Be on the lookout for dolphin megapods

Weekly Fish Report

½ Day - ¾ Day: Rockfish and sculpin are the mainstay on the ½ day boats, with the occasional handful of calico bass, sheephead. The ¾ day runs are concentrating on the good yellowtail bite at the Coronado Islands, while halibut are starting to show in the counts off the sandy areas, both near the Islands and just off the coast.

1 Day to 2.5 Day: There is still a good showing of yellowtail off San Clemente Island. They have been biting yoyo style lures, like Salas 6x jrs and Tady 9 in scrambled egg or blue and white. A few of the 1.5 day trips are electing to fish that area rather than go south. Down the coast, the lingcod and rockfish are the main catch as the yellowtail bite has been slowed by cooler water inshore south of Ensenada.

Freshwater: Low lake levels have concentrated the fish and, along with the trout stocks, seem to have fired up the big bass and catfish. All the lower elevation lakes have been steady on redear sunfish and largemouth bass. There are trophy trout still coming out of Cuyamaca as this year’s stocks seem to have been a larger average.

Baja: Isla Espirito Santos is experiencing a good yellowtail bite, especially where sardines are found. There is a bit of sardine this year. Last year, no sardines were found and the yellowtail were few. The same area is also holding amberjack, pargo and fat cabrilla. Some of the beaches and coves have been good spots to look for roosters with most about 40 pounds or so. A few early-season wahoo and larger yellowfin tuna have been caught south of Isla Cerralvo.

Whale Report: The big grays are moving back north toward the bearing sea with their calves and are still being sighted from Bahia Magdelena to the northern California coast. It is also that time of year when the “megapods” of common dolphin of up to a thousand animals come breezing through. In the gray of the morning they can sound like a waterfall coming toward you and in the fog, it can be both beautiful and a little unnerving when they burst into sight.

Trout Plants: 04/22/15 Dixon (4500), Wohlford (1500)

Catfish Plants: 04/24/15 Santee Lakes (1000)