SWORDFISH LANDED BY CHARTER BOAT ARIES VIII

April 22, 2005, Larry Edwards, Cortez Yacht Charters, Mazatlan, Mexico Fishing Report:

The Mazatlan sportfishing boat "ARIES VIII" landed its 2nd swordfish of the season, a trophy, 250-pounder, taken by Athens, Ga., angler, Sam Williams, following a 2 hour 15 minute battle. Charter fishing Capt. Carlos Morales set the fish up with a slow trolled, rigged mullet, some 34 miles south of Mazatlan's Marina El Cid, enticing the fish to take the well placed bait. While Mazatlan fishing boats are starting to see a few swordfish, only Carlos has been able to get them to bite, so far.

The unstable water temperatures throughout the Mazatlan sportfishing area has made the overall fishing very difficult this past week. Only about 20% of the boats returned with billfish and there were a good number of boats returned empty-handed.

Overall catches for 23 boat days reflected: 1 swordfish, 4 striped marlin, 1 dorado, and 3 yellowfin tuna in the 60-70 pound range.

Inshore fishing at Mazatlan continues to be very good and produced another weekly smorgasbord that included palometas, red snapper, yellowtail mojarras, roncachos, botetes and more.

Mexico fishing weather at Mazatlan was partly cloudy, with air temperatures ranging from 55 nights to 85 daytime highs.

Sea conditions at Mazatlan had light westerly breezes. Sea surface temperatures ranged from 74 to 75 degrees, from inshore to offshore.

There was no special area, but it seemed the farther offshore the more possibilities there were. All billfish were taken on rigged baits.

(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.