Where have all the Albacore gone?

[Chris]

That is the question a lot of anglers have been asking the past few seasons. So, where are the albacore? Being highly migratory fish, they go where they want to go..usually to where the food is or water conditions to their liking.
We've gone through cycles in the past where, for one reason or another, the fish just don't come close to Southern California and Northern Baja waters. It's happened in the past, long before intense commercial pressure or the drift gill nets. It appears we are still in the midst of one of those cycles where the main body of fish turn their collective noses at us and just keep swimming. Oregon and Washington may be the place to go if you want to get your longfin fix this summer.
Hopefully the "exotics" will move up the line swiftly and fill the gap. But for many, it's just not the same.

Attachments:

[kodiakoutdoors]

Chris,
What are you feeling of the albies possibly making a showing in Central or Northern CA later in the year?

[spungears]

Shelter Cove reported 19 albies and one blue fin for 6 anglers on wed. of this week.

[Chris]

There is your answer! Actually, the past few seasons have been pretty decent for the north coast (as well as Oregon and Washington). Just a cyclical thing. They WILL be back. It's happened in the past. What's interesting is that we still manage to find a few fish with the funny long fins even though the main migration has passed us by! I think the fins of the tuna for the rest of this year will be colored blue and yellow...

[spungears]

Private boaters getting a few out of Santa Cruz.

[Chris]

One albacore caught 8/2 out of San Diego. Ah, one made it through!

[Chris]

1010 trench area and points west (SSW of San Diego) have been producing a few longfins through September. Big ones, too! However, the bulk of the schools remain either far offshore (in the cooler water) or up north. Big hits for some boats out of Monterey Bay as well as Oregon and Washington this year.