with us.

Written by
Jeff deBrown
Owner/Guide
www.thereelbaja.com
1-888-287-4076

Water temp.
77 -79  Inshore
79 - 81  Offshore

Air temp.
Low – 69
High – 90

Baja Mexico fly fishing update and report for May 23rd, 2011.

Hi Folks,

I want to apologize to all of you who follow this blog/report page.  I missed last weeks report as I just do not know where the time goes.  I was out on the water each and every day from sun up to sun down and tying flies at night.  I just plain missed getting the report written and posted.  I am back on track and I have a lot to tell you about.

The weather here in Baja is currently excellent.  We have warm temperatures with clear and sunny skies.  We have seen a few clouds the past few days first thing in the morning, but by 10 A.M. they have disappeared giving us bright sunny skies and perfect weather.  You can not beat Baja this time of year.

The fly fishing is currently excellent as well.  The past few days no matter where you wanted to fish; whether it be the beach, inshore or offshore, your chance of catching a fish was very high.

If your choice is the beach, you will be sharing it with many other anglers.  Yep, it’s that time of year.  Our beaches are currently very very crowded with fly fishing anglers looking for the elusive Rooster fish.  A couple of times this week I found it very hard to find a place to fish where I was not running into other anglers or anglers looking for space ended up fishing right next to us.  I do not mind the anglers along the beaches here but what I do mind is that some of them do not seem to use the same “stream etiquette” they would use at home.  These particular anglers had none!  If everyone would give anglers a little space, as one would on a stream, we would see a lot less problems here along the beach.  Anglers along the beach would not have the attitudes we are currently seeing.  It is Baja and we are all down here for the same reason.  So lets all just relax, enjoy, and give each other a courteous wide birth and have some fun!!  I think everyone will be a lot happier.

Talking about fishing from the beach, we continue to see some great fishing.  The bait is still in the area and we continue to see fish feeding on them.  We have seen a slight change in the water along a few areas.  These areas currently have water that is “off color” and green.  These areas should have very clean, clear water with excellent visibility.  It will only be a few days and that water will be back to normal. 

Inshore we continue to see some wonderful fly fishing for small to medium sized Rooster fish.  These fish are getting a lot of pressure as many anglers, both fly and conventional have been pursuing these fish.  If you are patient, persistent, and work hard you will fool a few of them.  We have had a few bigger fish in the 20 – 50# range being found both to the North as well as South.  We found some of these fish yesterday.  After determining what bait they were feeding on we hooked, but unfortunately broke off, three very big fish.  They were tanks!  We will be going back there in the next day or two looking for redemption.

Offshore, the fishing has been in a word….FUN!  We have had patches of Sargasso weed in the area and they have been holding some very nice Dorado.  It is very unusual for us to see the amount of Sargasso weed we are currently experiencing.  Normally, the Sargasso is found much further to the North and the currents do not allow it to get down into our area.  There are a few challenges to fly fishing for Dorado associated with the Sargasso.  First, you have to find the Sargasso.  The currents have been pushing it at a pretty good pace the past couple of days.  If you do find the Sargasso you need to check each and every patch as not all of them are holding fish.  If all the elements come together you can have some very exciting action.  We experienced some today. It was a blast!

We also continue to see excellent fishing for Marlin.  The Marlin are very close to shore.  Most of the fish we found today (after fishing for Dorado) were located just two miles directly infront of the hotel.  We raised three fish with one hook-up.  This fish got off after a short fight.  We also saw 8 – 10 tailing Marlin.  This was all in a one hour period at the end of the day. 

It is just after midnight here in Baja.  I still have a few flies to tie for tomorrow and I will be hitting the water at sunrise.  I am on the water each and every day this week.  I will be sure to let you all know what kind of fun we experience this week as we chase the wonderful fish of Baja.

Until next time…..Keep fly fishing! 

Even I get a good one every once in a while!!

Patrick Gilbert from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma showing off his prize.  This is his first ever Rooster fish.  What a way to start!!

Patrick and a nice Jack from the beach.

Written by
Jeff deBrown
Owner/Guide
www.thereelbaja.com
1-888-287-4076

Water temp.
78- 80  Inshore
80 - 81  Offshore

Air temp.
Low – 68
High – 93

Baja Mexico fly fishing update and report for May 8th 2011.

Hi Folks,

The fly fishing here in Southern Baja has been excellent since my last report.  We ended last week with a bit of wind from the North.  The wind kept the few boats that went out close to shore.  Most anglers choose to stay on shore and enjoy activities such as lounging by the pool or in the case of my client Richard Westfall from Denver, Colorado it gave us a chance to go to San Jose and play a little golf.

By Monday the winds were gone.  We have had bright sunshine and very warm temperatures ever since.  The past few days have been the first time this year that I have thought it might be time to turn on the air conditioning.  The forecast this week is for more of the same.  Great weather and great fly fishing.

Speaking of fly fishing, we have seen some of the best action so far this year.  We have fish both inshore as well as offshore.  The bait population is better than I have seen in quite some time with an abundant amount of both Sardina and Mullet.

Inshore we have some excellent action for Rooster fish in the “Grande” category.  We have been casting to and sometimes landing these bigger fish.  Most of the bigger fish we hooked this week gave us problems.  We had broken tippets, broken fly lines, hooks that just pulled out after a good fight.  Sometimes we just plain got our tails kicked by them.  We managed to get a couple as you can see.  Did I mention how I love these fish!!

Along with the Rooster fish we have excellent action for Jacks.  I was on the boat today with my guest Steve Dobrin from Vermont.  Steve left two feet of snow yesterday at his house and today he caught more nice Jacks than we could count.  Steve has four more days with me.  I am sure he is not thinking of home this evening judging by the smile on his face this afternoon.

Offshore we are starting to see a few more Dorado.  We have had a few floating patches of Sargasso and some of them have been holding Dorado.  The warm water we are currently seeing offshore is beginning to bring more fish into our waters.  This is giving us a chance to cast our flies to the lightening fast and beautiful fish known as Dorado.

If it is bill fish you are looking for, they continue to give us action in the same areas that we are finding Dorado.  The Marlin and Sail fish in the area are finally starting to provide us with more action.  As some of you know these fish have been in the area for quite some time but have been gorging themselves on squid.  It seems as if the squid are thinning out and the fishing for bill fish is starting to pick up.

I will be on the water with Steve and a few other guests over the next few days.  We will be looking for Marlin in the morning and Rooster fish in the afternoon.  I will be sure to post a report here of how we do.

Until next time….Keep fly fishing!!

My very good friend Steve and another awesome Jack!

Tom Read from Colorado showing off a great Jack while fly fishing from the beach.

Me enjoying the “little guys” on my day off!!

A school of larger Rooster fish swimming inshore.  We currently have many schools like this in the area!

Written by
Jeff deBrown
Owner/Guide
www.thereelbaja.com
1-888-287-4076

Water temp.
72 - 74  Inshore
72 - 75  Offshore

Air temp.
Low – 66
High – 88

Baja Mexico fly fishing update and report for April 25th 2011.

Hi Folks,

This week was very busy here in Baja!  We had a lot of campers on the local beaches enjoying fantastic weather, good food, and time with family and friends over the Easter(or known here in Mexico as Semana Santa) week.  It didn’t feel like a typical Semana Santa this year, as we did not experience the strong winds from the North that we have seen over the past few years.  Instead, we had perfect weather with blue skies, flat calm seas and a light wind out of the Southeast keeping the temperatures that were in the high 80′s feeling just right!!

As far as the North winds, I think we are just about finished with them.  It is forecasted to be flat and beautiful the entire upcoming week.  With that we should start seeing the water warm up.  Warmer water will also give us great fly fishing.

This week we saw some excellent inshore fly fishing for Rooster fish and Jacks.  Everyone is asking if the Rooster fish are here?? They are indeed!!  We continue to see more and more Rooster fish each and every day.  The fish that have been in the area for awhile are beginning to show more interest in our offerings as their spawning cycle winds down.  We are encountering new groups of Rooster fish each day that are just arriving in the area and have not completed their spawn cycle.  We’ve seen groups of fish that are traveling in large packs.  Some of these packs are holding as many as two hundred fish.  Most of the bigger groups of fish have been Jacks, where the smaller groups of 15-30 fish seem to be Rooster fish.

Offshore the fishing just keeps getting better.  This week we saw some very good fishing for Dorado, Marlin, Sail fish.  The epic bite for large Bonita continued as well.  If it’s Dorado and Bill fish you’re looking for they have been scattered from areas of cardinal and the 10/10 all the way up to the 88.  With the full moon behind us, we are seeing the fish starting to feed during daylight hours.  A lot of these fish are still full of squid as our waters are inundated with them currently.  The fish have been responding well to the jigs in the color scheme of squid.  This is giving us a chance to bring them up on the lures and then throw a squid colored fly at them.

I will be on the water each day this coming week. I will be sure to let you all know how we do and if all goes as planned, I will have some new photos for you next week. 

Until then…..Keep fly fishing!!  

Here is Richard Ries showing off a great Jack we caught off the beach this week!

Here is Tim Harshbarger with another powerful Jack.  Tim has already re-booked and will be back in June to chase more of these guys!

Jacks crashing bait at sunrise.

Jacks coralling bait right on the beach.

Written by
Jeff deBrown
Owner/Guide
www.thereelbaja.com
1-888-287-4076

Water temp.
73 - 74  Inshore
70 - 73  Offshore

Air temp.
Low – 64
High – 86

Baja Mexico fly fishing update and report for April 12th 2011.

Hi Folks,

The weather here in Baja is starting to get hot and the fly fishing is heating up just as fast as the weather.  This past week we had wonderful weather with clear skies, a lot of sunshine and virtually no wind.  We are at the tail end of the windy season and although we are not out of the woods yet, we are seeing better conditions daily.  I believe we will see another few days of wind before it finally stops for the season but we are very close to the end of the ”EL Nortes” for this year.

On the fishing front, we see some very good fishing in all areas.  Fly fishing from the beach for Rooster fish and Jacks is just a few weeks away from being in full swing.   Currently we have very good bait population along the beaches as well as inshore and the fish are taking advantage of it.  Each morning you can find the fish chasing the bait along the shore providing us with great fly fishing action.  We are still seeing a lot of fish that are spawning and not interested in what we have to offer but if you can find the right fish or school of fish they have been very aggressive.  If you find the right school of Jacks they are on the attack. 

Offshore we’ve had excellent fly fishing for Bonita and Skip Jack.  Currently, we have some of the best fly fishing for these guys that I have ever seen.  They are everywhere!!  Most of them have been in the 5 – 7 pound range with larger fish up to 15lbs. being taken on the fly.  We also have seen a pretty good number of Marlin a little further offshore about fifteen miles.  Most of the Marlin have not wanted our offerings but they seem to be getting more aggressive toward the lures as a very big population of small squid has moved in offshore.  In the same area of the Marlin, we have had a few Dorodo as well.  The Dorado have been perfect for the fly fishing angler as they have been in the 10 – 20 pound class.

Spring is here and the fishing is starting to heat up.  We should continue to see good fishing as the water warms and the wind dies.  We have great populations of bait and that only helps our cause this early in the season.  If you are looking for a spring fishing trip it is hard to beat Baja.

Until next time…Keep fly fishing!!!       

Written by
Jeff deBrown
Owner/Guide
www.thereelbaja.com
1-888-287-4076

Water temp.
71 - 74  Inshore
75 - 77  Offshore

Air temp.
Low – 61
High 83

Baja Fly Fishing Report for March 22nd 2011.

Well, I am finally back from my time in the States and done with the show circuit.  I would like to say Thank You to all the wonderful people who stopped by the booth and swapped fishing stories with me.  I will admit, I am glad to be back in Baja as the weather and the fishing are heating up.

Along the beaches here in the East Cape, we’ve had good populations of bait for over a month.  This bait consists of Sardina, small mullet, and Ballyhoo.  Having all this bait along our beaches this early in the season has not gone unnoticed by the fish.  We have had good fly fishing along the beaches for Rooster fish, Jacks, Lady fish, a few Pargo in the rocks, and even some small Black Skip Jack within casting distance if you are in the right place at the right time.  I have been on the beach the past few days and have encountered fairly good fishing over all.  By no means is it “wide open” but spring is here and the fish are starting to show.  I have seen quite a few schools of larger Jacks that are in the area.  Most of them have not had any interest in the fly as they are starting their spring spawn.  I got a few fish to chase the fly on the initial cast into them but no takers out of the three schools I threw into.  As I made more casts into the schools, the interest of the fish dropped off quickly showing me they have their minds elsewhere. We should continue to see more schools of Jacks, along with bigger Rooster fish over the next few weeks.  This spawnig behavior will continue the next few weeks.  As some of these fish near the end of their spawn, you will notice a change in their pattern and become more aggressive toward the fly.  This will change from school to school so if you find the school that is just coming out of their spawn or has not quite started, look out as they should attack the fly. 

Offshore the action is improving as well.  We continue to see the Yellow Tail that have been in the area the last few weeks.  These fish have been in about 200ft. of water so getting them on the fly has not really been an option.  What we’ve seen for the fly fishing angler is the increase of Stripe Marlin as well as a few Dorado.  The Marlin can be seen tailing on top but unfortunately most of them have had lock jaw and not interested in our offerings.  However, a few of them have given us some action.  The Dorado have been located further offshore in a pocket of warmer water.  This pocket of warmer water is due East and is out about fifteen to twenty miles.  The water in this pocket is currently 78 degrees.  The warmer water has held some very nice Doroado averaging 20 pounds, with some bigger fish up to 40 pounds.

We have not seen the porpoise in our area yet but I spent a couple of days in Cabo San Lucas at the beginning of last week and some of the boats there did find schools of porpoise that were holding Tuna.  The Tuna were not big, mostly football size, but it provided action.  With those schools showing up out of Cabo San Lucas it should not be long before we start to see them over here in the East Cape as long as the water continues to warm.

I will be fly fishing the beaches here in the East Cape as well as guiding out of boats starting tomorrow.  I have guests that are arriving to enjoy some of the great spring fly fishing that Baja has to offer.  If you have cabin fever and want to get out and play with us in the warm sunshine and catch a few fish let us know!  We would be glad to show you the wonderful fly fishing that Baja has to offer.

Until next time….Keep fly fishing!