It's lunker season

Inshore: Sculpin, yellowtail and calico bass continue to lead the inshore counts for the sportboats. Kayakers are reporting a decent bite on white seabass, mostly off the northern edge of the La Jolla kelp beds outside of Boomers in 100 feet of water or so. There are lots of pelagic crab and krill in the water from just behind the surf line on out to the offshore banks firing up the inshore bite. Many of the fish caught, whether bass, sculpin, yellowtail or shallow rockfish, are fat (or in angler terminology, "plugged") with these small crustaceans. In past years under similar conditions, a well-presented sardine or bait-sized greenback mackerel can fire up the larger gamefish that have had their fill of krill and crab. The old fly-fishing motto, ‘match the hatch’ applies in the ocean as well, so don’t overlook any red-tinted lures in the arsenal.

Outside: The Coronado Islands have been on fire for the ¾-day trips heading south, with boats returning with a very nice grade of yellowtail to over 30 pounds. Most of these fish have been caught deeper in the water column on yoyo iron, though a few are caught with live bait on a dropper loop. Mid-range Baja coast trips are concentrating on the fantastic yellowtail action from the border south. The long-range trips to south of Cabo San Lucas to the Puerto Vallarta area are putting up good numbers on large yellowfin tuna to over 200 pounds and wahoo to 70 pounds.

2/14 - 2/20 Dock Totals: 1295 anglers aboard 56 boats out of San Diego landings this past week caught 766 yellowtail, 151 calico bass, 222 sand bass, 1,584 rockfish, 4 lingcod, 959 sculpin, 15 rubberlip seaperch, 26 bonito, 110 sanddab, 10 barracuda, 32 halfmoon, 14 blacksmith, 15 spiny lobster, 1 rock crab and 134 mackerel.

Freshwater: Largemouth bass fishing is improving in the San Diego County lakes quite a bit for both size and numbers caught. This is lunker season and the last couple weeks of warm weather, coupled with a healthy number of trout planted, has fired up the big bucket-mouths. Lake Murray has reported several bass over 5 pounds, with one caught weighing 13 pounds, 10 ounces. Lake Jennings turned out the first wiper, a white bass, striped bass hybrid in 2 years and largemouth bass to 9 pounds. The crappie fishing is also turning on with the warmer weather, with many fish reported in the 1-2 pound range from most of the lower elevation lakes.

Scheduled trout plants (lbs): 2/26 Santee Lakes (800), 2/29 Jennings (1000), 3/2 Poway (3000)