Flash Report post Posted February 28, 2012 I have always wondered about fishing in San Diego and think I am going to make a trip in April. I would really like to fish for tuna, but probably will only be able to do a half day or 3/4 day trip. Any suggestions on who to go with or what to expect? It would be great to actually catch something! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DesertBull Report post Posted February 28, 2012 I don't think the tuna will be in 3/4 range in April, but you never know. Maybe some yellowtail or Dorado. Check out bloodydecks.com in the california offshore section. Someone will help you. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stanley Report post Posted February 28, 2012 I don't think the tuna will be in 3/4 range in April, but you never know. Maybe some yellowtail or Dorado. Check out bloodydecks.com in the california offshore section. Someone will help you. +1 on bloodydecks...... Check last year's reports if possible to see what is realistic in April. Good luck and take some Dramamine!!! S. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjmhunter Report post Posted February 28, 2012 Like already posted you won't get into tuna that early even on longer trips. In April you need to be on a long range trip (typically 5 days or more) to get into tuna. 3/4 day trips mainly focus around the Cornodo Islands and the Rock Pile just south of the islands. Tyipcal catches would be YellowTail, Bonito and Barracuda for the peligics and a variety of structure fish. Last year the BlueFin made it close to the islands and a few 3/4 days boats took advantage of it but it didn't last very long. The last few seasons it's been real tuff for the overnight and shorter boats to get on the tuna. The Albacore haven't really made a showing in the last few seasons either. When they do it's usually wide open fishing, they dang near will chew the paint off the boat. If you want to focus on tuna or other peligic fish I would wait till mid to late July and jump on nothing less than a day and half boat. I have two trips chartered this summer, the first is a 3 day in mid-july and the second is 2 day in mid-August. If you are interested shoot me a PM and I can give you the details. Also as stated Bloodydecks.com is a great resource. Manny Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
biglakejake Report post Posted February 28, 2012 'dego is usually dead in april. reds at the 43 and an anuerism from boredom reeling up dead rockfish. april can be smokin' at dana pt and newport. white sea bass, yellows, sometimes the 'cuda or the big, 10lb bonito will get white hot in april. waters off orange county warm up weeks before san diego does. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
biglakejake Report post Posted February 28, 2012 as far as getting a start on tuna and albacore.... buy a ticket on a 1.5, 2, or 3 day trip from aug 15 to sept 25 if you are looking for success on your first try. don't book a trip that fishes on or after(10days) the full moon. lee Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SunDevil Report post Posted February 29, 2012 so according to Garmin, excellent days are Aug 17 and Sept 16. with good days being Aug 16, 18 and 19 and Sept 14, 15 and 17. interesting that they also have Aug 31 (full moon) as an excellent day with good days as Aug 30, Sept 1 and 2. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
biglakejake Report post Posted March 7, 2012 this youtube video is probably inappropriate for a family website: juvenile obscenities, childish behavior by adults and a gaffhook to the eyeball. overall an excellent and fun tuna vid. maybe too much beer though... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trophyhnter Report post Posted March 9, 2012 I would suggest you go with a 3/4 day so that you have a chance a catching numbers and quality fish. The best information will come from the landing(s). They will tell you what kind of fishing is hot. On the 3/4 day you will likely fly line (no to very light sinker) a sardine for yellowtails or a dropper loop for bottom fish (they say rock cod). Take your own fishing saltwater tackle otherwise you will need to rent a rod and reel combo (not the best and you never know how old the line is). Motion sickness may be a problem (it was for me) so i take some pills 8 hours before and right before i get on the boat......good all day! Nothing worse that feeling like puking all day long or puking while you are trying to have fun. For fly line fishing find the best looking sardine (has all his scales, no red noise) handle it very lightly, pin it on through the nose and sent it out. If you dont catch anything in 1 to 2 minutes reel in and do it again. For the dropper loop cut squid work really good and anchovies. Regardless of what they tell you, use a small hook for the anchovies. Also buy 6, 8, and 10 oz sinkers before you leave cause they get pricely that the landings and you will lose some sinkers if you fishing right. CA waters only 2 hooks max but Mexican waters 4 hooks per line max. Anyway, let out line until you hit bottom and keep just a little slack in the line when the boat is anchored but no to very little slack when your drift fishing. Best advice is to see what all the other people are doing that are catching fish. Below are the sites for the open party fishing boats in San Diego: http://www.hmlanding.com/ http://www.pointlomasportfishing.com/ http://www.seaforthlanding.com/ Look at fish counts and they will give you an idea of what fishing is hot! There is a $30 mexican visa that you need as of Jan 1 2012. Call the landings about the requirements. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DesertBull Report post Posted March 9, 2012 You now must posses a Visa to fish in Mexican waters. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PRDATR Report post Posted March 10, 2012 Watch the reports. http://www.sportfishingreport.com/pages/docktotals.php?action=region&id=7 Once on the boat the Captain will give you the latest lowdown on what has been working. Best Tuna is late summer as has been already discussed. I have not seen a decent Albacore run in five years, or more. Last trip my son and I did was a 3/4 day on the San Diego for cuda and YT. We did good on cuda but YT were few and far between, but a few were caught. Expect to have Sea Lions show up and take your fish before you can reel them in. Once that happens the Captain will pick up and move. If you want a tuna trip then spend the extra money and go on a "limited load" trip and do a 1 1/2 day trip. Not cheap but you will have a better experience. For tuna i like to have a second pole rigged and ready to go when the action is hot so I can get another line into the water right away. I have mostly fished out of Seaforth and sometimes rent a spare rod/reel for about $15-20 a day. They have been reliable and filled with new line. It is a six hour drive from Mesa. It dosen't hurt to call the marina and talk to the tackle shop as the trip gets closer to see how the bite is doing. I'll usually call late morning or mid afternoon while it's slow in the shop and they can spend some unhurried time to talk. Let them know you're a newbie and from AZ and will be making a long drive. Day trips 1/2 & 3/4 leave around 6am. Full day and 1 1/2 day trips leave at 6pm and drive most of the night to get to the tuna grounds so you will settle in and have a bunk. Go see your family doc or just cal his office and get a prescription for Scopace. Dramamine does not work for me and once you are sick you will stay that way and will not be fishing AT ALL fo rthe rest of the day. Scopace can be had as "the patch" which is a round bandaid about the size of a nickle and you put it at the between your ear and the hairline. Works excellent but is expensive and you cannot regulate the dosage. For about the same price you can get a prescription for pills and they are absorbed faster and you'l have enough for a few people and multiple trips. If the fish (albacore) are finicky start off with 20# and as the bite gets hot you can move up to 30 or 40 pound (mono or flouro). TUNA360.COM is another resource http://www.360tuna.com/ Choose your trip carefully, expect the worst and pray for the best. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
abovethecoues Report post Posted March 18, 2012 +1 using Point Loma Sport Fishing. Check the online fish count for all the boats to decide what you want to do. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
biglakejake Report post Posted April 16, 2012 some yellows to 30lbs got on the bite off 'dego this AM Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
