Trip Reports

Capt Aaron and the Searcher crew

Searcher Chef Charley Erichsen has been watching tuna come over the rail – and he’s been dreaming up some delicious recipes to get that tuna onto the plate! He recently sent in this flavorful recipe including a fresh red onion salsa. Don’t freeze those tuna steaks, enjoy them now, as if you were dining aboard Searcher!

SEARED TUNA STEAKS with CHARLEY’S RED ONION SALSA 

INGREDIENTS 

4 tuna steaks (6 to 7 oz) 

1 tsp of cumin seed that has been toasted and crushed 

1 good pinch of red pepper flakes 

Juice and zest of one lime (separated)

4 TB of good olive oil  

Salt and ground black pepper 

Fresh cilantro 

For the Salsa – 

1 med to small red onion, small diced 

7 oz of red or yellow cherry tomatoes, rough chopped  

1 avocado that has been pitted and diced small

2 kiwi fruits (peeled and diced)

1 red jalapeño chili pepper, seeded and diced small

0.5 oz freshly chopped cilantro  

6 fresh mint sprigs,leaves only, chopped  

1 to 2 tsp of Fish Sauce 

1 tsp of molasses 

Method: 

Wash the tuna steaks and then pat dry. Sprinkle with half of the cumin seed, pepper flake, lime zest, salt and pepper, drizzle half of the olive oil and let marinate for approximately 30 minutes.  

Make the salsa. Mix the onions, tomatoes, avocado, kiwi fruit, fresh red chili pepper, chopped cilantro and mint. Add in the reserved cumin seed, the rest of the lime zest and half of the lime juice. Season to taste with fish sauce and molasses. Allow flavors to combine for 15 to 20 minutes and then re season as necessary. 

On a pre heated grill or cast iron griddle, cook the tuna steaks 1 and a half to 2 minutes per side to achieve a rare steak. Remove from heat and serve garnished with the salsa and a fresh cilantro sprig.

Congratulations to the winners of the jackpot for the 2017 Labor Day Weekend Special 3-day:

1. Joe Park – 165# bluefin

2. Robin Chang – 154# bluefin (not pictured)

3. Bill Couts – 147# bluefin

Hello all,

Timing is everything, and this trip we had exceptional timing on all three days we fished. Today we were super lucky to get in on a big fish bite. The bluefin tuna from today were from 85 pounds to 165 pounds. Everyone had a chance to pull on a fish of a lifetime. That doesn’t happen very often! 50-80 pound line with matching fluorocarbon and a circle hook with a live bait was the key today. Check Bill Couts from Murrieta and his 125 pound fish.
We are all tired and satisfied with a great day of fishing and a great dinner.
Back early in the morning (on Labor Day), we will have a good jackpot report for you.

Capt Art & Team Searcher

Hello all,

We were very lucky this morning to have a school of bluefin tuna stick with us and bite a little! Everyone had multiple opportunities to land a good size tuna. Yet the afternoon was slow with very little tuna seen in the area. We hope for a repeat of this morning tomorrow to end the trip. Mike Overley from La Quinta landed this bluefin tuna on 40 pound line and a live sardine. Way to go, Mike!

Team Searcher

Sep 2, 2017 10:56 AM

Hello all,

Good fishing for bluefin tuna this morning! Plenty of action on 30-50 pound tuna. Live sardine on 30 and 40 pound line with 30 and 40 pound fluorocarbon leader and a circle hook. Here’s Tim Boyle with a nice size tuna using one of our loaner outfits from Seeker and Accurate Products. Tim came all the way from England with his brother Jono to visit their brother Nick and go on this trip.

More later…we are about to enjoy lunch.

Team Searcher

Hello all,

We started our annual Labor Day Weekend trip with a few bluefin tuna close to home. Here’s Jesse Brown with a nice size bluefin caught on a live bait. We are off to a good start on this trip!

More later,
Team Searcher

Congratulations to the jackpot winner for the 2017 Turner’s Outdoorsman 1.5-day Open Charter Trip!

1. Michael Loop – 18.8# yellowtail

Hello all,

Thanks to Turner’s Outdoorsman for sponsoring another great trip!! We had a few nice size yellowtail this afternoon and then we had some action on yellowfin tuna as well. Here’s Beto Schramm from Turner’s San Diego with a good size yellowtail. This afternoon’s yellows and tuna were landed on live sardines. Everyone had an opportunity to catch something today! It was a phenomenal day on the ocean today with no wind or swell. Returning in the morning Sept 1, we’ll have a jackpot report for you.

Team Searcher