Fish Report for Wednesday, September 26th:
I am back with a great report about where not to look for a marlin.
Catalina: Overall very slow here right when it comes to exotics. The yellows are here, but not biting. I had a friend over here that fished it hard and looked at fish, but caught next to nothing. This is one of those friends that has been fishing Cat for 30+ years, and know the island as well as anyone. If he said “They’re not biting”, then THEY’RE NOT BITING.
SCI: I took a short break from looking for marlin and slid into the front side sector of this island, only to be reminded how impossible it is to fish here alone. With no other boats around to split up the herd of sealions, we got mauled. Every bait into the water was an instant seal bite. The yellows are here, millions of them. Sardines were not what they wanted, so bring the live squish, and a buddy boat to share the seals with you.
OFFSHORE: The 390/1010/220′s area continues to be great fishing. Mostly yellowfin, with Albacore at the upper end and bluefin mixed in the middle. Of course some yellows and dorado, with some skipjack as well. There are some complicated dynamics to this whole area, but I will just keep it simple. Drive out there and drag some jigs. You will catch fish.
My Report: I started on a very dead 289 after looking at light boats on every major offshore high spot during the drive through the night. The fleet was on the Horseshoe making squid, so I figured the offshore guys were not making the run, but I guess they are. Humbolts? We had our jigs in the water and were already looking when the Catalina Classic shotgun start was announced via VHF. I tacked towards Pyramid in bumpy conditions for that time of day, but didn’t see much life. When the tourney boats arrived there was an instant hookup announced, and I knew it was outside of us. So we went the other way? Yep. We looked up the front of SCI and fished yellows for a very short time. Then we began to troll towards Catalina, just after the Navy kicked us out. Next day we trolled down the ridge. 152, 277 and almost to the 209, where we found some good water. I tacked back and forth through tern birds and porpoise, with a fish finder that could hardly see the bottom in Avalon (so I have no clue what was going on under the boat). By then it was getting late in the afternoon and the owner wanted to look at the 14? Really. So we looked at the 14 and caught one 6 inch yellow, in very offcolor green water and come home. The Freelance was outside of me when I was in all the life above the 209, and they put together a score on the dorado and yellows.
Fish Report for Sunday, September 23rd:
Lots of fog in lots of areas. Finding kelps was impossible, and being able to see what you need to see to be able to fish marlin effectively was hard.
I am in the middle of packing for a trip that leaves tonight, so the fish report is this. Same as below but with fog, and no reports on yellows at Catalina (except for a few on the front). I did get a late message saying that there was a snap on the yellows at SCI. All I got was “on the front, 90′ of water, 30 yellows for 6 guys.”
I will be back on wednesday with fresh reports. ~Captain Jeff
Fish Report for Saturday, September 22nd:
Basically more of the same as yesterday, just better weather.
CATALINA: I’m a little skeptical to report what is happening here. I specifically spoke with guys that wailed on the yellows at Salta Verde this morning, and watched guys gettin’em at Orange Rocks and around the “V’s” this morning. At the same time, other websites are reporting that the bite is non-existent. Believe what you want, I saw the photos, and trust the intel.
OFFSHORE: The weather was great, and way too many boats tried to fish the 1010 at once. The fishing was fair for most, but a few talented guys still put together good scores. The boats that saw the writing on the wall last night on their radar screens went long, and it paid off. The Double 220′s had less boat traffic, and better fishing. One of my really good captain buddies ran a yacht down to the Lower 500, and had an epic day all by himself.
The local offshore scene was good for just a very few guys, and when I say good, I mean they had a few dorado and small yellows. In tight to SCI on the lee and around the 14 and 377 there were kelps, but each one that was holding had that undesirable crowd of boats on it. Lame.
MARLIN: Nothing new here either. Fish were seen and taken from the East End of Catalina to the lee of SCI. A few guys ran down toward the 181 and outside of there for a jig bite or two. It seems like we have a few marlin all spread out. Not great if you want a chance at multiple fish per day.
Cortes and Tanner Banks: This was the day to fish out here, weather wise. The Tanner is holding some bluefin, and a few yellows. No surprise there. Some big bonito are on the Tanner as well, and I would not be surprised if there was a snap on the alberts here before the season ends. Not as good as the Double 220′s or 1010, but still some possibilities. This is a talent fishery, and not for everyone. Do you have numbers for the pinnacles at the Tanner? I didn’t think so. How about the Cortes? Which way does the current need to be going to be able to fish the yellows at the Cortes? Or the bluefin? Where exactly do you anchor to fish the Cortes for any given set of conditions? I thought so. If you really want to fish out here and enjoy what makes these spots so fantastic, hire a Captain with the knowledge necessary to help you achieve that goal. Or, go on a sportboat and watch carefully. Oh yea, bring an extra set of anchor gear, because you are going to lose what you have. Rant over. Get tight suckas.
Fish Report for Friday, September 21st:
OFFSHORE: The weather laid down to at least a fishable degree. Same deal as all week, very good fishing on the 1010. There have been some reports of kelps holding on the 390, but why fish the 390 when the real meat is not far away. People are weird. Lots of jig strikes today with albacore and yft’s the main stoppers. It’s the bait you fish after the stop that gets the bft’s going. Kelps are good with some tiny yellowtail and few bigger dorado. These days, all the dorado are bigger than they have been. Talk about the worlds fastest growing fish!
MAHLIN: A fish are C/R on the 277 today, and another in tight to Pyramid (that I heard of). Tomorrow will be better, as most of the hangovers will have healed by then. Marlin guys tight to SCI are seeing dorado on kelps. This is fun fishing, except that there are a million kelps tight to SCI, and finding the one with dorado can prove difficult.
KELPS: Again with the two kelps off the 14. The dorado are getting hip the the program not biting as well as earlier in the week. Now the divers get their turn.
CATALINA: Pretty fun fishing here. Calico bass are biting the flylined sardine, a super fun way to fish those bigger bass. More than enough yellows around to keep the savvy guys busy. For the yellows look at Salta Verde and Freddys kelp. The kelp line at Little Harbor has some smaller models, and finally along the front there are yellows from Little Gibraltar to Eagle Reef. Just find the birds, bait, current and some clean blue water and get that chum line going. The forkies are there.
Fish Report for Friday, September 20th:
Foggy mornings and a moderate onshore flow till keep most private boaters from going the extra mile this whole weekend. Look for Catalina and the Coronados for more traffic, but many will choose simply to stay home this weekend.
Catalina: Still very fun fishing here. There are yellows on the front and back, and they are biting! Hen Rock, Little Gibraltar and Yellowtail Point are great spots to look at early in the morning, and late in the afternoons. Around back, look at Freddy’s Kelp or Salta Verde in the mornings, and under the East End Light in the afternoon. There are some bigger yellows up west, but with the onshore breeze, many will opt out of that area this weekend.
SCI: The site says “closed” but guys wishing to stay in the Cove overnight will be permitted to do so. There is squid in the Cove, and it has been pretty easy to make.
KELPS: As I sit here in my shop, VHF on in the background, I am continually hearing about dorado and yellows on the 14 Mile Bank, and kelps with several boats on them. Guys are out and looking below and outside for nothing so far today. Yesterday there was good fishing on kelps from the 302 to the 43 and anywhere in between. Mostly (if not yellowtail) in this zone. Below that, anything is possible.
TUNA: The 1010 to the Double 220′s is still where it’s at. More and more guys are getting skunked every day, so things are winding down. The wind is much more of a factor out here, and many guys are heading back with nothing already this morning. It’s not over, nor have the fish left the area. They are just not biting as good as before, and the weather is an issue. Frankly, its better this way. Talented guys are getting bit, and those who have been lucky all season are getting a slice of reality.
Below that at the 238 and 295 there was good fishing on kelps yesterday, but after looking at todays SST’s, that might not happen today. Much cooler water has pushed over the inner banks off Ensenada, trapping the bulk of the fish out by the 220′s and the 1010.
MARLIN: With a little breeze forecasted it might be a tailer show all weekend. That will seriously separate the men from the boys. Nobody ever got lucky and caught a tailer. Trolling and glassing in the trough, then placing guys on the bow to cast perfectly at fast moving hungry marlin is not for the fait at heart. A few fish will be hooked on the lee of Catalina and SCI, but the really talented guys will be out it the slop, workin’n it.
Fish Report for Wednesday, September 19th:
OFFSHORE: Well, you can add the Tanner Bank to the places in US waters where you can catch a bluefin. Both there and the Cortes are holding now. The weather is still snotty on the outside, even though it looks nice on the beach. Down at the MEAT (1010) the fish are chewing again this morning despite the rough conditions. More and more football yellowfin today (and yesterday), but when you find the BFT’s, you just might hook a 100+lber. The yachts are finding the alberts by trolling more tactfully and using lighter leaders/smaller jigs. Sportboats hate when a guy tries to troll a jig on light leader, and they troll a bit fast. Don’t judge how good the albie fishing is by the counts.
CATALINA: As word gets out it doesn’t really suck here, more guys are fishing this island. Good scores this morning along the front. Hen Rock, Red Bluff and Empire/Yellowtail Point are holding a fair volume of yellows, and there are even some cudas swimming up and down the front. Up west, well……..nevermind. On the back Salta Verde is still holding, and there are some biters this morning even with a still westerly blow against uphill conditions. Don’t take a tank of sardines over there if you have the ability to get some squid. Way better fishing with the candy.
MARLIN (or as we say this time of year “Mahlin”.) East End of Catalina is where the most guys are looking. (It’s also where my VHF hears really well!) A fish was hooked and lost this morning off the Slide, and there is a kelp off the 277 holding dorado. Recently a marlin was witnessed chasing small dorado and eating them. I wish I had seen that. No doubt the Mackerel Bank, the Domes and Pyramid are still holding the bulk of the mahlins. (I spelled it right) As guys start pre-fishing the tournaments they well scout out up west, and my guess is they will find’em up there too.
KELPS/LOCAL: Another guy drove over a big JAG of yellowfin with porpoise and posted the picture of his meter “all lit up” on FB this morning. They were out of bait. It’s just a matter of time now. There is still kelps holding dorado, and this morning that BIG kelp is right on top of the 14. Just look for the armada. Another was found outside that, and some guys are finding single or double bites on smaller kelps. Make a triangle from the 277 and 209 and in to the 267 and the is where the warmest water is. Look around in there and find your own private kelp.
Fish Report for Tuesday, September 18th:
BIG NEWS! Cortes Bank! I see the posts on FaceBook from the “Freedom” when they are on the fish. Yesterday they posted having a great trip with some nice sized bluefin. I searched far and wide for the intel on where they were, but as usual it was hard to get. Today I got the call, they were at the Cortes Bank. 82 nice btf’s was their score. Now, were they anchored on the bank, or trolling/fishing the area? That is the million dollar question. One would think that if they had anchored on the Bank, there would be yellows with their count. At least some whitefish and sheepshead. Fishing on the hook at the Cortes Bank for tuna (and yellowtail) is about as awesome as it gets, and fall is the season when we get the conditions for that style of fishing. Fingers crossed.
MARLIN: This time of year a subscription to Terrafin or some other SST subscription is worth its weight in gold. Recently I found that NOAA has free SST’s on the COASTWATCH subsection of their site. From todays chart (above) you can see the break below SCI and between the Mackerel Bank and the 289. I’d look at that REAL hard. A sleeper was baited off the Slide this morning but didn’t bite. By the looks of this chart, there is going to be a lot guys looking up west in the days to come, especially with tournaments coming soon.
TUNA: The commercial squid fleet is still working the 43 for squid, and even they are seeing yft’s now. Still no biters that we know of, but that is just a matter of time. There have been a few taken on porpoise this year, and hopefully we have more of that coming. The 1010 was a bit bumpy today, so reports are scarce. No doubt that is still the place to be. Boats that could not make it out to the 1010 fished inside, and some did real well. THe 238 and 295 area kicked out some albie, as well as a lesser amount of the same stuff the 1010 has. (Yft’s, BFT’s, Yellowtail and Dorado with some skippies mixed in)
CATALINA: The yellows around the east end bit again this morning for guys with the live squid. One guy I talked to did REAL well, with limits for 3 guys. (3 very fishy guys) They were at Salta Verde, and made bait last night right in front of Avalon. (If you didn’t know that you can make squid in front of Avalon, then it’s probably a good thing since it’s kinda a secret and a one boat spot)
CORONADOS: This was another spot that got more attention than usual due to the little bit of breeze this morning. Still lots of yellows here, and savvy guys had their share. Like all saltwater fishing, there is a learning curve, and no guarantees. If one guy says it was good, it might not be because he is really an elite angler. Conversely, one guy might say it sucks, but it’s really good and he just missed. Careful what you listen to.
OTHER STUFF: Of course there is other stuff biting, and the same stuff biting is different areas than I mentioned above. Calico bass guys are catching fish in their favorite spot, with their favorite techniques. Rock cod are biting just fine, and some are loading up on the tasty treats. I report what I KNOW, and try to keep it focused toward the exotics. At Captain On Board, my mission is to help guys catch more BIGGER fish, not more bass or rockfish. For those who didn’t know or need a reminder, I am a licensed Captain, and get paid to run peoples boat and teach them the techniques I use to catch BIG fish. The fee is $400/day, and my calendar is full. I am not a snob, nor am I not willing to help anyone. I really do believe that everyone has the right to enjoy fishing, and should have the opportunities available to them to catch real trophy fish. Call me or e-mail me, and I will answer your questions and help anyone I can. My cell 1(562)704-9545 or better yet my e-mail captjeffjones@hotmail.com. E-mail me your question and I will answer it best I can. If you want me on your boat for any reason, there will be the $400 fee. If I get on your boat for free, then I am not on someone else’s boat making money. That money is my job, and it pays the bills, and feeds my kids. So if I respectfully decline your offer for a free trip, please do not take it personally. It would be like inviting your dentist over in the morning to help the kids brush their teeth, with the offer of some free toothpaste in exchange for his time. Probably not going to happen.
“Tight Lines Boys!” Over and out!
Captain Jeff Jones
Fish Report for Monday, September 17th:
Yep, missed a day. Personal business with family was more important, sorry.
1010 Trench and Beyond: Got multiple reports yesterday are they were all good ones. Some guys got the albies, some didn’t. The thing I heard that was different was this: The guys that caught albacore stayed where they were catching fish, and boxed that area. The guys that caught fish, yet continued out of the area in search of (who knows what?) missed out. It seems the albies are a “time-of-day” thing and bite every once in a while. So if you are getting jig bit on yellowfin, bluefin and catching fish on kelps, stay there. If you move from seamount to seamount, you may not be on the spot when the albies come to play.
CATALINA: The Freelance went over with live squid and hooked 7 yellows and landed 2. So pretty much a guy with a tank of live squid and some talent could do some real damage. Look at Salta Verde or Freddy’s Kelp if the current is going up hill. Mornings are great for this, since the wind is typically blowing southeast and the current is going up hill. In the afternoons when the wind is blowing out of the west, and the current going downhill, look at the 3rd “V” or Orange Rocks. Good bass fishing too. Still some bigger model yellows up west, with nobody but free divers even looking for them.
LOCAL KELPS: Don’t give up! Tropical Storm Kristy swung way out to the west of the Cape and sent lots of warm water and pelagics our way. Couple that with hot, stable weather this week and things just might get back with the program. Study your SST’s! A free SST (Sea Surface Temp) is available at NOAA COASTWATCH. It takes a little time to learn how to use it, but it works great, and is FREE!
MARLIN: Pretty quiet with big money tournaments coming down the pipe. I’ll list what I know, best first: 1. San Clemente Island. The lee of SCI along the eastern sector and out off the island to the Mackerel Bank. Below the island as far as the 289 and 43. 2. East End of Catalina. From tight to the Slide to the 277. Both the Avalon Bank and 209 were reported dead with no life yesterday. 3. San Onofre. Out front of the Domes, off the beach where the warm water break is. Look up and down the beach for life, and stay on the break. A smart guy might want to fish the kelps, but with mackerel and marlin bait gear. More marlin than I can count have been hooked by guys fishing kelps in the sector. 4. Offshore. Look from the Eastern Butterfly to the 1010. If the tunas and other life is there, so are the marlin.
There is other stuff going on, but this is what is best right now. Rockfish, bass and halibut are around, but being overlooked.
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!
Radio show tonight! Tune in to AM830 or Am830.net at 10pm for the fish report. Honestly, my brain is so scrambled getting the show ready, I don’t have the ability to write a report. Silly, I know.
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 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.
I was somehow logged off this site and my admin username and password was changed “mysteriously.” I WILL have a fish report for you guys tomorrow. Sorry for the lapse in reports. Some of you were going and called me or e-mailed me. Smart move. Hope you guys get’em good! Til tomorrow, later!
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!
Sorry Charlies, I am out fishing again! Other than the fact that the local LB receivers have live squid, not much has changed. Kelps are still holding, and marlin are still showing. The yellowfin masses are showing no signs of coming any closer, but a few are already here and on the mammals. I’ll be on the “Sassy Sissy”, a 50′ Hatteras. I apologize in advance if I cut you off or get in your way. It’s marlin tournament time, and things get a little heated. ”Go big or go home!” (or get out of the way! LOL) I’ll be back on Sunday with a full report.
Fish Report for Tuesday, September 4th:
CATALINA: The island simply went silent again! So weird?! Not a word from here since Sunday.
Offshore/Kelps: Nice weather and light boat pressure today, yet there was an amazing amount of chatter on the VHF about good fishing. There were good kelps in many areas, and I get the feeling the “good kelps” were the ones that were found. Simply stated, a kelp anywhere could be holding anything from yellows and dorado, to marlin. From the 43 and below the kelps kicked out some fair bluefin fishing today.
MARLIN: I am fishing a tourney at the end of the week, so should I say where the marlin are? I’ll keep it general (and sarcastic) like always. Catalina and Clemente were both mentioned today as places guys saw a fish. At least two marlin were seen/hooked by guys fishing kelps today.
LOCAL: Some say the sand bass are flat gone, but I say they are on the structure. Fish the Sunset or Gambler for the dandy sandies. On the “Shoe” there is some quality calicos around on the wrecks and reefs, especially for a guy with some brown baits and a bit of chum, and a good knowledge of how to anchor properly.
PV: Dare I say that PV has gone relatively unnoticed this year? Is it because they closed Vincente and that’s all anyone know how to fish? Well, the few guys that are fishing up here are doing just fine. Lots of calicos and sand bass, with sheepshead and halibut mixed in. Add in the very good chance at a seabass or yellow and it’s like Catalina, good and quiet.
Fish Report for Monday (Labor Day), September 3rd:
Sorry for the lapse in reports guys, I went fishing. I am leaving again Thursday to fish the first of many marlin tournaments this season. I will be gone thursday through sunday, with a full report when I return.
CATALINA: I’m just back from Catalina, and it’s not as bad as everyone makes it out to be. We did have to “earn it” getting around the West End saturday night, as it was a little bumpy. Coming down the back I saw birds sitting outside Iron Bound, a sure sign that there is squid there. No way I could have sat there, it was too rough for sure. We ended up middle of the back, and the bait showed itself right away, then made us work all night for it. I did have the fish come under the boat several times, but never hooked anything. We made a run East late in the morning, and found good conditions at Salta Verde (and not one boat). Current was ripping hard enough to hold us ass to the wind as I set us up far from the kelp to take full advantage of the current. I marked fish 50 yards off the kelp line, upcurrent. Then they bit! It was a scratch, and we picked away at the seabass, yellows and calicos. Small fish, but we ended up with 7 or 8 seabass and two yellows. One yellow came up with both Bob Elliots’ and Larry Moores’ hooks in its mouth. I guess it never had a chance. Bob outfished us all with the kelp cutter rig and a 50# topshot. YES, I said a 50# TOPSHOT. Bob released 5 seabass and caught two keepers. By the time it was over we had drawn a crowd, but they had to watch as we were in position and they did not have live squid. Coming home the seas had laid down, and the crossing was pleasant. Great boat and awesome guys to fish with. I didn’t really even have to fish, as these guys had that part handled! It was also nice to have Larry Moore on board to take the wheel every once in a while and give me a break. Larry even showed me a spot or two, (even if they were just bass spots.) Thanks Larry!
OFFSHORE: A few kelps around holding fish. The 209 and 14 mile bank have nice kelps, but overall it looks like we’ll need a few days of stable weather to get things back to where they were.
The weather IS much better and the fish bit today like there never was any wind at all. Same areas for the kelps, and the marlin are still hanging around the Slide and tight to Pyramid. Interesting thing about the marling this year is that they are really eating the jig good! More jig fish this year than all the past years combined in my opinion.
The water on the Tanner and Cortez is good, and today was a good day to get out that way. I have not yet heard if anyone made the trip, but I did hear of a boat that went out that way over the weekend and they got hammered. (by the weather)
YELLOWFIN: Fish ahead of a pod of porpoise for yellowfin is probably my favorite thing to do as an operator. Such a challenge, but with just a few tricks I’ve learned along the way I catch enough to make it a blast. There have been some scores lately in our local waters. The place to find the mammals that hold tuna is just outside the 209 in the morning. They’ll be charging west, FAST. A good set of gyros and some luck will get you on them.
Tuna Pens: The pens are still kicking out some fair bluefin for the early guys, but the real interesting thing is the amount of albacore coming off the Hidden Bank for guys trolling through there. I’m hearing of a few fish almost every day.
Fish Report for Friday, August 31st:
KELPS: Heaps of boats got out today and waited in line for a chance at a yellowtail and dorado on kelps outside the rigs, and around the 14. Hear a lot of guys getting bit today. I listened to one guy talking about 40+ boats sharing a kelp that was biting good inside the 14.
CATALINA: Maybe a few yellows around here. I am going to take a look tomorrow, and let you know first hand when I get back. STAND BY!
MARLIN: Tight to the east end of Catalina and tight to the east end of SCI are where they are being hooked most these days. Probably for the same reason that most marling are hooked on “Mean Joe Green” marlin jigs, because thats what everyone fishes. (lots of boats fishing these two areas)
LOCAL YFT’s?: Could it be? I heard a rumor……..
Bluefin: Most of the stuff is at 90 miles if you are running out of LB, or down at the pens. The stuff in US waters is between the east “Fly” and the border. There is some stuff between the 182 and the 43 (along the border).
Fish Report for Thursday, August 30th:
More change, but mostly back to what it was before. The warm water once again is tight to the beach, and hot stable weather is helping the water temps rise, along with a push from the weather off the Cape.
Kelps: The Kelps tight to the beach are mostly yellowtail, and the ones offshore are more dorado. There is still that same break as yesterday (from the 14 to 267 and out around the Avalon bank), but the waters on the cold side are much warmer. The real meat is below the Hidden Bank, with many boats absolutely creaming the dorado/yellows on a kelp line.
BFT’s: Tuna pens are hot, and I talked to a guy today that said he was getting bit just fine on the straight 50# mono. He had fish to 60#’s, but there were others in the 80# range. Nice. Outside China the fish are smaller, but biting good. Not much troll fish, but if you can get on the fish and soak a bait, they bite.
CATALINA: David is heading out there tomorrow, and I will get a full report from him when he returns. He is looking without much info, because there have been almost no boats looking.
LOCAL: The sand bass bit last night for the big “E”, but overall very inconsistent.
CORONADOS: Red hot again. Guys catching mini macks and using those are doing very well. The bait everywhere less than ideal.
Fish Report for Wednesday, August 29th:
Things are changing fast. The wind came up early today, and the last few days. Kids are back in school, or getting ready to next week. This typically signals the end of “fishing season” for the vast majority in this industry, but the beginning of the best fishing for those who keep fishing until the very first stiff, cold westerly blow.
SQUID ZONES: Amazing we still have squid in multiple areas, but even more amazing is how it just keeps popping up somewhere new. The new zone is off Manhattan Pier. The stuff off HB outside Barge Rock is still there, and outside Little Harbor (Catalina) it was last reported as “mush”. Down the beach the light boats and seiners are on the stuff at Del Mar Kelp and Crystal Pier. All that remains there is the scraps of what was stellar big halibut fishing.
BFT’s and Other TUNAS: The big broad expanse of warm water is now getting pushed into pockets and hard edges, just what we were waiting for. A hard edge runs out from Pyramid to west of the Butterfly. The good water is 22 miles from Pyramid on a 193 heading, and inside that to 12.5 miles on a 161 from Pyramid. Roughly between the western “Fly” and China Pt. There have been just a handfull of yellowfin caught here in the last couple days, but steady on the BFT’s. Kelps out here have potential.
The Tuna Pens are hot right now, and are 50 miles from Pt Loma on a 182 degree heading. They are out in “No Mans Land”, not near any seamount or specific spot per se. Some of these fish are reported near the 100# mark, though I have not seen any evidence of that. The 25-30# flouro topshot and small circle hook gets you bit, and gives you a 60/40 chance of landing a big boy with quality tackle.
KELPS: The water along the beach has turned over, and gotten cold. You’ll need to be at least 6 miles off San Onofre to start seeing the temp gauge rise. From there out to the 181/182 is where the shrinking “pocket” of good water is. The upper edge runs over the 267 and then over the 14, THEN out and across the outside of the Avalon Bank. How convenient! Of course it’s moving so fast, it’s probably none of those things by time you read this. The fishing is the same, with much less boat traffic this week. For that reason, most guys are getting skunked because there are no guys sitting on kelps to show them where to fish. Bottom Line: Find YOUR OWN kelp, and enjoy the bite all by yourself.
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.