port phillip Fishing Report 2025

The first annual Ocean Tackle Research trip aboard Polaris Supreme returned with skipper Tom Rothery and chartermaster Lon Mikkelsen November 19. The ten-day trip had 20 anglers. "We caught a lot of variety and had good fishing," said Mikkelsen, from Hood River, OR. "We also caught a lot of 40-pound Humboldt squid. The best fishing was on kelp paddies in the warmer water. "We're testing some new OTR jigs," he continued, "and they got bit." Rothery weighed the contenders on the Fisherman's landing certified scales. Clint Campbell of Bozeman, MT won first place for a 65.95-pound wahoo he caught ona silver and pink Raider jig. He said he used 40-pound P-Line, a Daiwa Saltist 30 reel and a Seeker Black Steel 6470 rod. Jon Collins of Menifee won second place for a 52.6-pound skin that bit a pink Catchy Tackle bomb. Collins brought his son into the photo to show off a big dorado. Randy Walker of Huntington Beach was third, for a 48-pound wahoo that snapped up a gold Raider.

~~Nov.10
 OK.  It took until 4:00 this evening but I finally made up my mind of where we're going to go.  All day long it's been running through my head.  "rocks or ridge, rocks or ridge.  They both had there advantages and disadvantages but I believe I made the choice with the more advantages for this stage of the trip.  It's like a chess game out here sometimes with the rest of the fleet.

 So as you know we traveled all day.  We did a fishing seminar shortly after breakfast and I feel I got everyone on board super pumped on catching cow tuna so now we're going to have to do it.  No pressure though.  Tackle rigging, naps, relaxation, antsy.  Basically all the feelings.  Right now most of the boat is watching a batman movie loudly.  Some are lounging on the upper deck but dinner should be soon and off goes the movie.  It smells terrific too.  Baby back ribs tonight.

 So we have about 1/2 a day of traveling left to do and then we'll be in full fish mode for about a week straight.  Here we go.
          

June 28

I told you all we would be departing today on a 5 day trip on my last report and I have to tell yah, that's exactly what we did. We're out on a private charter with Mr. Pfleger and some of his boys. Things went alright at the bait receivers. We got two boxes of a mostly spanish mackerel with some greenies and about a 7.375 average of sardines mixed in. Things are looking a little scary with our sardine stocks of San Diego this year thus far. You may want to make sure you pack your bait catching rigs if you're coming out this year and also think about getting your anchovy fishing skills back. You may need them.

We're thinking about starting offshore tomorrow on a southerly track. We're not going to put the brakes on and fish locally where most the tunas been caught lately. We're going to put ourselves in position to do other things the next couple days after tomorrow. We may look for white sea bass and yellows somewhere down the line. It's not something we'd do on a normal long range trip but this is a special one. I'll explain later. You know how Pfleger is with his sea bass.

Tommy's running the boat but I'll still be your author so enjoy and I'll see you tomorrow.

 

40+ bluefin onboard so far for Capt. Matt and the boys. These bluefin are averaging 40 pounds and are very catchable on 30 lb. come prepared with different line sizes from 20-40 lb. hooks from #4-2/0. Match your Flourocarbon size to your mainline size. Listen to the crew, even if you have been fishing since before they were born.

Capt Mike Prichard from the Tribute called in the final talley from their overnight with 148 Yellowfin Tuna from 8 - 45 lbs, some really goos fishing. We also had good Yellowtail of which we kept about 40 of the from 6 - 12 lbs with a couple in the lower 20 lb range, we also released a lot. We a also seeing al lot of Dorado around the kelps, we were not able to get any to bite today. Fishing across the board has been very good, although the Bluefin have not been around. For information about future trips give the landing a call at 619-224-3383 and get your spots.

Aug. 11
    We had a great morning today.  I'd have to check with the big guy but I believe we had around 60 of the 15-25 pound yellowfin and 9 of those big 60-80 pound bluefins on our first drift.  I'd call that a good morning.  It wasn't full speed either.  It was just a nice scratch over a period of a few hours.  Nice drifting along there in beautiful weather once again.  I sure hope this weather lasts a while along with the fishing.
    
    After our first drift we did some others of course.  None producing as well as the first one but throughout the day we scratched at some more yellowfin and a few more of those big bluefins.  It was just what we needed after a day of mostly driving around seing a lot and  not catching much.  Needless to say we'll be hanging around here tonight and trying it again tomorrow.

    On a sad note, one of the greats in the sportfishing industry passed away today.  Most of you reading this wouldn't know who I'm talking about because he was a behind the scenes guy.  I'm talking about the great sardine fisherman Joe Machado, and if you've been fishing in the last 35+ years, you were using bait most likely caught or found by him.  As you all know, no bait no fish, so we'll be throwing some sardines over the side for him tomoorow.  RIP Joe.
                                                        

 

Happy Easter! I have decided to put some ultra limited load open party trips together for fishing the northern Channel Islands this weekend. I have set up two trips on Saturday and Sunday the 10th and 11th of April. I anticipate trying to find sea bass in the morning and falling back on rock fish and ling cod for the rest of the day. These trips will be limited to only 20 people max!! This just seems to me to be such a great opportunity to get out to the islands on such a nice boat without having to deal with a crowd. The trips will depart from Sea Landing in Santa Barbara at 9pm Friday and Saturday night. The cost will be $175 per person. Please come join me and the crew aboard the Apollo next weekend. I look forward to seeing you.

Please call Sea Landing to make Reservations at (805) 963-3564.

"This trip was as planned," said Polaris Supreme skipper Drew Henderson at Fisherman's Landing October 15. "It went perfectly." He had just returned for a seven-day excursion south, with 24 anglers. Brian Henricks of San Pedro won first place for a 123-pound tuna. He said he bagged it with a sardine on a 3/0 ringed Super Mutu hook, tied to 50-pound fluorocarbon leader, 50-pound pink Ande line and 65-pound Spectra backing on a Tiagra 20 reel and a six and a half-foot custom Shikari rod. "He kicked my butt," remarked Henricks, "for an hour and a half." Scott WEolff of Simi Valley was second for a 109.4-pounder, and he was tied by John Drnello of Templeton, who got his 109.4-pounder on 40-pound line. He said it was the first big fish of the trip.