Bluefin tuna catch makes Albacore trip worthwhile

JIM NIEMIEC

Albacore, bluefin tuna, yellowtail and big bonito continue to show up

off shore and when weather conditions permit trips to outer water

fishing grounds, both private sportfishers and sports boats are

enjoying pretty fair early-season fishing. Catches have not been

outstanding but water conditions are good and there appears to be a

pretty big area of longfins and tuna holding just below the 295 Spot.

Captain Michael Schrosbree of Newport Beach, headed the deluxe

sportfisher Eureka, a fast 47-foot Cabo, out of Dana Point Harbor

late at night on April 9 and set a course to the 295 with anglers

Todd Garrett of Newport Beach and Nate Shill of Huntington Beach on

board. Schrosbree metered a school of fish in the dark and shut down

the boat hoping for a gray bite. It didn’t take long before a sardine

being soaked by Garrett got picked up and his rod bent double. Shill

was next in line to have his bait sucked in and two fish were hooked

before the sunrise. Both anglers believed they were reeling in

albacore. Unfortunately Garrett’s fish came un-buttoned but Shill

continued to wind on his fish that was being fought on 16-pound line.

When the fish came to color Schrosbree identified it as a bluefin

tuna and it was high-fives around the cockpit as the gaffed tuna came

over the rail.

Captain Schrosbree trolled the blue water area for the rest of the

morning catching six albacore and four big bonito. Most of the fish

caught last Saturday were taken on the troll, but a couple of albies

were taken on sardines. The skipper pulled up on a number of kelp

patties, but they were not holding any bait or yellowtail. The water

temp was 60.5 degrees and deep blue, which is a good sign for more

longfins and tuna to move into the area.

On Easter Sunday the bluefin was officially weighed in at the

Balboa Angling Club. Shill’s catch scaled 20.11 pounds and the crew

was presented with the first tuna flag for the BAC. It might have

been a long run to the fishing grounds, some 127 miles from Dana

Point, but topping off a productive early season albacore trip with a

bluefin tuna made this fishing trip a good one for these three

dedicated local anglers.

Fishing at Catalina Island improved a little earlier this week

with a pretty decent count on bonito being posted by Davey’s Locker.

White seabass still have a case of lockjaw and yellowtail have yet to

show up in the chum lines. The calico bass bite has been good along

stringer kelp and bottom fish are being sacked by anglers fishing in

about 200 feet of water on both the front and back sides of the

island. The Cat Special is scheduled to run overnight trips this

weekend and will be heading either to Catalina or San Clemente,

depending on where the fish pop up.

Along the south coast bottom fishing is fair for assorted rockfish

and an occasional legal halibut. Schools of barracuda should move

into the channel soon and be fishable under breezers a few miles off

the beach where bait and water conditions are ideal.

Trout fishing is good for local lakes with lots of big rainbow

being caught. Steve Ballew of Costa Mesa limited out on rainbows over

the weekend at Irvine Lake fishing lures off the west shore. Tony

Richards of Huntington Beach topped off his limit of Irvine Lake

trout with a 10.5 pounder that he caught on Power Bait fishing the

west shore. Fishing at the Santa Ana River Lakes is holding steady

for trout and catfish. Both lakes are being stocked weekly with

trophy class trout. With the high price of gas there is a good chance

that many of harbor area anglers, who traditionally make the long

drive up to the High Sierras for opening day, will stay closer to

home this year.