TOP SPORTFISHING CATCHES FOR ARIES FLEET INCLUDE A 300-POUND BLUE MARLIN

Sept. 29, 2006, Larry Edwards, Cortez Yacht Charters, Mazatlan, Mexico:

In this week's fishing at Mazatlan, the largest fish caught by Aries Fleet was a 300 pound blue marlin, taken aboard the "Aries V", skippered by Captain Memo Rodriguez.

While Mazatlan fishing action greatly improved this week, the boats are still suffering from a lack of anglers.

Overall catches for 11 offshore fishing days by Aries Fleet at Marina el Cid reflected 2 blue marlin, 6 sailfish, 12 yellowfin tuna and 24 dorado. The inshore fishing action for 7 super panga fishing days resulted in catches of 42 dorado.

Mazatlan sportfishing boats were scatted from west to southwest of Marina El Cid, from 23 to 30 miles offshore. All but one of the billfish were taken on rigged baits. The Dorado were fairly eager to bite on a variety of offerings that included live bait, strip bait and rigged baits, along with artificial lures.

Mazatlan weather had mixed sunshine and clouds throughout the area, with temperatures that ranged from 72 degree nights to 90 daytime highs.

Except for a single day of port closure for adverse sea conditions, the ocean off Mazatlan was relatively calm this week, with little swell and water temperatures from 84 degree inshore to 86 offshore.

(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.