So Cal Tuna Fishing Report and Question

[Igottabigone]

Took the family for a week in San Diego last week. My dad, cousin, and I took an overnight boat out of Seaforth Landing aboard the Outer Limits. We had a great time and scored on Bluefin Tuna, Yellowtail, and Dorado. The big tuna pictured was estimated at 63 lbs according to measurements. He was caught on 20lb mono on a spinning rod. My cousin was spooled by the slug and fought it for over an hour and a half and seven times around the boat. Needless to say he was under-gunned. The captain and deck-hands said it was the biggest fish that has been caught on their boat with a 20lb spinning outfit. The Bluefin are by far the hardest fighting fish I have ever caught. They fight to the bitter end and are vicious. It was awesome to see them fillet those big fish. It reminded me of back straps on a deer. We have a hundred pounds of fish we brought home. Helluva bargain considering the Bluefin was selling for $25 a pound at the local grocery store. Check out the fish counts out of the San Diego landings. They are killin it right now and they say it will only get better. It is amazing to see 50+ pound fish boiling on live bait on the surface. I'm not sure one could describe it unless they've done it.

I talked with the Captain on the way back into San Diego. He said it is cheaper for a group of guys to get together and charter the boat for a trip rather than go open-party. He said you usually save about $100 or so. I'm wondering if a BFT Utah group could be put together for next year. We need a charter master and 15-20 guys. Anybody interested?

[FishMcFisherson]

Looks like a great time. If you could get some more information on the trip, prices, dates and what not, I'd love to go.
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[Fishsticker]

Awesome! I've got to go do that one of these days. Thanks for the great pics
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[castnshoot]

Congratulations on a great over night trip. Very nice toad on the coffee grinder and 20#. You probably won't pull that off again.

No doudt you can save some money charting. A lot guys who charter do it so they can fish for free and even make a few bucks if they are lucky. You need nerves of steel to put up that kind of money. Be sure and do your home work.

I been fishing the San Deigo boats in Mexican waters since the late 60s. Be very careful with the Tuna fishing. It can be very, very addictive. Nothing like having a big Tuna pick up a fly lined live bait!

Thanks for posting.


http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj35/.../07043.jpg
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[FishWisconsin]

I'm interested. Look forward to more info.
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[SkunkedAgain]

Nice post, and those guys know how to get to fish in a frenzy don't they? I was down fishing with them on sand bass a month or so ago and they really get the fish worked up... I'd be interested if the timing was right... Thanks J
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[Kent]

[quote Igottabigone]

I talked with the Captain on the way back into San Diego. He said it is cheaper for a group of guys to get together and charter the boat for a trip rather than go open-party. He said you usually save about $100 or so. I'm wondering if a BFT Utah group could be put together for next year. We need a charter master and 15-20 guys. Anybody interested?

[/quote]

I did that once for a church group when I lived in Longview, Washington. Never again. People kept changing their minds on whether or not they were going. Ended up with a full boat, but I was really fortunate to do so.
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[WaveWolf]

[#502800]Nice Going ...... Those Bluefins put up some good fights.[/#502800]
[#502800][/#502800]
[#502800]Did your charter captain say anything about Albacore?[/#502800]
[#502800]We are heading to Garibaldi Oregon this weekend to go chase some.[/#502800]
[#502800][/#502800]
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[Igottabigone]

HAHA! I love the coffee grinder comment. That's what the skipper and deck hands were calling it. It sounded like one too!! I will get more info on chartering a boat. As far as dates go they are wide open. I would suggest if people are really serious about it we should suggest a few dates that would work. First or second week of August is supposed to prime time fishing. The albacore haven't shown up down there in about 3 years at least not like they used to be.
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[Igottabigone]

The Red Rooster III looks like such an awesome boat to fish on. How was it and when were you into the yellowfin? How long was the trip?
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[mactuna]

Red Rooster is top of the line. Multi day trips only
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[Ktrout]

I'm game for a trip. Been a while since i've done this. You might consider a little longer trip though to make the trip out to SoCal a little bit more worthwhile.
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[Igottabigone]

I am thinking a 3 1/2 or 4 1/2 day trip on the Top Gun 80. Those trips will run from $350 to $500 depending on the length and whether food is included. Any other suggestions on which boats? The Prowler out of Fisherman's Landing would be sweet also. The Outer Limits was a great boat and I would fish it again. To charter the Outer Limits for 4 1/2 days it would be $400 a person rather than the $495 on an open-party boat.
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[Ktrout]

All of those prices seem inexpensive to me, so I'm fine with any of those options. Someone who has been out more recently than me may have a better idea about which boats. I've heard of all of those boats though. Just don't know anything about the crews any longer.
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[BS]

A 63lb Bluefin is big? I guess when they're all being killed as 20 lbers a 63 is a big one. It's what's happening to the worlds fisheries.
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[castnshoot]

[quote][The Red Rooster III looks like such an awesome boat to fish on. How was it and when were you into the yellowfin? How long was the trip? /quote]

There are six or seven great boats out of San Diego that belong to what is known as a code group. Red Rooster is the fastest boat in the top code group.

To really get into the "BIG" Yellow Fin, get on at least a 10 day trip. A 15 day would be even better.

You are on the hunt for fish 24 hours a day. You will learn so many fishing techniques. You could catch more fish than 10 families could eat in a year. No gunnie sacks, each fish is cared for in what is called Sushi Grade.

Three meals a day of some of the best food you will ever eat. Plus crazy good snacks set out in between meals.

As far a chartering a boat. It sounds like you want to be what is called the Charter Master. You put up 50% to 100% of the cost of the trip. Then it is up to you to sell enough spots to make the trip a go, and get your money back. If the date of the trip is closing in and you are short of people you can put those open spots out on the open market through the booking co-ops at the docks.

You decide the price of the ride, what to fish for, how many people go, and what not.

I have never been a Charter Master my self, but I have heard plenty of people say what Kentofnsl said,"never again". That being said, their are guys who fish for free all summer doing it.

Here is a photo I took of my favorite Big Tuna Bait.
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj35/...der548.jpg
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[Ktrout]

I've been on lots of tuna boats, but only up to five days. Bringing home over 500 pounds of fish wasn't difficult even on the "shorter" trips, but I could do without that amount fish these days. After leaving SoCal, never really tried to go after the big ones on the 10+ day trips. Yeah a longer trip would be nice, but it would be crazy to try and charter master a 10+ trip without already knowing lots of people who "might" be interested.
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