According to our special reporter at the Aries Sportfishing Fleet Office, the billfish bite slowed up a little this past week but also produced the season's first blue marlin, taken aboard the "Aries III", a fish in the 200 lb. range. It was a near 50-50 week for the offshore fishing with the boats reporting in for a total of 7 days fished that resulted in 2 stripers and 1 blue marlin. The inshore super pangas, reporting in for a total of 5 days fished, reflected limits of snappers, 12 corvina, 15 permit and 35 seabass that amounted to another week of fast action for the super pangas inshore hot spots.

Mazatlan Climate: Air-temps varied rom 65 nights to 89 daytime highs and an 83% humidity level. It was a partly cloudy week with a range of a few clouds to bright sunshine and a sunny and clear weekend.

Sea Conditions: Sea temps remained very good and ranged from 80-81 inshore and rising to 83-84 offshore, which may result in more blue marlin and perhaps some dorado moving in on the buoys? Surface breezes flowing in from the westerly directions and ranged from very light to about 13 mph.

Best lure/bait: Rigged baits still working best for the billfish.

Best Fishing Area: None was provided as the boats were fishing in the 15-25 mile offshore ranges and while seeing an occasional billfish, they were not being overly cooperative for the anglers.

Bait Supply: Remained good & plentiful for both, rigging baits and or live baits. Live bait is $1.00 per bait and rigging baitsd are provided with the charters.