Hello anglers: Currently we are using 30, 40 and 50 pound test line with the equivalant size floro carbon leader. A 4/0 or 5/0 circle hook with a live sardine is the tackle reccomendation. A small 2-speed reel is essential, that way if you are lucky enough to hook one of the heavier bluefin your chances of landing that fish go up.
Team Searcher
Hello anglers: We have had a great morning with steady action on the same grade bluefin tuna–15-50 pound fish. A fly-line sardine and 30 pound line has been the ticket today.We hope we get some action this afternoon like we had late yesterday. Capt
Louis Zimm (right) landed this 40 pound fish today. Capt Greg Noonan with the assist. 
Hello anglers: We had a great day today with good fishing for bluefin tuna. Everyone had a chance at catching a quality fish. We landed several fish in the 40 pound class and a few fish in the 50 -60 pound range. The conditions were not great with lots of wind and chop but we still managed to make a day of it. We are spending the night and trying again tomorrow.
Team Searcher
Hello Celia, Thanks a ton for this photo. As you can see we made a kid very happy with his
first yellowtail. He was very excited to make his first offshore fishing trip and using the Shimano gear. He used a Talica 10II with 50 lb Power Pro and 25lb Shimano FluroCarbon wind-on leader and Terez Rod. His Name is Alayasah Mayfield and he is 13 years old. He was even coaxed into eating part of the yellowtail heart as a ritual still alive here on the West Coast. We fished a 1.5-day trip down to 75 miles south for 56 yellows, 11 bluefin and 1 dorado. A great group of anglers and the trip was sponsored by Sav-On Tackle. Please thank the crew of the Searcher for such a fine memorable trip.
Patrick Gee, G Outdoors, Inc.
Nathan Padilla from Encinitas is pictured with his 50-pound bluefin landed on 20 pound line–a great fish for that size line.
More later, Team Searcher
There is some space available on two 1.5 day trips on Sunday and Tuesday if you’re interested in trying for a quality bluefin tuna and some yellowtail.
Something must be brewing in the fishing chat rooms about passports since we are receiving so many emails and calls about it. At this time, a passport is not required on our trips, unless specified otherwise. A government-issued photo ID (drivers license) is sufficient for now.
We always suggest that a passport book or the cheaper passport card be obtained for the future, since that will probably become a requirement. All the application procedures are here: http://travel.state.gov/passport/
We would let everyone know with a LOT of lead time if a passport was required on a fishing trip, as they can take many weeks to receive after application.
Thank you!
Howdy anglers: Today the weather was up but the fish still bit. We’re headed home with some fish–yellowtail were 10 lb average and the bluefin were 12-40 lbs. We managed to get a single dorado too. We’re turning around on a 4-day adventure so stay tuned.
Terry Wade of San Diego, CA caught the jackpot–a 40# bluefin tuna!
Good angling and hope to see ya on the water soon,
Capt Aaron and the Searcher crew
Tip of the day-When bringing your fish to color in choppy weather, try to keep the fish in the water by lowering your rod tip. It makes things much easier for the crew.
July 11-13 — Tom Bartlett of Paso Robles, CA caught a 32 lb bluefin tuna.
July 13-15 — Joe Jacques of Lake Elsinore, CA caught a 41 lb bluefin tuna.
Congrats!
Howdy anglers: Once again we’re headed home with calm weather and a nice catch! We had action most of the day today fishing kelps. We had more variety today–we were lucky to add dorado to the day’s catch. The bluefin were 25-41lbs with the jackpot being a 41 pound bluefin tuna. Most of the yellowtail averaged 10 pounds. So we’re headed home and will be returning out on another 1.5 day trip tomorrow afternoon. Wish us luck!
Capt Aaron and the Searcher crew
Tip of the day: Patience is a virtue when in a tangle. It’s hard not to think “I’m gonna loose this fish!” But staying calm while the crew undoes a tangle for you helps everyone.
