The bigger threshers pushing over 300lbs have been showing up off La Jolla and above Dana Point for a solid week or so.. with the biggest concentration off of La Jolla. The reports we’re getting are a few guys are tail hooking them dragging Rapalas, but most of them are slow trolling macks using circle hooks and downriggers to mouth hook them to watch the aerial show, and be able to release them.

It’s that time of year when the big tanker seabass start showing up along the coast and islands. There’s been good fishing from Newport reef down to the golf balls, some fish coming in at over 60 plus pounds. They’re inhaling the live mackerel on a 30lb drop loop set-up. The backside of Catalina has also been doing very well. Guys are getting them in tight to the beach in the milky water. Your best chances are using live squid.

Reports are coming in about a big school of crashing yellowtail in front of  Avalon. Some fish are in the 15 to 20 pound range. They’re keyed in on live squid, and it’s a run and gun situation, good luck!

There have been reports coming in over the weekend that Farnsworth is holding a large volume of big yellows! Look for bird schools or yellows crashing on the surface chasing bait. Your best shot at these big trophies have been an hour before & after slack tide. Live squid is the ticket, but surface irons and slow trolling live dines & macks have been working. They’re averaging 15 – 25lbs with the occasional 30lb in the mix. Good luck and keep sending in the reports.

The fishery is open to boat-based anglers from  March 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017. Don’t forget to look at the current CDFW regs for your local depths and daily catch limits.

Join us for our 8th annual Pacific Coast Sportfishing Show February 17,18,19 OC Fair & Event Center….more info at www.sportfishingfestival.com

There’s been a nice grade of yellowtail being caught off La Jolla in the 15 – 20lbs range. You need to meter around a bit to locate them, and keep an eye out for bird schools. Guys have been getting them on the yo-yo early in the morning, before 7AM and then the bite shuts down.. Good luck!

If your over at the island and you want to have a great time. There’s a big a school of firecrack sized yellows in 80 feet of water. When I say big, I mean huge! We found them below Silver Canyon puddling on the surface. When you locate them, start chumming and get out your bass gear and go town! We were using live squid and chumming the whole time to keep that at the boat- man screams in the cockpit for solid a 45 minutes.

There’s still plenty of big bluefin over 100 lbs on the bank. They’re biting in the early morning (2AM to graylight), then the bite slows down throughout the day, usually picking back up in the evening. The hot ticket has been 80# fluoro leader with a 7/0 circle hook with a 4oz glow in the dark egg sinker.  Some guys are evening getting bit using heaver leader at night, and then dropping down to 50# fluoro during the day as the bite slows down. Lots of sharks reported and live squid has been the key!

Guys are getting limits of big legal lobsters on the front side of Catalina, especially in deeper water- 150 to 200 feet close to structure. One of the tricks to having a successful trip is having a lot of weight. Try securing a flat 5lb weight to the bottom of your Promar hoop net. This will help get it down faster. The extra weight will also prevent the current from moving it or carrying it away. Make sure you always have an extra 50 feet of rope with you than the depth your hooping at (Promar has these at your local tackle stores).. it might be the difference of not losing your gear. The best bait to use is oily fish- sardine, mackerel, salmon heads & tuna heads are great examples. To secure your bait, I suggest using- Scotty Bait Cages or Promar Crab/Lobster Bait Cages and they’re seal proof. These items can make or break your trip if a seals get a hold of them! Remember… the first crawl can be one of your best sets, so get your traps out early, just before dark!