at the Hotel Buena Vista Resort, where anglers target roosters from smaller pangas, as well as beachside. "That's one of the unique things about East Cape,"
Graham says. "You can fish all day in the boat, go back to the resort, and fish until dusk off the beach. As the sun drops behind the mountains, everything turns on." Graham says Baja roosterfish reach 60- and 70-pound class, although the bigger fish are extremely wary. One of Graham's guides, Capt. Lance Peterson, has caught a 48.5-pounder taken on 16-pound tippet off the beach. "As they get bigger they get smart, that's all there is to it," Graham explains. Roosterfish can be caught all year, but the prime season is May through October. Graham's guides specialize in sight-fishing using 10-weight fly outfits. Flies in natural color patterns are best, with Mona Lisa mullet, seafood deceivers, and the wasabi getting the nod. Anglers who prefer spinning gear also get in on the fun. Robert's Rangers, a striped bass lure that flutters on the surface, and Rebel Jumping Minnow plugs in bone are top choices for Baja's powerful roosters. Other species of jacks, along with pompano,
corvina, ladyfish, mutton snapper, and other pargo, plus the occasional yellowtail, are equally common in these waters. Bonefish are thick, although they're often mistaken for something else and rarely get bigger than 18 inches, Graham says. Still, on fly or light-tackle, the action can be fast and furious. Best of all, sea conditions are conveniently calm. "The cool thing about fishing the Sea of Cortez is
it's like a river," Graham says. "You just can't see the other bank." So even though blue and black marlin grab most of the limelight, don't overlook the other Cabo when you visit. It's all about the fish. And here in Baja, the bite is always mucho caliente.
Rich waters mean rich fishing, as evidenced (top) by the abundance of flags in the rigging of Cabo's sportfishing fleet and (below) by payout of nearly $60 million
dollars since the annual Black & Blue Marlin Jackpot Tournament began three decades ago.