Where are the yellowtail we used to see

[cole boop]

Just got back into ocean fishing last year after a fun dorado trip. I’m pretty into it now constantly scouring bd forums even got Fishdope from when I was interested in trying to get out on a couple slayday trips figured it’d pay off. This has always been a thought to me but where are the yellowtail that was caught all up and down the coast? I remember when I was 14 or 15 seeing the 3/4 day boats and full day boats getting good fish counts all up and down the coast specifically remember our long beach oc boats. I remember that vividly as I’d want to go on a trip on the pursuit so bad but no one wanted to fish with me with 60 other people lol. I’ve read that the fish are there still in numbers but the seals just keep them down. What’s the word on this? Has the lb shelf still gotten yellowtail In recent years? Were those years just the glory years of yellowtail and do those time periods come and go for good and bad yellowtail years. Would love to hear some theories and opinions!

 

[Troy]

“ I remember when I was 14 or 15 seeing the 3/4 day boats and full day boats getting good fish counts all up and down the coast”

That’s exactly the problem. Too many dudes caught too many fish for too many years. So Cal is a shell of what it used to be. Same with other oceans around the world.

 

[hucklongfin]

“ I remember when I was 14 or 15 seeing the 3/4 day boats and full day boats getting good fish counts all up and down the coast”

That’s exactly the problem. Too many dudes caught too many fish for too many years. So Cal is a shell of what it used to be. Same with other oceans around the world.

You mean like the huge Sand Bass counts we’d see in the summer?

 

[fishkilr]

There was alot more overnight boats in la years ago..
La harbor alone had the shogun,topgun,first string and outer limits at the same time all running overnight island trips all winter usually bass fishing at sci or going to the other islands if the yellows or seabass showed up.
The squid spawn was much more consistent back then creating many more winter opportunities that lasted for weeks without getting pounded into oblivion among other things..

 

[simmo13]

I’m going with cyclical. I really got into fishing 2010, I fish mainly out of Long Beach. From 2010-2014 there weren’t yellows around shoe may era Dom’s here and there. But during the El Niño years of was it 2014-2016 yellows were all over the horseshoe and 150. Then they disappeared and were only in the ropes of the mussel farm ha. Will we see them again in the inshore with this new El Niño. Time will tell.

 

[wils]

When the DFG switched to the DFW, they stopped stocking local waters.

 

[plj46]

I'm not a believer in the "cyclical" theory.Years ago La Jolla had good fishing all summer long.Consistently for many years.A crowded day would have 25 boats or so.The last time I had good Yellowtail fishing at La Jolla there had to be 150 boats there.Good fishing for us was one or two guys and myself catching 40 Yellows.We'd keep a few and release the rest.I think we did it to ourselves.I have doubts it will ever be that way again.

 

[cole boop]

You mean like the huge Sand Bass counts we’d see in the summer?

I never really payed attention to the bass fishing counts. Just the yellowtail

 

[stuman]

Last year dorado - cyclical
Local BFT - cyclical - or did a reduction in the commercial catch help the fishery?
Sardines - cyclical or did a reduction in the commercial catch help the fishery?
YFT?
Calico?
Barracuda?

 

[dalurker]

much like the telephone, crank windows on a car, etc; it's called "evolution"... shit changes!

they're still here, but...

 

[salimedwardo]

La harbor alone had the shogun,topgun,first string and outer limits at the same time all running overnight island trips all Nox Vidmate VLC winter usually bass fishing at sci or going to the other islands if the yellows or seabass showed up.

 

[cole boop]

kinda odd I bring this thread up yesterday and the native sun gets a local yellow today lol

 

[hucklongfin]

Well then, keep it coming!

 

[Bill W]

I am still crying about albacore, and not willing to travel North unless I do some commercial fishing for them.

 

[Rusty123]

According to Friedman Adventures, some kid caught a small YT in Redondo King Harbor. Reported this morning, check out his video

 

[Hustler]

This season has seen (IMHO) a better grade of yellowtail on offshore kelps, than I can remember the past few years - just have to find the right one is all.

Best bet (if you have your own boat), pony up the cash and get a tower or belly hoop up top, invest in a pair of stabilized binos (and keep them glued to your eyeballs), and most importantly - slow down (you'd be amazed at what you've been missing).

My two cents...

 

[rodngun762]

We the tax payers employ people who's full time job is to answer this question, and sometimes they make graphs for us dummies to look at

My take: a peak in landings will be followed by a decline in landings, both because of lessened reproductive capability of the species since a lot got killed, and also the cyclical nature of water temperatures which expands and contracts the range and volume of the fish into southern California. There's also ocean factors outside of our control (and understanding) that effect "recruitment"- the ability of fertilized fish eggs/larvae/fry to grow into adult fish.

 

[Hustler]

Looks like my shitty stock charts

 

[reelbadlarry]

Where are the sardines in Monterey? It's got more to do with the Ocean than fishermen. The mass of squid that moved into the sand bass breeding grounds was enormous...they eat everything they can.... and then no more sand bass.....I blame it on the squid.

 

[skrilla]

The inshore kelp forest are dismal at best. Not much cover for bait to hide. Bait balls I've seen have mostly been on move and I imagine the homeguards follow that instead of sticking around. DNA sampling of the bigger offshore YT and comparing them to the ones caught inside might lead to a clue.

 

[pacificscout]

They'll be here locally in two weeks.

 

[mbhalihunter]

That yt plot doesn’t take other things into account. All the marine protected area people say the same thing, catches are down and the fish are coming. It’s bs, everyone is fishing giant bluefin tuna. I don’t even waste my time on the coast, I’d rather strike out for giant tuna than catch coastal fish.

 

[Invictus]

Fishing is actually far better now, than in the 80's, thanks to regulation changes.

I don't know what it was before that because my biggest decision prior was do I take a nap or finish my bottle.

Anyone know where I can get an Albacore?

 

[plj46]

Fishing is actually far better now, than in the 80's, thanks to regulation changes.

Where is this better fishing ? I need the numbers.

 

[Invictus]

Where is this better fishing ? I need the numbers.

Any kelp line in OC for Calico, WSB, Halibut.

Any where for the hyper mythical BFT before ten years ago, when we literally had to re-learn how to fish for them.

Or Cod after the hated, and yes I was one of the skeptics, closures.

No meed to go on a ten plus day now and kill yourself for a cow, or go to PV.

I think we are still seeing a lot of people in the private boat game from C-19, which is again changing.

I have no idea what your neighborhood was then, or how it fishes now.