Let’s go fishin’: Albacore alert

Santa Cruz boats are catching albacore tuna, and the excitement is high. Warm water is pushing closer to shore, and tuna fishing is heating up, with bluefin tuna mixed with the albacore. Salmon even made a comeback, though they left as quickly as they arrived, and fishing closer to shore has been good for coastal species.
Albacore fever has hit the coast from Southern California to central Oregon, as the infamous long-finned tuna are sizzling line off the reels. Commercial fishermen are also getting in on the action, with most of the fleet fishing off the Oregon coast, with score of 300 fish per day. The warm-water current breaks are closer to shore off northern California and Oregon, with 59-degree water as close as 30 miles from shore. The warm water and albacore are 85 miles out of Santa Cruz. The warm-water currents are typical for this time of year and should keep moving closer to land, fueled by south swells and winds from the south.
The first albacore caught out off Monterey Bay are larger than usual, with a 25-pound average. There have been reports of bluefin tuna mingled with the albacore, some too large to be landed with traditional albacore gear.
Salmon made a generous guest appearance for the short commercial salmon run that was allowed during the beginning of July. Commercial fishermen reported 15 fish or more per boat, with sport boats catching limits of four to six fish. But, as rapidly as they showed up, the salmon in Monterey Bay have disappeared.
Rock cod and halibut fishing has remained steady. Rock cod fishing has been the most reliable, with limits of 10 fish per person commonly maxed out. The spots north of Santa Cruz, including Davenport landing and New Year’s Island, have really turned on with a nicer grade of rock cod and a great variety of other fish.
Halibut are being caught as well, though they continue to live up to their elusive nature. On the beaches of Aptos, striped bass continue to be caught by surf casters.
July is a great month to fish — I hope you have time to give it a try.
Mike Baxter has fished in the Monterey Bay Area since he was a boy and has been a licensed charter boat captain for more than 15 years. Contact him at
[email protected]. He also hosts a fishing show on radio station
KSCO (1080) from 7:06 to 8 p.m. Thursdays April through September.