harry atkinson reef Fishing Report 2024

Absolutely a great day of fishing. From day light on we had excellent fishing on school grade yellowtail. Our weather is good and everyone is having a great time. We are off to look for tuna tomorrow. We celebrated with Alex Zarifis as he turned 80 today! Great way to spend your birthday. Thanks for checking in. Tommy and crew

What a brutally slow morning. We drove around until 2 pm. and had only released one 190 lb., and four 50 lb. tuna. It was beginning to look like we were going to miss. Then we found the boomer sonar school of cows. They bit full speed, eight going at a time for two hours before they slowed down. Here is the result of those two hours. Scott released a 185 lb., and kept a 180 lb., 187 lb., and 231 pounder. Bob released a 180 lb., and kept a 210 pounder. Al released a 170 lb., and kept a 210 lb., and a 211 lb. tuna. Craig released a 170 lb. and a 185 lb. tuna. Roger kept a 160 lb., 170 lb., and 180 pounder. Sheridan released a 180 lb., 185 lb., and kept a 187 lb. tuna. Tom released a 175 lb., 195 lb., and kept a 228 pounder. George released a 180 lb., 190 lb., and kept a 213 pounder. So what was a bad day turned into an awesome day in just two hours. It was so fun. We had to hang up our jock straps and sun visors today and change into warmer apparel. It was a little cool, breezy, and started to get choppy late. Lunch was stuffed bell peppers with marinara sauce. Hors d'oeuvres were sushi, sashimi and corn dogs. Dinner was New York steaks. One more day to fish.

Captain Ryan Bostian checked in from the San Diego out of Seaforth Sportfishing in San Diego, CA. We fished at the Coronado Islands yesterday. It was our first trip at the Islands for a months. We had 13 anglers and we had full limits of Yellowtail on our first stop of the day. We had excellent fishing for Yellowtail, Bonito and Calico Bass. They were biting on surface iron and fly-lined baits.

The loads are light. We had two reservations for tomorrow so we should have plenty of room on the boat.

The Endeavor out of Ventura Harbor Sportfishing returned from an Overnight trip with 18 passengers.

Fish count: 65 Whitefish 180 Rockfish

~~Oct. 11
 And here's what we did today.  The crew rigged up mucho tackle.  I'm talking the grande stuff for the grande fish.  After that and after breakfast we did our tuna seminar and I talked Tommy into doing a couple parts of the seminar.  All I know for the past 10 years is my tuna seminar.  It's nice to get a different perspective.  Anyways, after that we were finishing up tackle rigging when poof, all three trollers went off.  So we caught a couple meals.  3 nice dorado.  So then it was lunch time of street tacos.  And then some napping went down and the afternoon movie was Caddy Shack.  When 5:00 rolls around it's cocktail hour and it looks glorious.  Drinks, cigars, and friends.  Then we had baby back ribs for dinner.  Once again like the first 2 nights we tried for some giant squid to use as bait, but we were unsuccessful. 

 Still no storms brewing up down below and we're getting more and more confident we won't be getting pushed out of the fishing grounds until we say so.  2 more days of travel before we arrive.  Everyone is enjoying themselves now because in a couple days, it's going to be war.  We'll be battling it out with 200+ pound tuna and wahoo.
      

The San Diego fisnished the day off with 158 yellowtail and 20 bonito.

Sep. 4

                These darn bluefin let me tell ya.  This morning looked so juicy.  We drifted for hours on 3 different schools and caught 9.  Hours.  And it's not like they weren't hanging around.  I mean the boat was jugged underneath.  They were under us like shishkabob.  9 fish.  We lost our fair share but 9 fish?  With what we saw?

 

                Mid day wasn't that awesome.  We saw some but it didn't impress me.  We messed around with some small yellows while we waited for things to straighten out.  At 4 things did.  Not right away.  We saw the school and it took a while to get things going but eventually it did.  We drifted for 2 straight hours catching fish.  Not wide open.  But fairly steady. 1-6 going.  Action.  Nice ones.  After that drift we did it again.  Again it took a while to get things going but again, it did.  We drifted until dark on that one.  About an hour.  Same deal.  Maybe a little less. 1-4 going.  So it was an afternoon thing today.  I'm sure glad we hung around for it.

 

                So we head in now.  We're departing tomorrow on a 5 day.  What are we going to do?

                                                                                               

48 yellowtail 16 barracuda 8 calico bass. Fun summer time fishing for the Dave McAdams private charter.