Provided by Dana Wharf Sportfishing
Fishing remained productive across the fleet this week, with action close to home, offshore, and at San Clemente Island.
Half-day anglers continued to see steady action, with flylined sardines producing most consistently. Artificial setups also drew bites, including Alabama rigs, hard jerkbaits, and soft plastics. With water temperatures reaching an unusually warm 79 degrees at times, bass were a little more reluctant to feed near the surface on some days. Anglers who added sinkers and worked their baits closer to the bottom found better success.
Closer to home, the yellowtail fishing has backed off slightly from the wide-open action seen the previous week, but anglers are still landing quality fish in the 10- to 25-pound range aboard half-day and three-quarter-day trips. Smaller 3- to 5-pound “firecracker” yellowtail also are mixed into the catch.
Large bonito that had been active farther down the coast have now moved into local waters. The fish are running approximately 5 to 10 pounds and have been responding to live sardines and Sniper-style jigs. Boats are finding them on troll stops and sonar schools, as well as while anchored over hard-bottom areas.
Three-quarter-day offshore trips are finding a mix of skipjack and yellowfin tuna. Skipjack are averaging 5 to 10 pounds and have been biting on troll stops and flashy Sniper-style jigs. Larger yellowfin have primarily been associated with porpoise schools, with fish ranging from approximately 8 to 40 pounds and some quality-grade tuna in the mix.
Smaller yellowfin around 5 pounds also have been showing up on the troll alongside the skipjack. Anglers are additionally encountering small bullet tuna during some yellowfin and skipjack jig stops.
Dorado remain in the offshore mix, although productive kelp paddies have been more difficult to locate in the area over the past several days. The dorado being caught this week have generally ranged from 8 to 15 pounds, and crews continue to search for productive paddies.
At San Clemente Island, the Fury continues to find quality calico bass fishing along with plenty of bonito and a few barracuda. Bottom fishing also remains productive, with sheephead and whitefish making up much of the catch.
