We are now into June of this year. Fishing has been on and off, but the season has been slowly ramping up.
This month (June) is the MONTH LONG YELLOWTAIL Tournament. There are still yellowtail to be found on the right Paddys offshore. But the bigger news would be the Local yellowtail that have been seen, with some caught also. The half-day even managed a 47 pound slug over at La Jolla this past Friday. This went along with good bass fishing and even some legal barracuda in the mix. It would be a great time to fill in the Entry for our Month Long Tournament (Entry and Rules Link)
Also, see below (or on website) for the remaining 2023 MBMC Tournament Schedule:
JUNE 1-30, 2023 – Yellowtail Tournament
JULY 15-16, 2023 – Tuna Tournament
AUGUST 19-20, 2023 – What’s Hot Tournament
SEPTEMBER 1-30, 2023 – Ron Lively Monthlong Marlin Tournament
SEPTEMBER 22-24, 2023 – MBMC Marlin Tournament
Finally, do not forget to sign up for the BLUEFIN TUNA SEMINAR / BBQ (free to members, see attached Flyer link ) on June 17th at the Dockside Deli (Marina Village).
Hope to see you at the Seminar, on the Water, or at the Dock.
May is quickly upon us. Fishing has been streaky at best. The bluefin showed up for a brief moment, but with windy conditions the water temperatures dropped and fish counts followed.
Rock Codding continues to be good on both the North and South nine. The good news is that yellowtail have showed up in increasing numbers on kelps so keep your eyes out on the water. Don’t forget the lesser species. . Member Nick Kane took the time to get in on some big sand dab fishing.
Nick Kane
The Bay Bass Tournament was held on 4/22-4/23 with 9 anglers participating in the event. The Hargaves Family on the ‘Radar’ won the tournament. A big congratulations to Board Member Jim Kelly for his 28 pound Bluefin caught on 4/22/23. Jim takes home the honors of FIRST TUNA FLAG OF 2023 along with Fish of the Month for April!
Jim Kelley – First Bluefin Tuna 2023
To all our members please take pictures of your catches or events on the water and send them to us. We would love to post them.
Our membership has grown to 61 members. Remember, on June 1st dues will increase to $150.00 so get signed up now. We want to welcome new members Mariusz Wysoczanki, his son Gabriel, and Carl Schultz. They are fishing on a 32 ft. Yellowfin named ‘Vitamin Sea’. Nicholas and Juli Beth Hinds also joined the MBMC this month on their 22 ft. Dorral ‘Pilar’.
We have a couple of events scheduled coming up. The first will be our Bluefin Tuna Seminar and BBQ. This will be held at the Marina Village Deli on June 17th. Food will be served from 2-3:00 pm. Be advised food service will end at 3:00. John White from Dana Tackle will discuss Bluefin strategies. This is sure to be a great seminar. John has always provided a vast amount of knowledge and new techniques for catching bluefin. A free Burger with fries & a soft drink will be provided for Members. Non-members pricing is $10. A raffle will also be held, tickets will be for sale at the Event. Flyer sent via email.
July 22nd we will celebrate the Mission BayMarlin Club’s 50th Anniversary. A little belated (pushed back a year) because of all of the Covid stuff. This will be held at the Bay Park Fish Company from 4-7pm. We will have 1974 alumni share their stories of the early days in the club. Past Presidents Paul Himmelberger, Bob Smith, and Jim Valentine have been invited. Shirts marking this occasion will be available for purchase. A Flyer will be distributed shortly.
The MBMC Halibut / White Seabass Tournament is this month. We have changed to a One Month format this year. Since we are getting a late start, there will be NO Entry Fee. All you have to do is fill out the Entry and submit it to enter. Prizes will be nice MBMC Award Plaques for the Largest qualifying fish. Link to Entry Form & Rules.
Finally, the Southwestern Yacht Club has an open invite to everyone for their Bottom Fishing Tournament to be held May13. This is a Charity Tournament to benefit the ElderHelp Non-Profit. You must weigh in at the SWYC scale in San Diego Bay. It could be easier to drive over your catch if participating. Should be a good event for a great cause. Check-out their website for further details.
Mark your calendars for these Events and watch out for future MBMC Seminars and Tournaments.
Another Bay Bass Tournament is in the books. Timing worked out great. The weather cooperated with mild warm weather all weekend. The Bay was full of people taking advantage after our long bout of “cooler” weather.
There were a total of nine (9) Anglers participating.
Scott Paul
Dave Chrisman
Tommy Baronner Jr.
Thomas Baronner
Ken Yasuda
Bob Hargraves
Donna Hargraves
Brent Hargraves
Brent Hargraves Jr.
Most Anglers were Kayak fishing, but it seems a Boat might have been the way to go. Team Radar dominated the board again this year. Great job!
Men’s Winner Bob Hargraves (Radar)
Women’s Winner Donna Hargraves (Radar)
Junior Winner Brent Hargraves Jr. (Radar)
Brent Jr. wins a $25 gift card from Dana Landing Tackle in addition to the Entry money in the Junior Division. That will get him some more Bay Bass Lures.
Catch stats are as follows:
Brent Hargraves Jr. – 14-3/4″ Spotted Bay Bass
Bob Hargraves – 15″ Spotted Bay Bass
Brent Hargraves Sr. – 14-1/2″ Spotted Bay Bass
Donna Hargraves – 15″ Spotted Bay Bass
Ken Yasuda – 14’1/2″ Spotted Bay Bass
Tommy Baronner Jr. – 14-1/4″ Spotted Bay Bass
Great job all Anglers. Many more “shorts” under 14″ were released plus a legal halibut on a beautiful Mission Bay weekend.
Now onto the Tuna Update. There has been sign of bluefin on the upper banks. There has even been a little bit of offshore yellowtail caught. MBMC Member Jim Kelley on the Arumi Boto put in the time and scored the 1st Tuna of 2023 on Saturday. Great work Jim! He was able to score a 28# Bluefin in the 302 area on the troll. That is a legit tuna, but there are larger bft in the 50-90# class out there also. April Bluefin is a great way to kick off the Offshore Season!
Everyone have a great week and good luck out on the water!
Hopefully the weather starts to cooperate and boats can get out to fish more. Not much precipitation, but windy. . The Rockcod fishing is now open in U.S. Waters. Be sure and read through the latest Regulations as they have changed this season. There is some quality out there to be caught. . . Bluefin sign @ 50-160 miles, but are biting hot and cold. Daytime biters on bait and colt snipers, nighttime knife type jigs. Water at the Islands is not too pretty, but it is holding Yo-Yo yellowtail. Look for the counts to get better as the wind lies down.
Alex E. and Paul H.Ken Y.
April will be the start of our Tournament schedule. Our first tournament of the year will be our Bay Bass Tournament. This is scheduled for April 22nd and 23rd (fish both or just one day). Let’s make this a great start to the year. Get your friends and family out on the bay for a fun day of fishing. Take a kid fishing, we’ll be sure and reward them for their effort. Remember that Non-Members can fish this tournament provided they are signed up by a member.
The Halibut/White Seabass (May) and Yellowtail (June) Tournaments will be One Month format Tournaments this year . Rules will be worked out shortly for this new layout we are trying. Even if you are not entered in a Tournament. Come weigh-in fish at the Dana Fuel Dock and get a Certified Weighslip filled out (Fuel Dock Staff will assist you). This will give you a great chance to win FOM (fish of the month) if you are entered in this. We had NO fish weighed in for January, February, and March. So, whoever weighed in a fish would have taken that month’s FOM prize.
Member Directories and Cards are available now. Big thanks to Kent Yamada for putting this together again. We would also like to give a huge thank you to outgoing President Shane Hurt, longtime Board Member Billy Vitale, and Jerry Lively (two-time past President, Boardmember, and Member of many years). With outgoing Board Members, we would like to bring more people into the mix on the Board. Please do not hesitate to contact any Board Member regarding this. Contact info. is available in the Member Directory. The more people that get involved, the more we can do for the Club.
This past weekend we had the annual Member Meeting and included a Seminar. John White from Dana Landing Tackle graciously offered to speak at our seminar. He offered his insight on Mission Bay inshore fishing. We heard great tips on areas to target, best conditions to use different techniques, and of course the latest hot gear that is getting bit. There are many new bay techniques and gear that are hot. If you missed the Seminar, visit Dana Landing Tackle for advice. Those people fish EVERY day and know what’s biting and on what. The Raffle had a lot of great new gear for the Bay Bass Tournament. Everything from Japanese Swimbaits to Alabama Rigs, much of which was generously donated by John White @ Dana. Big thanks goes out to them! The Member Meeting was good as we now have new Board Members sworn in.
President: Ken Yasuda
Vice President: Paul Himmelberger
Secretary: Scott Paul
Treasurer: Tommy Baronner
Tournament Directors: Jim Kelly / Kevin Yamamoto
Social Director: Scott Paul
Weighmaster: Kevin Yamamoto / Jim Kelly
Our next big event will be the MBMC 51st Anniversary Celebration. We are planning on having two ORIGINAL members, Paul Himmelberger and Jim Valentine speak at the celebration. Stay tuned on details for this. In the meantime, we are working on updating our website to modernize and add some features.
Another reminder if you have not signed up yet for the 2023 year, the dues will be increasing to $150.00 on June 1st. Get renewed by May to save the $25.
As always please share the MBMC with your friends and family and get involved with these great Seminars and Tournaments. Send us your pics of having fun fishing, we would love to post them. Look forward to seeing everybody in the 2023 fishing season.
Hope everyone is enjoying the beginning of Spring. Sounds like the on and off storms will be coming to an end. Time to go fishing!
I would like to remind everyone that we are having our Yearly Member Meeting along with a Seminar on Saturday, April 15th.
It is being held at Sardina’s Restayrant on Morena Avenue and includes an Italian Buffet with Antipasto Salad, Chicken Marsala, & Lasagna. This will include a Seminar by John White of Dana Landing Tackle. He will be giving us pointers on Bay Bass, Halibut, & White Seabass fishing.
Please flyer included in recent email for details.
