miramichi Fishing Report 2024

Skipper JJ Gerritsen returned with his Apollo to Fisherman's Landing November 21, after an eight-day, ultra-limited trip. The boat's ten passengers fished Guadalupe Island before taking off for Magdalena Bay to fish big tuna on their final day. "All of our long range trips are ultra-limited," said JJ. "It takes away competition factors, we won't do more than ten passengers. We got limits of yellowfin, Guadalupe's been great our last six trips, but we did something different this time; we headed out for a shot at these big ones. All of our fish are kept in refrigerated saltwater, so they still look great." Matt Bowland of Encinitas took home the best tuna; a 224-pound yellowfin that fought "long and hard." Matt used a 6/0 Owner ringed Super Mutu hook, on an 80-pound P-Line topshot, 100-pound Spectra, a Tiagra 30 reel and a Calstar Grafighter 765 H rod. "I butt-hooked the sardine," said Matt. "The fight lasted two and a half hours." Drew Card of San Diego was second with a 196-pound tuna, and Craig Biddick of Rancho Santa Fe was third for a 164-pounder.

Ryan Bostian called in from the San Diego with this report. "We've been fishing offshore & the Yellowtail fishing has been excellent. We have been fishing kelp paddys 20 to 40 miles from home. The Yellowtail fishing is starting to slow down a little bit. The body of fish we have been fishing is starting to move on out to the northwest. However, today Capt Ray went out with 31 passengers. We caught 12 Yellowtail, 1 Skipjack, 7 Dorado and 40 Bluefin tuna. It was an excellent, excellent day. There were some very nice schools of tuna out there. It's getting to be that time of year that is going to turn more into tuna time. We should start to see more Yellowfin tuna in the counts, or more Bluefin.

"If you want to go out with us we have trips everyday. We leave the dock at 5:30 AM. The ticket price is $130.00. That includes your Mexican Fishing License. It's just a great time of year, there are a lot of fish within 40 miles of San Diego

 Just finishing up our three day trip here with some great local yellow fin Tuna!

We leave on our Beck eight day trip tomorrow!

Capt Ryan Bostain from the San Diego 3/4 day trip called in with a trip report from todays trip. They decided to head west from the Coronado Islands in search of some offshore fish, with the report of the tuna racing up the coast. We started they day with a stop on some really nice grade Bonito from 5 to 10 pounds and left them biting after we had 55 on the deck. We some mixed schools of Yellowfin and Bluefin and ended the day with 20 Bluefin and 36 Yellowfin that were all between 10 and 35 pounds. We had mostly beginner anglers on the boat today, very few had ever fished offshore before. We will be heading back out there tomorrow and until they go away. You will need a 20 pound bait rods, today they we biting 20-40-50-60 and even 80 pound line. If you come out with us the perfect setup will be a live bait from 20-40 pound set up, some size 2 and 2/0 hooks for either the Anchovies or Sardines. Come on down and get in on the action.

Osterkamp charter had to work hard for every bite but in the end we achieved our goal. (1) made it home safe. (2) enjoy the ocean with friends and family. (3) every one of our 43 customers caught a fish as we ended with 61 yellowfin tuna.

13 bluefin tuna from 40 to 80 lbs and 2 yellowtail. Come prepared with a 25 lb setup for kelp fish and smaller tuna. A 40 or 50 lb setup for flylining sardines at the 60-80 lb tuna and a 60 or 80 lb setup for flatfalling. Fluorocarbon is a must as well as size 1 to 2/0 circle hooks. Come take advantage of this rare opportunity to catch a true trophy fish in local waters without trolling.