Bluefin Tuna
San Diego Offshore
2.6 fish/angler — within 2-day range
Apr 13-19, 2026
The Count
Bluefin Tuna
Past 4 weeks · Top 5 boats
4-Week Total
694
High
300 · 03/18
Low
60 · 04/01
- Pacific Voyager
- Patriot (SD)
- Polaris Supreme
- Total
Bluefin season officially starts in July. Nobody told the fish. The chart above shows a consistent uptick through April — and the boats aren't lying. The Pacific Queen (Fisherman's Landing) came back April 12 with 78 bluefin for 30 anglers. The Polaris Supreme (Seaforth Sportfishing) has been finding fish every trip since April 4. On April 12 alone, 41 trips across the fleet logged 195 bluefin region-wide.
The grade is keeping it honest: 25–50 lbs. Not cows. But that's actually ideal for most anglers — lighter gear, faster action, and you're not fighting a 200-pound locomotive on 80# iron all day.
No boat data available for this period.
Conditions When the Bite Was Hot
Conditions — Apr 9-13, 2026
Powered by Fish City64.6°F
San Clemente Basin
5.6ft WNW @ 11s
San Clemente Basin
14kt WNW
San Clemente Basin
Waning Gibbous (88%)
Calculated
Clean (0.28 mg/m³)
CoastWatch ERDDAP
Major 01:51–03:51
Minor 08:21–09:21
Source: NOAA Buoys 46086 | Data from nearest reliable stations — not exact spot conditions.
The bite has been happening in that narrow water temp band you'd normally only see in midsummer: 64–65°F at the San Clemente Basin. That's 3–4°F above the April average, and it's what's pulled the bluefin north early. Flylined sardine has been the primary method — 30-pound fluorocarbon, smaller hooks. Captain Gavin on the Pacific Queen specifically flagged this: "25-30# outfit with fluorocarbon and smaller hooks."
Swell is running 5–6 feet at an 11-second period, which is manageable on a 2-day sportboat but means the ride out won't be a lullaby. Wind offshore has been 12–14 knots WNW — enough to keep the surface textured but not enough to push fish down.
7-Day Forecast
7-Day Fishability Forecast
Tuesday is still a bit lumpy from the current WNW swell. By Wednesday the wind drops to near-zero and swell backs off to 4 feet — that's your trip departure window. Friday is the standout: 0–10 mph SW, 3-foot swell, new moon behind us. Captain Kley (Polaris Supreme) already flagged Friday evening as a target departure.
Bonus: the new moon this week means dark nights offshore. Bluefin feed on the surface at night when the water is black — no competing moonlight. On 2-day trips this is a serious advantage.
Conditions Match
5/5conditions match — Strong match. Get on a boat.
Every condition box checks green this week — that's unusually clean alignment for April. The new moon on Wednesday–Thursday is a legitimate edge on overnight trips: bluefin surface-feed more aggressively in dark water, and the boats run lights to concentrate bait. If you've been on the fence about booking a 2-day, this is the week to pull the trigger.
What Anglers Are Saying
Polaris Supreme fish report, April 13, 2026
"It is biting right now a lot closer to home. We'll be in them on Friday evening."
— Capt. Kley, Polaris Supreme
Polaris Supreme fish report, April 4, 2026
"The Bluefin were elusive on our last trip, but as of last night we are back to business."
— Team Supreme, Polaris Supreme
Tackle Loadout
Tackle Loadout
Rod
25–30 lb class spinning or conventional
Line
65 lb braid
Leader
30 lb fluorocarbon, 6–8 ft
Bait
Live sardine, flylined
Jigs
Flylined sardine is the primary bite right now — 30# fluoro, 2/0–3/0 ringed hook, let it swim free in the chum line. Capt. Gavin on the Pacific Queen confirmed a 25–30 lb outfit is plenty for the current 25–50 lb grade — the Penn Fathom 25N (2-speed LD) is the workhorse call. If you want insurance against the occasional bigger fish, step up to a 40 class (Fathom 40NLD2 or Accurate Boss Valiant BV-500N). When fish aren't breaking on top, drop a tungsten or knife jig (250–350g) on a short 150–200 lb mono leader. Gavin's rule of thumb: go lighter and smaller than you think on presentation.
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