HOT BITES
SAN DIEGO ALBACORE WIDE OPEN: The albacore bite for the San Diego fleet has broken wide open, with the fish showing from 30 to 70 miles from Point Loma and then stretching for hundreds of miles below that, a great indicator of how big the volume of fish is this season. The Poloris Supreme, heading straight down to Alijos Rocks, on a long-range trip, caught 200 albacore on the troll across over 100 miles of ocean. The one-day fleet has been seeing limit-style fishing the last two days on 12 to 20-pound fish with some now up in the 20 to 25-pound range. Most boats had reported limits by 8 a.m. on Wednesday. The big has been on sardines fished on 2/0 hooks and 25-pound test mono or plastics fished on the slide after a jig strike.
Beginning this week, several of the boats at Orange County landings are starting regular albacore trips. The action for these boats has been less consistent than the boats fishing south out of San Diego, the but the action has been improving daily.
BARRACUDA EXCELLENT: The barracuda bite has been simply awesome the past few days with most boats from the Santa Monica Bay south to Dana Point getting limits. The Huntington Flats and Horseshoe Kelp areas have been particularly good, but there have been acres and acres of birds and jumping fish throughout this region and both surface iron and yo-yo iron have been producing. Mixed in with this action have been the beginnings of a decent sand bass bite along with a few halibut.
SANTA ROSA ISLAND SEABASS: There was an excellent bite on white seabass over the weekend at Santa Rosa Island. The Cat Special had a day with three fish per rod -- limits -- and they were all 15 to 30 pounds. This bite had slacked off some at mid-week, but there's still a decent pick.
BITE UPDATES: San Clemente Island still has a good calico bass bite, but the yellowtail and seabass wee on the slower side this week, with just a pick. Catalina and Santa Barbara Islands both went in the tank, with even the calico action off this past week. The volume of fish is too great at both places for this bite to stay off, and the calico action is certain to rebound.
INSTRUCTIONAL CHARTERS: The 976-TUNA staff will be hosting a series of spring and summer instructional charters. These trips will focus on teaching fishing techniques for the different ocean species in season at the time of the trip. The limited load trips allow for one-on-one instruction. The next trips are June 20 on the Tortuga for just 15 anglers at $45 each, and a two-day jaunt on the Big Game 90 June 25-26 for $185, and a July 9 albacore trip for 12 anglers on the Tracer out of Fisherman's Landing. For more information, call (310) 328-5850 or e-mail p976tuna@aol.com.
LONG RANGE & BAJA CALIFORNIA
Most long range boats are now focusing on the northern Baja coastline -- Alijos Rocks, Cedros and Benitos. The yellowfin and yellowtail bite has been excellent. For comprehensive long range and Baja fishing reports and more information on the closure, log on to the 976-TUNA web site at www.976tuna.com. The reports are updated daily as new information is available.
LANDING CONTACTS
Southern California: Virg's Sportfishing, Morro Bay, (805) 772-1222; Patriot Sportfishing, Avila Beach, (805) 595-7200; Sea Landing, Santa Barbara, (805) 963-3564; Harbor Village Sportfishing, Ventura, (805) 658-1060; CISCO Landing, Oxnard, (805) 985-8511; Captain Hook's Sportfishing, Oxnard, (805) 382-6233; Port Hueneme Sportfishing, Hueneme, (805) 488-2212; Marina Del Rey Sportfishing, Marina del Rey, (310) 822-3625; Redondo Sportfishing, Redondo Beach, (310) 372-2111; Rocky Point Fuel Dock (skiff rentals for King Harbor), Redondo Beach, (310) 374-9858; 22nd Street Landing, San Pedro, (310) 832-8304; L.A. Harbor Sportfishing, San Pedro, (310) 547-9916; Long Beach Sportfishing, Long Beach, (562) 432-8993; Pierpoint Landing, Long Beach, (562) 983-9300; Marina Sportfishing, Long Beach, (562) 598-6649; Big Fish Sportfishing, Seal Beach, (562) 598-4700; Newport Landing, Newport Beach, (949) 675-0550; Davey's Locker, Newport Beach, (949) 673-1434; Dana Wharf Sportfishing, Dana Point, (949) 496-5794; Helgren's Sportfishing, Oceanside, (760) 722-2133; Islandia Sportfishing, Mission Bay, (619) 222-1165; Seaforth Sportfishing, Mission Bay, (619) 224-3383; H&M Landing, San Diego, (619) 222-1144; Point Loma Sportfishing, San Diego, (619) 223-1627; Fisherman's Landing, San Diego, (619) 221-8500; Lee Palm's Sportfishing, San Diego, (619) 224-3857.
Mexico Landings: Sergio's Sportfishing, Ensenada, 011-526-178-2185; San Quintin Sportfishing, San Quintin, 011-526-162-1455.
GRUNION RUNS
Grunion spawn on all of Southern California's long, sandy beaches from early March through mid-August each year. The Department of Fish and Game publishes an annual brochure called "California Grunion Facts and Expected Runs.'' It is available free if you mail a self-addressed stamped business-size envelope to Grunion, Department of Fish and Game, 330 Golden Shore Blvd., No. 50, Long Beach, CA 90815.
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