watauga river Fishing Report 2024

The Bluefin started biting before sunrise and like a broken record, more than their share got away, we went 10 for about 25 on the 45-55 pound Bluefin, the hot ticket being the flatfall. After sunrise, the plump Yellowfin bit for several hours, being caught primarily on flylined 20 pound.

Captain Mike Pritchard called in this evening with an update from the Tribute. Today we had limits of Lingcod with many of them over 20 pounds. The jackpot fish should be around 30 pounds. We also had limits of rockfish including some very nice reds. We did catch some nice whitefish too.The Tribute is running 1.5 day trips to Colonett every weekend departing on Friday nights. Check out our website for the latest pictures.

"Coast Guard inspections so we are ready to go fishing!" wrote owner-skipper Tom Rothery June 1. Memorial Day weekend started off the season with the first albacore being caught (since January) and a couple of bluefin also. That has all of us on the boat excited as well as most of you. Water conditions look spectacular for the season and we hope to have some water charts on the web site soon for you to view. We are also pleased to pass on the fact that the Guadalupe permits have been granted for the next two years. I know a lot of you are looking forward to fishing there. We have our schedule on line for you to look at. Prices are the same as last year and as of right now there is no fuel surcharge. So let's hope the cost stays down. "We have two new 1 1/2 day trips that we added on and we still have some openings on some of the 4 and 5-day trips this summer. Give Susan a call and she can check dates and availability for you or your group. 619-390-7890. And one more thing, tune in to Let's Talk Hook-up June 13th, Saturday morning (7-9 am) and yours truly will be on with Pete Gray. It's always a good time and I hope you will call in with your questions. But you can also call me any time in the office." "On behalf of the same old crew and myself, thanks for checking in and I hope you can get out and fish with us this year."

Gualalupe season is right around the corner.....

Polaris Supreme arrived under Drew Henderson's hand October 27 after a ten-day trip with 20 anglers that visited the southern banks, an offshore kelp area and Cedros Island. Drew tied the rig at Fisherman's Landing and weighed the best of his catch. "We had good fishing the first day at the banks," he said, "until about eight in the morning. Then we had a good sunsetter. We got yellowtail on the 23, and about a dozen wahoo on offshore kelps. We had good dorado fishing on the kelps." The trip's best yellowtail was a 45.3-pound mossback caught at Cedros Island by Stan Katkansky of Lincoln City, OR. "I got him on a mackerel," said Stan, "on 60-pound line."

Had a great wahoo next year! 7-10 day trips are the place to be ! 

"What an absolutely, fantastic, unbelievable day," wrote Tommy Rothery aboard his Polaris Supreme November 2. "We had more marlin than you can imagine. We hooked and are released over 220. The wahoo fishing was also fantastic. The group had a blast pulling in "crocodile" size wahoo. And we topped off the day with even bigger dorado than yesterday. The weather is good and we just had an awesome day on all three: wahoo, dorado and marlin." The next day Rothery wrote, "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." Rothery docked at Fisherman's Landing November 6 after his Larry Brown charter with 22 anglers. "The place was thick with marlin," he remarked. "There's lots of bait and the water where we're fishing is 78 to 79 degrees." Dr. Chris Minnick of Pasadena won first place for a 71.6-pound yellowfin. He said he bagged it in about ten minutes,, after it bit on a sardine pinned to a 3/0 Hayabusa hook. He used 60-pound Soft Steel Ultra line and 80-pound Izorline Spectra backing on an Avet EXW 4-2 reel and a Calstar 765 L rod.
Mike Mayes of Rnancho Santa Margarita won second place for a 54.6-pound wahoo. Ron Stafford of Minot, ND won third place for a 53-pound yellowfin tuna. A gentleman identified as "Duke" posed in the lineup shot with a typical dorado from the trip.

Good morning Everyone, Our annual Heil charter has come, the longest running charter on Polaris Supreme. We are very happy top welcome aboard this group of anglers. Ron Heil has been keeping his father's charter going for years with a good core group of anglers. We are exited to have these guys aboard as well as some new faces. Spirits are high, and we're all very hopeful for the next 5 days. Team Supreme