Monday, May 29, 2023 at 6:40 PM

     It was a nice day out on the water today with some breeze and chop.  It was cloudy for much of the day here in Point Loma. 

     The NOAA Coastal Waters forecast for Tuesday covering the area from Point San Mateo to the Mexican Border and out to 30 Nautical Miles calls for a west wind of 10 to 15 knots.  There is a slight chance of rain with patchy drizzle after midnight tonight.  There is a chance of rain with patchy drizzle on Tuesday morning and a slight chance of rain on Tuesday afternoon.

     On the NOAA Outer Waters forecast for the same sector but out between 30 and 60 nautical miles offshore including San Clemente Island calls for a west wind of wind of 10 knots that will be gusting to 15 knots during the afternoon.  There is a slight chance of rain with patchy drizzle after midnight tonight.  There is a chance of rain with patchy drizzle on Tuesday morning and areas of drizzle on Tuesday afternoon.

      As always, be sure to check the latest marine weather forecast before you go boating or fishing.

     The Mexican authorities have been checking for the proper paperwork when in Mexican waters.  As always, make sure all your paperwork is in order and that you are in compliance with all fishing and boating regulations.

      San Diego Bay and Mission Bay Bait Report:

     The most recent Facebook posting for Mission Bay on Everingham Brothers Bait Company’s Facebook page was on 5-18-23 at 11:56 AM and it indicated that they had 5 to 7 inch sardines available for bait.  The most recent report for San Diego Bay was also on 5-18-23 at 11:53 AM indicating that they had 4 to 6 inch sardines available for bait.

     A report for Dana Point posted at 11:58 AM on 5-18-23 says they have 5 to 8 inch sardines available for bait.

     You can check the Everingham Brothers Facebook page for the latest bait information at:  https://www.facebook.com/everinghambros.baitco/

    Offshore Tuna and Offshore Yellowtail Report:

   I hope you enjoyed Memorial Day and hope you had time to reflect upon all the people who have given their lives in serving this great country. I give my most humble and sincere thanks for their service and sacrifice. God Bless America!

It was another scratchy day of bluefin fishing out on the tune grounds but the good thing is that most of the tuna being caught are in the 60 to 150-plus pound range. Last night there were a lot of boats working the region below the 371 Bank but during daylight hours most of the boats were working the tuna pen region below the 425 Bank.  The kelp-paddy yellowtail fishing has turned more hit or miss and scratchy the past couple of days as well. There is no hot bite area that I know of at the moment but the region below the 425 Bank and the region below the 371 Bank are providing a chance at a trophy sized bluefin tuna..

     The best bluefin bites have been during the dark but daylight hours have been producing similar results the past couple of days.

     On a separate offshore topic, there were some mako sharks biting around bait balls found outside of the La Jolla Cove on Sunday.  I have no reports from that area today.                  

     H&M Landing reports that the Constitution got home from an overnight trip that saw 23 anglers catch 4 bluefin tuna that ranged in size to 150 pounds.  The Grande got back from a full day trip that saw 21 anglers catch 1 bluefin tuna.  The Daiwa Pacific got back this morning from a 1.5 day trip that saw 14 anglers catch 8 bluefin tuna, 6 Spanish Jack, 14 yellowtail and 100 rockfish.  The Top Gun 80 got home from a 3.5 day trip that saw 19 anglers catch 8 bluefin tuna, 7 bonito, 4 sheephead, 3 lingcod and 180 rockfish.

    Fisherman’s Landing had the Liberty out on a full day trip that is returning with 2 of the 160 pound bluefin tuna.  They also had the Pegasus out on an overnight trip they reported having caught 4 bluefin tuna..  Their catch of 4 bluefin was made up of 2 of the 30 pounds class fish, one fish of 150 pounds and another fish that was up at 180 pounds.  Fisherman’s Landing also had the Condor yet home this morning from a 1.5 day trip with 3 bluefin tuna.  They had one bluefin that was 140 pounds and another bluefin that was at 180 pounds.

   Fisherman’s Landing has been suggesting using a 30 pound test outfit with a #2 Owner Mutu hook for fishing bluefin flylined sardines in the daytime.  If you want to try a jig in the daytime they are suggesting a 100 or 130 gram size Colt Sniper or Zakana jig fished on a 50 or a 60 pound test outfit.  For the night time fishing they are suggesting 80 to 100 pound test outfits for the jig fishing with 130 to 200 pound leaders and 300 to 400 gram sized jigs (knife jigs).  Those same 80 to 100 pound test outfits would also work well for fishing the sinker rigged sardines during the daylight or night time hours.

   Point Loma Sportfishing had the New Lo-An get home this morning from a 3 day trip with 21 anglers that caught 27 yellowtail that went to 25 pounds and 14 bluefin tuna that went to 150 pounds.

    Seaforth Sportfishing had the San Diego out on a full day trip with 32 anglers who caught 3 bluefin tuna that ranged in size to 150 pounds.  On Friday they reported that Captain Matt recommended having a 30 to 40 pound test rig for flylining sardines and a 60 to 100 pound rig for fishing sinker rigged sardines or the knife style jigs.

     Seaforth Sportfishing also had the Sea Watch out on a full day trip with 12 anglers who caught 2 bluefin tuna.  Seaforth Sportfishing has been reporting that Captain Ryan has been saying that a sinker rigged sardine fished on a 100 pound test outfit with an 8 to 12 ounce torpedo sinker and a size 2/0 to 4/0 hook has been the best setup for a large bluefin.

   Seaforth Sportfishing had the Aztec get home from a 3 day trip with 15 anglers having caught 17 bluefin tuna, 12 yellowtail and 1 halibut.  The Pacific Voyager get back from a 2.5 day trip that saw 15 anglers catch 49 bluefin tuna and 1 yellowtail.  The Polaris Supreme got home from a 3 day trip with a catch of 26 bluefin tuna.

     The best bluefin fishing continues to come from stopping on sonar marks or meter marks that are found in the dark but there are also some bluefin to be caught during daylight hours as well.  During daylight hours bluefin stops are coming from stopping on meter marks, sonar marks, spots of breezing fish and the occasional trolling strike.  

     The past couple of days have seen the best fishing coming from finding a meter mark or sonar mark to stop in the region of the tuna pens below the 425 Bank and then drifting using sinker rigged sardines.  Knife jigs might also be worth a try.

     Trolled Nomad Madmac jigs have been producing an occasional bluefin on the troll and every once in a while there is a bluefin bite reported on a spreader bar rig.  There has also been an occasional bluefin caught on slow trolled sardines.

     Bluefin have at times been metered around whales. Boats with scanning sonar have a distinct advantage in being able to locate the bluefin with the electronics.  Productive water temperatures have ranged from 60 to 62.5 degrees.

     Best bet during the dark has been using knife jigs or flat fall jigs fished on 80 to 100 pound test. Suggested sizes have been the 200 to 400 gram size knife jigs and flat fall jigs.  Sinker rigs fished with sardines have also been hooking some of the night time bluefin using 80 to 100 pound test line with 8 or 12 ounce sinkers.

      During daylight hours try flylined sardines fished on 30 to 40 pound test but better yet in recent days has been using sinker rigged fished sardines fished on 60 to 100 pound test using an 8 or 12 ounce sinker.  Knife jigs fished on 60 to 100 pound test have also been effective. Dart jigs and Salas 6X Jr. jigs in blue and chrome have also been working when dropped down to bluefin meter marks or sonar marks found during daylight hours.

     Here are latitude and longitude coordinates from today’s fishing.  These coordinates are listed in order by their latitude from north to south:

Latitude & Longitude            Course & Distance From Point Loma.

3240 and 11742                       24 miles 263 degrees……coordinates for the 182 Spot…….a Skipper who was fishing around and about the 182 Spot reported slow fishing

3213 and 11735                       32 miles 205 degrees……there was bluefin tuna activity and a chance at yellowtail in this area below the 371 Bank

3213 and 11733                       31 miles 202 degrees……there was bluefin tuna activity and a chance at yellowtail in this area below the 371 Bank

3213 and 11732                       30 miles 201 degrees……there was bluefin tuna activity and a chance at yellowtail in this area below the 371 Bank

3213 and 11723                       26 miles 187 degrees…….there was bluefin tuna activity and a chance at yellowtail in this tuna pens area below the 425 Bank

3213 and 11720                       27 miles 182 degrees…….there was bluefin tuna activity and a chance at yellowtail in this tuna pens area below the 425 Bank

3212 and 11722                       27 miles 185 degrees…….there was bluefin tuna activity and a chance at yellowtail in this tuna pens area below the 425 Bank

3212 and 11721                       27 miles 183 degrees…….there was bluefin tuna activity and a chance at yellowtail in this tuna pens area below the 425 Bank

3211 and 11738                       35 miles 206 degrees……there was bluefin tuna activity and a chance at yellowtail in this area below the 371 Bank

3211 and 11731                       32 miles 197 degrees……there was bluefin tuna activity and a chance at yellowtail in this area below the 371 Bank

3211 and 11722                       28 miles 184 degrees…….there was bluefin tuna activity and a chance at yellowtail in this tuna pens area below the 425 Bank

3210 and 11725                       30 miles 188 degrees…….there was bluefin tuna activity and a chance at yellowtail in this tuna pens area below the 425 Bank

3209 and 11723                       30 miles 186 degrees…….there was bluefin tuna activity and a chance at yellowtail in this tuna pens area below the 425 Bank

Here also are coordinates from Sunday’s Fishing:

3243 and 11815                     53 miles 236 degrees ……… There was bluefin tuna and yellowtail activity in this area to the southeast of Pyramid Head at San Clemente Island

3243 and 11809                    47 miles 264 degrees……… There was bluefin tuna and yellowtail activity in this area to the west-northwest of the 43 Fathom Spot

3242 and 11813                     50 miles 262 degrees …… There was bluefin tuna and yellowtail activity in this area to the west 43 Fathom Spot

3242 and 11808                     36 miles 262 degrees …… There was bluefin tuna and yellowtail activity in this area to the west of the 43 Fathom Spot

3240 and 11833                     68 miles 260 degrees ……… There was bluefin tuna and yellowtail activity in this area to the east of the 381 Spot off the back side of San Clemente Island

3213 and 11733                      30 miles 203 degrees……there was bluefin and yellowtail activity in this area below the 371 Bank…..this was an active area late in the day

3240 and 11814                    51 miles 260 degrees……… There was bluefin tuna and yellowtail activity in this area to the west-northwest of the 43 Fathom Spot

3238 and 11809                     47 miles 257 degrees …….. There was bluefin tuna and yellowtail activity in this area to the west-southwest of the 43 Fathom Spot

3235 and 11724                    10 miles 236 degrees…….. Generic coordinates for the outside of the part of the 9 Mile Bank…… A Skipper who said he was fishing at the 9 Mile Bank reported having caught a few yellowtail kelp paddies in the area

3231 and 11802                    42 miles 249 degrees …….. There was some bluefin tuna and yellowtail activity in this area to the north of the San Clemente Basin Weather Buoy…… This also puts you to the south of the 43 Fathom Spot

3231 and 11755                     36 miles 246 degrees …… There was bluefin tuna and yellowtail activity in this area to the east San Clemente Basin Weather Buoy

3226 and 11732                    20 miles 222 degrees……….. A Skipper who said he was fishing inside of the 302 Spot reported having and lost 2 bluefin tuna from a kelp paddie in the area

3214 and 11734                      30 miles 205 degrees……there was bluefin and yellowtail activity in this area below the 371 Bank…..this was an active area late in the day

3213 and 11733                      30 miles 203 degrees……there was bluefin and yellowtail activity in this area below the 371 Bank…..this was an active area late in the day

3213 and 11732                      30 miles 202 degrees……there was bluefin and yellowtail activity in this area below the 371 Bank…..this was an active area late in the day

3210 and 11726                    30 miles 189 degrees…….  There was bluefin tuna and yellowtail activity in this area about half way between the 425 Bank and the outside high spot at the Upper Bank

3205 and 11722                     35 miles 182 degrees …… There was bluefin tuna and yellowtail activity in this area to the north of the inside high spot at the Upper Hidden Bank

3202 and 11720                     37 miles 179 degrees …….  There was bluefin tuna and yellowtail activity in this area to the northeast of the inside high spot at the Upper Hidden Bank

3158 and 11727                    42 miles 185 degrees……… There was bluefin tuna and yellowtail activity in this area to the south-southwest of the inside high spot of the Upper Hidden Bank

Here also are coordinates from Saturday’s Fishing:

3250 and 11841                      75 miles 267 degrees……there was some bluefin and yellowtail activity in this area outside of Seal Cove off the back side of San Clemente Island

3242 and 11845                      77 miles 261 degrees…..there was bluefin tuna and yellowtail activity in this area to the west of the 381 Spot off the back side of San Clemente Island

3241 and 11752                      33 miles 264 degrees…..there was bluefin tuna and yellowtail activity in this area to the northeast of the 43 Fathom Spot

3239 and 11806                      45 miles 259 degrees…..there was bluefin tuna and yellowtail activity in this area to the southwest of the 43 Fathom Spot

3239 and 11804                      43 miles 259 degrees…..there was bluefin tuna and yellowtail activity in this area to the southwest of the 43 Fathom Spot

3239 and 11801                      40 miles 259 degrees…..there was bluefin tuna and yellowtail activity in this area to the southwest of the 43 Fathom Spot

3239 and 11750                     31 miles 260 degrees…..there was bluefin tuna and yellowtail activity in this area to the east-northeast of the 43 Fathom Spot

3238 and 11833                     67 miles 258 degrees…….there was bluefin tuna and yellowtail activity in this area to the southeast of the 381 Spot off the back side of San Clemente Island

3238 and 11802                      41 miles 258 degrees…..there was bluefin tuna and yellowtail activity in this area to the south-southwest of the 43 Fathom Spot

3238 and 11801                      40 miles 258 degrees…..there was bluefin tuna and yellowtail activity in this area to the south-southwest of the 43 Fathom Spot

3238 and 11800                      39 miles 258 degrees…..there was bluefin tuna and yellowtail activity in this area to the south-southwest of the 43 Fathom Spot

3237 and 11750                      31 miles 256 degrees……there was bluefin tuna and yellowtail activity in this area to the southwest of the Corner                      

3236 and 11758                      38 miles 254 degrees……there was bluefin tuna and yellowtail activity in this area to the south of the 43 Fathom Spot

3234 and 11748                      30 miles 249 degrees…….there was a large school of bluefin spotted with scanning sonar late this afternoon in this area to the southeast of the Corner…..I got some additional word that there were some schools of bluefin found in this same sector earlier in the day while working between the 11745 and 11750 longitude lines.

3209 and 11724                       30 miles 187 degrees……..there are some tuna pens in this area below the 425 Bank and further on down…..the information I have is that a  few large bluefin were scratched out on sinker rigged sardines from stopping on sonar marks or meter marks found in the region of the tuna pens

3208 and 11750                       44 miles 214 degrees…….there was a bit of bluefin tuna and yellowtail activity in this area above the 390 Bank

3203 and 11747                       46 miles 208 degrees…..there was a bit of bluefin tuna and yellowtail activity in this area to the southeast of the 390 Bank

3201 and 11802                       56 miles 217 degrees…..there was a bit of bluefin tuna and yellowtail activity in this area inside of the 60 Mile Bank