Species guide

Bluefin Tuna

Thunnus orientalis

The heavyweight champion of Southern California

Pacific bluefin have turned San Diego into one of the best big-tuna fisheries on earth. Schools now hold off our coast nearly year-round, from 20-pound footballs inside the 9 Mile Bank to 200-plus-pound cows on the outer banks. They are sight-oriented, line-shy, and brutally strong — a single fish can take an hour or more on the right gear.

Season: Year-round, with the strongest run May through November
Best bite: Grey light at sunrise, again at sunset, and on the meter marks at night
Typical size: 20–80 lb typical, 100–250 lb possible
Where we fish: 9 Mile Bank, 43 Fathom, 302, 371, Tanner & Cortes Banks

How we catch them

Flylining live sardine or mackerel on light fluorocarbon
Sinker rigs and knife jigs on deep meter marks
Kite fishing with a live bait or Yummee flying fish
Trolling Nomad and Rapala X-Rap Magnum plugs on the troll pattern
Casting poppers and stickbaits to breezing foamers

Tackle we use

40–60 lb outfit for flylined bait, 80–130 lb for cows
Fluorocarbon leader 40–100 lb — bluefin see everything
Circle hooks 2/0–7/0 matched to bait size
Two-speed lever drag reels with 400+ yards of capacity

Baits & lures

Live sardine
Live mackerel
Sardine chunks
Flat-fall jigs
Colt Sniper stickbaits

Captain's tips

Fish the lightest fluorocarbon you dare — leader size is usually why boats get bit or don't.
Keep the bait swimming naturally; a dragging bait gets ignored.
Steady, low-angle rod pressure beats short pumping on big fish.

Table quality

Exceptional. Rich, high-fat loins ideal for sashimi, seared rare, or grilled steaks.

Regulations

Federal HMS permit required on the boat; check current NOAA bag limits before every trip — we handle permitting.

Ready to target Bluefin Tuna?

Private charters aboard the Kate Elizabeth out of Seaforth Marina, Mission Bay.

(619) 431-3070