Rare albacore in the mix

Inshore: This past week was a bit slow due to moon phase and wind, dropping the angler count for the fleet by a third. Even so, the local counts reflect good bottom fishing for rockfish, whitefish and lingcod inshore and at the Coronado Islands. A few of the ¾ day boats are still scratching up yellowfin tuna and yellowtail outside in U.S. waters and along the lower 9 Mile Bank. The calicos are still biting well, especially when the kelp is up and not down in the current. Yellowtail are still eating mackerel and an occasional yoyo iron inshore in about 80 to 100 feet of water for the private boaters and kayakers of La Jolla. The hoop-netters are doing okay on lobster when conditions allow for those evening trips and are getting about 1 legal to 7 shorts.

Outside: With the tuna still around, the overnight boats are still out looking and have been scratching a few per stop with an occasional "wide open" bite for those lucky enough to get on a feeding school in the tough conditions we had last week. The fish are bigger as you go with some over 100 pounds. Those fishing further south, from Cedros Island past Cabo San Lucas and up to the East Cape in the Sea of Cortez are reporting large yellowfin tuna in the 60– to 200-plus-pound class. Wahoo are still biting well off of Asuncion and Bahia Magdalena. An albacore tuna, once a long-time regular in the San Diego counts, was caught aboard the Producer on an overnight run, I believe that’s the third one reported by the fleet in as many years. In the last decade, those seeking good fishing for the white-meat tuna have had to go to the Oregon-Washington border area offshore to get them.

10/16 – 10/22 Dock Totals: 1921 anglers aboard 109 boats out of San Diego landings this past week caught 1 albacore, 41 bluefin tuna, 611 yellowfin tuna, 490 yellowtail, 35 calico bass, 20 sand bass, 3,888 rockfish, 11 lingcod, 60 bonito, 45 sheephead, 47 whitefish, 1 rubberlip seaperch, 165 mackerel, 27 bocaccio and 27 California spiny lobster.

Fish Plants: No plants this week, last plant: 10/25 Cuyamaca, trout (1,200)