Dana Wharf Fish Report: Warmer Waters Increase Action on Half-Day Trips

By Zach Cavanagh

The great weather stuck around for another week as we prepare to turn toward summer, and that provided another week of great fishing at Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching.

In his weekly report, Captain Brian Woolley said the water held at 62-64 degrees and the bass action has continued to improve. The half-day trips hit all the spots for bass, and anglers saw their best catches on the fly-lined sardine, not on the artificial baits.

Anglers also got some nice catches of sheephead using exotic baits such as clam and shrimp.

The three-quarter-day trips fished deep off Camp Pendleton to grab some rockfish and others from the bottom. As the water warms up, Woolley said the three-quarter-day trips may soon start working toward the shore to get some bass into their catches.

For the overnight trips, the Fury saw a nice haul of yellowtail over at San Clemente Island. On Saturday, May 4, 24 yellowtail were brought in, ranging from 8 to 20 pounds. Woolley said that is a “great sign” for San Clemente Island.

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Here are the latest fish counts from Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching:

May 8 – 2 boats, 29 anglers: 106 vermilion rockfish, 8 calico bass, 5 sculpin, 1 sheephead, 8 whitefish, 25 rockfish, 8 bocaccio, 85 bass released.

May 7 – 2 boats, 39 anglers: 5 calico bass, 72 sculpin, 5 sheephead, 18 whitefish, 31 rockfish, 42 vermilion rockfish, 51 bass released.

May 6 – 4 boats, 46 anglers: 13 calico bass, 35 sculpin, 1 sheephead, 15 whitefish, 71 rockfish, 134 vermilion rockfish, 28 bocaccio, 19 sanddab, 60 bass released.

May 5 – 5 boats, 153 anglers: 2 yellowtail, 27 calico bass, 105 sculpin, 4 sheephead, 36 whitefish, 215 rockfish, 8 vermilion rockfish, 1 bonito, 2 triggerfish, 90 bass released.

May 4 – 7 boats, 183 anglers: 24 yellowtail, 29 calico bass, 3 sand bass, 62 sculpin, 22 sheephead, 42 whitefish, 104 rockfish, 53 vermilion rockfish, 8 bocaccio, 3 bonito, 80 mackerel, 1 lingcod, 228 bass released.

May 3 – 4 boats, 100 anglers: 17 calico bass, 2 sand bass, 44 sculpin, 13 sheephead, 40 whitefish, 20 rockfish, 56 vermilion rockfish, 26 bocaccio, 96 bass released.