Catalina, SBI and SCI Fish Reports
Fish Report for Sunday, September 9th? Well………not EXACTLY!
I am back from fishing the CIYC Annual Marlin Tournament in Avalon. I was running the 50′ Hatteras “Sassy Sissy” where we caught one marlin in the tournament. (Which was one more than any other boat caught in the tourney). Life is good! Very nice awards banquette last night and mucho bucks was raised for charity! My sincere thanks to Dennis Friedman for getting me on the boat, and to Spike and Denny for being so generous and gracious. Now if I never fish another tournament again, I can go out on top! Yea, RIGHT! Next tourney is in 3 weeks, unless my phone rings for something sooner.
A few dorado down where the marlin fleet was fishing. From the East End of Catalina and down (I only went as far as the 277 (barely), and we hooked one dorado. Saw a few dozen in two days, and has a spot of porpoise with YFT’s on it for sure. Again, we were MARLIN fishing so we did not even try to catch a tuna. Good night kids, I need my beauty sleep!
Captainonboard.org
haha
nice sounds fun, have to remember that when in a tournament you have to stay on focus
Catalina, SBI and SCI Fish Reports
Fish Report for Tuesday, September 11th (Always Remember):
”Lines out!” Zane Grey Marlin Tourney: 8 boats had seven hookups in two days. 5 fish were released between 3 boats (Chaser, Gambler and Chiqulin) and “Chaser” wins it with 3 of the fish fish released. No fish met the minimum size requirements to take, so no fish were weighed in. The fish were taken on the East End of Catalina, and the East End of SCI.
SCI: I looked on the website (linked on the front page of THIS website) and could not find the next day the island is supposed to be open. Fall fishing at SCI can be incredible, and if they keep it closed it will make trips to the Tanner and Cortez (so common in the fall) more difficult to do on yachts and private boats. The island itself has some squid to make in Pyramid Cove and small yellows along the front.
CATALINA: Still not too many guys fishing here. Plenty of squid to be made here, and armed with the squid there is plenty of seabass and yellows around to catch. With no real intel to go on, you’re better off. Find the conditions and fish’em. That’s what I did a few weeks back and had 8 seabass and 2 yellows. Pretty good for an island that was supposed to be “dead”.
KELPS: Still very good fishing on local kelps today. From the 267 and down to in front of Oceanside (and out as far as the 209) there are kelps holding. More yellowtail that dorado these days, but still good fishing. The BONGOS had limits of yellowtail today (THAT’S 60 YELLOWS!!!) Kelps on the outside have fish too, and a chance at a tuna. One thing that keeps happening over and over, is guys hooking marlin on kelps. Fish a marlin baitcaster (30# outfit with 80# leader to a 6/0 hook) with a mackerel on kelps. Throw the mackerel in and put the rod in the holder with the clicker on, then fish your yellows and dorado. A marlin would rather eat the mackerel than your sardine or live squid (hopefully) and you could catch a local marlin. Something more difficult that most of you know.
TUNA: Spots of yellowfin were up crashing on daytime squid near the 43 today. While I was fishing the CIYC Marlin Tourney I ran over porpoise that had yellowfin on them near the East End of Catalina. I even had a spot of yellowfin come up crashing on bait with porpoise right next to the boat. I was in a tourney that did not count tuna, so I drove away from it. Somebody targeting yellowfin in local waters could easily put together a good score.
The MOTHER LODE: Most of the big counts you are seeing are coming from the 1010 Trench area. All offshore exotic species are located here. Yellowtail, dorado, yellowfin and bluefin are biting for guys trolling and fishing bait on jig stops. A few of the bigger model bluefin here and being hooked on bait, up to and over 100lbs. Someone good with a meter could throw bait on meter marks and do well.
The other area that is holding lots of exotics that want to bite, is the Short Banks off Ensenada. That includes the Double 220′s, 238 and 295. All of the above with some bonus albie mixed in. A short run south from there puts you on the Lower 500 and some real volume of yellowfin tuna.
There are fish still in many areas, like the tuna pens and Finger bank, but the stuff above is where the MEAT is.
CORONADOS: Super low traffic and very good yellowtail fishing here. It seems the masses are really excited about catching dorado and leaving this area alone. What kills the “Nados” is too much boat pressure, and that is certainly not the case right now. Slow troll baits through Pukey Point and the Middle Grounds without worrying you might piss someone off, and catch all the yellows your arms can handle. No secret, just no dorado.
Catalina, SBI and SCI Fish Reports
Fish Report for Wednesday, September 12th:
CHANGING FAST!: The cooler weather and overcast skies are causing our warm waters to shrink quickly. The main area of warm water is now concentrated around the 209 and 181/182. These areas have the good kelps, along with a few stragglers on the inside off San Onofre and Oceanside. Unfortunately, the Navy has flexed it’s power and closed not only SCI, but the surrounding waters. If they keep this up, it will seriously effect the upcoming Masters Billfish Tournament.
BEST AREAS: Again the 1010 Trench is the hot spot, and just below that at the Double 220′s it’s good as well. Albies, yellowfin, bluefin and of course yellows and dorado are all ganged up on theses spots.
CORONADOS: All good stuff happening here. Very few boats (which was always my biggest complaint here) and very good yellowtail fishing.
Fish Report for Saturday, September 15th:
Masters Marlin Tourney: 5 fish were released today, but on the radio it sounded a lot better than that. I heard guys finding sleepers, feeders and tailers throughout the day. The main zone is the Mackerel Bank and off the Head towards the 289. (I love that area). Greg Stotesbury got his Kawakawa on a bluefin tuna in the 40# class, and probably won the tuna division.
OFFSHORE: Again, the 1010 trench and down to the Double 220′s was a great place to be. Frequent jig strikes on fat albies along with kelps holding yellows and dorado, plus the bonus yellowfin and bluefin. Yes, the sportboats are fishing differently, but they have 100 scoops of bait, and 30 anglers putting baits in the water all at once. I looked at the SST’s today, and the waters in towards the Banda Bank look just as good as the outer zone. So from the Banda out and over the 238 and 295 should be holding fish. In US waters, you read above that there was a bluefin caught near the Mackerel Bank, but there were also some big bluefin seen near the San Clemente Basin (weather) buoy. Spots of yellowfin splashed around in numerous areas, and just might bite soon.
Kelps from the 277, 209 and in to the 267 bit again today.
CATALINA: More yellows on the East End. Smaller grade fish, and even a 3/4 day boat got into the action.
Stay cool boys and get ready for the fires (please don’t read this and go start a fire). I saw on the news this years 1st “FIRE WATCH, 2012!” Are you f-ing kiddind me?! You all know what happens next. Some bored silly knucklehead just got the idea to go start a fire. Thanks Mr/Mrs plastic faced newscaster. Hope the overtime covering the fires helps pay for the ridiculous spray on tan that makes me want to check to see if the color setting is off on my flat screen.
Fish Report for Friday, September 14th:
Masters Marlin Tourney: A couple fish hooked today, but only one “landed”. The “Magellan” got a fish on 20# that got tail wrapped……….and died. I hear the fish will still count as a release. Now, I am not a tree hugger, and not one to really care of someone takes a marlin every once in a while. This sounds “fishy” to me. Its an all release tournament, and the fish died and is on the swimstep. If I were on another boat in the tourney, I’d be crying foul. From the sound of things, most of the fleet and hookups were around the Mackerel Bank.
CATALINA: At first light the seas were calm and the wind non-existent. The wind came up early however and a few private boats went to Catalina as their offshore plans faded. What they found was good yellowtail fishing from Seal Rocks to the “V’s”. Smaller yellows but fun fishing.
KELPS: Okay, here is the deal. Unstable weather, (and a little wind) has made the area of kelps that are holding yellows and dorado shrink quite a bit. That area is like a circle the surrounds the 209 and in to the 267. THERE ARE STILL KELPS OUTSIDE THIS AREA HOLDING, but not many. If history repeats itself, we are in for some hot, dry fall conditions. Remember? You went back to school and the weather was mild, then the Santa Ana Winds started and it got almost too hot to bear? We still have that coming! Also, Tropical Storm Kristy has swung out to the west of Cabo and will send another wave of fish and warm water this way. This thing is not over, just taking a break. Don’t forget the afternoon bite. The dorado have been abandoning the kelps and feeding in the afternoons. Terns give them away, and some HUGE score have come from guys fishing the birds this week. If I were going out, I’d leave at 1pm with a fresh tank of bait and go look for the birds.
TUNA: Again, my crystal ball sees the yellowfin starting to bite locally soon. For now it’s the 1010 Trench and down to the Double 220′s. Today it was the 1010, and surprisingly it was really good albie fishing for the yachts and private boats. Feathers were key, and Rapalas/cedar plugs got passed over. Nice grade of fish too. Everyone that called me today bragged about limits and lots of jigs stops followed by great baitfishing. Not one call about a guy that missed out today out here. Very good tuna fishing.
CORONADOS: Lots of yellows, and very few boats. Epic conditions for some real fun fishing.
LOCAL: Why even consider it? REALLY? Go buy a $40 tank of bait, pin one on and cast it into your toilet. Same thing.
WIND: C’mon guys, suck it up. It’s HOT out, and you wish you were out fishing and cool, then you get out and a little spray hits your face and you start bitching. Push through the wind and get some fish on the deck and you’ll feel better. Leave earlier, tell your wife you are coming home late and SLOW THE F^@K DOWN if it hurts to go fast! I’ve never gotten so many calls from pussies in my life! 12kts of wind and you stayed home!!! REALLY!? Trade in your rods and reels for some golf clubs and get out of the way. Some of you read this and got pissed off, and some read this and are going no matter what. Mission accomplished. Sissies stay home, and heroes go out and get it done without complaining. I’m out!