It’s January and there are crashing bluefin less than ten miles off our coast. Jimmy Decker hooked a nice 61 pounder yesterday to kick start the 2019 season and capture the first tuna flag for the Balboa Angling Club, nice work Decker!
HERE'S WHERE I WOULD GO TODAY
Catalina Yellows
This weekend lots of reports were coming in.. yellows are biting at the East & West ends of the island… and all points in between.
Rob Kirnbauer sent in a report of a decent grade of yellows being caught at the West end.
6 out of 9 tails we’re on the iron.. great score!
Look for up hill current. Keep sending in those reports, thanks guys!
Yellows Are Biting At San Clemente Island
Reports are coming in that the Island has been producing some good size yellows, averaging 15# to 20# with the occasional 30 pounder in the mix.. the hot ticket is live squid, but they’ll come up and bite on finbait.. your best bet is fly-lining a 30# top shot and live squid. Good luck out there, and keep sending us those reports.
2019 Rockfish Season
March 1st rockfish season opener. New Depth restriction is now 450 feet (75 fathoms) with some exceptions. The Cow Cod Conservation areas has the max depth of 240 feet instead of 120 feet. Always check the regs before going out. Current California Ocean Recreational Fishing Regulations 34°27 N. Latitude (Point Conception, Santa Barbara County) to the U.S. – Mexico Border.
California Spiny Lobster Season Starts
Make sure you pick up your lobster report card for 2018-2019! California’s spiny lobster, which opens Saturday, Sept. 29 and continues through March 20, 2019. Send us your reports, thanks!
Local Marlin Bite Goes Off
There have been a lot of local marlin released over the weekend during the local Pesky tournament. Some of the hot spots that were holding a good body of fish have been the 14 mile bank, Avalon bank, 277, the oil rigs, and the slide off of Catalina. Keep sending in your reports, and luck!
The Marlin Are Biting
A great report came in on Sunday.. 3 marlin released off the East end of Catalina along the slide off a temp break at slack tide.. all were jig fish!
Also, there have been several kelp holding dorado & yellows when running across the channel. It’s a good start, but not quite full speed yet. Keep sending us those reports!
Limits of Sand Bass & Barracuda !!!
Horseshoe Kelp just switched on over the weekend! We’ve been getting daily reports of limits on the sand bass and cudas. The bass are eating everything you send down from plastics, iron, fin bait to frozen squid on a light lead head set up. The stove pipes are up to 7-8lbs and have been in haling the Yo-Zuri deep divers, fin bait, and the guys who are fishing the iron, it’s pretty much wide open! Pay attention to the bird schools to get an idea where the cudas are feeding. Horseshoe Kelp- 33D 40.07’N. x 118D 12.15’W
There’s a Hot Yellowtail Bite Going On!
San Clemente Island has been the hot ticket lately for the yellows.. they’re ranging from 10 to 35 lbs. Guys are catching them mostly on fin bait, but they’re also chewing the surface iron. Keep sending in your reports!
Bluefin Caught in US Waters
Reports are coming in that bluefin have reappeared in Southern California waters. A couple of sportboat got limits on Tuesday with 44, and averaging 60 lbs. Half were caught on the flat fall jig, and the half on live bait. Another 28 were caught on Monday aboard a 1.5 day trip. Things are shaping up!
Bluefin still stacked up on the 60 Mile Bank!
The bluefin bite hasn’t stopped yet.. they’re not the giants, but ranging anywhere from 10 to 30lbs. The go to set-up has been a 25 to 30lb rig, but when it starts slowing down, try dropping down to a 15 or 20lb fluoro top shot and a smaller hook, such as: #2 & #4. Fish hard when they start to bite.. because the bite usually ends before noon. Keep sending in those reports, thanks!
Yellowfin Off Pyramid Cove
A great report came in yesterday evening.. a grip of yellowfin were caught a few miles off of Pyramid Cove. Also, the bluefin are still stacked up out on Desperation reef. The season isn’t over!
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