Trade your mackerel for a yellow

Looks like they are finding the yellows offshore with the tuna on the overnight runs. A few have been caught daily on the local 1/2-day boats. Here's a tip: I talked to a kayak angler at La Jolla last week who said he caught a few yellows on the large mackerel, like 16" or more. Usually, we like those 7-10" variety and toss the big ones when making bait. Maybe when the boats are in the mackerel, fly-line one back out there and see if a yellowtail wants to play. A 20-lb. yellow will have no problem gulping down a 2-lb mackerel. Check with the crew for the right gear and hook size if you're not sure and give it a shot.

Here are the counts from yesterday:

18 anglers aboard the Chubasco II 1/2 day am run limited on 180 rockfish. 1 bonito was also caught.

The Dolphin morning 1/2 day run with 18 anglers at the rail reported 3 sand bass, 75 rockfish and 3 lingcod caught. 9 anglers aboard their pm 1/2 day run boated 1 yellowtail, 64 rockfish, 37 calico bass, and 2 sand bass. 25 of the calicos were released.

29 anglers aboard the Legend overnight run put 27 yellowtail, 1 bonito and 4 bluefin tuna in the hold.

The Malihini 3/4 day run with 16 anglers aboard returned to the dock with 14 yellowtail and 1 yellowfin tuna in the gunnysacks.

33 anglers aboard the Premier 1/2 day morning run boated 1 sand bass, 110 rockfish and 1 sculpin.

The Oceanside 95 overnight trip with 32 anglers aboard reported 7 bluefin tuna and 10 yellowfin tuna caught.

30 anglers aboard the Sea Trek 1/2 day am run out of Oceanside put 8 sculpin, 4 sand bass, 50 rockfish and 3 calico bass in the sacks.

The Daily Double 1/2 day am run with 47 anglers at the rail reported 1 barracuda, 1 sheephead, 37 sand bass, 1 sculpin and 75 mackerel caught. Their afternoon 1/2 day run with 25 anglers aboard called in 12 rockfish, 1 halibut, 5 calico bass, 1 lingcod, 1 barracuda, 2 yellowtail and 3 sand bass.50 calico bass were also caught and released.

30 anglers aboard the New Seaforth 1/2 day am run boated 1 yellowtail and 226 rockfish, while their pm 1/2 day run with 36 anglers reported 150 rockfish, 1 bonito and, why I be! Another 1/2 day bluefin tuna! They ran again for a twilight trip with 12 anglers aboard and reported 38 rockfish caught.

32 anglers aboard the San Diego 3/4 day run teamed up for a total of 28 yellowtail.

22 anglers at the rail aboard the Outer Limits overnight run boated 57 yellowtail, 2 yellowfin tuna and 3 bluefin tuna