Species guide · California
Yellowfin tuna fishing in California
Thunnus albacares, a pelagic species also called ahi, yellowfin and allison tuna. Listed for the Southern California region. Peak season, about 1 more week.
Right now it scores best in Outer waters from Santa Cruz Island to San Clemente Island to 60 NM offshore including San Nicolas and Santa Barbara Islands at 58.
Season now
Peak seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
Southern California
Peak season, about 1 more week- Jan: Not present
- Feb: Not present
- Mar: Not present
- Apr: Not present
- May: Not present
- Jun: Off season
- Jul: Shoulder season
- Aug: Peak season
- Sep: Peak season
- Oct: Shoulder season
- Nov: Off season
- Dec: Not present
Peak: Aug to Sep. In season (shoulder or peak): Jul to Oct.
Research notes, Southern California region
Taken mostly by San Diego and Los Angeles CPFV and private boats off southern California and northern Baja when water above about 65 to 68 degrees pushes north. Strong in warm years and nearly absent in cold ones (CDFW).
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 1
California bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's yellowfin tuna score this hour.
Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (63) · Best day Wed, Sep 23 at 11 PM (68) · 9 named spots
Not scored in this forecast: East Santa Barbara Channel from Pt. Conception to Pt. Mugu CA including Santa Cruz Island, Inner waters from Point Mugu to San Mateo Pt. CA including Santa Catalina and Anacapa Islands and Waters from Pt. Sal to Santa Cruz Island CA and westward 60 nm including San Miguel and Santa Rosa Islands.
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 66°F to 88°F, best between 72°F and 82°F.
- Water depth
- 100 to 10000 ft of water.
- Structure
- Bluewater, canyon, ledge, bank, pinnacle and open water, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers moving water, with light current.Tide stage has little influence offshore. Current edges, eddies (warm-core eddies in the Gulf), temperature breaks and bait around platforms and FADs drive the bite.
- Light
- Bites best around dawn and dusk; feeds at night too.
- Pressure
- Little response to pressure changes.
- Wind and sea limits
- 20 kt of wind and 6 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.
Tackle and technique
Yellowfin feed in blue water along canyon edges, the shelf break, current edges, deepwater platforms and FADs, usually from the surface to about 300 feet. Troll ballyhoo, spreader bars and cedar plugs early in the day, then chunk butterfish or sardines, fish live hardtails, or drop jigs to marks. Around Gulf platforms and in the canyons the night bite on chunks and jigs is often better than the day.
- Methods
- trolling, chunking, live bait, vertical jigging, popping
- Lures
- skirted ballyhoo rigs, spreader bars, daisy chains, cedar plugs, diving plugs, butterfly and knife jigs, poppers
- Bait
- ballyhoo, butterfish chunks, sardine, live blue runner (hardtail), squid, flying fish
Regulations
California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Synced with CDFW Sep 22, 2026. Rules shown verified Sep 13, 2026.
10 per day
Season: No closed season on file
Counts toward the general limit of 20 finfish.
CDFW 2026 California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations booklet (last updated July 17, 2026) · verified Sep 13, 2026