Albacore

[Charlie S]

If you have a boat that can get out 25 miles, or know someone who does, get to Fort Bragg when the ocean lays down, and head due West for about 25 miles. The Albacore are running hot and it is no problem to catch as much as you can eat. Suggest a 10 to 12 weight rod, shooting head, and 3/0 or 4/0 Flash Tail Whistlers with dark green back, pink side and white bottom, 6-8" long. Super fast strip or troll at 8mph. You can also used conventional gear with jigs. Take large coolers and lots of ice. You can't let these fish get warm or they'll be mush and wasted. Limit is 25 but none of the sensible private guys are keeping more that 5 or 6 as they are running 10 to 30 lbs. that's a lot of work to do right and really a lot of meat. Smoked they are great and filets bbq'd and basted with butter, lemon and garlic are ever so good. Next week is calling for pretty high seas but the following week might be back to reasonable conditions. If you go, tight lines!!

[ladalske]

Just went off the coast of Santa Cruz. it was guided with conventional gear but we caught 6. Love the sushi! Went out about 25 miles the seas were not as bad as last year (35 ft swells). This year we had about 10 ft swells.