How weird, wahoo

GOODBYE, albacore. Hello, yellowfin tuna. And dorado. And marlin. And -- wahoo?

In a saltwater changing-of-the-guard, longfins like albacore in the last week or so seem to have largely cleared out, while a surge of warm ocean water has pulled a wide mix of so-called exotic gamefish species -- usually found in waters farther south in Baja -- within reach of Southern California boats.

Skippers based in San Diego, where water is typically warmest, are targeting those fish. Last week, 21 anglers on the Sea Adventure from H&M; Landing caught 174 yellowfin (a.k.a. ahi) and 42 dorado (mahi mahi).

While albacore are the mainstay of the Southern California sportfishing fleet, one of the largest in the world, the bite has slowed from the quick pace experienced in July and August. There may be some albies still out there, down deep in the colder water they prefer -- although most seem to have headed north up the coast. Boats from Morro Bay landings have been getting into good action, but high winds and rough seas often limit access.

“This was an oddball year. It’s been one of those seasons where you don’t know what the conditions are going to be,” says Terrence Berg, vice president of 976-Tuna, an online sportfishing information clearinghouse.

But the good news for September is that ocean surface temperatures from the coast of Los Angeles and Orange counties down to San Diego have been about 68 to 75 degrees. That’s favorable for warm-water-loving yellowfin (off northern Baja and San Diego), yellowtail (around Catalina Island), marlin (toward the Channel Islands) and even wahoo, which is particularly usual. Wahoo, most typically found off the tip of Baja, are being reported just 60 miles south of San Diego.

Albacore could make another appearance by year’s end if, by chance, some boats stumble upon schools hungry enough to bite on the surface as the water cools during fall. If that’s the case, then get ready for some psychotic surface-feeding binges. Hooking into a 35-pound tuna on acid, one that makes your reel spin like a top, is one of the greatest rushes in all of angling.

For current conditions, visit www.976-tuna.com. For the latest comprehensive fish report, go to www.latimes.com/outdoors. To book a trip, contact the landings at Point Loma and Mission Bay in San Diego, or at Long Beach or Morro Bay.