Eastern Pacific Tropical Update: Tropical Storm Iselle Forms + More Systems in the Pipeline — El Niño 2026 Could Keep Flushing Warm Water & Tropical Fish Our Way! 🌀🎣🔥
Here’s the latest from the National Hurricane Center as of this morning, Sunday, August 23, 2026:
Active System
Tropical Storm Iselle just formed several hundred miles south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California (near 15.3°N 114.2°W). It’s moving west-northwest at about 12 mph with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. The forecast has it strengthening, and it could become a hurricane late Monday or early Tuesday. Right now the track keeps it well offshore, heading generally west-northwest over open water.
Other Disturbances We’re Watching
• Central East Pacific (EP91): A broad area of low pressure with disorganized showers well south-southwest of Baja. There’s a medium 40% chance it becomes a short-lived tropical depression in the next couple of days before it gets absorbed by Iselle.
• Well southwest of southwestern Mexico: A new low is expected to develop mid-week south of the Baja tip. Formation chance is near zero in the next 48 hours but jumps to a high 70% over the next 7 days. A tropical depression looks likely later this week or over the weekend as it moves west-northwest.
• Well offshore southern Mexico: Another area of low pressure could form late this week off Central America. Only a low 20% chance of development over the next 7 days.
(Central Pacific still has Tropical Storms Lala and Moke near Hawaii, but those are well outside our local picture.)
Now here’s the part that gets every Southern California and Baja angler’s attention.
We’re in a strong El Niño 2026, and longtime fishermen have seen this movie before. When these eastern Pacific systems crank up — especially the ones that dig a little deeper or get close to Baja — they help flush and push that warm tropical water northward. That warmer water doesn’t just sit there… it brings the fish with it. Yellowfin, dorado, skipjack, even the occasional wahoo or more exotic subtropical species start showing up earlier and farther north than normal.
We’re already seeing it this season with the solid yellowfin and dorado action on boats like the Old Glory and Producer. A few more systems like Iselle and whatever forms later this week could keep that warm-water conveyor belt rolling. That’s one of the big reasons a lot of us believe this El Niño still has a lot more good fishing left in it.
We’ll keep a close eye on Iselle’s track and any new development. Stay safe out there, and keep those tropical tackle boxes ready.
Check http://friedmanadventures.com for the latest Captain’s audios, landing and boat counts, bait availability, Friedman Adventures AI, kids corner, and lots more.
And don’t forget our end-of-summer Surf Fishing Festival — Saturday, September 12, 2026, 9am–12pm at Anderson St / PCH Sunset Beach. Noon raffle. Parking across PCH and at Big Fish Bait & Tackle in Seal Beach.
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