Derek Gandy and his catch: a 68-pound white seabass

The big bluefin tuna to over 100 pounds within ¾ day range have a lot of boats out looking for them with mixed results, though the schools of yellowtail are still being found under kelp paddies and birds with quite a few limits caught. This would explain the lower counts on rockfish, bass, and sculpin in spite of the highest angler count so far this year. Still, the inshore fishing has been fantastic for those staying close. A few nice home-guard yellowtail are showing up for the private boaters and kayakers off the kelp edge to 100 feet of water. The white seabass continue to bite up at Catalina Island and it is starting to look good for "biscuits" around our local waters.

On April 4, kayak angler Derek Gandy posted a shot of a big white seabass at La Jolla, his first. The fish weighed in at 68 pounds and was so big Gandy had to paddle his kayak in as the fish in his lap interfered with his pedal drive. The fish was caught on a greenback mackerel.

Night-fishing the bay question: It is getting toward that time of year when anglers like to post up on the rocks along San Diego and Mission bays for some night fishing. It can be a lot of fun, fighting and releasing big bay rays and shovelnose sand sharks that feed in the tidal zone for ghost shrimp.

One thing I have never caught at night in either bay is corbina. Until recently and in a different bay. In San Quintin Bay, at its shallow north end near the Old Mill, I caught 13 corbina to 4 pounds in a couple hours on the high tide after sunset. I started wondering if the corbina come into our local bays, too, at night. Are there any anglers out there that target corbina in the bays, especially at night?

Dock Totals April 2 – April 8: 2,338 anglers aboard 90 boats out of San Diego landings this past week caught 168 bluefin tuna, 2,804 yellowtail, 15 calico bass, 40 sand bass, 2,329 rockfish, 232 sanddab, 11 lingcod, 1 halibut, 11 bonito, 139 sculpin, 4 sheephead, 47 bocaccio, 1 rubberlip seaperch, 1 white croaker, 25 mackerel and 1 whitefish.

Top performing boats of the week

April 7: The Sea Adventure II took 5 anglers out on an overnight trip and reported 5 bluefin tuna and 12 yellowtail caught. The Liberty reported limits of 105 yellowtail along with 11 bluefin tuna for the 21 anglers aboard their ¾ day trip. 20 anglers aboard the Pacific Voyager 1.5 day trip caught limits of yellowtail (100) and bluefin tuna (40).

April 6: The Chubasco II called in from their ½-day run with 12 calico bass, 1 lingcod, 43 rockfish and 28 vermilion rockfish for their 16 anglers. The Electra ½-day run out of Oceanside with 29 anglers aboa: 21 anglers on a 1.5 day trip aboard the Old Glory caught limits (105) of yellowtail and 1 bluefin tuna. The Malihini took a load of 51 anglers out for a ¾ day run, and in spite of the crowded rails, reported limits (255) of yellowtail along with 1 bluefin tuna.

Fish Plants: 4/17, Lake Jennings, trout (1,500)