The billfish bite offshore is holding at about 50% for the boats and can make for a long fishing day for impatient anglers. This past week reflected a 450 lb. blue marlin, taken aboard the "Aries IV", skippered by Captain David Cabanillas, by angler Ron Bernard, Boise, Idaho. Ron was fishing with his family and was in the fish fight of his life that lasted for some 4 hours on 80 lb. test, just 16 miles outside the Marina El Cid entrance. The fish was taken on a rigged trolling bait. Another smaller blue marlin was also taken on the same day, board the "Aries I", skippered by Captain Jose Zamora. Overall combined fish counts for the offshore cruisers reporting for 11 days fished, reflected 2 blue marlin, 4 sailfish, 3 yellowfin tuna and 4 dorado. The inshore super panga fishing reflected an excellent catch for their 7 days that reflected 62 pargo, limits of sierra, 5 palometas, 32 toro and 24 cochitos.

Mazatlan Climate: Sunny and clear with temps from 62 nights to 88 daytime highs and very light surface breezes.

Sea Conditions: Inshore temps at 79 and rising to 81-82 at about 10 miles and the water begins to blue up from there and outbound. Nearly flat conditions continue.

Best Fishing Area: Still no concentration of fish offshore and the boats are fishing wide span areas throughout the days.

Best Lure/Bait: Rigged baits working well for the billfish and bigger baits for the bigger marlin.

Bait supply: Good bait supply with rigged baits.