SAN DIEGO – Starting a couple of weeks ago, reports began coming in of bluefin tuna within striking range of the 1.5-day, perhaps even the 1-day fleet. In the past week, three San Diego boats set out for bluefin or bust. These were the Pacific Voyager, the Constitution and the Old Glory. The word was fish at just 55 miles from the dock off the Banda Bank and below, as well as fish out west.
After putting out a blast to the boats in the SAC tuna sampling group. Capt Andy Cates on the Red Rooster III said he’d seen a couple of boats outside of Ensenada trying. Capt. Brian Kiohara on the American Angler shared a com by Capt. Max Neue. He had just recently stepped up from hired captain to boat owner – buying the Pacific Voyager.
He said he’d seen a small school of 25 to 50 pounders 55 miles from the dock and that the Old Glory had landed one of several hooked about 15 miles below him. Heading down there he said the zone was “very baited up” and he didn’t see much else. From there he’d angled west to look out toward the Fly but hadn’t seen much yet at that time.
He continued that the pangas out of Ensenada had been seeing consistent bird schools off Banda for the past week but those had been down in the past day.
Rod and Reel Radio hosts Wendy Tochihara, John Cassidy and Stan Vanderburg had avid bluefin afficianado Rob Tressler with them Sunday night. He’d been aboard the Constitution and said the Old Glory had gotten down to the area south of Banda in the dark, found a school, stopped and hooked a handful of fish out of it. All managed to escape save one 30 pounder.
Tressler said the word was Capt. Kley on the Old Glory had seen some good schools down the beach even during daylight but bites were elusive. He added that the word on their deck wa the 150- to 200g jigs were bit while the larger ones were not. He also mentioned there was word of some fish caught up toward the Tanner and Cortes by commercial boats.
Bottom line, first 1-day waters bluefin of 2025 landed aboard the OG. Certainly some fish back around within striking range. No big score yet. The latest from down at the Colonet high spots was a couple of yellows and tons of great lings and reds, and – a chance to run into some tuna too.
