TUNA AND MARLIN SET THE PACE FOR SPORTFISHING BOATS

Dec. 31, 2004, Larry Edwards, Cortez Yacht Charters, Mazatlan, Mexico Fishing Report:

Striped marlin action set the pace for billfish at Mazatlan, with catches rounded out by yellowfin tuna. Mazatlan offshore fishing catches for 33 fishing days reflected 29 stripers, 3 sailfish, 3 dorado and 60 yellow tuna. Mazatlan inshore fishing was diverse and included good catches of red snapper, yellowtail, sierra, jack crevalle and a few mojarra.

Mazatlan Climate: Partly cloudy days with very cool nights, temperatures ranged from 49 nights to 86 daytime highs.

Mazatlan Sea Conditions: Water temperatures remain stable at 76 degrees, mostly calm with some PM breezes.

The best Mazatlan fishing area continues to be southwest of the Marina El Cid, at 22-29 miles. Rigged baits were doing well for the billfish, albeit, enough stripers were being brought up on the lures to keep one's attention to the patterns, with mackerel colors being best for the billfish and feathers and cedar plugs working well for the tuna, running with the porpoise.

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