Exotics migrate into mid-channel waters

Ocean currents are mixing with tropical storm fronts off the Southern

California coastline creating warmer water temperatures in the

channel and bringing a showing of exotic pelagic fish to within reach

of the sport fleet and private yachts. Ocean sea temps moved up into

the high 60s and there were a number of areas showing surface

temperatures well into the mid-70s. Winds howled relentlessly over

the outer waters making for difficult fishing conditions as the sport

fleet recorded some the lowest albacore dock counts in over a month

of steady fishing.

On the bright side of those steady winds blowing at 30 knots, with

gusts up to 40-plus knots, the first catches of dorado, yellowfin

tuna, giant squid and skipjack were made this week while the albacore

all but dropped out of site during the full moon. Those huge schools

of albies that were holding in a 30 mile long chunk of ocean of Baja

migrated to the northwest and now are being fished, at least in part,

off San Clemente Island and out to the west.

Albacore prefer cooler water and will move along the coast with

bait schools and frontal boundaries and this could see longfin tuna

fishing turn wide open for the Newport-based sport fleet any time.

It’s still a little early to make a clear call as to just how the

remainder of the albacore season will finish up, where as, there is

still cold water all around the inner banks and it’s pretty putrid

dirty green in color.

Dorado are showing up under floating kelp patties along with some

pretty big schools of mid-size yellowtail. Boats getting on the right

kelp can load up on tails running anywhere from two-pound

“firecrackers” up to tackle busting 35-pounders. Dorado are also

being caught on the bright colored jigs while trolling for albacore

and marlin in open water and they should begin schooling up and

provide anglers with some pretty good action and lots of great eating

mahi-mahi.

Another indication that there is more to come this season was the

re-appearance of giant squid off shore. This writer was aboard the

deluxe sportfisher First String, (619) 222-1144, on Wednesday and

scored on a dozen giant squid weighing in the 2 to 4 pound class. On

previous nights anglers on board boats drifting on a sea anchor

reported hooking into monster squid weighing in double digits. With

all the work done on Main Street in old town Balboa, one would think

that squid fishermen will have to come up with a sparkling clean way

of getting their catch out to the ocean parking lot. After the mess

left during the last run of giant squid off Newport, this writer is

pretty sure city officials are sitting down with landing operators

and those in charge of keeping the piers clean and discussing how

they will handle all the black ink and smell, IF, these giants do

move into fishable waters in huge schools.

It’s going to be a wait and see about other exotics moving up to

within reach of Newport and most of the talk it about the possibility

of yellowfin tuna moving up off Baja. A private yacht called in with

a catch of 20 small tuna about 120 miles south of San Diego and

unless that streak of cold water keeps them south of the Mexican

line, we could be fishing yellowfin as close as the deep water trench

off Dana Point by Labor Day.

Words from the marlin fishing grounds is that the fish are stacked

up between the lee of Pyramid Head and White Rock at San Clemente

Island. Most of the private yachts are fishing this area and reports

are that a couple of fish were caught and released on Friday.

Stripers are being hooked on fast trolled jigs and greenback mackerel

cast to feeders, sleepers and tailers.

Fishing along the coast still is being affected by coldwater

currents with water temperatures holding in the 60s. Sand bass,

barracuda, a few legal halibut and assorted bottom feeders are making

up the bulk of the fish put in gunny sacks hanging on bait tanks of

1/2- and 3/4-day boats running out of Davey’s Locker and Newport

Landing Sportfishing.