OFFSHORE CHARTER FISHING BOATS AVERAGING 1 BILLFISH PER DAY

Aug. 11, 2006, Larry Edwards, Cortez Yacht Charters, Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico:

The largest fish for the week caught by Aries Fleet at Mazatlan was a 350 pound blue marlin taken aboard the charter boat Aries IX, while fishing with a rigged trolling bait, approximately 25 miles to the southwest of Marina El Cid.

The sportfishing fleet is still averaging a billfish per boat, per day fished, and they are rounding out their catches with a few yellowfin tuna.

Overall catches for 30 offshore days by Aries Fleet charter boats reflected 1 blue marlin, 32 sailfish, 27 released, 14 dorado, and 61 yellowfin tuna for the offshore waters. The inshore report was for 69 dorado and 2 skipjack tuna for the inshore super pangas, fishing 13 days.

Mazatlan climate was partly cloudy and humid, with air temperatures from 75 degree nights to 91 degree daytime highs. Sea conditions were mostly calm, with water temps at 81-83 degrees. The best fishing area was southwest of the Marina El Cid, 24-29 miles.

Most of the billfish were taken on slow-trolled rigged baits. Yellowfin tuna were running with porpoise and taken on bright colored feathers.

(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.