YELLOWFIN TUNA OVER 100 POUNDS STILL HITTING FOR OFFSHORE BOATS

Feb. 2, 2007, Cortez Yacht Charters, Larry Edwards, Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico:

Mazatlan had mostly sunny and warm weather with a cloudy weekend, and air temperatures from 48 degree nights to 83 degree daytime highs.

While Mazatlan's billfish bite has slid off to about a 50 percent catch rate, yellowfin tuna fishing has helped enormously to take up the slack with some yellowfin tuna caught still broaching the 100-pound mark.

The striped marlin caught by Mazatlan sportfishing boats this week have been bigger fish, too, and up to 200 pounds.

Inshore fishing action continues to be red-hot in the Mazatlan area of the Mexican coast, especially for the sierra bite. We again had easy limit fishing and "too much fun" for the light tackle anglers.

Overall offshore sportfishing catches this week for 26 fishing days by Aries Fleet at Mazatlan's Marina El Cid reflected 10 striped marlin, 2 sailfish, 15 dorado, and 40 yellowfin tuna caught.

Inshore charter super pangas, reporting for 11 fishing days reflected limits of sierra, and a 4 roosterfish day for the super panga "Anzeulo I".

Sierra were still anxious to bite on almost anything from spoons to feathers and strip bait.

The best offshore fishing area was southwest of Marina El Cid and nearing the 30-mile mark for the yellowfin tuna.

Rigged baits were best for the billfish, and live bait or feathers for the yellowfin tuna.

Sea conditions ranged from 73 degrees inshore to 75 degrees offshore, with a mostly calm week and light surface winds.