COOLER WATERS SCATTER OFFSHORE GAME FISH

April 1, 2004, Larry Edwards, Cortez Yacht Charters, Mazatlan, Mexico Fishing Report:

The cooler waters have filtered into the Mazatlan fishing region and somewhat depressed the billfish catches there. Mazatlan charter fishing skippers are working very hard and scanning wide areas to make their daily catches for the offshore waters.

However, even with the cooler waters, Mazatlan billfish counts remained at an average of every other boat producing a billfish for the day and the others having at least 1 opportunity through the day.

Overall catches for 62 fishing days at Mazatlan reflected 7 sailfish released, 23 stripers, (10) released, 5 dorado, 5 yellowfin tuna and 1 mako shark for the offshore waters.

Mazatlan inshore fishing action tapered off just a little due to the cooler waters, but still, it's been fun fishing for the light tackle anglers and continues to produce the smorgasbord of critters. Cabrilla, corvinas, cochitos, pargo, palomettas and mojarras were all listed in good numbers in this fish report.

Mexico coastal fishing weather was sunny & warm, with temperatures ranging from 55 night time lows to 85 daytime highs

Sea Temperatures ranged from 70 to 71 degrees throughout the Mazatlan sportfishing area, with light breezes, mostly calm.

There was no specific fishing area that was the proverbial "hot spot." It was necessary to cover wide areas to produce a catch for the anglers.

Rigged trolling baits were best for the billfish.

(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.