Low takes for low lakes

Weekly Fish Report

½ Day - ¾ Day: The numbers are back up at the landings in spite of the new requirement for passports within 12 miles of the Mexican coast south of the border. Schools are out and vacationers are visiting so the summer season is officially in gear. There are still bluefin tuna within ½ day range, yellowtail are heating up and the bass bite has been steady. A few more halibut are showing up in the flats off the kelp edges.

1 Day to 2.5 Day: Most of the overnight boats are still chasing the schools of tuna and finding yellows on kelp paddies offshore. Barracuda and bonito are out there with them so sometimes the counts look more like ½ day counts with some tuna mixed in. The offshore banks are producing excellent rockfish and lingcod for those fishing deeper.

May 31-June 6 San Diego Dock Totals: 3,389 anglers aboard 134 boats caught 1 dorado, 1 white seabass, 204 sand bass, 63 sculpin, 41 sheephead, 442 calico bass, 9 whitefish, 7,580 rockfish, 57 lingcod, 104 bonito, 36 barracuda, 528 mackerel, 11 halibut, 5 cabezon, 1,689 yellowtail, 168 yellowfin tuna, 161 bluefin tuna and 7 rubberlip seaperch.

Freshwater: Very low levels in most county lakes is creating warmer than normal conditions and heating up the fishing as well. Catfish, red-ear sunfish and especially largemouth bass are on the chew and all normal baits are working well. Try jerk baits in the morning hours and plastics in the evenings for the bass. With the concentrated fishing and low levels, low takes and catch and release are usually encouraged to maintain the fisheries.

Whale Report: The whale watch operators are reporting lots of big blue whales feeding in the area and a few grays still heading north with calves. There are large pods of common dolphin up to and well over 100 animals along with a few bottlenose dolphin that have been spotted playing just outside the surf. Also watch for ocean sunfish, or mola mola, and schools of breaking bluefin tuna that have been popping up within ten miles of the coast.

Trout Plants: 06/24/15 Cuyamaca (1200)

Catfish Plants: 06/26/15 Santee Lakes (1000)