port alberni Fishing Report 2025

Hey guys, after two weeks of fishing for yellowtail in U.S. waters, we have now decided to head back down to the Coronado Islands. We have still been seeing plenty of yellows in the local waters but they just have not got with it like we wanted them to. Yellowtail have been spotted from the rockpile to Catalina island over the past week. I honestly feel that the Coronado Islands is going to be our best bet at finding some yellowtail that want to bite well. Our first trip to the islands is tomorrow, Friday 27th. Ticket price for this trip is $95 make your reservations at 619-224-3383.

"Where there is fish, you will find us!"

Capt. Ryan

~~Sep. 7 "Feeling Better"
 I can't say I had the highest of hopes for this morning.  It seems like up and down this whole coast in the mornings has no current.  As you know, no current = no fish.  So we bailed on our yellowtail spot after 8:00 am and went kelping.  I believe we found our first winner ohhh around 10:00 or so.  It was good for 20 dorado.  Another 1/2 hour later we found another that was good for another 20.  Another 1/2 hour later... and so on and so on.  We had a good day of kelping.  Most of our passengers on board have never been in a dorado bite before today.  It was jaw dropping for them.  Lots of fun.  We're feeling better. 

 Now we're going to catch our yellows.  We're going to head into the coast for tomorrow and try and get a bunch of those.  See?  I write short reports on good days.  Hopefully I keep them short.
     

10 big bonito made up our day. Handful of opportunities at bluefin from 30-100lbs for no takers. Back at tomorrow. Bring your A game.

65 yellowfin tuna (15-25 lbs) 129 purple skipjack aku tuna.  The skilled bait fisherman with a 20 lb setup and #2 hook was hooked up all day today.

Well if we thought yesterday was phenomenal, today was even better. I know I'm repeating myself but the fishing was just great again on the wahoo and dorado. And yes the marlin are still here and wanted to play. We have good weather and this is a nice way to end the trip. Great group, great fishing, great crew.

We departed today with Chaparro's annual lite load charter. This is his 10th year! A fun group as always and the guys are anxious to get their lines wet. We got a nice load of bait and headed out west looking for albacore and yellowfin with only a few landed.

There were plenty of seiners. Our weather continues to be good. As we dine on steak and lobster we are looking forward to tomorrow to do some kelping. Our web master who handles all our updates will be out fishing himself for the next few days, so there won't be any reports posted until Thursday. Give Susan a call if you have any questions. Thanks and wish us luck.

Tommy and crew

Many of you know Captain Ray Montera who has been involved in sportfishing most of his life. In March, his 32 year old Chris son was severely injured in a C4 blast in Afghanistan. We are holding a fundraiser on October 8th at the Bali Hai on Shelter Island. He is one of our own and we are rallying to support him.

As an Army soldier, Chris Montera was often taken aback when people would thank him for doing the job he loved. On a fateful day in March, he came to face the sacrifice. He was on a dismounted mission and was hit with explosion of C4, which literally blasted and propelled him into a grape field. He suffered major issues with blast lung and severe burns over much of his body. For 9 days he was on ECMO (lung bypass) until he was stable enough to be transported to BAMC in San Antonio for the treatment of his shrapnel wounds and third degree burns. On April 2 a fungal infection set into the wounds on his lower extremities and Chris underwent bilateral AK amputation of his legs. He was further diagnosed with an incomplete spinal cord injury in the thoracic area of the spine at VA Polytrauma Center in Palo Alto.

Through all of this, Chris remains focused and committed to rehabilitation. It is estimated that he will remain in Palo Alto for 3-6 months while he works to regain his upper body strength, which will be necessary for the next stages of rehab in the C5 program at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego where he will be fitted with prosthetic legs and with determination will learn to walk again. There is no doubt in our minds that Chris will recover to live an independent life. The goal of this fundraiser is to be able to assist Chris with expenses he will no doubt encounter on his journey to independence.

The event will be held at the Bali Hai Restaurant on Shelter Island On October 8th from 6:00-10:00 pm. There will be food stations serving food from many San Diego restaurants along with a no host bar. A raffle, live, and silent auction will take place during the event along with live entertainment by Mango Bay and World Famous Jim Gibson. The outpouring of support of raffle and auction donations from the sportfishing community, tackle, fishing supply manufacturers, and local businesses has been phenomenal. The evening will be great fun for all and will serve to help a young man who put it all on the line.

There are several ways you can help:
First and most important is attend the event.

Tickets are $50 in advance or $450 for a block of 10

Advance ticket purchases will include 3 raffle tickets and assorted swag

Cannot attend but would like to help, make a cash donation in any amount.

Donate an item for the raffle or auction. Anything from fishing items, art, gift certificates, clothing...anything is greatly appreciated.


We look forward to having you at the event. The sport fishing community has come together to take care of a wounded warrior of their own, and it promises to be a fun filled evening for all.

To purchase tickets for Island Nights at the Bali Hai, please visit our website at http://christophermonterasupport.com/island-nights-at-the-bali-hai

To donate items for our raffle/auction please visit our website and complete the donor form http://christophermonterasupport.com/sponsors-anddonors-supporters/donor-form

Nov. 12

                I'm sitting here trying to figure out how to start this report.  Well, the bottom line is the cows gave us the slip today.  We got hosed.  The 20-60 pounders were there though.  They weren't shy to nestle up under and around the boat.  They were a little shy to bite though.  We ended up with a few over 1 per rod on the tuna today.  More than half those were 40-60 pounds and the rest were 20 pounders.  Like I said, there were no lack of those fish.  This afternoon we couldn't be sitting any better.  The fish were under, around, and the school was right behind us where our lines were going, then at 3:30, poof, they disappeared.  And the cows never showed.  We looked around the bank for awhile after but there wasn't a scale around anymore.  So we left and we're not coming back.

 

                The weather today was fantastic so we can't blame it on that.  Oh well.  At least we still caught some nice tuna and made jackpot easy to figure out.  We're going to try and catch some bait tonight and fish for all of the above tomorrow.