A very busy week from Mazatlan and a significant increase in the dorado counts, with fish spread over a wide area. Many boats and teams from all over the world were pre-fishing the invitational, Mazatlan Big Game Trolling Tournament, that hosted anglers from around the globe. The high boat for the week was the "Aries VIII", skippered by Captain Carlos Morales and a Slovenian team led by Marko Zaloznic, landing and/or releasing 4 sailfish and 81 dorado for their 5 fishing days of pre-tournament action. The overall catches for a combined total of 57 fishing days reflected 4 blue marlin, (all under 250 lbs.) 18 sailfish, 1 striper and 509 dorado. The overall increase in the action is attributed to the following of Hurricane Rick, with a new high pressure building over the area.

Mazatlan Climate: Partly cloudy to very sunny and warm days with temps from 68 nights to 89 daytime highs.

Sea Conditions: Back to the standard, near perfect fishable conditions throughout the area, with minor swells and light tropical breezes, with temps ranging from 84-86 throughout the area.

Best Bait/Lure: Most of the boats were using rigged trolling baits in conjunction with artificial, practicing for the tournament.

Best fishing area: The boats fished a wide spectrum of the lower Sea of Cortez with reports of an occasional billfish here and there, but no concentration. however, dorado were taken in all directions.