Southern CA Saltwater Fishing Report

Offshore scene shows the potential — both good and bad BY BRANDON HAYWARD/WON Staff Writer Published: Aug 02, 2012

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Overnight to two-days trips are up and down, but long range boats show the potential down the line SAN DIEGO — It’s hard to have a transition when there’s nothing really to transition out of, but the current state of affairs offshore looks to be one of more warm water species like dorado and yellowtail showing up within one-day range to go with the bluefin, while further down the line the long range boats have been enjoying incredible action on bluefin and yellowfin tuna. “There’s bluefin up and down the coast,” reported Buzz Brizendine, owner/operator of the Prowler out of Fisherman’s Landing. “There were bluefin on the 425 this weekend on spots up, and bluefin caught as close 65 miles; the weather has been up, which has been kind of hampering our efforts, but the weather is looking sweet for this week.” The season is in full swing and there’s been a mix of everything from overnight to 2½-day trips out. Some have had scores on not just the bluefin, but also the yellowtail and dorado that seem to be pushing up more and more heading towards the full moon. The yellows and dorado were what made the trips for the Prowler on two of its trips during the week. “We had two days for limits of yellowtail and a few dorado and bluefin,” added Brizendine, who went on to say that the conditions are looking good and there is more fish on its way up the line from long range territory. “There’s good conditions. The water is 65.5 to 67 degrees and there’s good sign (of tuna, yellowtail and dorado) from here to Colnett; in general, there’s even more coming up the line.” Brizendine put it out Monday morning that radio reports from the dispatch radio had reports of some better fishing close to home Monday morning before WON went to press, with a hit for 25 bluefin being a standout. The long range fishing has been nothing short of stellar on bluefin and yellowfin. Red Rooster III skipper Andy Cates reported in some great offshore drift fishing to end the week. “We had a great day today with good fishing on both bluefin in the 25- to 35-pound-class and yellowfin from 15 to 25 pounds. Mostly the smaller side on the yellowfin,” reported Cates after fishing the long range zone on Sunday. “The weather has turned for the better and looks good for the next couple of days. We have one more day in the grounds and if we can do half as well as we did today we will have a good day.” Overall, the “local” overnight to 2½-day stuff has been all about hitters and missers. The Shogun had THE 2-day trip over the weekend, sacking up 110 yellowtail, 30 bluefin and 20 dorado on its run out of Fishermans. With hits come misses, and the overnight fish was filled with more misses than hits. The Condor had 4 bluefin and 2 yellowtail on its Sunday overnight. Single digit scores have been common on the overnights and even 1½ days. Or at least they were when the weather was up heading towards this week. The were a few overnight scores that were good for what’s going on, like the First String getting 40 yellowtail and 15 dorado on Sunday’s overnight out of H&M Landing. With the Coronados not being fished due to the reemergence of the FMM issue, the ¾-day fleet headed off shore over the weekend. The Mission Belle had a bluefin and a yellowtail Sunday, while the San Diego had 2 dorado. Things are changing on the offshore scene, no doubt. IT should be an interesting week with better weather to work in. A KELP ENDEAVOR — Kelp paddies and yellowtail and dorado look to be a big part of the offshore future. Here’s a 24-pound yellowtail that Eric Wade scored while on a 2-day charter that fished 90 miles from Mission Bay on the Endeavor out of Seaforth Sportfishing in Mission Bay.