“Although it has been excellent fishing on mid-grade tuna for the past couple of days,” noted Excel skipper Justin Fleck April 24, “it seemed like the wahoo and cows had moved off the shallows. But in the past 24 hours it seems like they are back and ready to play ball. Yesterday afternoon was very fun fishing for the guys when the wahoo fishing caught fire. In the evening is when the cows showed up and decided to bite steady for quite a while. It's not all cows though, there are lots of 130 to 180s being released back to the wild. This morning, fishing is still going full speed. Big fish were Micheal Holiday 262.6, Raj Nal 227, Al Scow 221, Paul Berinson 220, Joann Ciciliano 217, Larry Hengsteler 215, and Andy Marcum 212.”



Alijos Promising

“It is still good traveling weather,” wrote Independence skipper Jeff DeBuys April 24, “just a bit more wind. On another subject, we rolled past Alijos rocks, and the water temp was 67.5 and looks like more warmer water down below the rocks. It really looks good for the May 7 & 8-day trips coming up.”

The day before, DeBuys wrote, “We are gaining altitude steadily, while enjoying flat calm weather. Most are resting, repairing some gear, or sharing stories from this trip, or past trips. We are certainly blessed with not only great fishing, but great weather so far. We will be back to San Diego Friday early, 0500 to begin the unloading process. If all goes well we might have 15 or so cows for the trip, and left a few there for next time.”



Crashing On Fin Bait

“After another good night of catching bait,” wrote Intrepid skipper Kevin Osborne April 23, “we headed offshore to track down some of the Nice Tuna Schools we saw on the last voyage. We found em, but they did not want to bite at all, there were some big spots of fish crashing on very small (micro) fin bait and we could not pull them off with anything we had to throw at them. Even the smaller Anchovetas did not work on the Tuna. We did pick up some Dorado offshore, then headed back in to Montuaso Island for some inshore action before getting the hook down. Several Snapper were landed, but these guys chose to release them again today. What great sportsmanship everyone has had on these adventures down here. Tomorrow we will give the offshore another shot before we change gears and head in for some fun along the beaches again and get the Kayaks and snorkel gear out.”



“An Afternoon Roll”

“Add eight more over the deuce to the tally,” said Royal Star skipper Tim Ekstrom, “and a wealth of others that didn't make the grade. Throw in an all out mid morning through late afternoon offensive by the "skinnies" and it made for an action packed day. In fact that aspect of the day became a real nuisance for dedicated tuna anglers who cycled through numerous hooks and rigging combinations thankfully with their sense of humor intact. As good as things have been going thus far it is easy to understand why. This is shaping up to be quite the all around long range adventure. And it is far from over.

“The fish gods have been mighty gracious and conditions have followed suit. Needless to say we are primed for as much as these bruisers want to give as we push into day four on the outside prudently allocating hold space to the biggest and the best. In accordance with our responsibility as sportsmen we are releasing the smaller models for the obvious reason.

“The stud of the day award rightfully goes to another veteran from days of old Chris Pauly who established an afternoon roll culminating in the successful capture of three over the two hundred mark. What a day. And when one mentions Mr. Pauly in the context of fishing his friend of over forty years Dave Sazegar, a.k.a. "Sawzall", can not be far behind. Photo today features Chris with one of his fatties balanced on the rail.”



Poole Memorial Dedication

Word came from Ingrid Poole and Sophie A. Silvestri of the San Diego Port Tenants Association, a reminder that there will be a public art dedication at Fisherman’s Landing this Thursday. Without Bill Poole, there would likely be no long range fleet here, or at least not in the vibrant form we know today.

The announcement said, “Bill Poole…is credited with invigoration and modernizing the area’s sport fishing business, and all the vessel captains who have made San Diego home port to the world’s finest fishing fleet.”
The ceremony will be Thursday, April 26 at 10 AM.