Matt Gernsey found some great Albacore fishing southwest of The Cortez bank on Thursday and Friday, some 110 miles offshore, and they scratched out 10 Yellowtail and a bunch of skiipies for the two days. Matt said the fish averaged nearly 30 lbs., with a few dinks mixed in. Matt and crew ended up with 35 Albacore for the two days on his private boat "Fresh One". Bruce Jackson on his boat "Happy Hunter" fished the Cortez bank some 120 miles from Point Loma and caught 12 large Albacore and a big Bluefin Tuna Friday estimated to exceed 40 lbs. Ali stopped on a nice paddy for ten Yellowtail to 12 lbs. and later lost a couple more Yellowfin tuna off a kelp paddy before noon. Eric on his boat "Albiemac" fished the 371 on Sat. found a boat size kelp paddy, began chunking skippies, and found the Yellowfin Tuna on the chew for 1 1/2 hours, catching 15 fish on light line, 15 and 20 lb. test and smaller dines. Tom fishing on his boat the "Katie Jean" on Friday went to the 390 and found a kelp holding 6 Yellowtail and a 20 lb. Yellowfin Tuna. Ahituna and Greg "Eye Problem" also fished the 390 on Sat. for numerous Yellowtail and three nice Yellowfin Tuna to 22 lbs. off a kelp paddy.
Islands Freddie fished his private boat at Santa Barbara on Friday, and found the huge homeguard Yellowtail biting on the tide change. Freddie and two crew caught four toad tails to 28 lbs. Jeff set up at China Point and caught two Yellowtail 12 to 15 lbs. I fished Friday and Saturday on Frank Sullivan's boat "Valkyrie" with crew Kevin, we stopped at Alberts on the backside of Santa Cruz early morning Friday to try for the big tails, but no takers, we couldn't find anyone with squid for sell. We fished San Miguel Island the rest of the day Friday and sat. morning for limits of Big Reds, Coppers, Johnny Bass, some nice size Whitefish and four legal Lingcod to 27". Striped Marlin off the East End of Catalina were still being caught both Sat. and Sunday. Several boats reportedly had a double hookup with jigs on Marlin off the slide at the East End, all released.
Below the Border & La Jolla Bill Shaefer on his boat fished the San Diego Bay bass tournament and found the big sandbass on the chew bigtime on the plastics. Bill took first place with a three fish total weight of 10.5 lbs. and largest fish of 5.5 lbs. Congrats Bill. Some very nice Halibut fishing along the coast and of lots of 2-8 lb. Bonito being caught. Off La Jolla trolling Rapalas and throwing iron a number of decent yellowtail were being caught.
Local Scene Al Schneider fishing with Max & Nick fished the Long Beach area Sat. and found the Halibut on the chew, with 5 legal butts to 12 lbs., and numerous sand bass, while slow trolling dines and live squid. Jimbo Lavin on his boat "Jersey Bro" fished for bass and Halibut out of Dana point Sat. and found the sandbass willing and able, with limits caught for two. Jimbo also said some very good size bonito were fun to catch, but only caught six short halibut for the day. Yellowfin tuna off the porpoise at the 14 mile bank slowed way down, as most boaters reported the skunk and only heard of a few being caught. Keith Poe continues to find some excellent shark fishing with lot's of Blue's and numerous Mako's, mostly pup's, tagged and released locally. John Collar on his boat "Flomar" fished south of MDR and found two legal halibut, with four shorts released. John also hooked a Thresher shark, but the hook pulled early in the fight. Don fished the Santa Monica Bay Sunday with Eddie, Kameron, Ray & others for a legal halibut and seven dandy sandies to seven lbs. Tommy fished the Topanga Canyon area Sat. on his boat for one 10 lb. halibut, a bunch of Cailco's and Sandbass, all on the plastics.
I'll prepare a report of "Best Bets for the Weekend " on Thursday.
As always, we want to hear from you. Send your first hand fish report to tunaslam@westcoastangler.comand have the chance to win a large selection of Big Hammer Swimbaits & Fish Co. leadheads & a plano box to keep them all organized
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