Albacore Catch Claimed in San Diego
An angler on an overnight sportfishing boat out of San Diego Saturday claimed the first albacore catch of the the year, an occurrence that usually happens in the summer months.
An unidentified angler on the sportfisher Prowler landed a 12-pound albacore at 11 a.m., 72 miles south of San Diego on a course to Guadalupe Island. The Prowler was following a tip from a private boat that reported catching albacore in the same area a week earlier. Commercial net boats reportedly have been taking numerous albacore out of San Diego and near Santa Rosa Island in the Channel Islands west of Oxnard.
Albacore--a popular fish also known as longfin tuna--are the only tuna that can be labeled “white-meat tuna” for commercial canning purposes. They prefer warmer waters, and the peak season along the West Coast is usually during their spawning run from July through October.
Jack Mahon of Fishermen’s Landing in San Diego said Saturday’s catch is not necessarily indicative of an early run but more likely could be attributed to unusual and temporary conditions.
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