LOCAL CHARTER FISHING PANGAS FOCUS ON BOTTOM FISH ACTION

Jan. 20, 2006, Larry Edwards, Cortez Yacht Charters, Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico:

Mazatlan offshore sportfishing produced 100 percent striped marlin this week, with charter boats fishing a total of 37 days and reflecting a total of 55 stripers.

Mazatlan inshore fishing again was red-hot and produced easy limit fishing for the red snappers that remained overly eager to bite. There were also fair catches of yellowtail, but it appeared that most of the super pangas had focused on the bottom fishing at the anglers' request.

The best fishing was still out to the southwest from Marina El Cid some 25 miles or so for the billfish. Rigged trolling baits were unquestionably the hot bait.

Mazatlan weather was cool, with clear nights with temperatures down to 47 degrees and daytime highs to 82, mostly sunny.

Sea conditions had some north winds but were fishable all week with temperatures from 72 degrees inshore to 73 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.