2020 West Coast Offshore Sportfishing Recap

 

2020 West Coast 

Offshore Sportfishing Recap

Well, what can you say.... 2020 has been a hard year for all of us. At the start of the season, I was not sure there was even gonna be a season. Our landings where shut down, our bait was shutdown, even our harbors and launch ramps were shut down. Fishing was closed. We all stayed inside for what seemed months (maybe it was, just a blur) and then finally... fishing was again open. There were exaltations and curses, excitement and frustration, but one thing was for sure, the season was ON.

Just in time too... the Tuna got here almost on que, or maybe they were already here. No one knows for sure. But there where SCHOOLS of hungry Bluefin Tuna who had not seen a fishing boat in months.

MARCH - PRESEASON - Before the Lock Down

Right before we got locked down, we were about to start an EARLY and EPIC Bluefin Tuna season. It has been at least four years since I have seen the size and volume of Bluefin this early in the season.

 

As you can see by the above video, those are BIGGER than usual bluefin, averaging 200lbs+ and some of the larger specimens just shy of 300 lbs. As always, the kite was the go to weapon on our San Diego fishing charters, and frozen flying fish where the ammo.

 

 

There are not many times when an angler can say that "it was wide open 100+ lb fish", but indeed that was the case. Now keep in mind that this was a LOOOONG run down south, west of Ensenda about 60 miles out. The colder water did not seem to deter these fish.

 

 

 

 

THEN WE GOT LOCKED DOWN

Our landings, our bays, and our beaches, all shut down. And the USCG was stopping and sending home any boat that tried to go fishing (don't ask me how I know). And for a while there, the 2020 season looked like it would end right there. We would stay on lockdown until JUNE 9th, when H and M Landing (where we depart from) was legally allowed to reopen. The season was SAVED and there was much rejoicing.

 

JUNE

June was a very stressful month, even though we had reopened on June 9th, at any moment the health department could close down our operation, and the entire season would be over. Once the doors opened, like an avalanche, the anglers descended upon us. On June 8th there were NO fishing charters, and on the days after the announcement, the phone caught on fire and hasn't stopped since. The fishing industry owes a big thanks to all of the diehard anglers who literally came in and saved the day.

June 13, first bluefin tuna landed for a customer after the lock down ended.

 

At just over 140lbs, this is no monster. However, it was our first 100lb+ bluefin after the shut down, and it was worth celebrating! Little did we know how much better it was going to get.

 

The Nomad makes use of another perfect weather day to go land fish.

 

 

 

 

Yellowfin, Bluefin, Yellowtail all show up in numbers, but where are the Dorado?

 

JULY

The Nomad racks up an early summer lead by producing volume, the Easter B is just trailing by a little, followed by the Deadeye. 

 

 

The Nomad with Captain Mike Sorr runs Mission Bay fishing charters. 

 

Big Bluefin tuna show up in great numbers, but we are hampered by several bad weather windows.

 

GREAT Tuna action within a 24 hour six pack charter! Again!

 

AUGUST

Captain Walsh of the Easter B with a nice one!

Add another notch for the Nomad.

 

 

The Kraken (4 pack) and the Easter B (6 pack) clean up on the yellowtail.

 

The one that got away. That was cool air time though.

 

AUG 23, NEW BOAT ADDED, ATUN

 

 

AUG 30, THE ERIN ANNE SHOWS OFF HER LINES

 

As August ended we were still landing big Bluefin Tuna on the 1.5 day trips consistently. These bluefin where definitely not school fish, but on average were over 100lbs, with some of the bigger ones approaching 300. The 12 boats are seeing seasonal yellowfin, yellowtail, and lots of Dorado (Mahi Mahi) as the month ends.

 

The DEADEYE scores again.

Score a BIG one for the Deadeye. This one came in over 200+ lbs.

 

 

 

Another fine haul!

 

Another Bluefin and a NICE Yellowtail.

 

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

 

273 LBS monster taken on the EASTER B with Captain Trevor Walsh.

 

 

THREE Bluefin over 120lbs, one trip with Cpt. Reeve, NEXUS four pack.

 

266LBs on the ERIN ANNE II with Captain Chris.

 

 

185LB Marlin caught on the Atun on September 7th
about 40 miles due west of San Diego.
A rare catch in these waters! Captain Clinton Dunn said he
always runs with fast running lures out on the way home and
was proceeding at about 11knots when the strike came.

 

 

Well to sum it up, 2020 has been a hell of a year, but some how we have managed to stay well, and continue on with your lives as best as we can. Fishing provides a great way to get out of the house, and get back into nature. Spending time at sea with friends and loved ones can not be beat.  The season is by far not over, in fact I predict we will be seeing Bluefin until November. Check out of the San Diego fleet at this link.

 

If you would like to book a charter departing out of San Diego, you still have time! We are still on the Bluefin at San Clemente, Yellowtail at the Coronado Islands, Yellowfin and Dorado at the middle banks. We are having our best season in years, the fish counts don't lie. If you would like to come for a trip, click on the link below and pick your boat. 

 

CAPTAIN'S EXPERIENCE SAN DIEGO FLEET

CLICK HERE TO BOOK.

 

Until next time, see you on the water.

 

Nick Matina

 - West Coast Guest Editor