BIG DORADO NUMBERS ARRIVE AT SHARK BUOYS

July 15, 2005, Larry Edwards, Cortez Yacht Charters, Mazatlan, Mexico Fishing Report:

The dorado have finally checked-in for the first time this year in the Mazatlan vacation fishing area and are back at the shark buoys in big numbers.

By the end of the week, the sailfish were nearing a wide-open bite off Mazatlan as the "Aries IV", skippered by Captain Rene Raygoza, left the fishing grounds with a 9-fish release for the day and all of the boats had multiple billfish counts. It seems like the entire Mazatlan sportfishing area has really come alive toward the end of the week, including the inshore action, too.

Overall fish counts for 27 days reflected 44 sailfish, (34 released) 1 blue marlin, 7 yellowfin tuna and 128 dorado (also mahi-mahi or dolphinfish), and the Mazatlan inshore fishing catches reflected limit fishing on red snapper & yellowtail.

Mazatlan was mostly cloudy, with 75 degree nights to 90 daytime highs. Sea conditions were stable, with sea temps at 83-84, light swell action, and gentle breezes. The best fishing area was 20-25 miles southwest of Marina El Cid for the billfish and under the shark buoys for the dorado. Sailfish are very eager on the slow trolled rigged baits and the dorado are literally biting on most anything that moves through the water and has a wiggle to it.

(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.