So. Cal fishin

[RotBaron]

If you have ever wanted for epic deep sea fishing in your life, now is the time to go out of San Diego (Pt. Loma).

In the 30 yrs that I've paid attention to the summer tuna/yellowtail/dorado bite, I can count on one hand how many times SD fisherman are lucky enough to have the fish this close. Even a 3/4 day boat yesterday had almost 80 tuna ~ 100 yt. An overniter had over 100 tuna for 18 guys.

These fish are spread out all over southern California and Mexican waters. They have caught bluefin and yellowfin in quantity out of even more northern landings like in Dana Point, Oceanside and the Newport landings.

Tuna in quantity in US waters is rare around here. Anytime they are within 50 miles of pt loma we go nuts. Get out there and go, it will never get any easier for you...


http://www.seaforthlanding.com/pages/fishcount.php

http://hmlanding.com/fcount/fcount.htm

http://www.fishermanslanding.com/pages/fishcount.php

http://www.pointlomasportfishing.com/pages/fishcount.php

[Rich46yo]

Many years ago a Buddy and I were going to take that trip and do a 3 day boat. We used to do the east coast and the way we'd do it is drive like Hell to Montauk or the Carolinas, fish the head boats for 3 days, freeze the fish, then load the coolers with dry ice and fish and drive like Hell home. We never did it cause I changed jobs and I always regretted it.

Its nice to hear good news about ocean fishing. They limit many of the east coast species we used to see in abundance now. Most of all snapper. I hope conservation efforts are starting to pay off.

[JunkyII]

My buddy Mike(retired Army) is a serious fishermen out here in Hawaii.

Here's a video he made out on his Kayak https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoBwQEKYp3g

Here's another my buddy Jon got out on Mike's boat https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJH1XxUAFgY

[HawkerMKII]

Grew up in Sn Diego, spent many many day fishing out of HM Landing, wished I were there now.....epic fishing I hear

[Ack-Ack]

If you have ever wanted for epic deep sea fishing in your life, now is the time to go out of San Diego (Pt. Loma).

Usually happens when an El Nino is coming.

ack-ack

[RotBaron]

we had a good monsoon July 3rd, usually a good indication of el nino for us...

The biggest problem with the SD fishing lately has been the bait, for a spell there in June the bait receivers couldn't find sardines and only had anchovies/mackerel. Tuna are predators and anchovies take skill to use/present. But reports are they have greenbacks again.

I'm in the process of booking a trip, every one I look at keeps selling out though, I'm glad to see that. Over the recession I counted at least 4 quality operations go belly up along with a few that needed to go. Iirc the SD fleet lost ~12 boats, some are now out of landings to the north. Good to see these businesses that survived the thin years get a good season.

For quick facts on this bite:  www.976tuna.com

^ take info on that site w/a small grain of salt, they are into marketing...they will get called on bs if they present it though. Usually by this site: www.bdoutdoors.com

p.s. There are several boats that I prefer to others, but if you can book out of Seaforth, I would, the parking is free and no hassle; the big 3 parking is drama.

[RotBaron]

oh NO!  


http://www.bdoutdoors.com/article/mexico-closes-bluefin-tuna/

Well at least there is really warm water in US waters now, yellowfin and dorado being caught in good numbers in US waters and of course yellowtail

For those that don't know, what is called the EEZ is the economic zone that designates that fish are basically part of the economic commerce. This zone extends to 200 nautical miles.

Here: www.tempbreak.com    -  you can see the line that extends out from San Diego/Tijuana west, then north west for ~40miles, then soutwest for ~200nm.  That is the EEZ zone and designates whether an area is US or Mex. Anywhere now, at the moment (quotas have been met by commercial operations) ALL bluefin are to be released in Mex waters.

There is major drama involved in this decision by CONAPESCA being made without notice or warning to the sport fishing industry.

I.e. bad news for us that do this as a hobby, hopefully it will get resolved; I doubt before this season is over though.

Lots of things at play here, politics included; lets do Skuzzy a favor and not get into those issues if you want to comment.

This was just fyi that if you thought about doing this, bluefin can only be kept in US waters.

[RotBaron]

Just thought I'd share this video I saw, freakin awesome and shows how integrated into our lives GoPros are going to become:

In case you might be caught off guard, I guess I should warn fish bleed, don't watch if that kinda hunting stuff bothers you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQLbyl1Fm3Y#t=12

[mbailey]

Love the guy in the straw hat running from stern to bow and back

I had to do that last year with a Thresher that was not at all happy to be hooked. I must have made 6 full laps around my buddies 34' Blackfin.....quite a chore to say the least given that the main fishing area is the stern only. Caught the bugger after about 45mins.  329lbs    

I learned that I'm surprisingly agile when I need to be
Also learned ( the next day) that Aleve is a wonderful pain reliever  

[HawkerMKII]

Just thought I'd share this video I saw, freakin awesome and shows how integrated into our lives GoPros are going to become:

In case you might be caught off guard, I guess I should warn fish bleed, don't watch if that kinda hunting stuff bothers you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQLbyl1Fm3Y#t=12

Freking cool video......rods bent and doing the over, under tuna dance

[RotBaron]

Wtg Bailey, I'm hoping to have a day here soon where Aleve is necessitated.


Did you see the deckie at about 1:30mins, does some nice work, went the wrong way first then corrected his mistake got out of the tangle w/fish still on.

Some of these So Cal deckies are so good at tangles it's amazing. I watched a 3-way cluster (expletive) fixed by two deckies, one held all 3 tuna taught (how I'm not sure) the other deciphered the tangle, cut one guy off then re-atached his line; all fish still on and lines untangled. Deckie said "'nother day at the office." That happened with nearly all of the 32 passengers hooked up on good sized bluefin on the First String (last year).


What I don't like seeing in that video is the tuna pens. Google Ted Dunn bluefin pens for more info on that. It seems as though schools congregate around the pens because inevitably food will fall/swim through the pens and they figure out it's a reliable source...but that's another story.