norfork Fishing Report 2025

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July 11
 The morning started off so promisingly. We had plans to haul butt down to the lower grounds where there had been some good kelping but we got stopped short. The setup was epic. We had a 1-2 degree water temp break, and we were instantly catching fish. They were mostly small yellowfin. There was a sprinkling of 15-20+ pound tuna in there but most were throwbacks. But it felt like the school of straight bigs was right off the bow. We found a nice kelp and caught a dozen nice yellows and some more of that small tuna with a sprinkle, and again, we felt like it was soon coming. It never came. We stayed very busy but unfortunately it was mostly that throwback yellowfin. Eventually we gave up on what we thought was our honey hole and we never found much else the rest of the day. The lower zone produced enough for the couple boats that were down there so we're going to start down there tomorrow.

 

 

 

The weather was great most of the day. It got a bit breezy late but hopefully that comes down tomorrow.
 

"It was really good fishing wahoo at the bank," said Rothery at the sales. "We stayed there two days and then went in to the southern banks where the big fish were." All the big fish (there were 13 tuna over 200 pounds weighed on the certified scales at Fisherman's) came from the southern banks. There were just as many from 100 to 200 pounds as there were cows, and those were found in both spots. "The Baja tuna were real steady biters," said Rothery. "There were lots of ‚Дтem around, we could see ‚Дтem at the surface and on the meter most of the time." Research biologist Chugey Sepulveda got the big one, related his pal and fellow biologist Scott ("Scootch") Aalbers of San Diego. Chugey wasn't able to be at the weigh-in. The fish weighed 306.2 pounds. Chugey had two more cows, at 220 and 201 pounds. "Scootch" said Chugey got the big one and the others on one of the boat's heavy rigs and the kite. He used two sardines on 6/0 Mustad 7691 hooks, tied to 130-pound P-Line and 130-pound Izorline Spectra, on a Tiagra 50 W reel and a Calstar 655 XXH rod. "He got it on the next to the last day," said Scootch, "about four p.m. He fought it for an hour and 15 minutes, and it wrapped him around the anchor line about 15 times. The crew helped out a lot with the fork." Tom Bass of Newport Beach won second place for a 274.8-pound tuna. He also had a 232 and a 206-pound yellowfin. Tom said he got his fish on a sardine and an 8/0 Eagle Claw hook, pm 100-pound Blackwater fluorocarbon leader of 15 feet, tied to 130-pound Izor Spectra on a Tiagra 50 reel and a Calstar 6460 XXH rod. Hack Bernstein of Valencia bagged a 269.6-pounder. He fished a sardine on an 8/0 Eagle Claw hook tied to 130-pound P-Line and 130-pound Izor Spectra on a boat rig: Tiagra 50 reel and a Calstar 655 XXH rod. Pat Jaeger of Bishop posed with his daughter Maggie, three, and the 268-pound tuna he got with a double sardine rig on the kite. He said he used 100-pound P-Line and 130-pound Izor Spectra on a Penn 50 W reel and a Baja Boomer rod. Ryan Gillette of Orange was another who used a double trouble sardine rig on the boat's rod and reel to take a 246-pounder. Robert Kalatschan found a brace of cows, at 226 and 213 pounds. There were two more cows that appeared at the scales without tags, said Susan Rothery. One weighed 214 pounds and the other went 202.

Mike Pritchard called in from the Tribute with this report. "We have 35 Bluefin for this stop and we're right around 60 for the day. Yellowtail fishing has been very good as well. We're at about 100 on the Yellowtail and a few Dorado. The Bluefin is up to about 70 lbs. A lot of the the is in the 15 to 25 lb. range. We still have some daylight left, we'll keep you posted.

Capt Mike Pritchard from the Tribute called in a trip wrap up for their 1.5 day trip, we had really good fishing and ended with a nice kelp to help us up out Yelowtail and Yellowfin Tuna counts for the trip. Our final count for the trip was 103 Yellowfin Tuna, 101 Yellowtail and 10 Bluefin Tuna and a couple Dorado, we are fishing US waters so we got to keep our Bluefin. The Yellowfin are a really nice grade in the mid 20 lb range and the bluefin were in the mid to upper 40 lb range. We have another overnight trip leaving tomorrow night, hope to see you out there.

JJ has 21 White Seabass and 1 nice Halibut today. Call Sea Landing now to get on the Apollo at (805) 963-3564.

Started where we have been catching Vermillions to find they were not in the mood. Moved to an undisclosed location and found very willing XL size Lingcod. Managed 2 to the boat and lost a few more. Good fun!!!

19 bluefin 6 yellowfin 22 bonito 1 yellowtail. Encouraging sign for our first day back offshore.

Captain Ryan Bostian called in this evening with a report from the San Diego. We had a private charter with 37 anglers. Captain Taro put the charter on 137 Yellowfin Tuna, 22 Yellowtail, and a few Skipjack. Tuna fishing remains excellent. Now that the kids are back in school we should have excellent fishing with lighter loads and less pressure. We are moving into San Diego's prime months of September and October. Talk to you later!