Fishing Report / News Flash - Tuesday July 13, 2010 - Owner/Capt. Bill Wilkerson of the San Diego 3/4 day sportfisher Malihini called and said they scratched for a few Bluefin Tuna last week and over the weekend. All bait fish while on the anchor. Tuna for a 3/4 day trip is a real bonus this time of year and can happen any time. These fish move as we saw over the weekend 30+ miles in one day and the Albies are in the 1.5 day range still. Still waiting for the overnighter's to explode with fish for those on tighter budgets or less time for the longer runs offshore. In the mean time boats are filling up on rockfish, sculpin, calico bass, sand bass, barricuda and a few yellowtail. (jack not tuna). Get out and have fun. Good luck. Rob

I got a call from the water tonight from Capt. Bill of the 3/4 day Malihini with this report:

On The Water Malihini Sportfishing Report and fish counts:

Date line June 19, 2010

Capt. Bill ran the boat today with a 36 passenger charter and just called in from the water to say they hooked a lot of Yellow's and landed 7 of the explosive fighting fish along with a nice mix of 30 rockfish, 15 sculpin and about 12 Barracuda. There was a swell out of the west so if you are prone to seasickness prepare ahead of time. There's a few spots left for tomorrow's Father's Day trip and he said Owner/Capt. JD of the Fisherman 3 will be running an overflow trip so call H&M Landing at 619.222.1144 and come on down the weather's been great.

Have a great fish day
Capt Bill & Capt mike

I created a new website for the3/4 day boat Malihini out of H&M Landing. Here's the latest fish counts from all boats. Complete info with Captain profiles, charter rates for 2010, Capt. Bill's on the water fish reports and booking a spot online. Weather over the next couple days may kick the wind up for the local fleet. Good luck and have fun out there. Yellowtail, Sandbass, Halibut and thick schools of Barracuda lately. Add a light weight to get below the Barracuda where the Yellows hang out.

Request More Info on Any Boat - Ask me about booking a trip or any other question no matter what level of fisherman

Can sport-caught fish be prepared and consumed at sea?

Question: Can sport-caught fish be prepared and consumed at sea when fishing/diving from a private vessel? (Ben W.)

Answer:Yes, legally taken fish may be prepared and consumed at sea, but there are some restrictions. Abalone must remain attached to their shell and lobster tails must remain attached to the carapace until they are being prepared for immediate consumption. For finfish that may be filleted at sea, the skin (or prescribed portion) must remain attached for species identification until they are being prepared for immediate consumption (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 27.65)

I spoke with Captain Gary Abbamonte and he was thrilled to say his boat the Alexes out of Seaforth Sportfishing is now with a complete repower just in time for the 2010 season. He also added the fishing has been pretty good for the Yellow's (Yellowtail or Jack) days the wind isn't up - those windy days the bite shuts down and makes it tough to hold bottom for the bottom seasonal fish targets.

Don't wait to charter your own 6-pack like the Alexes out of Seaforth Sportfishing Landing or down the road at Dana Landing as when the bite is on it's often too late for booking at the last minute. Capt. Owner Gary runs a top notch operation, very reputable and knowledgeable of all types of local fishing and spots.

Here's the typical seasonal fish species targeted off San Diego and Baja, Mexico:

Thank you to Malihini Sportfishing Captain's/Owner's Bill Wilkerson and Mike Schmidt, the latest Three-Quarter Day Deep Sea Fishing boat to be added to Sportfish San Diego and the first San Diego sport boat my pop's pulled me from school to fish with him on at the Coronado Island's. I was just 5 back then and grew up fishing the Malihini year round for Yellow's (Yellowtail is a Jack not a Tuna) during the prime summer months and Rock Cod or if we were lucky enough big home guard Yellowtail in Winter and Spring. Roomy boat with plenty of rail (even the bow section is huge) and my favorite place to chill with a burger and beer on the way to the grounds on those warm days.

Seaforth Landing has four 1/2 day trips running daily. The report from various captain's remains on again off again for the popular Yellow's (Yellowtail) everyone is waiting on and emailing me about. (thanks for the emails!) As I mention in my article below about yo-yo iron be sure to have a few "heavies" and lights but lately most are being caught on the yo-yo, specifically Salas 6x jr. blue and white heavy. White iron is also great when white seabass are around!

Call Seaforth Sportfishing at 619-224-3383 for reservations.

What to do with all the fish you just caught and how to ship your catch home - Here's a couple links to companies who offer fish handling services when your boat arrives back at dock with a load of fresh tuna and fish. Sportsmen's Seafood and Fisherman's Landing Processing service - Read the full article I wrote here.

Seasonal San Diego saltwater fish species charts for the peak fishing seasons of our deep sea fishing areas. Use this easy at-a-glance chart as a guideline for planning and booking your trip. View what big game fish are targeted for a specific time of year off San Diego boats. Please note that peak seasons can vary from year to year based on sea/weather conditions. This chart is intended to be used as a guideline for trip planning. Sea surface temperature, clarity, temp-breaks, current and food supply are all part of what triggers a particular fish species to bite. Please note I post this information as general guidelines and not exact times for planning your trip. In addition to using the seasonal targets chart, ask a local resource like myself, landing or boat about the current conditions and questions about planning your San Diego deep sea fishing trip.

I also wrote an article to use with the seasonal targets chart with my personal local advice and thoughts about what fish you will be targeting on your next San Diego sportfishing trip.

Preparing for a 1.5 - 2 day tuna trip - What to bring on your San
Diego 1.5 - 2 day tuna trip.This is a good list to start with. Be sure to call the landing for any last minute tackle suggestions.Also full moon trips when Bluefin are around book in advance so be sure to check. Read my article about what to take on a 1.5 - to dayer here as a guideline - The next full moon is Friday Sept. 4.

There's always the Long Range fleet that gets hot in the Fall when the Cow's (Giant Yellowfin Tuna) are the biggest. Whatever the budget the San Diego fleet has a long range boat to fit your group's or individual needs.

San Diego Sportfishing Trip Descriptions

How to plan and book a San Diego open party or private charter sportfishing trip. I posted this article explaining San Diego's different trip types as this can be confusing especially for those not familiar with San Diego's sportfishing fleet, sport boat trip descriptions and local lingo....more about trip descriptions

Wed. April 28, 9:19am by Rob - Captain Bryan Zulka of the 6-pack sportfisher El Gato Dos reports this am:

Friday, April 9, 2010 by Rob - NEW SAN DIEGO SPORTFISHING ARTICLE ON HOW-TO YO-YO FOR YELLOWTAIL!! When the Yellowtail bite is hot, especially early season big home guard variety our 3/4 day sportfishing boats have caught good numbers in past weeks, it's important to know how to yo-yo iron jigs (weighted iron lures cast or dropped and retrieved repeatedly ). This is must have knowledge for those days when the explosive Yellows show and all they are biting is deep yo-yo's.
read the complete article here

I also like the Chubasco 2 three-quarter day open party or charter boat or for an excellent reputable six pack, charter your own boat on Captain/Owner Gary Abbamonte's sport fisher Alexes or just down the road is Dana Landing, San Diego's only all 4-pack to 6-pack sportfishing fleet.

Chubasco Sportfishing has runs daily half-day or 3/4 day open party trips targeting rock cod, sheephead lingcod and yellowtail at the Coronado Islands. Weekday loads are usually light this time of year. Owner/Captain Ernie (and Captain Trevor) run a consistently successfully and friendly operation. Also available for private charter for your group. Look up Chubasco II here

There are fish species to target year round for the San Diego deep sea fishing fleet. Currently we are in a transitional time when big game fish like the explosive Yellowtail (Jack family, not tuna) start to bite, mostly the deeper column homguard's. Best bet is overnighter to 1.5 day trips unless the Coronado Island Yellow's are going off. Follow reports from Captain Ernie on the Chubasco 2 or over at H&M Landing and their 3/4 dayer' the Malihini.

San Diego ground (bottom) fishing season for species not closed to fishing during annual closures in San Diego waters are the current half-day sportboat targets but watch for an early season Yellowtail bite with this year's El Nino conditions. Down the line are some enormous schools of warmer water Yellow's the overnight and 1.5 day fleet has been tapping in to with a few LIMITS coming home last week. Hopefully they (Yellow's) will head north closer to the San Diego local half and three-quarter day fleet this year.

One of the most under rated fish that is one of my favorites this time of year is the big grumpySand Bass. My favorite and most successfully technique is to fish them using plastic swim baits like"Fish Trap", a local made and tested favorite. Sand Bass filets make excellent fish tacos.

I had a great chat with Captain/Owner Gary Abbamonte on his six-pack "Alexes" about this fish species and Gary brought up a great point that a kid is hooked for life after catching one of these relatively good fighting and good eating fish as they are easy to catch, abundant and are fun to catch, especially when the more popular target species aren't biting. Sand Bass get enormous to over 11lbs and there's always a shot at catching a Halibut, Calico Bass,Bonito or Yellowtail while on a hot Sand Bass bite. For more info on the Alexes or to speak with Owner Gary he can be reached at 619-990-0926 - his knowledge of the local fishery as well as tuna is excellent and productive.

The Alexes also always ready for a private 6 - pack charter. Next door to Seaforth down the road a short ride is Dana Landing, San Diego's only 4 - 6 pack landing.

Use this quick form to send me a question or inquiry

Tipping on a San Diego Sport fisher

Tips on open party trips is not mandatory but sincerely appreciated! 15% to 20% is appropriate. Don't hesitate to adjust it up or down depending on the quality of service. Personally if I had a great time and the boat has less passengers then I throw in a$10 or $20 if I plan on returning often and to cover passengers who may under tip or not tip at all. Do what you want but just remember tips are a boat crew's bread and butter and if they have been helpful and courteous then by all means tip however much you want. Regular pay for a crew isn't much for the countless hours of hard work so please help these guys and ladies out if they worked hard for your fun and relaxing time out on the water. They (and I used to) sincerely appreciate it!

Some past News Flash reports: News Flash - Thursday March 25, 2010 posted by Rob Mailly - Seaforth Sportfishing Landing reports starting Monday March 22nd, the New Seaforth will move back to 6:00am and 12:30pm running two, Half Day departures. They will also be running Twilight trips Friday and Saturday nights from 6:00pm to 10:30pm. With daylight savings over, Rockfish closures ended back on March 1st and the sporadic excellent Yellowtail fishing most landings will be back to running two sportfishing trips a day as well.

Yellowtail! 3/24/10

News Flash - Friday March 5, 2010 - Point Loma Sportfishing's Facebook Fish Count Updates, dock's of sportfishing boats Daily Double, Mission Belle and Pt.Loma - all three boats were on the water yesterday getting in on the hot Yellowtail bite going on lately. At the time of the report now available on most newer cell pones 25 fisherman were on 40+ Yellow's. Welcome what seems to be signs of an El Nino bite that's been predicted since last summer.

Over at H&M, the 3/4 Day boat Malihini checked in last night with another epic day at the latest hot Island's bite in with 14 Yellowtail, 9 Rockfish, 2 Bonito, 2 Sand Bass, and ! Calico Bass. The 1/2 day run on the Fisherman III sacked up 61 Whitefish, 38 Rockfish, 9 Sculpin, 8 Sheephead, and 1 Calico Bass. HM Landing has 1/2 and 3/4 day trips going daily and don't forget about overnight trips going every Friday night. Call 619-222-1144 for reservations. 976-tuna also just created a slick new online reservation system for the H&M Fleet for late night and after hours sportfishing charter booking.

The Sport Boats over at Seaforth Landing got in on the Coronado Island Yellowtail action as well with 976-tuna.com reporting the Voyager on their 3/4 day run pulled in 28 yellowtail today for the 13 anglers. The 1/2 day runs sacked up 11 California Scorpion fish, 30 Rockfish, 6 Kelp Bass, and 1 California Halibut. Seaforth Landing has 1/2 and 3/4 day trips going daily. Don't forget the Legend goes Friday night for an overnight trip chasing tail. Posted at12:43am on 03-02-2010 by Rob Mailly

Point Loma Sportfishing - San Diego, CA Mission Belle reports this evening 19 Yellowtail for 21 Passengers!! They are staying online this evening with hopes of getting enough passengers tomorrow to get back out and catch some more!! Both Owner/Captain Steve Peterson and Fred Huber are very personable, treat their passenger's well and put them on the fish so booking a trip with these guys is well worth it. They also own the half-day sport fishing vessel Daily Double. Posted at 12:43am on 03-02-2010 by Rob Mailly

Fred Hall Shows - There's a lot coming up with the 2010 Fred Hall Shows - big annual fishing, tackle, boating, hunting and travel show of all shows in Long Beach Wed. March 3 to Sunday March 7, 2010. A couple weeks later the show arrives here in San Diego in late March. As the 2010 shows approach WON (Western Outdoor News) is appropriately calling it "The Fred Hall Shows, the West's Premiere Fishing, Boating, Hunting, Travel and Outdoor Adventure Show's". This is an excellent time to secure travel and fishing trip prime booking dates as well as get deep discounts on tackle and sport fishing, hunting, diving and kayak gear. GO HERE FOR WEBSITE

Past Fish Reports:

Wed. May 19 by Rob 8:30pm -
HM Landing report this evening with the Malihini on their 3/4 day run with 16 yellowtail, 1 white sea bass, and 2 barracuda. The Morning 1/2 day trip sacked up 54 Sculpin (great for making fish tacos in corn tortilla's).

Tue May 18 - Capt. Bill Wilkerson of Malihini Sportfishing 3/4 day: "Very good fishing today for our 11 anglers. it started out on a good note as soon as we got down into the area bam three fish..

that was at 8:30 am and it kept on going. We would go about thirty feet and bam another 5 fish... Then all of a sudden it went wide open the whole boat was bent granted it was only eleven anglers. but I am guessing if it would have been 59 the whole boat would have been bit....

that lasted for around 1 hour, I mean every bait was bit. we finished the day with limits (Yellowtail) for our eleven anglers.... we are doing it again tomorrow so come on down go on line www.hmlanding.com or call the landing at 619-222-1144 and tell them that you want to fish aboard the Malihini
And they will take your info. Until tomorrow evening,

Have a great fish day
Capt Bill & Capt mike"

Note from SportfishSanDiego.com - by Rob