Fishing in the inshore area slowed down a bit last week, perhaps due to another groundswell, and possibly to the red tide that have been affecting the local waters. Best news might be that from offshore tuna hunters who returned to port last week with full boxes of albacore. Inshore weather looks promising for the coming weekend, though offshore, it may be blowing gale force. Check the weather reports carefully before venturing offshore.

According to Todd Fraser at Bayside Marine, halibut are still on the bite from Capitola to the Mile buoy, and he is fielding an increasing number of reports of big flatties from the North Coast pocket beaches. "There was a 44 inch halibut caught near Three Mile Beach on a shrimp fly and squid. I heard of a few other 20 plus pound halibut caught near Davenport and a few near the Mile Buoy. The fish are still here and the big halibut are just starting to push in." Ed Burrell reports a number of smaller halibut caught in that area this week, and adds the Santa Cruz Wharf enjoyed a "pretty consistent bite" of smaller flatties on Saturday.

The occasional thresher shark is still snapping bait near the cement ship this week, though the white sea bass bite enjoyed by many for the past few weeks seems to have dropped off. It may be a result of the swell, but the hordes of bait balling along the beaches has thinned somewhat. Here's hoping the bait comes back and brings big fish with it.

After a long unproductive wait, local boats are finally getting into some albacore tuna. The warm tuna waters have been far offshore all summer, with few decent "breaks" where the cold and warm water currents meet. These are the areas that hold albacore this time of year. Last week, local skipper Frank Idiano took the gamble, stocked up his 42-foot Sea Angel with food, ice and crew and shoved off for a 3-day offshore trip. Idiano traveled 112 miles offshore before he found the water he was looking for. After heaving to for the night, and fishing for Humboldt squid, he and the crew began a daylong albacore hunt that resulted in 60 fish being put on ice in the box. Idiano is often among the first of the locals to locate the elusive longfin tuna each season, and this year is no different. Our hats are off to you, Frank!

Most local boats do not have the range and most local anglers the fortitude for such epic trips. All are hoping the deep blue tuna water moves closer to shore and provides tuna action for the rest of us. September and October are often good months for albacore in our area, so fingers are crossed.