THE FISHING REPORT: Tuna Time

Albacore Tuna fanatics are really chomping at the bit right now. It is that time of year when warm, blue, 58.5 degree water comes in close enough for sport boats to target these great eating fish. Typically anything inside of 50 miles is considered close but when the water gets into seven miles off of Carmel like it did last weekend, then there is some serious access for most boaters. Scores of five to 15 tuna per rod were reported with fish to 35 pounds. Wow! These fish really put up a great fight and, as already mentioned, are tremendous table fair.
Boats up in the Ft. Bragg area have had to venture further out as far as 40 miles but also got into good scores of long fins  over the weekend. Shelter boats did the same. As the weather warms this week, the wind will pick up and the window of opportunity will close, but those in the know will be looking at the temp breaks and weather forecasts for the next shot. Anglers without access to boat and looking to go albacore fishing should check the computer for six pack boats in the Monterey area or Ft. Bragg. It’s pretty tough to get a spot because of the high demand for seats on those trips and you have to be able to go at the drop of a hat.
Salmon fishing along the coast has slowed from top to bottom with the exception of Eureka, which has maintained limit fishing. For the past six weeks it seems, limits have been the rule just outside the jetty. This is going to bode extremely well for the Klamath River fishery, as many of those fish will be headed north soon. Bodega Bay fishing has slowed to less than a fish per rod in most cases. The top spots are still in front of Bird Rock and Elephant Rock and the best bait has been straight herring or anchovy trolled just off the bottom.
Rock fishing is a great alternative to the slow salmon fishing out of Bodega Bay. Ling cod counts continue to impress with at least a fish per rod on the larger party boats like the New Sea Angler, and limits on the sport boats has been the norm to go along with limits of rockfish. The Ft. Ross Reef as well as Point Reyes have been top producers for Bodega Rock cod fishermen. Check your MLPA restrictions for closed zones though.
Where have all the striped bass gone? That seems to be the question most SF bay anglers are asking. Normally, a strong July appearance is routine but not this year. Halibut haven’t really shown up in any decent number this year as well. Tides will subside from the stronger tides early this week and if you were going to catch a SF bay halibut, I would guess that this weekend will be the day.
Bass fishing at most of our local lakes has become a night time affair in order to avoid the heat and the yahoos, but in another couple of weeks this should all change with the arrival of school enrollments. I have heard some better reports from Lake Sonoma anglers getting their two steelhead limit for 14-18 inchers. Try deep in front of the dam.
 
For more information or if you would like to provide a first person fishing report, please contact Hunt Conrad at Prospect Mortgage, 431-9715.