Bluefin Tuna Fishing Out of San Diego is Otherworldly Right Now – 60 Years of Fishing and I’ve Never Seen Anything Like It
I’ve been fishing Southern California waters for six decades, and I refuse to get used to the kind of fishing we’re experiencing right now. This is otherworldly.
When I was a young man, the kind of giant-tuna action we’re seeing today — quality fish in serious numbers — was only available on 16-day long-range trips that ran 600 to 800 miles down the Baja coast chasing giant yellowfin. The species is different now, but the fishing is every bit as good… and it’s happening just 90 miles from San Diego on much shorter trips.
The numbers are absolutely incredible.
The Pacific Queen just checked in from a four-day trip with 142 bluefin tuna. Seventy-two of those fish weighed between 120 and 220 pounds. Most of the rest were in the 60- to 90-pound class. That would be a phenomenal trip on a 16-day long-range adventure. We’re talking about four days. Absolutely insane.
The Polaris Supreme has been putting together similar numbers. The last solid report had them at 72 bluefin with 52 fish over 100 pounds and at least two over 200 pounds — and they’ve surely added to those totals since. Boats all over the fleet are getting in on it.
Here at Friedman Adventures we’ve been saying for days that the bite would surge once we moved past the full moon. We also told you that massive amounts of fish were showing on the sonar but just weren’t biting four or five days ago. Those big schools are still there… and now it’s pure insanity. The fish that were sounding and not eating are now eating everything.
250- to 400-gram jigs have been the ticket. It’s worth noting that it’s going to be breezy for the next 48 hours in the bluefin zone, so bring some heavier 400g jigs just in case. After that, the forecast is for very light winds and calm seas. This is as good as it gets.
I know a lot of us have gotten used to good bluefin fishing over the past decade or so. Some people even take it for granted. Take it from a guy who’s been doing this for 60 years — this is phenomenal. This is incredible fishing. Southern California is blessed beyond belief. We are the envy of the sportfishing world right now, and I don’t say that lightly.
The resurgence of Pacific bluefin has turned our local waters into one of the best bluefin destinations on the planet, with quality fish available on short trips instead of the epic Baja runs of the past. The fleet is scoring big, the grade is excellent, and the action is only getting better as we head into the heart of summer.
I’ll be on the New Lo-An out of Point Loma Sportfishing starting this Friday and Saturday, and I’ll be live streaming the bite Friday night right here on the Friedman Adventures YouTube channel. It’s going to be an exciting one — these fish are big, the action is fast, and you’ll get to see it all in real time.
If you haven’t already, subscribe to the Friedman Adventures YouTube channel and hit that notification bell. It’s free. All you have to do is grab the popcorn and watch the show. You’ll be the first to know when we go live.
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X for daily updates, quick clips, and behind-the-scenes from the boats.
This bite won’t last forever at this level, but while it’s on, it’s something special. Get out there if you can — or pull up a chair and watch it with us Friday night.
Tight lines and good fishing, everyone.
— Phil Friedman
Friedman Adventures
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