Captain Mike’s Blog

Click here for the most recent update: nhc.noaa.gov. Marie is over 700 miles south, heading west, encountering colder water and weakening. Its effects won’t influence our upcoming fishing trips!

Hello anglers: Well the good luck charm of the memory of our friend Dick Uranga paid off big time today. We had one of our best days tuna fishing for the season today. WOW! We didn’t even have to move the boat until noon. It wasn’t wide-open fishing but it was steady, and everyone had a great time–mixed sizes of yellowfin tuna weighing15-25 pounds. Live sardine was the method of choice.
Thanks Dick for looking out for us today!
Pictured is Capt Art with Omar Urcadez from Tucson AZ and a nice size yellowfin.
Team Searcher

Hello anglers: We had some action today on yellowfin tuna. Most of the fish were 15-20 pounds. We had a few dorado mixed in on kelp paddies. The weather is fantastic. Today’s picture is Terry Onishi with a dorado.Terry is another good buddy to Capt Potatohead. He is creating a lot of mischief aboard this trip,in honor of our good friend.
Looking forward to tomorrow, Team Searcher

Hello anglers: We fished this afternoon for a few hours and let everyone wet a line. We saw some spots of yellowfin tuna that didn’t bite all that well. We landed a few tuna and also had three nice-size dorado. The weather is awesome with calm seas and no wind. We are spending the night and looking forward to tomorrow.
Today’s picture is Mike Wicen, one of Capt Potatohead’s good friends, with Capt. Aaron and a nice yellowfin tuna.
Team Searcher

15-year old Austin Spinney of Placentia, CA was the jackpot winner this trip with his 38# bluefin tuna. His grandfather, Jack Nash, brought Austin on his first long-range trip.

Hello anglers: Today we travelled back up to the tuna grounds and arrived after lunch. We had some good action on 12-20 pound yellowfin tuna and saw some bluefin tuna on the fish finder, but we didn’t land any bluefin. Fly-line sardine was the method today, with 25 pound line and a 2/0 J hook. Changing your bait on a regular basis was key to getting a bite.
The weather is wonderful with sunny skies and calm seas. Today’s photo is of Aaron Sroka of New York, with his son Sam and his nephew Will Pollock. Aaron and his family had a great time and can’t wait to come back.
Team Searcher

Hello anglers: We have had a glorious morning fishing yellowtail! The weather is great with sunny skies and calm seas. Everyone has had an opportunity to land a quality yellowtail, with most of the fish in the 20 pound class with a few smaller and a few bigger. The majority of the fish are being landed on Yo-Yo iron–blue and white heavy is the lure of choice. It’s amazing that for decades thsislure has been the most successful for catching yellowtail.
Pictured with Capt Art is Aaron Sroka from Las Vegas, NV.  He and his nephews are having a great time. We will be headed north this afternoon to try for tuna tomorrow to finish the trip.
Team Searcher

Hello anglers: Today was a tough day as far the catching was concerned. It was a beautiful day for fishing, calm seas, sunny skies, great conditions, 70 degree blue water…just very little fish in it. We are headed further south to try for yellowtail for a day. Wish us luck.
Team Searcher

Hello anglers: The action was a little slow this afternoon, but we did manage to land a few nice bluefin tuna. Pictured is Mas Kaneko of Los Angeles, CA. Mas is a long-range veteran for over four decades, and over three decades he has fishing with us on Searcher. Capt Kenny Merrell gets the assist on this tuna. Mas and Kenny go back over 40 years to the days on the New Bluefin. Mas and his brother Aki used to charter that boat in the early 70’s, and Kenny and I were deckhands back then. Wow time flies when you’re having fun.
Team Searcher

p.s. Mas is 88 years young.

Hello anglers: Good fishing today for our 14 passengers! A little slow on the bluefin tuna, but good yellowfin tuna fishing. Live sardine is the key today with 25-40 pound line. We have had some opportunities with good-size bluefin tuna but unfortunately we haven’t landed many. Today’s midday picture is of crewmember Mike D with Ron Beckenfeld from LA and his nice bluefin.
More later. Team Searcher