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"Rockfish, Tuna, and Calicos: California's Coastal Fishing Bonanza"
Published 7 months ago
Description
Artificial Lure here with your Sunday, September 28th, Pacific Ocean California fishing report. Sunrise hit at 6:59 a.m., sunset rolls in at 6:53 p.m. Tide-wise, we started off with a low at 3 a.m., high water peaked at 8:17 this morning, and the next low’s due at 2:28 this afternoon, so we expect that classic mid-morning bump in bite followed by another push just before dusk, which should line up perfectly for the evening fishermen, especially around the kelp beds and rocky structure.
Weather across much of coastal California is classic fall—cool mornings in the mid-60s rising to low 70s later, skies partly cloudy, mild west breeze tapering down in the afternoon. Water surface temps near shore have been ranging from 66 to 70 degrees from Point Reyes south to San Diego. Up in the Channel Islands and around the Central Coast, there’s been lingering fog, but it tends to clear by midmorning and hasn’t slowed the action.
Now for the fish: after almost two years off-limits, quillback rockfish are back on the harvest menu thanks to NOAA and California DFW, with healthy numbers showing in the counts. Anglers around Santa Cruz and Monterey are reporting solid limits on mixed rockfish, with a nice grade of vermilion, canary, and quillback in the sacks. The Farallon Islands and Point Reyes have both been hotspots for big lingcod—jumbo models over ten pounds landing regularly for boats targeting deep structure. If you want a shot at these, swimbaits in motor oil or root beer with a little scent, or old-school frozen squid dropper rigs, are producing the largest fish.
Down south out of San Diego, Seaforth Sportfishing and Fisherman’s Landing both saw huge tuna numbers this week—Bluefin up to 210 pounds are still biting well on overnight and multi-day trips, especially around the Tanner and Cortes Banks. Many boats reported limits or near limits of both Bluefin and Yellowfin. Top baits have been flylined sardines for the big ones, but Colt Sniper jigs and Flat-Falls in blue/silver patterns are crushing fish deeper, especially on the swing after sundown.
Inshore, Calico and Sand Bass have been very steady from Malibu down through the Orange County reefs, with wide-open sessions at times. Best producers: chartreuse 5” swim baits, live anchovies, and for the Calicos, a weedless brown/green jerkbait worked slow through the salad. Bonito are running strong around the bait balls off La Jolla and Oceanside, slamming Kastmasters and small feathered trolled jigs.
Meanwhile, the kelp patties off Huntington and Dana are holding late-season Dorado—most small but with some solid 10-15 pounders in the mix, typically pounced on live sardines or flashy surface irons. If you’re heading out for pelagics, have a stickbait or popper ready for those breezing pods.
Two reliable local hotspots right now:
- **Point Vicente:** Big lingcod and mixed rockfish on the deeper stones at 150-200 feet.
- **Tanner Bank:** Still primo for quality Bluefin if you can make the run and the weather holds.
All said, it’s been wide-open action for those putting in the time. The bite is best around the tide shifts and again late afternoon, so plan accordingly.
Thanks for tuning in to your Pacific Ocean California fishing report. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss out on the bite window or the next hot lure call. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
This episode includes AI-generated content.
Weather across much of coastal California is classic fall—cool mornings in the mid-60s rising to low 70s later, skies partly cloudy, mild west breeze tapering down in the afternoon. Water surface temps near shore have been ranging from 66 to 70 degrees from Point Reyes south to San Diego. Up in the Channel Islands and around the Central Coast, there’s been lingering fog, but it tends to clear by midmorning and hasn’t slowed the action.
Now for the fish: after almost two years off-limits, quillback rockfish are back on the harvest menu thanks to NOAA and California DFW, with healthy numbers showing in the counts. Anglers around Santa Cruz and Monterey are reporting solid limits on mixed rockfish, with a nice grade of vermilion, canary, and quillback in the sacks. The Farallon Islands and Point Reyes have both been hotspots for big lingcod—jumbo models over ten pounds landing regularly for boats targeting deep structure. If you want a shot at these, swimbaits in motor oil or root beer with a little scent, or old-school frozen squid dropper rigs, are producing the largest fish.
Down south out of San Diego, Seaforth Sportfishing and Fisherman’s Landing both saw huge tuna numbers this week—Bluefin up to 210 pounds are still biting well on overnight and multi-day trips, especially around the Tanner and Cortes Banks. Many boats reported limits or near limits of both Bluefin and Yellowfin. Top baits have been flylined sardines for the big ones, but Colt Sniper jigs and Flat-Falls in blue/silver patterns are crushing fish deeper, especially on the swing after sundown.
Inshore, Calico and Sand Bass have been very steady from Malibu down through the Orange County reefs, with wide-open sessions at times. Best producers: chartreuse 5” swim baits, live anchovies, and for the Calicos, a weedless brown/green jerkbait worked slow through the salad. Bonito are running strong around the bait balls off La Jolla and Oceanside, slamming Kastmasters and small feathered trolled jigs.
Meanwhile, the kelp patties off Huntington and Dana are holding late-season Dorado—most small but with some solid 10-15 pounders in the mix, typically pounced on live sardines or flashy surface irons. If you’re heading out for pelagics, have a stickbait or popper ready for those breezing pods.
Two reliable local hotspots right now:
- **Point Vicente:** Big lingcod and mixed rockfish on the deeper stones at 150-200 feet.
- **Tanner Bank:** Still primo for quality Bluefin if you can make the run and the weather holds.
All said, it’s been wide-open action for those putting in the time. The bite is best around the tide shifts and again late afternoon, so plan accordingly.
Thanks for tuning in to your Pacific Ocean California fishing report. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss out on the bite window or the next hot lure call. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
This episode includes AI-generated content.