FISHING SLOWED BY WINDY WINTER-STYLE SEA CONDITIONS

Dec. 2, 2006, Gary Graham, Baja On The Fly, East Cape, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

December is here at the East Cape fishing area, and so are the north winds. The trick is to get out fishing on one of the calm days, or at least as early as possible on the windy days.

It’s hard to believe that the billfish are still biting as well as they are here at East Cape.

Even a few blue marlin, including the largest of the season, were caught last week. Most of the billfish action is strung out from Punta Pescadero to the 88 Bank off Isla Cerralvo, while the dorado and tuna fishing action is down south the other way outside of Cabo Pulmo.

Humboldt squid moved closer to home with good action out in front of the East Cape hotels in the early mornings. These squid are great for chum for either tuna or dorado, plus squid steaks taste pretty good back at the hotel.

For inshore waters, the East Cape sierra bite has begun in earnest and is best from gray light until the sun begins to come up.

Fishing during the late afternoons in front of the hotels has also been good for both sierra and ladyfish.

For fly fishing anglers, small olive Clousers are working well for the ladyfish and the sierra. If you tie your own flies, use long shanked hooks which will work almost as well as a wire leader. You will lose a few flies but will definitely have more takes.

East Cape fishing water temperatures are at 74 to 84 degrees; Air temperature 60 to 82 degrees; weather partly cloudy.

(See "Mexico Fishing News" online for current fishing reports, photos, weather, and water temperatures from East Cape and other major Mexican sportfishing areas. Vacation travel articles, fishing maps and seasonal calendars, and fishing related information for East Cape may be found at Mexfish.com's main East Cape page.