30 • June 5 - 18, 2015 • The Log


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SoCal and Baja’s #1 Source for Fresh and Saltwater Fishing


SALTWATER


OCEAN FISHING REPORT By Terrence Berg 976-TUNA.com


TUNA SEASON BEGINNING EARLY: A number of 1.5-day to 2.5-day trips ran south into Mexican waters and west to offshore banks in U.S. waters to see if the tuna were to be found during Memorial Day weekend. To no one’s sur- prise, both yellowfin and bluefin tuna are already pushing up the Baja Coast into these waters. While the yellowfin are not in U.S. waters in any numbers yet, they are in Mexican waters. However, tough conditions kept the counts down on these trips. Top Gun 80 was on a 2.5- day trip with 25 anglers over the weekend and landed four yellowfin, five yellowtail, one dorado and one opah. Most skippers reported a lot of bluefin tuna, which are currently off-limits in Mexican waters. The bluefin are already in good numbers in U.S. waters and fish are running from 25 pounds up. There was one fish reported at 125 pounds with rumors of even bigger fish within 40 miles of Point Loma. Bongos III out of Davey’s Locker had three bluefin to 33 pounds during a recent trip. While Mexico has closed the season on bluefin, in U.S. waters sport anglers


Lead Tackle From page 28


substitutes, the report also concluded. “Although these results cannot be a substitute for a full cost-benefit analy- sis of a lead ban, the losses measured here show that such a ban has the potential to reduce angler activity in the state,” the report stated. “This lost angler activity would in turn cause economic hardship for individuals, businesses, and communities that benefit from recreational fishing. In addition, reduced fishing activities will reduce the State’s ability to continue providing effective fish and wildlife management by reducing conservation funding by nearly $3.5 million annual- ly.”


The state’s Department of Toxic Substances Control announced in April


can land and keep two fish (down from the 10 fish limit). With warming weather forecast, this bite is going to get better in the coming days.


YELLOWTAIL IN THE BITE: The yellowtail action has been wide open throughout the California Bite. The big tails are stacked up at all the local islands, from the Coronados to Clemente to Catalina and the big fish are showing inshore within range of most half-day boats and private boaters fishing from San Diego to Long Beach. The best part is these are all quality fish running from 15 to 40 pounds, with the vast majority in the 25 to 30 pound range. Skippers reported double the number of hook-ups to fish landed. In addition, the calico bass bite has broken open, especially at Clemente and Catalina. Barracuda and bonita are moving in to the region is bigger numbers. At the Coronado Islands, San Diego out of Seaforth Sportfishing was at the islands recently with 20 anglers and landed 45 yellowtail. One day later, 35 anglers on board caught 13 yellowtail and 30 rockfish. Malihini out of H&M Landing was at the Coronados with 20 anglers and had 11 yellow- tail. At Clemente, Toronado out of Pierpoint Landing was on an overnight trip and the 17 anglers landed 30 yellowtail, 40 calico bass, and three barracuda. At Catalina, Pursuit out of 22nd


fishing and angling equipment was included in its Safer Consumer Products Final Priority Product Work Plan. Published April 15, the work plan outlined the department’s priority products and chemicals of concern. Smaller lead fishing tackle poten- tially consumed by waterfowl was tar- geted by the department’s work plan; larger weights used by anglers for off- shore salmon fishing or any gear waterfowl is unlikely to ingest are not targeted by the state. The U.S. Geological Survey’s


National Wildlife Health Center listed several studies about the impact of lead in waterfowl on its website (on.doi.gov/1FOO8qk). The American Fisheries Society


recently issued a policy statement on lead in sportfishing tackle and said the ingestion of lead fishing tackle has been harmful to loons and swans.


Street Landing was out with 42 anglers and had 50 yellowtail, 56 whitefish, 27 perch, five bar- racuda and one calico. Many three-quarter day boats are staying


close to the coast instead of running to the islands. The half-day skippers are reporting good numbers of yellowtail, along with good rockfish and/or sculpin fishing. Enterprise out of Long Beach Marina was out with 18 anglers and had 24 local yellows, 100 rockfish, 70 sculpin and one sheephead. One day later the same boat had 34 anglers reeling in 23 yellowtail and 110 sculpin.


BOTTOMFISH STEADY: For anglers content with filling the sack with great-eating fish, the bottomfish action remains exceptional. The sculpin are thick off the Orange County coast and half-day boats in this region are loading up, with limits of sculpin common. Western Pride out of Davey’s Locker has been posting good scores, with 33 anglers on a half-day reeling in 136 sculpin one day and 25 anglers with 120 sculpin another day.


In the Channel Islands, flatter seas in late-


May led to limit-style fishing for everyone on half-, three-quarter and full-day trips. Sea Jay out of CISCO Landing has been targeting whitefish and had eight anglers on board last week who


“While the use of lead fishing tackle


contributes a small fraction of the total amount of lead found in the environ- ment in comparison to other sources of lead (e.g., surface runoff, atmos- pheric deposition and mining activi- ties), it exists in a form that can be readily ingested by some species of wildlife,” the society’s policy statement read.


The policy statement continued


safer alternatives do exist but anglers might not transition from lead to non- lead fishing tackle. “A few (ceramics, bismuth, steel, tin, and tungsten), but not all (zinc, brass), alternative metals in fishing tackle have been deemed safe or less toxic if ingested by waterbirds and other birds and mammals. Sinkers and jigheads made from these alternative raw mate- rials, except tungsten, are less dense resulting in a larger sized sinker to


Bob Vanian’s 976-BITE FISH REPORTS www.976BITE.COM


For Internet Reports Visit www.976bite.com For Personal Reports Call (619) 226-8218


For complete reports, visit fishrap.com


obtain a similar weight as with lead,” American Fisheries Society’s policy statement said. “This larger size and higher cost for most alternative metal sinkers and jigheads … makes them less desirable for some anglers.”


Crossword puzzle solution from page 20


caught 80 whitefish, 35 rockfish, seven sheep- head and two calicos.


INSTRUCTIONAL CHARTERS: The staff of 976- TUNA is hosting instructional charters through- out the season, offering advice to beginning or veteran anglers and on-the-water teaching of techniques for different saltwater species. The next trip is a two-day trip aboard Thunderbird out of Davey’s Locker departing June 7. Cost is $250 per angler. This trip could be targeting yel- lowtail, bluefin tuna, or even yellowfin tuna. Check 976-TUNA.com or call 562-352-0012 for details.


LANDING CONTACTS Newport Landing, Newport Beach, 949-675-0550; Davey’s Locker, Newport Beach, 949-673-1434; Dana Wharf Sportfishing, Dana Point, 949-496- 5794; Helgren’s Sportfishing, Oceanside, 760-722- 2133; Fisherman’s Landing, San Diego, 619-221- 8500; H&M Landing, San Diego, 619-222-1144; Seaforth Landing, San Diego, 619-224-3383; Point Loma Sportfishing, San Diego, 619-223-1627.


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