Mexican Fish Report

Jacksmelt are still continuing to give Chetco south jetty crab pier anglers plenty of thrills although the action has tapered off from former weeks.

Most of the fish are being picked up near the surface, hence the smart anglers are Huck Finning their way to their 7-fish limits. So definitely think about using a bobber when fishing for the frisky silversides.

Flat-calm seas and soft ocean breezes also beckoned anglers to catch limits of rockfish and lingcod.  Remember that in Oregon, one cabezon may now be kept per day as part of your daily 7-fish groundfish limit.

Tuna action fair out of Brookings and Charleston Harbors
Last week, several anglers towed their vessels up to Charleston Harbor in Coos Bay in the hopes of cashing in on the red-hot tuna action that usually frequents that area this time of year.

The tuna action which a few weeks ago was described as "off the hook" by albacore aficionados, diminished to an average of 4 to 10 tuna per boat. The change in activity was attributed to a behavior that tuna normally exhibit in August and September.

"We probably trolled through several hundred jumpers in eight miles of trolling," said Brookings angler Tiffani Berg.

Jumpers are referred to tuna that continually jump in a porpoise-like fashion but often get a serious case of lockjaw when it comes to eating metal, feathers or even live bait.

Anglers found 60-degree water within 18 miles from shore and 62-degree water within 25 miles from port.

Meanwhile a few tuna hunters found some clone munching albies relatively close to the jaws of the Port of Brookings Harbor.

Blue water and a corresponding hard-chlorophyll edge was found Thursday by a few tuna aficionados who worked the 58- to 59- degree sea surface temperature/chlorophyll edge near the 42 line.

Although the action was considered fair at best, anglers should be locking into the Terrafin website to follow current sea surface temperatures and chlorophyll readings, because red-hot tuna action could be gearing up out of both ports this week or the next.

Salmon action off-and-on in the Rogue Bay
What has been often termed a good one day - fair the next type scenario has been giving Chinook trollers in the Rogue Bay plenty of rod-bending adrenaline rushes.

"We're catching salmon and the action is varying day by day," said Larry Cody from the Rogue Outdoor Store in Gold Beach on Thursday.  "Yesterday and the day before were really good days, and we're seeing fish over 30 pounds for sure."

On the average, professional fishing guides have been doing quite well.

"The fishing has been really good," said guide John Anderson on Thursday. "I tagged a guy out and got one for his wife yesterday. "I'm averaging between 3 and 4 fish a day."

One change in the typical Rogue Bay rigging of late has been running a flasher ahead of your leader.

"Right now they seem to be doing real well running the Big Al's Fish Flash Flasher either in the colors chartreuse or dark green," notes Cody.

Once again, make sure to bring plenty of anchovies with you because critters other than salmon are munching the baitfish.

"You will be pleased to know that virtually all the fishermen in the bay are catching fish," adds Cody.  "But they're not all happy about it because even though they're trolling for salmon, they're catching an inordinate amount of surfperch."

So make sure you carry at least 3 trays of anchovies per person.  The Rogue Outdoor Store has plenty of anchovies on hand as well as advice.  Larry Cody and Jim Carey will be happy to show you how to rig up the new Fish Flash setup.

Surfperch fishing fantastic
This has been one of the best surfperch fishing years I have ever witnessed on the south coast, as evidenced by the amount of redtails being caught by salmon trollers in the Rogue Bay.

"Surfperch fishing is obviously very good," emphasizes Cody.

When surfperch fishing is this good, that's the time to experiment using different things like small single-tail grubs, flies, spinners and Berkley 2-inch Camo-colored Sand Worms.

Tight lines!