OFFSHORE FISHING DECENT FOR YELLOWFIN TUNA AND DORADO

July 21, 2006, Larry Edwards, Cortez Yacht Charters, Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico:

According to Aries Fleet manager Geronimno Cevallos, Mazatlan sportfishing remains pretty good for both inshore and offshore charter boats.

He says Mazatlan super pangas are concentrating on the dorado catches and are still producing limits or near limits of dorado everyday.

Mazatlan offshore fishing for billfish has slowed to a little better than 60 percent, but some of the charter boats are rounding their catches out with a few yellowfin tuna and dorado also.

Overall catches for 23 Aries Fleet offshore fishing days out of Mazatlan's Marina el Cid reflected 2 blue marlin, both in the 200 pound range, 12 sailfish, with 11 sailfish released, 18 dorado, and 25 yellowfin tuna.

Six inshore super panga fishing days resulted in 39 dorado, all taken at the buoys.

Mazatlan weather early week had a few rain squalls with temperatures running from 78 degree nights to 93 degree daytime highs, and humidity is high.

Mazatlan had a couple of rough sea days with rain squalls, locally generated winds, and water temps at 85-86 degrees. The billfish were taken to the southwest of Marina El Cid, 24-29 miles out, along with the tuna and the occasional dorado. The bulk of the dorado came from the buoys at 22 miles out. Rigged baits did 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.