bucs northern michigan Fishing Report 2025

Mike Pritchard called in with this report from the Tribute. "So far we have a really good sign of Bluefin. We have definitely lost a lot more than we have landed. Right now we have 7 or 8 fish. The fish are running 40 lbs. to 50 lbs. Some of the fish we have lost is just due to insufficient tackle. These are really very large Bluefin. I know there was 1 Bluefin caught here yesterday that ran about 180 lbs. So if you are coming out on a trip you want to make sure you bring the right tackle. 40 lbs. would be the bare minimum. We'll keep you informed as the day progresses.

The Apollo came back from a 5 day trip fishing Guadalupe with 12 anglers and caught 95 Yellofin Tuna up to 95 pounds and 58 Yellowtail. They have space available on their 8 day ultra light load trip departing 11/13/06. Give them a call to sign up! (619) 221-8500

We had a good day on the wahoo and excellent fishing on the 20lb. yellowtail. Weather is still good and the excitement is high as we are going to look for some of those big tuna tomorrow. Our next charter on Nov. 8 with Lon Mikkleson from OTR still has a couple open spots if you can get away. Thanks for checking in.

Hi Anglers,

I have a little web-site update for you. We have put all of our photos from the past years, into albums on the photo page. As you will see they are categorized by year first, then the date of the trip, then the group. In the past they have all been grouped together in one big mess. Hopefully this will help you find the trip you were on in the past years. Also you will be able to more easily create your own photo albums for the trips you were on. If you notice any errors in dates or subjects on the photo page, please let us know by emailing us at [email protected] or a phone call at 619-390-7890. Everything on the Facebook page should be up to date for those of you that follow us on Facebook.

A new update on offshore fishing. Last weekend's 2-day trip was a huge success targeting the big bluefin. Drew and the boys got the anglers into the fish at 150 miles and had a five hour long drift where they hooked over fifty 65-75 pound bluefin! When the dust settled they had 23 of these beauties on deck. They also picked up seven smaller grade bluefin and a few of the small yellows. For those of you going out on upcoming trips you defiantly need the usual 50 lb. 2-speed reel. Some of the guys also had 40 lb. 2-speeds and it was the true money maker for this bigger fish. It was the best of both worlds having lighter line that got bit better and the 2-speed that really let then put the  pressure on the fish after the initial run. So put one in your bag.

Also yesterday fish popped up in good volume closer to home at 70-100 miles. We are watching this to see how this develops for the shorter trips. Hopefully we won't have to make the 120-150 mile run. If you want to view the bluefin on the last two day just click on photos, then click 2012, then click on the photo for 07-06-2012 2 Day Open. Don't forget there are multiple page in the photo albums. This one has two.

The next trip heading out is our Optima Charter on Saturday afternoon, to target this fish. Don't forget to follow us on our report page.

As for openings, we still have spots on Paul Hess's 5-day departing July

23rd, and one spot on July 28th 5-day. Come join us if you can.

Thanks,

Tommy

Captain Ryan Bostian called with an update from the Offshore Grounds. We had 116 Yellowtail and 1 Dorado. It sounds like there is a nice body of fish moving into our area. We recommend using 30 pound test. September is the best month of the year to go fishing in San Diego!

Captain Mike Pritchard called in this afternoon with an update from the Tribute. We are having very good Yellowfin Tuna just South of San Clemente Island. There is a mix of Yellowfin Tuna, Skipjack, and Dorado. We have 180 Yellowfin Tuna and they are biting on everything. The Tribute is running offshore trips out of Seaforth Landing you can call them at (619) 224-3383 or you can book online at www.tributesportfishing.com.

~~July 31
 Good evening folks and welcome to the last July 31 of 2015 ever aboard the Polaris Supreme.  The water we fished today just didn't have that right feel to it if you know what I mean.  The whole set up changed since we were there 2 days ago.  It was 2 degrees cooler for one thing.  Maybe we weren't in the right zone , but I don't think so.  I think things were off as far as the tuna and Dorado goes.  We were finding bull kelp areas instead of nice bushy kelps and catching only dinker tuna.  I only saw one tuna over 10 pounds today and 10 pounds was a lunker.  Needless to say we let every single one of them go.  So at 7:00 pm, it was looking like we were going to chalk this one up as a travel day.  I was just about ready to shower.  I mean I literally had all my clothes on the floor with the shower water running when I heard the call.  "We have a real nice kelp up ahead".  I thought about it and decided I better suit up again just in case and it was the right move.  Easily the best kelp of the year.  Until well after sunset things were busy and exciting aboard the Polaris Supreme.  The whole boat was bit.  Every single person.  Wide open 14-25 pound yellowtails.  It was good.  4 fish per rod that stop.  Uh huh.  Dinner was much more satisfying than it was flling like it was going to be.

 Another reason dinner was so lovely would be a fella, my friend Herb Yamanaka.  Very possibly the nicest man in the world.  At least tied for the nicest man in the world.  Every year he spends I don't even know how much time behind the lathe machine, making everyone on board an original wooden bowl or things like it, and they're wonderful.  He works for the Oregon Ducks origination so go Ducks!!!

 Tomorrow we'll be arriving to Cedros at about 7 in the am.  We're going to plan on wind, and we're going to plan on some good tailing to go along with a good time.
      

July 5
    Good evening everyone.  It's evening where I am right now anyway.  It may not be when you read this.  We left on a 6 day this morning.  We stopped to get bait and yes, there is still a shortage of sardine.  We got about 30 scoops of jumbo sardine mixed with all size mackerel.  Then we took a couple scoops of beautiful looking anchovy.  We skipped the sardine seminar and concentrated on an anchovy seminar.  The lost art.  20# test, # 2 hook.  Finess fishing.  When you find out how good of a fisherman you really are.  That's what the tuna are feeding on around here so they'll hit them fine if it's presented right.

    We'll be hunting tuna tomorrow first thing and we'll take it from there.  The weather now is stellar but they're forecasting some wind tomorrow afternoon.  We hope they're wrong.