eureka ca Fishing Report 2024

Captain Mike Pritchard called in at 12:24 with an audio update from the Tribute. We have 16 Bluefin Tuna, 1 Yellowfin Tuna and 16 Yellowtail. It's beautiful weather. Very good fishing we have lost a little a few fish too!

Sep. 2

Well we started in some traditionally tasty grounds today. The weather was magnificent and so was the water we were in. Warm and a beautiful glassy blue. It was also lively as could be. There were birds buzzing around all over, little dabs of dolphin, big herds of dolphin that were "all birded up"(that's code for "looks right"), a dead animal floating,(known for holding lots of dorado),kelp paddies and floating fishing gear buoys(also known for holding mucho dorado and wahoo). Well none of it was holding !@#$. I'm just bummed about it too. We had this area all to ourselves for 3 days in early September with beautiful weather and fishing conditions and it stunk. I can't sugar coat it. We covered a lot of good looking spots for not much fish. It just wasn't there. If I had a time machine I would go back 5 days ago and do it all over again. We would start above and fish our way down instead of starting below and fishing our way north. At least then my stress level wouldn't be high because we'd have fish in our holds. Fishing would be so easy with a time machine. Maybe I shouldn't write such downer reports but my friend Rob on board says he enjoys reading the good with the bad and you know what, this sort of thing happens. Fishing can be good and it can be bad. Oh well but hey, our trip is only half over, we're going to catch a bunch of yellows tomorrow, get some bait, maybe catch some more yellows and some more bait then go and whip on the tuna. Right? I hope so.

Your bummed but still very high spirited captain, Drew

~~Oct. 15
 I forgot to mention yesterday how steamy it is down here.  Steamy, like we're boiling a giant pot of water or something, I can't explain it.  Anyways when you walk out of an air and conditioned part of the boat it's like POW!  Holy Toledo!  But after a little bit you get used to it and it's not that bad until you find some AC again and then come back out and it's like, POW again.  Anyways, we had a little more wind this morning which helped with the kite fishing and it stayed one direction which helped with the anchor fishing.  We had another decent morning.  George caught another over 200 and his bud Craig joined him with a 207.  The sharks weren't as ferocious this morning and this afternoon I'd have to say they weren't much of a problem at all.  We really did a number on the wahoo yesterday because today we only caught a few but thankfully we had a great day on the anchor starting mid morning or after lunch, I already can't remember.

 The boxed and vacuum sealed flying fish from Florida the gang brought down really paid off today.  That's mostly what I did this afternoon was rig flying fish for the kite and help gaff tuna when they needed me. For a couple hours they were hitting the baits on the kite as fast as we could put them out.  Most of what we're catching is in the 100-130 pound class. The big story was Charlie this afternoon.  He caught 3 bigguns.  A 194, 213, and a 204.  A nice afternoon for Charlie.  About half the gang are already releasing anything under 200 pounds.

 For dinner we had a lovely corned beef and cabbage and potato meal.  Afterwards I was waiting for the shower and i noticed all the tuna that was under the boat and I pointed it out to the chef.  So he went down there and sinker rigged a sardine right on top of one of the tunas heads and he got himself a 177 pounder shattering his previous personal best of 35 pounds.  Way to go Mike.  Most people at the time were tying on new top shots on there reels.  They all new what was going on and that they could most likely do the same but nobody did a thing.  Everyone was fished out so that shows we had a good day.  You just can't fish 24 hours a day.
         

 

Capt Mike Pritchard on the Tribute calling in a fantastic fishing this morning, we have over 100 Yellowfin Tuna kelp hopping around the temporary pens. We have seen lots of Dorado in the area putting on show jumping, although we haven\'t been able to entice any to bite yet. We still have lots of time to fish today, the fishing has been the best we have seen in years. Now is the time to get out, call the landing to check for available spots on upcoming trip. See you on the water.

The San Diego finished today with 23 yellowfin 42 skipjack. Still plenty of fish out there. Make those reservations.

Good fishing in the morning with 70 to 100 pound fish. Most again were released. Late in the day we got lucky with two more big fish. Young Gunnar got another one over 200, and Charlie got one right at 200. Just a great trip with George Davis and his group, and an awesome crew. We will be into the Cape tomorrow to drop off the passengers to fly home and be at Fisherman's Landing on Wednesday.

This past winter the San Diego family lost one of its most beloved members. Mike Morrison known as “Iron Mike” was a dedicated regular who loved chasing bluefin and always kept positive outlook whether he caught one or not. Today his brother landed a 145 pounder and it had Mikes name written on the belly. This fish was one of 18 landed. The other 17 were 60-80 pounders.

Captain Ryan Bostian called in the afternoon with an update from the San Diego out of Seaforth Sportfishing in Mission Bay, CA. We have 80 Yellowtail (in the 15 to 20 pound class) at the Coronado Islands. They are biting on dropper loop, yo-yo jigs, and fly-lined baits.