The Aries Sportfishing Fleet is still enjoying a very good billfish bite for this time of year and the report for the past week included another late season blue marlin, (a smaller fish in the 250 lb. range, caught aboard the Aries IX, with Captain Gilberto Quintero). The overall fish report for a total of 11 offshore fishing days reflected 1 blue marlin, 11 sailfish, (7 released) 31 yellowfin tuna, (from football sizes to 45 lbs.) and 6 dorado. The inshore fishing consisted of a single fishing day aboard the super panga, "Anzuelo III" and reflected 5 red snappers, 3 sea bass and 3 trigger fish for the day. Ms. Kitcia Ceja, our fleet reporter for Mazatlan, said there was one rough day in the early part of the week but the other 6 days were good fishing weather with mostly light & variable surface winds and calm seas.

Mazatlan Climate: Partly cloudy but warm days, cool mornings and evenings and temps that ranged from 57 nights to 85 daytime highs.

Sea Conditions: One windy & rough day during the early part of the week that changed to mostly light & variable surface breezes for the remainder of the period. Sea Temps were holding stable at 76 inshore and rising to 78 offshore, all with good clarity.

Best Fishing Area: The better bite started at about 18-20 mils out to the southwest of the Marina El Cid, with the skippers working out-bound from there.

Best Bait/Lure: The billfish and dorado were taken on the rigged mullet baits and the yellowfin tuna were taken on cedar plugs, tuna feathers and Rapala type lures.

Bait Supply: Remained excellent throughout the week for both, fresh mullet for rigging, (included with the charters) and live baits, both mullet and caballitos, all at $1.00 each.