Warm water, flying fish and marlin

Inshore: Whitefish are active on the bottom in 80-100 feet of water along with a solid sand bass bite. 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: The yellowfin tuna numbers have jumped way up this week with many boats getting limits. The bluefin have thinned out quite a bit and are being found further west. Yellowtail counts dropped down to half of the dorado caught. Striped marlin are coming close to San Diego waters as it warms up, there have been flying fish just offshore and that is a good indication that marlin may be near.

August 16-22 Dock Totals: 7,666 anglers aboard 316 boats out of San Diego landings caught 17,348 yellowfin tuna, 107 bluefin tuna, 1,198 yellowtail, 2,271 dorado, 479 skipjack tuna, 4 big eye tuna, 1 white seabass, 754 calico bass, 877 sand bass, 8 lingcod, 321 barracuda, 964 rockfish, 30 sheephead, 4 halibut, 201 bonito, 17 sculpin, 3 whitefish, 5 rubberlip seaperch, 1 opah, 3 striped marlin and 2 leopard sharks.

Freshwater: 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. Bluegill and redear sunfish are active in the shallows. Catfish are biting best early and late into the evening , especially in the lakes hosting night fishing.

San Quintin: The Governor’s Cup tournament had a good turnout with some 80 boats entered this year. There were two main categories; top-water, such as pelagic species including yellowtail, tuna, dorado and white seabass, and bottom which includes endemic species such as lingcod, halibut, whitefish and giant seabass. Among the large fish in the top-water bracket were several white seabass in the 60-pound range.

Catfish plants (lbs): 08/28/15 Santee Lakes (1000)