SEASON'S FIRST SWORDFISH LANDED

April 15, 2005, Larry Edwards, Cortez Yacht Charters, Mazatlan, Mexico Fishing Report:

There is an enormous change from last week's Mazatlan fishing report, with a terrific upswing with the catching, along with the season's first swordfish, taken aboard the fleet's newest addition, "Aries VIII".

The swordfish checked-in at 190 pounds. and was fought by a group of anglers on a charter by Eladio Esquerra, Culiacan, Mexico.

The Mako Shark fishing at Mazatlan has been unusually brisk and coincides with the swordfish season.

Doug Harmance, Santa Maria, CA, fishing aboard "Aries VIII" landed limits of yellowfin tuna, along with a 120 pound hammerhead shark and 1 mako shark for 2 fishing days.

The inshore Mazatlan sportfishing smorgasbord continued, with the super pangas reporting very good catches of pargo, cabrilla, loras, cochitos, botetes and mojarras. Overall catches for Aries Fleet offshore fishing boats reflected 1 swordfish, 9 stripers, 11 mako sharks, 1 hammerhead shark, 12 dorado and 64 yellowfin tuna for 39 fishing days.

Mazatlan fishing weather was mostly sunny and warm, with temperatures from 53 nights to 84 daytime highs.

Mazatlan sea conditions for fishing along the Pacific coast of Mexico had some offshore breezy days, but plenty fishable. Water temperatures were from 71.5 degrees inshore to 73.5 offshore at 20-25 miles out to the southwest.

The best fishing area at Mazatlan was 25 miles southwest of Marina El Cid.

Rigged baits were best for the billfish and the swordfish was taken on a dead mullet presented to the fish from the outrigger.

(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.