A rare albacore

This week's fish report

Inshore: The barracuda and bonito bite is going strong just off the kelp beds in La Jolla and Point Loma. Whitefish are active on the bottom in 80-100 feet of water along with a solid sand bass bite. For those fishing the checkerboards, the calico bass are in the kelp and eating the plastics well in anywhere from 20 to 80 feet of water. The inshore yellowtail fishing has slowed a bit, though some larger models are around along with a few white seabass.

Outside: An albacore tuna was caught on August 10 aboard the Tribute overnight trip. This is a rare catch in recent years as the albacore have seemed to bypass California altogether. They are catching them as far north as Alaska and one has to travel to southern Oregon before you find any boats targeting them. The bluefin tuna bite is still going strong and the dorado numbers have fallen way off to a more normal count than the big numbers of the past few weeks. Yellowfin are everywhere from a couple miles offshore to the outer banks.

August 9-15 Dock Totals: 8,034 anglers aboard 306 boats out of San Diego landings caught 5,396 yellowfin tuna, 4,383 bluefin tuna, 791 yellowtail, 683 dorado, 154 skipjack tuna, 3 bigeye tuna, 1 albacore tuna, 1 white seabass, 577 calico bass, 1,044 sand bass, 5 lingcod, 568 barracuda, 293 rockfish, 7 sheephead, 6 halibut, 303 bonito, 16 sculpin, 13 whitefish 71 mackerel and 2 cabezon.

Freshwater: The catfish are going off with mackerel, nightcrawlers and chicken livers being the favorite baits. Target the deep water channels and coves, especially at the lakes hosting night fishing for the best results. The water levels continue to slowly drop, revealing more structure that bass are hanging on in 15 to 20 feet of water. The drop shot continues to be the best method to catch bass with plastic worms in the darker reds and purples being the hottest producers.

Baja: Expect to see a lot of the same fishing as our own offshore waters along the northern Pacific coast of Baja. The San Quintin area has been producing some white seabass to 60 lbs along with a good yellowtail bite and tuna further offshore. From Cedros Island south, add wahoo and striped marlin to the mix. Around Cabo, up through the East Cape and to La Paz, roosterfish and dorado are the main targets with striped marlin making a good show.

Catfish plants (lbs): 8/21 Santee Lakes (1000), 8/24 Jennings (1000)