OFFSHORE BOATS LIMITED BY WIND BUT INSHORE FISHING GOOD

Jan. 27, 2006, Larry Edwards, Cortez Yacht Charters, Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico:

The fishing and catching at Mazatlan remained very good until Friday, when a bit of wind kicked up the seas and made for a very difficult fishing day with many boats returning early.

There is a low pressure area sitting over the top of Mazatlan that has created heavy cloud cover and even a possibility of some rain. Mazatlan weather was cloudy with temperatures that ranged from 46 degree nights to 82 daytime highs, with a chance of rain in the forecast.

The fleet reported in for 40 sportfishing days and reflected an offshore billfish catch of 38 striped marlin, 1 sailfish, 17 yellowfin tuna, 6 dorado and 2 mako sharks.

Mazatlan inshore fishing remains very active with easy limit fishing for a variety of bottom fish, but there was also a notable slow down when the low pressure moved over the area.

Sea temperatures varied from 66 degrees inshore to 74 degrees offshore and the sea was fairly calm until Friday, when the winds kicked up due to the low pressure movement. The best fishing area remains about 22-26 miles southwest of the Marina El Cid, with the warm water temperature break at about 20 miles. Rigged trolling baits were still the hot item 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.