Burr. That’s’ the best way to describe the waters from Dana Point to Oceanside yesterday (Wednesday).

In the snap of the fingers, the water has gone from the high 60s, to as cold as 59 degrees. No, we did not catch any seabass or yellowtail along the Pendleton Coast yesterday. So much for this story that I’ve been wanting to do…

Aside from burr, here’s another adjective describes the water this season: shifty. There just has not been any consistency.

Except above Ventura; the water has been consistently in the high 50s (like 58 to 59). All the cold water has been good for squid, and there is summer squid everywhere—Morro Bay, Point Conception, Ventura, Catalina, Clemente, La Jolla and even as far down as San Martin Island.

But shifty conditions have made it tough for any real consistency, be it for offshore albacore — there have been many hard breaks and water set-ups this year — to inshore fishing.

What has held together are the islands, and Clemente has finally got yellowtail to be had along the front. From a handful to 40 plus a day has been the rule for the overnights. Catalina is still holding seabass and yellowtail potential beyond potential, making it and Clemente the hot spots right now.

But keep an eye on albacore in U.S. Waters. The Freedom had over 70 from the stem of the Mushroom Bank, which is the first real hit so far within one day range so far this season. (Did you know the best overnight score this year so far is 9 albacore on the First String?)

Everything might be shifting around a lot, but something is going to go into gear to go with the fishing at Catalina and Clemente. In the meantime, thank goodness for the island bite for the landings north of San Diego…