Best Bluefin in Decades + Humpback Whales Lung-Feeding Off Half Moon Bay
Tony Quiros lives right in Half Moon Bay, California, and he’s been living the dream lately. An avid fisherman who’s been out multiple times in recent weeks targeting bluefin tuna, Tony says he hasn’t seen the fishing this good in decades. The catches have been remarkable, and the ocean itself has been putting on an absolute show.
The waters off Half Moon Bay are unusually nutrient-rich this year. The entire food chain is unfolding right in front of everyone — massive schools of anchovies, pods of humpback whales lung-feeding on them, bluefin tuna, sharks, birds, and other mammals all right there in the same water. It’s one of those rare times when you can actually watch the whole ocean working in real time.
Tony and his buddies have found the most consistent way to get bit is trolling Mad Mac lures (or similar style lures) at around 12 knots. That speed has been producing.
The other day started with a completely different plan. The king salmon bite has been spectacular, with plenty of 20-pound fish right in front of the harbor. Tony planned to stay on the kings. But it turned into a tough day. Meanwhile, the radio was going nonstop with boats hooking big bluefin. It got to the point where Tony couldn’t take it anymore. He looked at his buddies and said, “Guys, do you want to go for the bluefin?” Everybody said yes — except one of them had to be back at the dock by 5 o’clock. They agreed to run out and look around with a hard cutoff.
What followed was pure chaos in the best way. Hookup after hookup after hookup. They barely had time to process a fish and get it on ice before the next rod went off. At one point they were circling these massive pods of lung-feeding humpback whales and not getting bit. They decided to slow the boat way down to two or three knots just to get some video of the whales. While they were filming, one of the guys yelled “Hookup!” A bluefin had eaten the Mad Mac on that dead-slow troll.
They left them biting. There were still tons of fish around, but they had given their word to be back by 5. An incredible day on the water.
This is the kind of fishing and the kind of natural spectacle you dream about. The bluefin are here, the whales are putting on a show, and the food chain is wide open right now off Half Moon Bay.
For the latest reports, captain’s audios, landing counts, and more, check http://friedmanadventures.com.
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