David Rosenthal just scored a true Channel Islands rarity — an 805 dorado.
Fishing the islands yesterday with his friends Jerry and Jenny, David hooked the dorado right at sunrise. It was the only one they found despite working healthy kelp paddies in perfect water that were loaded with thousands of baby yellowtail in the 6-8 inch range. The cool part? It was the very first fish he ever hooked on the Calstar 95J he got from Chuck at Z Custom Rods.
They still put together a fantastic day with strong action on bonito, barracuda, and solid 4-8 pound yellowtail. A lot of fish went back, and overall it was just super fun fishing. Bait was small-to-medium anchovies with huge schools around. Size 4-6 light-wire circle hooks with a 1/8–1/4 oz slider were the ticket.
Catching a dorado this far north in the Channel Islands is always special. These are tropical visitors that rarely push into 805 waters except during strong warm-water years. With the current El Niño bringing elevated ocean temperatures and pushing subtropical species farther north, we’re seeing more of these exciting strays show up. Moments like David’s sunrise dorado are exactly why anglers live for these El Niño seasons — you never know when a “normal” day of yellowtail and bonito turns into something memorable.
Huge congratulations to David, Jerry, and Jenny on a beautiful fish and a great day on the water.
David is the man behind Angler Pliers — some of the toughest, most ergonomic, corrosion-resistant fishing pliers out there. Built by a fisherman for fishermen. If you need a pair that will last, check out the full line at https://anglerpliers.com.
Tight lines,
Phil
Friedman Adventures
Check http://friedmanadventures.com for Captain’s audios, landing and boat counts, bait availability, Friedman Adventures AI, kids corner, and lots more.
End-of-summer Surf Fishing Festival — Saturday, September 12, 2026, 9am–12pm at Anderson St / PCH in Sunset Beach with the noon raffle. Parking available across PCH and at Big Fish Bait & Tackle in Seal Beach. Come join the family!