Tough conditions keep tackle in the box

Inshore: The big storm kept the boats off the water most of the week, with only the 3rd and the 9th represented in the dock totals below. That said, signs are looking good for above-average fishing to continue as the water cleans up and the swell drops. Fishing was pretty slow Saturday for the few boats that went out, as the water was still chewed up, but look for the bite to improve by Thursday. They did get a yellowtail on the Seaforth ½-day run. Just before the rain hit, pelagic crabs were thick in the La Jolla area to 150 feet deep, with schools of yellowtail hanging close and eating the yoyo iron in just about any color.

Outside: Nothing going on north of Cedros Island halfway down the Baja peninsula due to the weather. The storm shut down fishing completely to just past El Rosario for the Pangueros on Baja’s Pacific coast for most of the week. The winter north winds have been making La Paz and the Sea of Cortez a hit and miss venture lately; the old rule of thumb of planning a long enough trip to get a fishable day or two applies. The average number of good days is about two out of seven. When they do get out, yellowtail, cabrilla and sierra are the favorite inshore targets from the East Cape to Gonzaga Bay. The long-range boats are fishing the offshore banks to south of Cabo and are still getting good results on large yellowfin tuna and wahoo.

1/3 – 1/9 Dock Totals: 312 anglers aboard 18 boats out of San Diego landings this past week caught 241 yellowtail, 38 calico bass, 72 sand bass, 382 rockfish, 1 sheephead, 20 bonito, 66 whitefish, 47 lingcod, 193 sculpin, 24 blacksmith, 4 halfmoon, 18 rubberlip seaperch, 1 halibut, 1 barracuda, 4 spiny lobster and 1 white seabass (released).

Freshwater: The trout season Re-Opener is scheduled for January 16th & 17th at Santee Lakes. For the event, 2,000 pounds of trout will be planted on the 15th, including large trophy trout and more tagged Trout worth cash and prizes. The top 5 largest trout weighed in at the park office over the 2-day event will also win prizes. Trout 5 lbs. and larger wins entry into the April 1st drawing for a 2-night Cabin Vacation at the park.

Scheduled trout plants (lbs): 1/15 Santee Lakes (2000), 1/18 Jennings (1000), 1/19 Cuyamaca (1100)