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6:00 p.m. daily, except closed on Mondays. They are also closed during January
and February. Call 988-0041 for more information.

Fishing

The Sea of Cortez provides some of the greatest deep-sea fishing in the

world. The best fishing is from March through December, but fish are still
hungry in the winter months and can be coaxed onto your line. The trophy
fish are the large billfish--sailfish and black, blue, and striped marlin. Other
fish that are fun to haul in are grouper, sea bass, and Dorado.

Many of the fleets in Mazatlán participate in a tag and release program.

When you catch a fish, you tag it and the next guy that hooks into that fish
knows you were there first.

Fishing trips leave from the El Cid Marina or from the downtown sports

fishing dock near the lighthouse. The going rates for a six-hour day of deep-
sea fishing are about $200 U.S. for a 26-foot Super Panga for up to four fisher-
men and for $375 U.S., six fishermen can go out eight hours on a 28-foot
cruiser. This does not usually include fishing license, food, beverage, or the
gratuity to the captain. I usually give $10-15 U.S. depending on our boat's luck
that day. Check with the fleet managers if you don't have enough to fill a boat.
There are always others like you who are willing to team up and share expens-
es. Light tackle fishing trips are available at most charters.

My personal favorite is the Viking's Fleet, telephone 913-0145, which goes

out of the El Cid Marina. I prefer them because the skippers are very experi-
enced, and their boats are fast, well maintained and get you to the fishing
quickly.

Other reliable fleets that go out of the downtown sports fishing dock

include:

Star Fleet, 982-2665
Faro Fleet, 981-2824

Many tourists join the regulars and fish from the beach and breakwaters,

while others try their luck at the various fresh water lakes in the area. Bass are
the big catch in the foothill lakes of the Sierra Madres. Fishing licenses are
required when fishing from a boat, but not when surf fishing.

Char les A. Hall