Anglers are reeling with joy as massive yellowtails showed up just a few miles off the Orange County coast recently, a rare sight close to shore.
Captain Steve Locken, of RockenReel Sportfishing, said large groups of 40-pound yellowtail were seen on Monday and Tuesday three miles in front of the Dana Point Harbor in water just 220 feet deep.
“Never seen this in all my decades of local fishing,” Locken said.
“It’s like a playground out here, an aquarium,” he said. “It’s just great to watch, the size of the fish are huge. It’s epic if you’re a fisherman.”
Charters looking for fish of this size usually head to Catalina for all-day or overnight trips, but finding them just half a mile out, five minutes from the harbor, is nearly unheard of, Locken said.
“There were paddies and fish everywhere. It’s unique, I went out further and didn’t find them,” he said. “They were just hugging the coast.”
Locken is hoping it’s going to be an “epic” year for fishing. The fish could be coming to shore because of a marine heatwave, he said, with waters already about 70 degrees, early for this time of year.
“Everyone in the fishing and boating community is excited about what’s going on,” he said, noting that it has been about five to seven years since big fish like this have shown up, and when they did it has typically been about 12 miles away.
“It’s a really great sign we will have an epic sportsfishing season this year,” he said.
Dana Wharf Sportsfishing has also been taking advantage of the big yellowtail showing up close to the harbor.
“It’s been super fun,” said manager Donna Kalez.
The ocean has been active, with nine humpbacks spotted on a recent trip and a mother blue whale with her calf, she said.
“The ocean is alive,” Kalez said.
The yellowtails showing up are huge, in the 25-pound range, Kalez said.
“Anglers be ready, fishing is on,” she said. “To go out and have that good of fishing in 4 miles from the coast is pretty exciting.”
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