In an impressive show of sportfishing success, over a week from June 1 to June 7, San Diego’s fishing fleet brought in a remarkable total of 1,126 bluefin tuna, catapulting the cumulative catch over the 1,000 mark for the first time this season.
This milestone was achieved by 2,481 anglers who participated in 117 half-day to 3-day trips from San Diego landings.
In addition to the bluefin, the week’s haul included 15 barracuda, 31 bonito, 4 cabezon, 1,219 calico bass, 10 halibut, 13 lingcod, 4,443 rockfish, 133 sand bass, 88 sanddab, 261 sculpin, 148 sheephead, 66 triggerfish, 684 whitefish, 5 white seabass, and 82 yellowtail.
Of particular interest this week was a bluefin tuna that was processed and found to have apparent eggs or roe, prompting discussions on social media regarding the potential spawning of this species in Southern California waters.
Despite the excitement, experts remain cautious, noting that there has been no documented evidence of bluefin tuna fry in the Eastern Pacific.
Social media has been abuzz with speculation about spawning; however, marine biologists point out several reasons why bluefin would not reproduce in this region.
The first issue is the absence of fry detected in the meticulous netting efforts by researchers.
Moreover, bluefin fry require water temperatures consistently above 75 degrees Fahrenheit to survive, with their survival rates increasing significantly in waters at 78 degrees.
This would necessitate traveling to warmer regions, such as Puerto Vallarta or the Sea of Cortez, which typically are not habitats for bluefin tuna.
Additionally, state records indicate that bluefin tuna grow to massive sizes, with the California record set at 395 pounds.
Once these fish reach weights of between 150 and 400 pounds, they migrate back to the Sea of Japan to spawn, and they do not return to the Eastern Pacific thereafter, as confirmed by various tagging studies.
Although more research needs to be conducted, the chances of bluefin spawning in local waters remain slim given that catches over 400 pounds are rarely seen on this side of the ocean.
Comparatively, albacore tuna have also become a topic of conversation among fishing enthusiasts.
When a single albacore is caught, many on social media quickly proclaim that albacore are returning to the area.
However, such anomalies do not indicate a trend, as they pass by the region approximately 700 miles offshore.
For the moment, the occurrence of bluefin carrying roe does not imply that fry would survive in these cooler waters.
While anglers can purchase fresh albacore at the Tuna Harbor Dockside Market on Saturdays, fisheries report that many of these fish are caught far from San Diego, around 700 miles west of Point Loma.
Sportboats typically cannot undertake such distances with passengers on board; however, there has been a shift with boats starting to venture towards San Clemente as well as the Cortez and Tanner banks, where bluefin tuna are becoming increasingly prevalent.
More good news for anglers is that many schools of bluefin have been metered and sighted by spotter planes, indicating a positive outlook for the season.
These schools span from the northern Baja region to the Channel Islands, further tantalizing fishing enthusiasts eager for a great catch.
In perhaps one of the most exciting observations this week, Captain Juan Cook shared a thrilling video from Gonzaga Bay in the upper Sea of Cortez.
This video captured an extraordinary spectacle of sardinas—the fatter cousins of the common sardines—gathering in dense schools at the water’s surface, under attack from gamefish, notably the orangemouth corvina.
Such displays, where baitfish are so tightly packed they leap from the water in a panicked school, are rare and exhilarating to witness.
Even the pursuing corvina were seen airborne, making for a heart-pounding visual.
While counts for rockfish, whitefish, and calico bass show strong returns, yellowtail catches have been inconsistent.
Though some long-range boats have had success with yellowtail, the overall fleet has experienced hit-or-miss results.
Private boaters from La Jolla to the Coronado Islands, as well as pangeros fishing further south, have also reported variability in their yellowtail catches.
Most yellowtail recorded this week were caught by the short-run boats targeting bluefin under floating kelp paddies offshore.
The overall yellowtail count would likely be higher with long-range catches included, but as these boats tend not to publish their numbers, the reporting focuses on the short-lived fleet.
As summer progresses, both seasoned sportfishermen and newcomers to the scene are encouraged to take advantage of the vibrant fishing conditions that abound.
With bluefin tuna actively biting and progress being made in other catches, this season appears promising for anglers eager to reel in the catch of a lifetime.
image source from：https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2025/jun/09/bluefin-probably-not-spawning-off-of-california/
