Sample Subscriber Fishing Report

Actual reports may differ

Offshore Albacore, Tuna and Kelp Paddie Report

*Please Note That This Is An Old Report and Is Just A Sample For Your Review!

*Please Note that in addition to the San Diego area offshore fishing that we also provide detailed coverage of the offshore fishing out of the Los Angeles and Orange County area harbors.

     It was a good day of offshore fishing with albacore, yellowfin tuna and dorado making up the bulk of the catch. There were also a few bluefin tuna and an occasional yellowtail in the mix as well.

     A good development for those fishing out of the Los Angeles and Orange County area harbors is that I got a report this afternoon from the  private boat Wide Open that found some good yellowfin tuna fishing at the 209 Spot as well as between the 209 Spot and the 267 Spot. The fish they caught around the 209 Spot were caught from porpoise and the ones caught about half way between the 209 Spot and the 267 Spot were caught from bird schools. It sounded like they had some good fishing both from the porpoise and from the bird schools and were finding their action on live bait.

     For your general reference, the 209 Spot is located at latitude and longitude coordinates 3305 and 11752 which is 42 miles 295° from Point Loma. The area about half way between the 209 Spot and the 267 Spot puts you in the region of 3312 and 11750 which is 46 miles 303° from Point Loma.  There were also some yellowfin caught with porpoise around the 181 Spot today as well.  For your general reference, 181 Spot is located at 3254 and 11753 which is 37 miles 281° from Point Loma.

     Also within reasonable reach of the Orange County and Los Angeles County area harbors is some very good fishing going on outside of the 43 Fathom Spot. There were boats from San Diego as well as from some of the Orange County and Los Angeles County area harbors fishing this zone today. This area provided some of today’s very best fishing on some nice sized yellowfin tuna.

     Private boater Floyd Sparks of the Tuna Kahuna reported 20 yellowfin tuna today and a bunch more released while fishing porpoise outside of the 43 Fathom Spot. Floyd was fishing with his son Dylan, Mike Seymour of the Bobaloo and Pat McDonell of Western Outdoor News. Floyd said the yellowfin came to the boat very well on the bait and that they even caught a couple of 30+ pound yellowfin on fly rods.

     One tip Floyd passed along was that the yellowfin seemed to stay with the boat better on the bait when they kept a hooked fish or two in the water. They had their good fishing with porpoise in the area of latitude and longitude coordinates 3240 and 11803 which is above and outside of the 43 Fathom Spot at 42 miles 258° from Point Loma. Another set of coordinates where they had good fishing nearby was at 30 to 40 and 11805 which is 44 miles 258° from Point Loma.

     Private boater Marty Morris of the Ken-Dandy reported starting out their day with a triple on albacore while fishing around the 182 Spot at 3243 and 11743 which is just above the 182 Spot at 26 miles 265° from Point Loma. They next had a double on albacore and 1 bait fish at 3239 and 11749 which is between the 182 Spot and the 43 Fathom Bank at 31 miles 257° from Point Loma.

     Their next action was out of a school of porpoise outside of the 43 Fathom Spot at 3236 and 11805 which is 44 miles 253° from Point Loma. Marty said that this was a good area where boats did well on yellowfin tuna but he said that by the time they got there the school of porpoise had been fished by a lot of boats and was segmented. Earlier in the day, they had also picked up 1 yellowfin tuna on bait for a total catch of 3 yellowfin tuna and 6 albacore.

     Private boater Mike Bratton of the Scotts Johnny reported fishing with private boater Jeff Behr aboard Jeff’s boat Rachel. He said they had good fishing this morning on yellowfin tuna and albacore while working an area where there were lots of puddling albacore and yellowfin tuna that were up on the surface working sauries. The action they had in this area was all on live bait and went from 7:30 a.m. until 9 a.m.. They caught 4 yellowfin tuna and 2 albacore out of that morning bite and the action was found in the region of 3227 and 11740. This puts you at the outside edge of the Kidney Bank at 25 miles 230° from Point Loma. Mike said that they also picked up another albacore on a jig strike at 3230 and 11734 which is inside of the 224 Spot at 20 miles 230° from Point Loma. Their albacore and tuna ranged in size from 25 to 33 pounds and they also had 4 dorado in their catch as well.

     The skipper of the boat Baja Concept reported limit fishing on a mix of albacore, yellowfin tuna and dorado. The yellowfin tuna were reported to be very nice sized fish in the 25 to 45 pound class. He said they had their best albacore and dorado fishing was out by the 371 Bank. For your general reference, the 371 Bank is located at 3216 and 11733 which is 28 miles 204° from Point Loma. He said they got their yellowfin tuna while fishing porpoise in close to North Island.

     Private boater Lorton Mitchell of the Sea Notes reported getting a late start today and finding some good yellowfin tuna fishing outside of the upper end of the Kidney Bank. He said they caught 6 yellowfin tuna on live bait while fishing with the porpoise out at 3232 and 11748 which is 31 miles 243° from Point Loma. He said there were sport boats working in that area.

     Private boater Vince De Palma of the Pati-Hopper reported catching 8 yellowfin tuna while fishing between North Island and the 425 Bank. Vince said they caught all their yellowfin tuna on slow trolled live bait. They would slow troll both on on the surface or with a 4 ounce lead head to get the sardines a bit deeper. They had this action while fishing with porpoise between North Island and the 425 Bank in the area of 3221 and 11721 which is 19 miles 189° from Point Loma. Yellowfin tuna ranged in size from 25 to 30 pounds.

    The weather was reported to be nice today with some breeze and chop. As always, be sure to check the latest marine weather forecast before you go.

    Here are some additional coordinates where action was reported today. The coordinates are organized from the north to the south by their latitude numbers:

Latitude and Longitude           Course and Distance from Point Loma

3255 and 11752                36 miles 283°–yellowfin tuna caught with porpoise inside of the 181 Spot

3254 and 11807                48 miles 275°–yellowfin tuna with porpoise reported between the 289 Spot and San Clemente Island–the skipper reporting was getting trolling strikes on Yo-Zuri Hydromags and was getting action on sardines after a trolling strike

3253 and 11754                38 miles 279°–yellowfin tuna with porpoise just outside the 181 Spot

3237 and 11803               42 miles 254°– one of the better areas today for yellowfin tuna with porpoise–the skipper reporting had seven yellowfin tuna out of his stop

3237 and 11759                39 miles 253°–a stop for three albacore outside of the 40 37 Spot

3232 and 11747                 30 miles 243°–an area fish by a good number of sport boats that produced a mix of the yellowfin tuna, dorado and albacore

3232 and 11740                24 miles 240°–albacore stop with bait fish reported at the bottom of the Ridge

3233 and 11805                44 miles 250°–yellowfin tuna biting with porpoise below and outside of the 43 Fathom Spot

3232 and 11727                14 miles 225°–a yellowfin tuna caught outside of the lower end of the 9 Mile Bank

3229 and 11743                 27 miles 236°–an albacore stop with bait fish outside of the 224 Spot

3228 and 11729                18 miles 218°–albacore biting between North Island and the 302 Spot

3228 and 11744                 28 miles 234°–albacore stop with bait fish outside of the 224 Spot

3227 and 11733                 21 miles 221°–an albacore stop reported inside of the 302 Spot

3227 and 11732                19 miles 221°–albacore stop reported inside of the 302 Spot

3223 and 11744                30 miles 226°–albacore stop with bait fish reported above and outside of the 230 Spot

3221 and 11734                25 miles 213°–good albacore fishing reported at the lower end of the Kidney Bank

3218 and 11752                38 miles 225°–an albacore stop was some bait fish inside of the Butterfly Bank

3218 and 11800               45 miles 229°–some albacore biting inside of the Butterfly Bank

3215 and 11743                35 miles 214°–an area producing yellowfin tuna with porpoise and some albacore strikes on the troll outside of the 371 Bank

3218 and 11745                34 miles 220°–yellowfin tuna biting between the 371 Bank and the Butterfly Bank

3213 and 11745               38 miles 214°–productive yellowfin tuna kelp paddie reported between the 371 Bank and the Butterfly Bank

      A late report from yesterday’s fishing from private boater Arnie Neves was that they had a good day fishing with 10 yellowfin tuna and 2 albacore. They caught their albacore from a stop where they got a jig fish and the bait fish at 3221 and 11748 which is between the 230 Spot and the Butterfly Bank at 35 miles 226° from Point Loma. They caught all 10 of their yellowfin tuna from porpoise in the area of 3226 and 11744 which is outside of the Kidney Bank at 30 miles 231° from Point Loma. Arnie reported in other boats in the same zone were also picking up some fish from kelp paddies as well as porpoise.

 

Coronado Islands

*Please Note That This Is An Old Report and Is Just A Sample For Your Review!

     The best yellowtail fishing has been around the Coronados and between Point Loma and the Coronados. That was the case again today. The 1/2 day trips out of Point Loma and the 3/4 day trips out of both Point Loma and Mission Bay have been fishing the yellows.  The best area has been between 3 and 6 miles 180 to 190 degrees from Point Loma. There are also good numbers of yellowtail reported at the Middle Grounds but the seals have been making it tough to fish there.

      Most of the action has been coming from spots of breezing fish being marked by diving white Terns. The yellows seem to be focused on the small baits and it’s often tough to get them to bite. The skippers report that the best groups of biting yellowtail are the ones you find that are working red crabs The best bet is to cast jigs and sardines right to the breezing fish as you slide alongside them and get ready to get your bait or jig in the water right away as most of the strikes are happening when you first slide to a stop alongside the breezing fish. The spots of fish spook easily so approach them carefully.

     Another good technique for a private boater might also be to try slow trolling nose hooked sardines around 2 knots of speed.  If you are unfamiliar with this technique, you hook the bait across the nose and troll at about 2 knots of speed.  You are fishing holding the rod in your hand, with the reel in free spool and with your thumb on the spool so you can ease up on the thumb pressure when you get bit to allow the fish to run with the bait a short ways before putting the reel in gear to set the hook.

     Tady 45’s, Salas 7X Lights and Kicker 25 Lights in blue and white or sardine colors are steady producers for surface iron. If you can’t get the surface iron right to the breaking fish you are better off with the yo-yo iron or the sardines. Try the Salas 6X Jr’s and Iron Man #5’s  for yo-yo iron in blue and white, blue and chrome or scrambled egg colors. Troll the Rapalas around while looking for the meter marks kelp paddies and breezing fish to stop on and work with bait and Jigs.

     If you are trollinq, try the Size CD 14 and CD18 Rapalas in the blue or green mackerel finishes.

     Today’s local fishing out of Mission Bay saw Seaforth with 82 anglers on 2 3/4 day trips catch 44 yellowtail, 1 mako, 8 calico bass, 6 sand bass and 2 bonito. 66 anglers on three 1/2 day trips caught 36 barracuda, 76 calico bass, 17 rockfish and 2 sand bass.

     Mission Bay Sportfishing had 12 anglers on  a 3/4 day trip catch 59 yellowtail and 2 bonito. They had two 1/2 day trips with 36 anglers take 11 barracuda, 76 calico bass, 2 sand bass,19 rockfish and 1 halibut. The Dolphin II was on an overnight trip and had 15 anglers take 75 yellowtail and 30 barracuda.

     The Point Loma out of Point Loma Sportfishing had 26 anglers on a 3/4 day trip catch 48 yellowtail and 1 calico bass. The Daily Double out of Point Loma Sportfishing had 26 anglers on a morning 1/2 day trip catch 33 yellowtail and 1 bonito. The afternoon trip fished the kelp beds and had 16 anglers catch 24 calico bass, 8 rockfish, 14 barracuda and 1 white seabass.

      A 3/4 day trip on the Malihini out of H&M Landing had 32 anglers catch 59 yellowtail and 1 bonito. The Premier out of H&M Landing had 20 anglers on a morning 1/2 day trip catch 37 yellowtail.

 

Coastal Fishing

*Please Note That This Is An Old Report and Is Just A Sample For Your Review!

     In the Oceanside area the bass bites and can be pretty good If you can find some areas of kelp stringers in good looking water. Best bet above the harbor is up around the Barn Kelp and Yellowtail Kelp area and below the harbor try working kelp stringers between Leucadia and Solana beach.

     There have been a few Yellowtail holding on kelp paddies 4 to 7 miles of the coast, best area has been down outside of the stretch between Torrey Pines and Encinitas. Also look for spots of breezing yellowtail, bonito and a few barracuda working bird schools 4 to 6 miles outside of the deep water canyon above La Jolla and outside of Torrey Pines but I did not hear of anyone fishing this area the past two days.

    Captain Joe Cacciola of the charter boat Sea Star out of Helgren’s in Oceanside reports that if you meter fish deep under the kelp paddies a key method has been to use yo-yo iron fished deep or else a sardine fished deep with a sinker.  Try the Iron Man # 5’s in blue and white or blue and chrome for the yo-yo iron.

     Today’s fishing out of Helgren’s saw 91 anglers on 6 trips catch 90 albacore, 32 yellowtail, 55 bonito, 9 whitefish, 9 white croaker, 84 sand bass, 87 calico bass, 32 yellowtail.

     The surface fishing at the kelp beds at La Jolla has been producing a few barracuda and bass down around Southwest at the lower end of La Jolla but the better bite has developed down at the point loma kelp for barracuda and calico bass and many of the Mission Bay boats have chosen to fish the Point Loma Kelp the past few days.  

       Check the kelp beds at Point Loma around the Lab and Green tank and fish right along the edges of the kelp. The other area producing some occasional barracuda action is the Whistler Buoy at Point Loma.

      Use sardines for the calicos and fish them right in the kelp. Use sardines and iron for the barracuda. A good choice would be the Tady 45’s in blue and white or sardine color.

 

Marlin

*Please Note That This Is An Old Report and Is Just A Sample For Your Review!

     The best marlin fishing remains in the lee of San Clemente Island as boats are finding some fish scattered from the Radar Dome on up to Northwest Harbor while fishing 2 to 4 miles off of the Island. The bite was red hot just a few days back but it has slowed a bit over the past three days. Today there were three tournaments fishing the region and there were 4 or 5 marlin caught combined for the three tournaments.

     I spoke with Bob Woodard of the Christina Lynn who was fishing the lee of San Clemente Island today. Bob reported at there was action scattered from just below the radar Dome on up to Northwest harbor for boats fishing 2 to 4 miles off the island. Bob reported that there were just a few fish showing off and on throughout the day. The Bob reported that the first date of the Marlin club’s I.L.T.T. Tournament saw one marlin taken and 2 lost hookups. The best area was reported to be 2 to 4 Miles off the radar dome. There have been some jigs strikes but the majority of the fish have been caught when baiting feeders and tailers and on the drop back mackerel.

     Water conditions were reported to be excellent at 69 1/2 and blue.

     There has not been much to report from other areas. There was a marlin hooked from a tuna stop at the 302 spot on Thursday and an occasional Marlin reported seen from time to time six to 8 miles off La Jolla and 6 to 8 miles off of San Onofre. A few Marlin are reported around the 277 and the 152 off the east end of Catalina and there is an occasional fish reported around the slide as well.

     In the San Diego area mackerel have been available to catch for bait outside the Imperial Beach Pier. Also look for mackerel just above the Mission Bay Jetties as well as outside the Crystal Pier at Pacific Beach as well as outside the Scripps Pier at La Jolla. A couple of the better color jigs have been black and purple and the green and white mackerel color.

     The weather was rough and sloppy in a lot of areas today with a South wind blowing but the report from the lee of San Clemente Island is that it was pleasant there with some rain…. As always be sure to check the latest green weather forecast before you go.