08-29-2012, 09:25 AM
Another great report from Captain Jeff Jones from Captainonboard.org
Fish Report for Tuesday, August 28th:
MARLIN: Lots of tight lips with the current and upcoming marlin tourneys. There ARE marlin just off the east end of Catalina from The Slide to the Avalon Bank, but more closer to The Slide. (is that even proper English? I’ve been hanging around my kids too much) The other area with some fish that want to bite is tight to Pyramid. These area are fun to fish because of the obvious nice weather, and calm seas. There have been fish below the 43 where all the life is, and some BFT’s and kelps holding. Still not much in the way of swordie sightings this year.
BLUEFIN: It’s Tuesday, so there are not alot of reports. The 381 (12 miles off Chiina Pt. SCI) has been consistent, as has the East Butterfly, but I have no reports from here today. The tuna pens were hot again this morning, and are moving around. The best way to find them is with a radar, and start at the Hidden Bank. Fish the pens by starting a drift AHEAD of the pen so that you don’t get run over (duh!) and chum steadily. Chunks work great for this, with the occasional live with the eye popped out. Flyline live bait WAY out on 20 or 25# flouro. This is where a very short topshot works killer, because the bait has an easier time dragging the spectra through the water that straight mono. A small circle hook gets the solid corner of the mouth set for the long battle on light line that ensues. Some of these fish are over 40#’s. There are some BFT’s at the lower zone at 100 miles+.
Yellowfin: The YFT’s are below the Lower 500 a ways, like right out in front of San Martin. I looked at the SST’s and there is a finger of cold water keeping the fish from advancing up our way. Lets hope they do before we run out of time on the season. There have been some YFT’s of the mammals locally, but none have started to bite yet.
KELPS: Quiet today. The main zone is from San Onofre to Pt. Loma, and out around 12 miles. Some guys find’em, most guys don’t. This has turned into a combo luck/talent fishery and I for one am all for it. The sooner this becomes challenging, the sooner the idiots begin to stay home and go back to crying on their favorite fishing chat room. Good Riddance. I am already sick of the “the free divers shut off the bite” or “some sportboat got too close to me!” I swear the next time I go out, I’m stopping by the 99 Cent Store to get some boxes of tissues for all these crybabies. (Back to the report) It’s still open season on kelps, as there have been good kelps right off Long Point and Toyon at Catalina, as well as just off the double Rigs mid channel. Hopefully this warm weather will get us back to some stability.
CATALINA: Lame.
SCI: Great anchorage, and some fun calico bass fishing. A few yellows along the front, and somebody puts together a score every few days. Overall, disappointing at best.
LOCAL: I have a trip leaving this Saturday, and we are planning on making squid off Barge Rock to take tuna fishing. I will let you know how that goes.
Fish Report for Monday, August 27th:
There is a marlin hooked up just south of the 43. Bait fish…….Released at 10:55am.
Some fair dorado fishing along the coast, and off the 43. The best area is off San Onofre. Still some fish as far up the line as the 14, and no word yet if any have been found in tight to Catalina like yesterday. I have a neighbor across the street that was on those fish right in front of Avalon. He said that a lot of those dorado were ‘micro” dorado, only 10″-12″ (inches) long. ”Perfect marlin bait.”
The Redondo Special, the 1/2 day boat out of Redondo Sportfishing, has 10 seabass this morning. PV? Rocky? Trying to find out……..Stand by.
BLUEFIN: Still biting off SCI. Both around back in the area of the 381, and below Pyramid along the basin. Outside by the east Butterfly is good.
MARLIN: Boats looking everywhere. I hear a lot of guys are looking around San Nic, but I’n not sure why. The SST’s show it cooling fast out that way. The inside still has some fish, just below the 267.
Otherwise the same as it’s been, just less boats because it’s monday. Get out while it’s still good boys.
Fish Report for Sunday, August 26th:
KELPS: The main body of kelps holding dorado moved to just off San Onofre, and bit pretty good today. A stiff onshore breeze midday chased some of the smaller skiffs off the water. Some crazy spots had kelps holding dorado today. Try just 1.5 miles off the Pedro Light? What?! YEP. AND, a couple kelps were found to be holding dorado off the front of Catalina. One in front of Long Point, and another just off Toyon Pier. Amazing.
MARLIN: There was a double hookup off the Ozborn Bank today, and that is some cool news. Most boats are looking in front of Pyramid and below the 43, and some are seeing/baiting fish. Not a lot of hookups lately on the stripeys. There was a couple reported outside the 267 and below the 209, sleepers apparently.
BLUEFIN: Most of the good scores are coming from the area of the east Butterfly, right on the border. Another area is near Pyramid Head, both below the “head” and outside China.
Fish Report from Saturday, August 25th: (Yes, I missed yesterday. I was fishing!)
Local Offshore Scene: I started at Dana Harbor yesterday morning, and got a shot of some surprisingly good sardines. I had checked the SST’s and there was a gradual break that ran straight off shore from just below Dana, out across the 209, and curved back to the east at around the 181. All the warm water was on the south side of the break, but it was the break itself that held plenty of kelps.
Kelp with no boats is what you are looking for.
As long as we stayed ahead of the pack (of boats) we had bites. Start the drift well upwind and flyline baits on light line. 12# got bit great, and 15# flouro only got one bite all day.
Hammerhead
Saw a hammer head, a big blue whale
Blue whale.
and lots of porpoise and Rizzo’s. Also saw kelps with 8-20 boats on them. That baffles me. Why would you want to share a kelp? Why would anyone drive towards a kelp with another boat on it? Please, don’t do this…..
Local waters are good!
CATALINA: SLOW. Plenty of blueperch and short calico bass. Still some squid in the Isthmus at Lions Head, and around back at Little Harbor. Is there a chance you might hook a yellow? Yes, but not likely. Get some live squid from here and head offshore.
SCI: Open, and a great place to spend the night for the guys fishing out that way. Some squid inside Pyramid, where the best anchorage is. SOme decent halibut fishing in the Cove as well. Catch some of that and try it on the bluefin just below the Cove towards the 43. Fair calico bass fishing along the front, and some yellows. The stuff on the “9″ either swam off and got on the kelps, or just moved.
BLUEFIN: Still some good scores on the BFT’s. The area off the back of SCI is good, look at the 381. Trolling Rapalas and X-Raps WAY back might get a bite. Fish those on 30# tied straight with no swivel or leader. Otherwise it’s the long soak on meter marks or kelps. Chumming may be a problem, so try a chum bucket. Light line, small hooks and a little luck is what is needed. Any bites could turn into a plunker, so stay on the drift as ling as you can stand it. Other areas include just below the 43, the Eastern Wing on the Butterfly, and Clemente Basin.
Coastal: Some squid off HB at Barge Rock has the sand bass all ganged up in that area. Of course, live squid would be the best bait. Twilight has consistently been the best time. Down off La Jolla and Del Mar Kelp there has been some fair to good yellowtail/seabass/halibut action. The bait is at Del Mar Kelp, and the seabass/yellowtail fishing has been around Crystal Pier, near La Jolla.
Fish Report for Thursday, August 23rd:
Catalina: Same as yesterday. Add is a score on the yellows at Empire and that is it.
SCI: Again, look at yesterdays report.
Offshore: Still good fishing for the BFT’s from the 381 (11 miles off Chine Point, SCI) all the way down to the 60, and out to the eastern wind of the “Fly”. Meter marks give away the fish, and chum get’em biting.
The middle zone has slowed considerably today, with overcast skies and a little breeze making it hard to find kelps.
This inside is still hot, and the is a break running across the 209 and out to the 181. The warm side is to the south east, and cooler side towards Catalina. From the break to in front of San Onofre and Oceanside is good fishing on kelps. The fish have been HAMMERED, and are now shy. Light line, and starting the drift way upwind of the salad is necessary to get a bite.
LOCAL: Good sand bass on the twilight trips last night, again outside Barge Rock, where there is still some squid. More squid showed up at Del Mar Kelp last night, and I have not yet heard of any seabass/yellow scores on it. Those fish have been there for quite a while.
TUNE IN TO AM830 TONIGHT AT 10PM. FULL REPORT FROM MY TRIP AND THE GUYS FROM MELTONS TACKLE WILL BE ON HAND TO TALK ABOUT WHATS HOT TACKLE WISE.
Fish Report for Wednesday, August 22nd:
OFFSHORE: Good scores on the BFT’s in US waters this morning. The main area is just 11 miles outside China Point, SCI, on the 381. From there down across the Butterfly and in to San Clemente Basin there are fish spread out. BFT, Albie, Yellows and dorado all through here. Even a marlin.
The really good kelps are in tight to Oceanside. As close as 4 1/2 mile from O-Side Harbor there are kelps.
AGAIN: Any kelp has the possibility to be holding at this point AND, a guy might see a marlin just about anywhere these days.
CATALINA: Really good bass fishing, with a few yellows splashing around. Squid STILL available.
LOCAL: Still squid around Barge Rock, and some fair sand bass fishing to go with it.
Northern Baja: Some good bluefin/albie fishing this morning just below the 238 today. Along the beach is where the warm water and good kelps are.
Fish Report for Tuesday, August 21st: ”I’m BAACK!!”
Local: Still lots of squid just outside Barge Rock. On Monday morning as I was coming in from my trip, I saw the light boats on it. The boat I was running had a radar malfunction and the fog slammed the door on my return right outside where the light boats were, so I had to drop anchor and wait for it to clear. (around 2:30am). I turned on all of our lights so we would not get run over and the squid came right up. Really good bass marks there too, in 71′ of water. I did not fish. 26 hours of straight running and I was over it.
CATALINA: Still some squid around and right now the main bait area is in the Isthmus, around Lions Head. The yellows are all up west, front and back. Use the live squid to try to get a bite, but from what I hear the exotics are still on vacation at this island. Wanna catch a seabass? Look inside Johnsons on the eastern kelp line. (Sshhh!)
SCI: Open til next Monday, so all the offshore guys have a great place to spend the night. I listened to a guy on the VHF (expanded channel) talk about huge volumes of yellowtail up off the 9, but not really wanting to bite. What did bite was on the live squid. Apparently the west end back has the same conditions. Along the front, there is just not much in the way of yellows.
OFFSHORE: By now you already know we are in the middle of an epic offshore bite. This report could literally be 3,000 words. Albie and bluefin on the butterfly. If you do not have a sonar and 100 scoops of bait, you better be prepared to troll Rapalas and X-Raps on lighter line, and be willing to do long soaks with the 25# flouro. Kelps out there and everywhere are possible gold mines. Not every kelp, not even one in 10, but still plenty to keep kill bags full for even the most novice anglers. I will say that most guys are going WAY too far, and in the 5 days I was out I learned to stick close to the beach, even 250 miles down.
Across the Border: Same story with the kelps as above. THe tuna pens are in the vicinity of the Hidden Bank. Pretty darned good fishin’ on the BFT’s at the pens this morning. I saw tremendous dorado/yellowtail fishing from just below the Banda Bank, all the up to the Finger. Nothing more than 10 miles off the beach. Almost NO boats in sight the whole time. Incredible.
Tuesday, August 14th:
The good news! I leave tomorrow and won’t be back until next Monday. I am running the 38′ Uniflite “Mundy Mooring” down to Ensenada to fish the Southern California Tuna Club annual Tuna Tournament. I plan on looking down the line and possibly staying at San Martin Island for at least part of the trip. The club guys will all be in the Coral Marina, so we’ll have to visit there one or two nights. We’ll need fuel and bait, and to clear Customs. The owner of the boat is also in the Avalon Tuna Club and wants badly to get the 1st albacore flag for that club, so I will do everything in my power to make that happen for him.
The bad news: I don’t think I will have the ability to do my reports if we stay at San Martin. While we are at The Coral Marina, they have wireless and I can get you guys updates. Tonight’s report is skinny because I am overwhelmed with all I have to do to get ready. I spent the day working on the boat, and now I have to get MY stuff in order. Below is just what has changed, otherwise it’s the same as yesterdays report.
LOCAL: The sand bass are on the chew! On the Flats there are spots of spawning sand bass over muddy bottom AGAIN! WOW, what will the environmentalist say now? Some barracuda today in that area and west to the Horseshoe and out to the rigs. Amazing.
KELPS: A couple guys found some good fishing on the kelps a little later in the day today. Just outside the double rigs and down to the 14 was one area. From the 267 down to like 7 miles off Oceanside was another. Dorado mainly, and a few yellows. From what I heard and saw, very good fishing.
The rest is the same as yesterday. Sorry if I don’t re-write it and add new twists to make it sound different. I admit, that is the tough part. (doing the same reports for weeks on end, trying to make it sound interesting every day)
I’ll give you all a great report with photos when I get back! Don’t miss me too much. LATER!
Fish Report for Monday, August 13th:
Local: The barracuda took the day off for the most part, but they just might re-appear like they have been for a while now. The sand bass are just a twilight thing. Just the same report as it has been for except……….DORADO!!! That’s right. Lots of dorado invaded the outside portions of the Horseshoe and Flats. No biters yet. Stay tuned.
SCI: Still some squid in Pyramid and a few yellows to catch with it. The Caves in the morning and long the front during the day. There is a few really big bass up at the West End for the hard core calico guys.
KELPS: Same as all week, just much less boat pressure. There were some fish taken outside the 181, and a marlin hooked again by the 267.
Mex: More albies on the Upper Hidden Bank today and reports of very consistent fishing around the 238. The lower zone at 120-150 miles was on again today, and was not just one pocket of life. Longs ways down there, and the breeze was blowing enough to be uncomfortable.
Fish Report for Sunday, August 12th: (Week in review)
Catalina: This past week we entered the last quarter moon phase, and expectations were high for a rebound since this island has been quiet for way too long. The yellows are still around the East End, and we did see some bites leading up to today. Outside Orange Rocks, and up at Salta Verde. The squid has stuck around Ben Weston, even with the warmer water, and there was even some made again at Eagle Reef. The West End saw some yellowtail outside West Cove, and there are rumors of seabass along the western back sector of the island.
SCI: The island opened on wednesday and the first sportboat over there had seabass in the dark and yellows in the morning at the Caves. The yellows continue to show at the Caves every morning so far since then. The yellows are up and down the front, but it is hit and miss. The seabass on the front are a steady target for the free divers, and then today a handfull were caught at Mosquito Cove. There is enough squid inside the Cove that a light boat is there making it to sell.
OFFSHORE: The marlin put on enough of a show to get most of the marlin fleet out and fishing. Marlin were caught all week and many different areas. The inside zone around the 267 has been constant, with a few fish caught and released. Fish were also hooked near the 209, 181, Mackerel Bank, and even up off the West End of Catalina. The kelps have been holding yellowtail and dorado in many areas. Not every one is holding, and a few that are holding have fish that won’t bite. Hot zones were the 181/182 ridge, the 209 and inside from the 267 down to the 302.
LOCAL: Early in the week saw good barracuda fishing on the Horseshoe, and falling scores on the sand bass on the Flats, but with the good moon phase and tides, the sand bass fishing picked up as expected. A few foggy mornings put a hamper on the cuda fishing, but the sand bass bite rebounded good enough to get the counts up on the local sportboats. Today the cuda were on both the Flats and Shoe, and spread out too much to target. So guys anchored up to fish sandies and let the gar come to them.
COASTAL EXOTICS: A quiet bite continues at Del Mar Kelp, with a spot of squid in 80′ of water holding big seabass and yellows. The reports have been sporadic, and suspicious. That is usually a good clue that it is for real. La Jolla had excellent yellowtail fishing with calico bass and barracuda to fill in the gaps early in the week. Despite numerous warnings that too big a crowd would shut down the bite, private boaters did just that, and today saw just barracuda and bass for an armada of skiffs and small private boats.
Northern Baja: Lots of fish, and lots of fish caught. With that, a few guys running down that way and catching nothing. The inside zone was good enough to attract the 3/4 day fleet out of San Diego, and they had some good scores on the kelps on the 302, “9″ Mile Bank and below to the 371. This was mostly due to the Mex. Nave keeping it complicated for the sport boats to fish the Nados. The bluefin stacked up on the tuna pens at 65 miles, and bit good until today when the pens were at 45 miles. Today very few bft’s were even hooked at the pens. Albacore showed several times, and even today. The zone outside and west of Todos Santos Island held the longfins, and bft’s, dorado and yellows on the kelps. The 120-150 mile zone proved inconsistent, but showed a strong comeback today at 118 miles and some more of the bigger grade yft’s. Everything else is down that way too, but it is far off the beach, and not getting much attention from private boats. Overall, VERY good fishing in Northern Baja this week, even though e few guys missed completely.
Fish Report for Saturday, August 11th:
SCI: I did not hear of a seabass outside Pyramid at the Caves this morning, just straight yellows. Not every boat got’em. Live squid is for sale inside Pyramid. Along the front the bass fishing is good, and actually the guys targeting them with plastics are doing better than the guys with squid. A spot of yellows bit at Gold Bluff, and wanted the sardines just as much as the squid. Just a few yellows elsewhere on the front.
CATALINA: Squid to catch from Ben Weston to Little Harbor. No, not the whole way, just in a couple spots. Some decent seabass fishing with legal halibut on the west side of Mills Landing. Lots of short seabass. Some yellows today at Orange Rocks, and outside West Cove. Guys on the front are catching their own fin bait and enjoying some fun calico bass fishing in the hot weather. Tons of bait on the front.
KELPS: A nice puddle of warm water is parked in front of Carlsbad. Kelps are holding there. The 302 kicked out some kelp paddy fish today too, as did the “9″. On the outside there was a report of a kelp found holding just below the 43. The marlin guys are all over, and one guys found a kelp holding dorado off the West End of Catalina.
MEXICO: Yesterday a yacht called in a wide open bluefin bite on the 1010. Some nicer grade BFT’s apparently. Today it’s the 238 that has some boats with good scores on the BFT’s. The tuna pens are reported as crowded and biting. They are 42 miles from the point. Kelps all over are holding yellows and dorado. Just slow down and look carefully. NOT EVERYBODY IS CATCHING FISH, but isn’t that always the case?
LOCAL: A few private boats have found biting sand bass on the Flats. Right in line with the better tides and moon phase. Watch this get better and better for a week or so. Just outside Barge rock is still good, as is the Izors. Meter around patiently and look for a cloud of bass to set up on. Don’t just drive to a group of boats and start fishing, that just plain NEVER works. Some cudas around here too.
Fish Report for Friday, August 10th:
Today is the last quarter moon, and the beginning of a great set of tides for inshore waters. By inshore, I mean anywhere you can anchor. SO look for Catalina, San Clemente Island and our local waters to get better and better over the next week.
Catalina: At least one of the squid boats has left for SCI and will not be selling the candy at Catalina. Guys with underwater lights and crowders can make bait around Ben Weston and Eagle Reef. A nice little snap for some friends of mine on the West End High Spot this morning. A few yellows biting there, and also on the lower edge of Salta Verde. I have another code boat that will be at Catalina all weekend, so look for updates here often.
SCI: Same deal, but with better tides coming. Watch the Caves bite get better, and the yellowtail counts along front go up too. Lots of fish here, and these tides are going to give this island the boost it needs.
OFFSHORE: Quiet today. The fish are here. Look at all kelps and watch out for the marlin guys. The whole fleet is out looking for the weekend. Marlin being seen all over the place, including just outside the rigs this morning. It’s also that time to start looking for porpoise.
MEXICO: Overall quiet so far today. Again, the fish are there, just not cooperating. The 302 and 371 are producing, but the tuna pen at 50 miles is lackluster today. The “Hail Mary” at 150 miles is disappointing too. Lets all hope it is an afternoon “Time Of Day” deal. Otherwise, we can all blame Larry for shutting off the bite.
Fish Report for Tuesday, August 28th:
MARLIN: Lots of tight lips with the current and upcoming marlin tourneys. There ARE marlin just off the east end of Catalina from The Slide to the Avalon Bank, but more closer to The Slide. (is that even proper English? I’ve been hanging around my kids too much) The other area with some fish that want to bite is tight to Pyramid. These area are fun to fish because of the obvious nice weather, and calm seas. There have been fish below the 43 where all the life is, and some BFT’s and kelps holding. Still not much in the way of swordie sightings this year.
BLUEFIN: It’s Tuesday, so there are not alot of reports. The 381 (12 miles off Chiina Pt. SCI) has been consistent, as has the East Butterfly, but I have no reports from here today. The tuna pens were hot again this morning, and are moving around. The best way to find them is with a radar, and start at the Hidden Bank. Fish the pens by starting a drift AHEAD of the pen so that you don’t get run over (duh!) and chum steadily. Chunks work great for this, with the occasional live with the eye popped out. Flyline live bait WAY out on 20 or 25# flouro. This is where a very short topshot works killer, because the bait has an easier time dragging the spectra through the water that straight mono. A small circle hook gets the solid corner of the mouth set for the long battle on light line that ensues. Some of these fish are over 40#’s. There are some BFT’s at the lower zone at 100 miles+.
Yellowfin: The YFT’s are below the Lower 500 a ways, like right out in front of San Martin. I looked at the SST’s and there is a finger of cold water keeping the fish from advancing up our way. Lets hope they do before we run out of time on the season. There have been some YFT’s of the mammals locally, but none have started to bite yet.
KELPS: Quiet today. The main zone is from San Onofre to Pt. Loma, and out around 12 miles. Some guys find’em, most guys don’t. This has turned into a combo luck/talent fishery and I for one am all for it. The sooner this becomes challenging, the sooner the idiots begin to stay home and go back to crying on their favorite fishing chat room. Good Riddance. I am already sick of the “the free divers shut off the bite” or “some sportboat got too close to me!” I swear the next time I go out, I’m stopping by the 99 Cent Store to get some boxes of tissues for all these crybabies. (Back to the report) It’s still open season on kelps, as there have been good kelps right off Long Point and Toyon at Catalina, as well as just off the double Rigs mid channel. Hopefully this warm weather will get us back to some stability.
CATALINA: Lame.
SCI: Great anchorage, and some fun calico bass fishing. A few yellows along the front, and somebody puts together a score every few days. Overall, disappointing at best.
LOCAL: I have a trip leaving this Saturday, and we are planning on making squid off Barge Rock to take tuna fishing. I will let you know how that goes.
Fish Report for Monday, August 27th:
There is a marlin hooked up just south of the 43. Bait fish…….Released at 10:55am.
Some fair dorado fishing along the coast, and off the 43. The best area is off San Onofre. Still some fish as far up the line as the 14, and no word yet if any have been found in tight to Catalina like yesterday. I have a neighbor across the street that was on those fish right in front of Avalon. He said that a lot of those dorado were ‘micro” dorado, only 10″-12″ (inches) long. ”Perfect marlin bait.”
The Redondo Special, the 1/2 day boat out of Redondo Sportfishing, has 10 seabass this morning. PV? Rocky? Trying to find out……..Stand by.
BLUEFIN: Still biting off SCI. Both around back in the area of the 381, and below Pyramid along the basin. Outside by the east Butterfly is good.
MARLIN: Boats looking everywhere. I hear a lot of guys are looking around San Nic, but I’n not sure why. The SST’s show it cooling fast out that way. The inside still has some fish, just below the 267.
Otherwise the same as it’s been, just less boats because it’s monday. Get out while it’s still good boys.
Fish Report for Sunday, August 26th:
KELPS: The main body of kelps holding dorado moved to just off San Onofre, and bit pretty good today. A stiff onshore breeze midday chased some of the smaller skiffs off the water. Some crazy spots had kelps holding dorado today. Try just 1.5 miles off the Pedro Light? What?! YEP. AND, a couple kelps were found to be holding dorado off the front of Catalina. One in front of Long Point, and another just off Toyon Pier. Amazing.
MARLIN: There was a double hookup off the Ozborn Bank today, and that is some cool news. Most boats are looking in front of Pyramid and below the 43, and some are seeing/baiting fish. Not a lot of hookups lately on the stripeys. There was a couple reported outside the 267 and below the 209, sleepers apparently.
BLUEFIN: Most of the good scores are coming from the area of the east Butterfly, right on the border. Another area is near Pyramid Head, both below the “head” and outside China.
Fish Report from Saturday, August 25th: (Yes, I missed yesterday. I was fishing!)
Local Offshore Scene: I started at Dana Harbor yesterday morning, and got a shot of some surprisingly good sardines. I had checked the SST’s and there was a gradual break that ran straight off shore from just below Dana, out across the 209, and curved back to the east at around the 181. All the warm water was on the south side of the break, but it was the break itself that held plenty of kelps.
Kelp with no boats is what you are looking for.
As long as we stayed ahead of the pack (of boats) we had bites. Start the drift well upwind and flyline baits on light line. 12# got bit great, and 15# flouro only got one bite all day.
Hammerhead
Saw a hammer head, a big blue whale
Blue whale.
and lots of porpoise and Rizzo’s. Also saw kelps with 8-20 boats on them. That baffles me. Why would you want to share a kelp? Why would anyone drive towards a kelp with another boat on it? Please, don’t do this…..
Local waters are good!
CATALINA: SLOW. Plenty of blueperch and short calico bass. Still some squid in the Isthmus at Lions Head, and around back at Little Harbor. Is there a chance you might hook a yellow? Yes, but not likely. Get some live squid from here and head offshore.
SCI: Open, and a great place to spend the night for the guys fishing out that way. Some squid inside Pyramid, where the best anchorage is. SOme decent halibut fishing in the Cove as well. Catch some of that and try it on the bluefin just below the Cove towards the 43. Fair calico bass fishing along the front, and some yellows. The stuff on the “9″ either swam off and got on the kelps, or just moved.
BLUEFIN: Still some good scores on the BFT’s. The area off the back of SCI is good, look at the 381. Trolling Rapalas and X-Raps WAY back might get a bite. Fish those on 30# tied straight with no swivel or leader. Otherwise it’s the long soak on meter marks or kelps. Chumming may be a problem, so try a chum bucket. Light line, small hooks and a little luck is what is needed. Any bites could turn into a plunker, so stay on the drift as ling as you can stand it. Other areas include just below the 43, the Eastern Wing on the Butterfly, and Clemente Basin.
Coastal: Some squid off HB at Barge Rock has the sand bass all ganged up in that area. Of course, live squid would be the best bait. Twilight has consistently been the best time. Down off La Jolla and Del Mar Kelp there has been some fair to good yellowtail/seabass/halibut action. The bait is at Del Mar Kelp, and the seabass/yellowtail fishing has been around Crystal Pier, near La Jolla.
Fish Report for Thursday, August 23rd:
Catalina: Same as yesterday. Add is a score on the yellows at Empire and that is it.
SCI: Again, look at yesterdays report.
Offshore: Still good fishing for the BFT’s from the 381 (11 miles off Chine Point, SCI) all the way down to the 60, and out to the eastern wind of the “Fly”. Meter marks give away the fish, and chum get’em biting.
The middle zone has slowed considerably today, with overcast skies and a little breeze making it hard to find kelps.
This inside is still hot, and the is a break running across the 209 and out to the 181. The warm side is to the south east, and cooler side towards Catalina. From the break to in front of San Onofre and Oceanside is good fishing on kelps. The fish have been HAMMERED, and are now shy. Light line, and starting the drift way upwind of the salad is necessary to get a bite.
LOCAL: Good sand bass on the twilight trips last night, again outside Barge Rock, where there is still some squid. More squid showed up at Del Mar Kelp last night, and I have not yet heard of any seabass/yellow scores on it. Those fish have been there for quite a while.
TUNE IN TO AM830 TONIGHT AT 10PM. FULL REPORT FROM MY TRIP AND THE GUYS FROM MELTONS TACKLE WILL BE ON HAND TO TALK ABOUT WHATS HOT TACKLE WISE.
Fish Report for Wednesday, August 22nd:
OFFSHORE: Good scores on the BFT’s in US waters this morning. The main area is just 11 miles outside China Point, SCI, on the 381. From there down across the Butterfly and in to San Clemente Basin there are fish spread out. BFT, Albie, Yellows and dorado all through here. Even a marlin.
The really good kelps are in tight to Oceanside. As close as 4 1/2 mile from O-Side Harbor there are kelps.
AGAIN: Any kelp has the possibility to be holding at this point AND, a guy might see a marlin just about anywhere these days.
CATALINA: Really good bass fishing, with a few yellows splashing around. Squid STILL available.
LOCAL: Still squid around Barge Rock, and some fair sand bass fishing to go with it.
Northern Baja: Some good bluefin/albie fishing this morning just below the 238 today. Along the beach is where the warm water and good kelps are.
Fish Report for Tuesday, August 21st: ”I’m BAACK!!”
Local: Still lots of squid just outside Barge Rock. On Monday morning as I was coming in from my trip, I saw the light boats on it. The boat I was running had a radar malfunction and the fog slammed the door on my return right outside where the light boats were, so I had to drop anchor and wait for it to clear. (around 2:30am). I turned on all of our lights so we would not get run over and the squid came right up. Really good bass marks there too, in 71′ of water. I did not fish. 26 hours of straight running and I was over it.
CATALINA: Still some squid around and right now the main bait area is in the Isthmus, around Lions Head. The yellows are all up west, front and back. Use the live squid to try to get a bite, but from what I hear the exotics are still on vacation at this island. Wanna catch a seabass? Look inside Johnsons on the eastern kelp line. (Sshhh!)
SCI: Open til next Monday, so all the offshore guys have a great place to spend the night. I listened to a guy on the VHF (expanded channel) talk about huge volumes of yellowtail up off the 9, but not really wanting to bite. What did bite was on the live squid. Apparently the west end back has the same conditions. Along the front, there is just not much in the way of yellows.
OFFSHORE: By now you already know we are in the middle of an epic offshore bite. This report could literally be 3,000 words. Albie and bluefin on the butterfly. If you do not have a sonar and 100 scoops of bait, you better be prepared to troll Rapalas and X-Raps on lighter line, and be willing to do long soaks with the 25# flouro. Kelps out there and everywhere are possible gold mines. Not every kelp, not even one in 10, but still plenty to keep kill bags full for even the most novice anglers. I will say that most guys are going WAY too far, and in the 5 days I was out I learned to stick close to the beach, even 250 miles down.
Across the Border: Same story with the kelps as above. THe tuna pens are in the vicinity of the Hidden Bank. Pretty darned good fishin’ on the BFT’s at the pens this morning. I saw tremendous dorado/yellowtail fishing from just below the Banda Bank, all the up to the Finger. Nothing more than 10 miles off the beach. Almost NO boats in sight the whole time. Incredible.
Tuesday, August 14th:
The good news! I leave tomorrow and won’t be back until next Monday. I am running the 38′ Uniflite “Mundy Mooring” down to Ensenada to fish the Southern California Tuna Club annual Tuna Tournament. I plan on looking down the line and possibly staying at San Martin Island for at least part of the trip. The club guys will all be in the Coral Marina, so we’ll have to visit there one or two nights. We’ll need fuel and bait, and to clear Customs. The owner of the boat is also in the Avalon Tuna Club and wants badly to get the 1st albacore flag for that club, so I will do everything in my power to make that happen for him.
The bad news: I don’t think I will have the ability to do my reports if we stay at San Martin. While we are at The Coral Marina, they have wireless and I can get you guys updates. Tonight’s report is skinny because I am overwhelmed with all I have to do to get ready. I spent the day working on the boat, and now I have to get MY stuff in order. Below is just what has changed, otherwise it’s the same as yesterdays report.
LOCAL: The sand bass are on the chew! On the Flats there are spots of spawning sand bass over muddy bottom AGAIN! WOW, what will the environmentalist say now? Some barracuda today in that area and west to the Horseshoe and out to the rigs. Amazing.
KELPS: A couple guys found some good fishing on the kelps a little later in the day today. Just outside the double rigs and down to the 14 was one area. From the 267 down to like 7 miles off Oceanside was another. Dorado mainly, and a few yellows. From what I heard and saw, very good fishing.
The rest is the same as yesterday. Sorry if I don’t re-write it and add new twists to make it sound different. I admit, that is the tough part. (doing the same reports for weeks on end, trying to make it sound interesting every day)
I’ll give you all a great report with photos when I get back! Don’t miss me too much. LATER!
Fish Report for Monday, August 13th:
Local: The barracuda took the day off for the most part, but they just might re-appear like they have been for a while now. The sand bass are just a twilight thing. Just the same report as it has been for except……….DORADO!!! That’s right. Lots of dorado invaded the outside portions of the Horseshoe and Flats. No biters yet. Stay tuned.
SCI: Still some squid in Pyramid and a few yellows to catch with it. The Caves in the morning and long the front during the day. There is a few really big bass up at the West End for the hard core calico guys.
KELPS: Same as all week, just much less boat pressure. There were some fish taken outside the 181, and a marlin hooked again by the 267.
Mex: More albies on the Upper Hidden Bank today and reports of very consistent fishing around the 238. The lower zone at 120-150 miles was on again today, and was not just one pocket of life. Longs ways down there, and the breeze was blowing enough to be uncomfortable.
Fish Report for Sunday, August 12th: (Week in review)
Catalina: This past week we entered the last quarter moon phase, and expectations were high for a rebound since this island has been quiet for way too long. The yellows are still around the East End, and we did see some bites leading up to today. Outside Orange Rocks, and up at Salta Verde. The squid has stuck around Ben Weston, even with the warmer water, and there was even some made again at Eagle Reef. The West End saw some yellowtail outside West Cove, and there are rumors of seabass along the western back sector of the island.
SCI: The island opened on wednesday and the first sportboat over there had seabass in the dark and yellows in the morning at the Caves. The yellows continue to show at the Caves every morning so far since then. The yellows are up and down the front, but it is hit and miss. The seabass on the front are a steady target for the free divers, and then today a handfull were caught at Mosquito Cove. There is enough squid inside the Cove that a light boat is there making it to sell.
OFFSHORE: The marlin put on enough of a show to get most of the marlin fleet out and fishing. Marlin were caught all week and many different areas. The inside zone around the 267 has been constant, with a few fish caught and released. Fish were also hooked near the 209, 181, Mackerel Bank, and even up off the West End of Catalina. The kelps have been holding yellowtail and dorado in many areas. Not every one is holding, and a few that are holding have fish that won’t bite. Hot zones were the 181/182 ridge, the 209 and inside from the 267 down to the 302.
LOCAL: Early in the week saw good barracuda fishing on the Horseshoe, and falling scores on the sand bass on the Flats, but with the good moon phase and tides, the sand bass fishing picked up as expected. A few foggy mornings put a hamper on the cuda fishing, but the sand bass bite rebounded good enough to get the counts up on the local sportboats. Today the cuda were on both the Flats and Shoe, and spread out too much to target. So guys anchored up to fish sandies and let the gar come to them.
COASTAL EXOTICS: A quiet bite continues at Del Mar Kelp, with a spot of squid in 80′ of water holding big seabass and yellows. The reports have been sporadic, and suspicious. That is usually a good clue that it is for real. La Jolla had excellent yellowtail fishing with calico bass and barracuda to fill in the gaps early in the week. Despite numerous warnings that too big a crowd would shut down the bite, private boaters did just that, and today saw just barracuda and bass for an armada of skiffs and small private boats.
Northern Baja: Lots of fish, and lots of fish caught. With that, a few guys running down that way and catching nothing. The inside zone was good enough to attract the 3/4 day fleet out of San Diego, and they had some good scores on the kelps on the 302, “9″ Mile Bank and below to the 371. This was mostly due to the Mex. Nave keeping it complicated for the sport boats to fish the Nados. The bluefin stacked up on the tuna pens at 65 miles, and bit good until today when the pens were at 45 miles. Today very few bft’s were even hooked at the pens. Albacore showed several times, and even today. The zone outside and west of Todos Santos Island held the longfins, and bft’s, dorado and yellows on the kelps. The 120-150 mile zone proved inconsistent, but showed a strong comeback today at 118 miles and some more of the bigger grade yft’s. Everything else is down that way too, but it is far off the beach, and not getting much attention from private boats. Overall, VERY good fishing in Northern Baja this week, even though e few guys missed completely.
Fish Report for Saturday, August 11th:
SCI: I did not hear of a seabass outside Pyramid at the Caves this morning, just straight yellows. Not every boat got’em. Live squid is for sale inside Pyramid. Along the front the bass fishing is good, and actually the guys targeting them with plastics are doing better than the guys with squid. A spot of yellows bit at Gold Bluff, and wanted the sardines just as much as the squid. Just a few yellows elsewhere on the front.
CATALINA: Squid to catch from Ben Weston to Little Harbor. No, not the whole way, just in a couple spots. Some decent seabass fishing with legal halibut on the west side of Mills Landing. Lots of short seabass. Some yellows today at Orange Rocks, and outside West Cove. Guys on the front are catching their own fin bait and enjoying some fun calico bass fishing in the hot weather. Tons of bait on the front.
KELPS: A nice puddle of warm water is parked in front of Carlsbad. Kelps are holding there. The 302 kicked out some kelp paddy fish today too, as did the “9″. On the outside there was a report of a kelp found holding just below the 43. The marlin guys are all over, and one guys found a kelp holding dorado off the West End of Catalina.
MEXICO: Yesterday a yacht called in a wide open bluefin bite on the 1010. Some nicer grade BFT’s apparently. Today it’s the 238 that has some boats with good scores on the BFT’s. The tuna pens are reported as crowded and biting. They are 42 miles from the point. Kelps all over are holding yellows and dorado. Just slow down and look carefully. NOT EVERYBODY IS CATCHING FISH, but isn’t that always the case?
LOCAL: A few private boats have found biting sand bass on the Flats. Right in line with the better tides and moon phase. Watch this get better and better for a week or so. Just outside Barge rock is still good, as is the Izors. Meter around patiently and look for a cloud of bass to set up on. Don’t just drive to a group of boats and start fishing, that just plain NEVER works. Some cudas around here too.
Fish Report for Friday, August 10th:
Today is the last quarter moon, and the beginning of a great set of tides for inshore waters. By inshore, I mean anywhere you can anchor. SO look for Catalina, San Clemente Island and our local waters to get better and better over the next week.
Catalina: At least one of the squid boats has left for SCI and will not be selling the candy at Catalina. Guys with underwater lights and crowders can make bait around Ben Weston and Eagle Reef. A nice little snap for some friends of mine on the West End High Spot this morning. A few yellows biting there, and also on the lower edge of Salta Verde. I have another code boat that will be at Catalina all weekend, so look for updates here often.
SCI: Same deal, but with better tides coming. Watch the Caves bite get better, and the yellowtail counts along front go up too. Lots of fish here, and these tides are going to give this island the boost it needs.
OFFSHORE: Quiet today. The fish are here. Look at all kelps and watch out for the marlin guys. The whole fleet is out looking for the weekend. Marlin being seen all over the place, including just outside the rigs this morning. It’s also that time to start looking for porpoise.
MEXICO: Overall quiet so far today. Again, the fish are there, just not cooperating. The 302 and 371 are producing, but the tuna pen at 50 miles is lackluster today. The “Hail Mary” at 150 miles is disappointing too. Lets all hope it is an afternoon “Time Of Day” deal. Otherwise, we can all blame Larry for shutting off the bite.