UTERAtlantic bluefin tuna fishing in Southern California
In Southern California, Atlantic bluefin tuna peak May–September and are around year-round, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. May: Bluefin push into US water — Tanner and Cortes Banks, the 43 and the 302.
Thinning.
Atlantic bluefin tuna in Southern California, month by month
- JanuaryAroundIn recent years some bluefin stay all winter on the offshore banks — the 'winter bluefin' trips out of San Diego.
- FebruaryAroundSurf perch peak; halibut start moving shallow. Perch on every sandy beach; drift the bays for early halibut on a warm afternoon.
- MarchArrivingSchools showing on the outer banks.
- AprilArriving
- MayPeakBluefin push into US water — Tanner and Cortes Banks, the 43 and the 302.
- JunePeakPeak season: kite-flown flying fish and sinker rigs with sardine on 60–100 lb fluoro; 100–300 lb fish.
- JulyPeakNight bite on the knife jig; big fish on the kite at dawn.
- AugustPeakStill peak; San Clemente Island backside.
- SeptemberPeakGood; follow the long-range fleet's reports.
- OctoberLeavingThinning.
- NovemberAround
- DecemberAroundSurf perch peak; the bays for halibut; winter bluefin some years. Perch in the troughs; slow drifts in the bays; long-range boats if the bluefin stayed.
Where to fish Atlantic bluefin tuna near San Diego, Dana Point, Long Beach
A sheltered bight of kelp forests, sand flats and harbors, with the Channel Islands, Catalina and San Clemente 20–60 miles out and the offshore banks (Tanner, Cortes, the 9-Mile, the 43) beyond. The long-range sportboat fleet out of San Diego is its heart.
Fish Scouter charts 227 wreck, 76 artificial reef, 16 ledge / hard bottom spots in the Southern California Bight map area — the kinds Atlantic bluefin tuna hold on.
What to use for Atlantic bluefin tuna
- Menhaden (pogies)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined or slow-trolled; cut in chunks for the bottom.
- SquidStrips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig.
- HerringCut-plug for salmon: head off at an angle, guts out, two hooks in tandem so it spins slow behind a flasher or a banana weight. Whole and live on a circle hook for stripers where the herring run.
- Sand eelsFree-lined or on a light jig head for stripers, fluke and bluefish; strips teased on a fluke rig.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–8/0
- Braid50–100 lb
Feeds in 50–76°F water, best at 58–70°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch Atlantic bluefin tuna in Southern California?
Peak season is May–September. Atlantic bluefin tuna are here year-round. May: Bluefin push into US water — Tanner and Cortes Banks, the 43 and the 302.
Where do Atlantic bluefin tuna hold in Southern California?
Look on ledge / hard bottom, wreck, artificial reef — around San Diego, Dana Point, Long Beach, Marina del Rey, Oxnard, Santa Barbara.
What is the best bait for Atlantic bluefin tuna in Southern California?
Live bait: menhaden (pogies), squid, herring, sand eels. Menhaden (pogies): Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined or slow-trolled; cut in chunks for the bottom. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–8/0, braid 50–100 lb.
What are the rules for Atlantic bluefin tuna in Southern California?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and change — read the current rule at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Fishing.
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