My buddy Lance lives and guides down in Baja and sent this beach fishing report.

The dog days of summer are in full effect in the hinterlands of Baja California. Here at the East Cape the day time temps are hovering around 100 degrees. The sea is a cozy 80 degrees. And the sun is baking the landscape into a crispy golden brown...

The best fly fishing for big roosterfish from shore has come and gone. So i've been taking that opportunity to focus on other fish and other fishing methods.

Most of my fly fishing is now happening early or late to avoid the oppressive heat and sun. The great concentrations of mullet that we were seeing through the spring and early summer have thinned out. However, Sardina ( flat iron herring ) have been schooling up along the beach in huge numbers. Most of these bait fish are juvenile, an inch or so in length. Perfect chow for the wide variety of "small gamer" that are gathering at the shore. A small clouser and an 8wt equals big fun and can result in some good table fare too...namely Pompano and mexican look-down. The real prize are the occasional barred pargo like the one featured in the photo. I don't catch them often on the fly so that specimen was a treat. Along with the species already mentioned, fly fishing the beach has been producing green jacks, jack crevalle, roosters to 5lb or so, and ladyfish. An occasional roosterfish over 20 and even up to 40 lb's still make an appearance, but these fish are deep into their spawning behavior and are very disinterested in chasing flies.

In addition to the fly...good old fashioned bait fishing has been making an re-appearance. No better way to spend a lazy Baja evening than sipping a cold Pacifico ( or cocktail of choice ) and soaking bait off the beach.  A fresh chunk of mullet, ladyfish, or crab have been yielding a mixed bag of fish: pargo, skates, black tip sharks, and a couple different types of croaker.

We went down and fished with him last winter and had a ton of fun, if you want to get in touch with him let me know.

Jim Kerr

Rain Coast Guide Service