Starting another new month, getting that much closer to spring season now, though this past week we felt the same wintry cold wave that had been sweeping through all of California, chilly 54 degree mornings with highs in the lower 70s. Scattered cloud cover, light ocean swells and water temperatures averaging about 70 degrees. It seems that the worst of the northern winds are past, though conditions still can be unpredictable on the fishing grounds further offshore.
Bait supplies have been sporadic from day to day, at times limited numbers of sardinas were found, as well as some jacks, caballito, other days there were some mackerel and as usual there were ballyhoo and slabs of squid available. The majority of the fishing action is now being done off the grounds from Punta Gorda, to Iman and San Luis Banks.
The striped marlin action slowed way down from how it was the previous week, just a few marlin being found spread out through the region, no large concentrations. The number of dorado were not as high either, this can be the case during winter season, though we are seeing dorado everyday and there were even a few bulls over 20 lb. accounted for. Some charters even found limits of these fish, while others worked hard to find one or two. These fish were striking both on lures and various baits.
Bottom action has been slow to get going this season, main catch now being bonito on the San Luis Bank. Highlights were one yellowtail of about 25 lb. and a handful of broomtail grouper up to 30 lb. Also a mix of small snapper and triggerfish. Along the shoreline there were a few sierra and smaller sized roosterfish being found. As weather and water warm some we expect this action to improve.
Later in the week as winds laid down some anglers found chances at hooking into yellowfin tuna on the Iman Bank. On Friday several nice tuna were landed, the largest being a 90 lb. fish, others in the 40 to 60 lb. class. All of these yellowfin were taken while drift fishing with strips of squid, time of day did not seem to matter, some anglers had luck early and others later in the day.
Sighting whales seem to be one of the more consistent activities these days, these mammals should be around for another month or so before they srart heading back to their northern summer feeding grounds.
Good Fishing, Eric