Tuna Pens Lead to Big Catches for Anglers

Anglers fishing about 55 miles southwest of San Diego caught 12- to 15-pound tuna recently, thanks to tuna pens being towed about 30 miles off the Baja coast.

“I’ve never heard of such a thing,” Capt. Don Ashley said. “I’ve heard of tuna on kelp paddies ... but never on the tuna pens.”

The underwater pens are about 150 feet wide and 50 feet deep. The pens dot the rich waters of Northern Baja California around the Coronado Islands and Ensenada, where tuna are cared for and groomed, often for the Japanese market.

The tuna pens have been an easy way to locate bluefin for sportfishermen fishing of the coast of Northern Baja.

Bluefin tuna are discriminating feeders, so 15-pound test line with a 20-pound fluorocarbon leader helps to induce a bite from the fish.

“I am guessing [tuna pens are] like a kelp paddy where fish come to hide out or seek bait,” Ashley said. “Either that or they are coming to say hello to their brethren. ... Just when you think you have seen it all, something new comes along."

For now, the tuna destined for Japan are showing Southern California anglers where they can find their very own fresh toro.

Quick bites

• There has been tremendous bluefin tuna fishing for much of the past week as the bite has been red hot around the tuna pens off the Baja coast. However, the bite slowed down to a trickle on Tuesday with just a few tuna taken. The Condor out of Fisherman’s Landing in San Diego caught more than 50 tuna on Wednesday afternoon, including a 70-pound bluefin.

• Local fishing has been tough, though some anglers are still catching sculpin and rockfish. There are still a few bass on the kelp beds, as well as an occasional white sea bass, but overall, it’s been much slower.

• Tours out of Dana Wharf Whale Watching have spotted at least one blue whale each day for 30 days straight. There has been great whale watching in Newport Beach. Harbor Breeze Cruises in Long Beach and in Redondo Beach have also had success. Passengers on a boat from Harbor Breeze Cruises spotted two humpback whales Wednesday.