Sunday, November 4, 2018 at 9:20 PM

There was some scattered marlin action found by boats fishing around the eastern part of Catalina today but the show and bite was off today when compared to the fishing on Saturday and Saturday’s fishing was off from the fishing on Thursday and Friday. I did not hear of a marlin being caught and released in the Catalina region today.  There was some fog around again today and on Skipper did report seeing 2 sleepers in the fog this morning.  The fog could certainly have a limiting effect on what can be seen but the general opinion was that the showing of fish and the bite was on the decline for the second day in a row.

There was some marlin activity reported by a boat fishing off the Slide and there was a sleeper seen at the Avalon Bank in the area of 3324 and 11814. Another set of coordinates where there had been some marlin activity on Saturday and where there was a bit more marlin activity today was off the Can Dump region in the area of 3320 and 11815.  In general, the recent marlin activity has ranged from between the 40 fathom curve and the 100 fathom curve in an area ranging from being outside of Church Rock to fishing off the Slide.

Some more marlin seem to be showing up in closer to the coast. On Saturday there was a marlin caught by a boat fishing off Fashion Island off Newport Beach and today there was a marlin released by a boat fishing off Dana Point.  What is also interesting is that the same Captain that saw a marlin on Saturday morning in 35 fathoms of water outside of the breakwater at Dana Point saw 2 more marlin in that same zone this morning.

There was some scattered marlin action found by boats fishing around the eastern part of Catalina today but the show and bite was off today when compared to the fishing on Saturday and Saturday’s fishing was off from the fishing on Thursday and Friday. I did not hear of a marlin being caught and released in the Catalina region today.  There was some fog around again today and on Skipper did report seeing 2 sleepers in the fog this morning.  The fog could certainly have a limiting effect on what can be seen but the general opinion was that the showing of fish and the bite was on the decline for the second day in a row.

There was some marlin activity reported by a boat fishing off the Slide and there was a sleeper seen at the Avalon Bank in the area of 3324 and 11814. Another set of coordinates where there had been some marlin activity on Saturday and where there was a bit more marlin activity today was off the Can Dump region in the area of 3320 and 11815.  In general, the recent marlin activity has ranged from between the 40 fathom curve and the 100 fathom curve in an area ranging from being outside of Church Rock to fishing off the Slide.

Some more marlin seem to be showing up in closer to the coast. On Saturday there was a marlin caught by a boat fishing off Fashion Island off Newport Beach and today there was a marlin released by a boat fishing off Dana Point.  What is also interesting is that the same Captain that saw a marlin on Saturday morning in 35 fathoms of water outside of the breakwater at Dana Point saw 2 more marlin in that same zone this morning.

Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at 5:40 PM

     I did not get any reports about marlin activity today.

Thursday, June 21, 2018 at 8:35 PM

    The Coronado Islands continue to produce very good mixed bag surface fishing for yellowtail, bonito, barracuda and calico bass.  It was very good near limit to limit yellowtail fishing again today.

The weather was reported to be nice today.  As always, be sure to check the latest marine weather forecast before you go boating or fishing.

The Mission Belle out of Point Loma Sportfishing had a full day trip with 35 anglers catch 154 yellowtail, 12 bonito and 15 barracuda.

The Liberty out of Fisherman’s Landing fished a full day trip with 47 anglers that caught 209 yellowtail, 23 bonito and 26 barracuda.

Seaforth Sportfishing had a full day trip aboard the San Diego fishing with 42 anglers that caught 210 yellowtail (limits), 45 barracuda, 2 halibut and 5 bonito.

There were several productive areas today with the Middle Grounds, the lighthouse at the south tip of South Island, the lee side of South Island and the South Kelp Ridge all producing action.  One of the better areas for larger sized yellowtail was reported to be off the lighthouse at the south tip of South Island.

The South Kelp Ridge was one of the best bite areas today.  Take a look in the area of 3221 and 11713.  A bit closer to the Island, take a look in the area of latitude and longitude coordinates 3222 and 11714.  Also look nearby in the area of 3222 and 11713.

In the lee of the lower part of South Island, take a look in the area of 3223 and 11714.  Inside of the north end of South Island to where you are also inside of the Middle Grounds, take a look in the area of 3225 and 11714.

Yellowtail action has been found from stopping on meter marks, sonar marks, spots of breaking fish, slow trolled live baits and from trolling strikes on trolled Rapalas.  Some of the good fishing has also come while sitting on the anchor in areas where meter marks or sonar marks are located.  A good Rapala for the yellowtail has been the blue mackerel color X-Rap Rapala in size 20 or size 30.

Once located, surface iron, yo-yo iron and sardines have been effective for yellowtail.  Sardines have been working the best.  The yellowtail have been running from 6 to 25 pounds with most in the 10 to 18 pound range.  If you want to try surface iron good choices would be Tady 45’s, Salas 7X lights or JRI surface iron in blue and white, mint and sardine colors.

There have been reports of halibut biting around the Coronados. Try drifting sandy bottom areas along the lee side of South Island.  The Middle Grounds has been one of the best areas for calico bass.

Wednesday, November 16, 2016 at 6:35 PM

     I believe most boats stayed in port today because of the bad weather conditions and I have nothing new to report except for the fish count on the Tribute out of Seaforth Sportfishing that returned home this morning from a 1.5 day trip that fished on Tuesday with 22 anglers having caught 8 bluefin tuna.

     There is still a Small Craft Advisory in effect that is forecasted to be in effect “through late tonight.”  As always, be sure to check the latest marine weather forecast before you go boating or fishing.

Friday, March 25, 2016 at 10:55 AM

     Here is a morning update on the yellowtail fishing below the Coronado Islands. Thursday’s fish counts were overall  scratchy and hit or miss on the yellowtail fishing with the Malihini posting a count that included 2 yellowtail, the Mission Belle posting a count that included 4 yellowtail and the San Diego posting a count that included 19 yellowtail.  Boats are on the yellows again this morning and I heard of a couple of stops that each produced 3 or 4 yellowtail so far this morning among the sportboats fishing the yellows below the Islands.

    The weather is described as being a bit lumpy with a good sized swell running but without much wind so far.  There is patchy fog out on the fishing grounds this morning and when the fog moves in Skippers are having a hard time looking for working birds to help locate the yellowtail.  The the inner waters forecast from San Diego to the Mexican border for Saturday is calling for a weather change with 10 to 15 knot SE winds gusting to 20 knots that turns to a west wind in the afternoon.  As always, be sure to check the latest marine weather forecast before you go boating or fishing.

      The yellows have been found on the clean water side of a water color break where the water goes from an off color greenish brown color to a cleaner green color.  The best area is at the upper part of the Finger Bank and latitude and longitude coordinates 3209 and 11706 on down and in to 3208 and 11705 is a central zone where most of the yellowtail activity is being reported this morning.

     The yellowtail have been located by finding spots of fish under working birds and have also been found by locating meter marks and sonar marks.  Surface iron and yo-yo iron have both been working for the yellowtail.  Use surface iron if you find fish up on top and can get the jig to them before they sound.  Try yo-yo iron when the fish are holding deep.  Other options that have also been producing some yellowtail have been using flylined sardines and sardines that are fished on a dropper loop rig.

     The yellowtail have been good sized fish with most running in the 15 to 25 pound range and with a few larger sized yellows to 35 pounds also in the mix.  Good choices for yo-yo iron have been Salas 7X heavy, Salas 6X and Tady 4/0 jigs in scrambled egg, blue & white and orange & red color combinations.  For surface iron, try Salas 7X lights and Tady 45’s in blue & white and  sardine colors.  Something with red and orange might also be worth a try with all the red crabs around and with that color combination working for yo-yo iron fishing.

Wednesday, June 24, 2015 at 8:15 PM

    The good yellowtail bite continues around the Coronado Islands.  Some fish counts from today’s fishing start with the San Diego out of Seaforth Sportfishing that had a 3/4 day trip with 40 anglers catch 133 yellowtail.  The Mission Belle out of Point Loma Sportfishing had a 3/4 day trip with 29 anglers catch 14 bonito, 65 yellowtail, 1 lingcod and 2 rockfish.

     The best zone for the yellowtail fishing remains around the Rockpile.  Yellowtail reports have also been coming in from other areas with yellows also being reported at the Flats area below the Bull Ring and at spots around the Islands proper such as the lee side of South Island, the Middle Grounds and the weather side of North Island. 

     Yellowtail schools have been located by finding meter marks, sonar marks, spots of fish under working tern birds, trolling strikes on Rapalas and trolling strikes on slow trolled sardines.  Once yellows are located, the slow trolled sardines, flylined sardines, sardines fished on a dropper loop rig, surface iron and yo-yo iron have been producing action.  The yellowtail have been mostly nice sized fish that have been in the 15 to 20+ pound range.

      Good choices for surface iron are Tady 45’s and Salas 7X Lights in blue and white, sardine and mint colors.  For yo-yo iron good choices would be Salas 6/x Jr.s, Sumo Jr.s and Salas 6X jigs in blue and white, scrambled egg and blue and chrome colors.