columbia Fishing Report 2025

Today we went out on a hunt for the “catchable” grade bluefin. After a couple hours of searching our efforts were rewarded as we landed 13 (50-80 lb) bluefin. Be prepared to fly line with 40 lb as well as fish a sinker rig on 50 or 60 lb. size 1/0 circle hooks on your fly line rod. Size 2/0 or 3/0 on your sinker rig. Always a good idea to bring a 25lb rod just in case we get a yellowfin stop.

~~Aug 16
 We had another good day today.  Well, afternoon I should say.  Yesterday, we got here at 2:30 in the PM and the fish were biting right away.  I thought for sure if we were here earlier, it would be stellar.  Nope.  2:30 was just right.  We hung out here all day not seeing any yellers, then right at 2;30, they showed up and it was good fishing for the next few hours.  We set up a little differently today and it paid off.  The grade of fish improved.  It was 70% premiums.  That's right.  18-30+ pounders.  2nd fish hold down.  We're cooling down the center well now. 

 Due to the fantastic fishing we've experienced this trip thus far, we are in need of some bait.  We're headed out to what I think is our best chance at making some.  No ones been there as far as I know for quite some time.  It's been windy.  It looks like we have a good weather window so it shouldn't look like the Flemesh Cap.  We're also hoping to run into some bluefin tuna while out there.  We're not just going out there for bait.  We're looking for something to use it on.  Let's keep the ball rolling.
       

TWO DAY NON-STOP ACTION!! APOLLO with 18 anglers brought in 180 Yellows, 157 Yellowfin, & 23 Dorado. Check out their next open party trip at Fisherman's Landing @ (619)221-8500

We departed today on Larry Brown's annual 10-day trip with 22 fine anglers. Most are repeats as they join Larry each year, but we are delighted to have a couple of new comers. We are in good weather and are happy to be driving out of the sooty smoky air. The group is excited after seeing Drew's great catch from the last trip. He had Dorado, Wahoo, those big cow Yellowtail and some Yellowfin with the jackpot weighing in at 160 lbs.! We are also getting reports that fish are moving in a new area and want to bite. This is all good news. So I will close for now as we get ready for dinner of filet and lobster with vegetables and a baked potato. Thanks for checking in and we'll update again tomorrow.

Today we enjoyed the calm comforts of the island. We scratched all day on nice quality yellowfin tuna. All in the 35-45 lb range. There were larger ones that were hooked but the the great whites had their way with us. Some anglers lost as many as two in the 60lb class due to the toothy critters. It was a good show and pretty impressive to see a 12-16' great white eat a 60 lb tuna in a couple of bites. We also had some pretty impressive bites as our dinner was an excellent Parmesan encrusted yellowtail with rice pilaf and a mixture of zucchini, mushrooms and onions. Tomorrow morning we will give it one more shot here. Thanks! Tommy and crew

47 yellowtail 29 bonito 6 calico bass. A couple of good shots today. Surface iron fishing is a technique that should be attempted once you are completely comfortable with your gear. I believe that you will enjoy fishing a lot more if you become very good at bait fishing first. Flylined sardines were the most productive today.

14 pass. 2 bluefin tuna (55&90 lbs). Felt like we had a really good day but when we opened the fish hold we only had 2 fish. Missed several other opportunities. Come prepared with good gear.

Aug 14
    As I write this, it's the morning of the 14th.  When I was awakened for my watch and day at 3:05 this morning I couldn't tell if we were running or if we were anchored up in the bay.  You can't really hear the engines from where I sleep but I couldn't tell from the ride because it was so nice going up last night.  I seriously asked Tommy as he was still up reading.
    
    The fishing slowed down for us today as fishing does from time to time.  The bluefin didn't bite as well this morning nor did the yellowfin.  There was still yellowfin to catch this morning and there were some good scores had in the afternoon away from the bluefin zone but we caught enough yellowfin yesterday and hung out in the bluefin zone for a chance at some more of those trophies in the afternoon/evening.  We still had a decent morning.  I mean we still caught 14 nice bluefin and some yellowfin, but the bf's never made it back around for the afternoon snack fest.  We had a great trip and will be off loading a nice catch tomorrow morning at 6:00 and turning right back around shortly after that for 5 days.
 
     One thing I forgot to mention yesterday was the amount of these toad bluefin being caught on jigs.  More then I have ever seen ratio wise but that could also be because more people were doing it but that could be because it was working well.  The shimano butterfly jig is the jig that caught most of our jig fish. But that could be because that's what most people were using but that could be because it was working so well.  And 90+ percent of those were caught on the sink.  No retrieve necessary except to bring it up to sink back down.  They loved it.  So if I were coming out this year I would throw a couple of those in my box.
                                
    
    PS- Shimano gave me nothing to write that last paragraph.  It just worked.