Yellowtail action remains steady at the Islands. For most it's pretty good fishing. Best action has been coming from the Middle Grounds and along the drop-off that runs between there and North Island in about 20 fathoms. Many of the yellowtail schools running around here are the smaller 8- to 12-pound grade, but there are a few schools of bigger fish in the 15- to 20 pound range, especially along the deeper edges of the dropoff.

Some of this stuff is coming up to the surface and can be found under birds but most of the fish are coming in on the yoyo iron after finding the fish on a sonar mark.

The other areas worth looking for yellowtail if the Middle Grounds aren't producing are the rockfish areas, north and east of Pukey Point and down the east side of South Island and the South Kelp Ridge. Both areas have held yellowtail off and on all winter long. You might also run across a stray school down at the Rockpile, but it's mostly rockfish and a few lingcod here. ...http://www.fishdope.com/