JACKS OR BETTER FISHING TOURNAMENT GREETED BY TORRENTIAL RAINS

Oct. 7, 2005, Ed Kunze, Baja On The Fly, Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico Fishing Report:

Torrential rains greeted the early-arriving participants for our catch and release "Jacks or Better" tournament at Ixtapa Zihuatanejo. Several anglers including Bruce Pratt, from Beaufort, South Carolina and last year’s winner Brian Berger from San Francisco, found plenty of action in the jack department, both landing fish in the 10 to 20-pound class on Wednesday. There were birds, pelicans, jumping fish on both sides of the boat and the action lasted until 11:30.

That evening at 6:30 a storm hit us with gusts to about 60 miles an hour. We could not fish again until Friday. The water had turned on us and absolutely shut us down. I went 25 miles north, and the water just got more dirty. The water went from 84 degrees to 74 degrees and green.

Today, I sent the pangas down to Puerto Vicente Gro. and I took all the contestants (and Terry) by my Suburban for the 1.5 hour drive. It is the most beautiful roosterfish water you have ever seen, and virgin water too. But, with 74 degree water, we got nothing. This is the area Adolpho and Cheva have been getting up to 15 roosters and 20 big jacks a day on gear.

Yesterday and today, the surf has been very high and dangerous. We had some waves today with over 30 foot faces. And that was a fairly close measurement because we were right along side the Dos Hermanos II as we went over the top. When I made the estimate, there was at least 5 feet to the crest ahead of the 26 foot panga, and at least 10 feet to the trough. The pangas were near vertical as we went over.

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo water temperature 80-84; Air temperature 78-86.

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