April is when tuna fishing in San Diego starts to show its hand. Winter is still close enough to keep crews cautious, but the signs of a real season begin to appear. Water changes. Bait shows up. Fish stop being rumors and start being results.
April 2023 delivered exactly that.
Mixed-grade bluefin tuna on deck. Kelp paddy yellowtail cooperating early. A bite that felt active instead of tentative. Add in new bottom fishing regulations that required a thoughtful approach, and the day became less about chasing headlines and more about reading conditions correctly.
This was the kind of trip that tells you the season is waking up.
Early-Season Tuna Fishing Sets the Tone
Early April offshore fishing is rarely about nonstop action. It is about confirmation. Are the fish there? Are they moving? Are they willing to bite under real conditions?
The bluefin tuna answered those questions.
Mixed-grade fish are typical this time of year, and they are valuable. Smaller bluefin keep rods bent and anglers engaged. Larger fish mixed in raise the stakes and reward patience. Together, they create a balanced offshore day that feels productive without being chaotic.
This is the stage of the season where decisions matter more than speed. Knowing when to stay in a zone and when to move can be the difference between a slow grind and a steady bite.
On this trip, the signs were clear enough to stay committed.
Kelp Paddies Add a Layer of Opportunity
Kelp paddies in April are hit or miss, which makes them worth checking. When they hold fish, they can change the pace of the day quickly.
Yellowtail showed up on the paddies, adding urgency and variety. Kelp paddy fishing demands focus. You slide in, lines go out fast, and the window can close just as quickly as it opens. When it works, it rewards decisiveness.
That contrast is part of what makes early-season trips interesting. Offshore tuna require patience. Kelp paddies demand speed. A crew that can move between those modes without hesitation keeps the day moving forward.
(Cast Your Nets)! Right! Side of Boat ⛵🚢🚢🚢🛥️🛶🚤🚣🚣♀️🚣♂️🛥️🛥️
SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA COOL 😎
ACTIVATED FULL POTENTIAL B-2 STEALTH SPIRIT OF AMERICA.
Woot ⚓
Very efficient in handling and maintaining the quality of the fish. Couldn't be happier.
Thank you!
Jeffrey Stikes
Thanks Scottie and Noah!
-Rob & Alex
Boat was perfect… Captain was epic in his knowledge. We were 25 fish deep at the three hour mark. I am always looking for an excuse to charter a boat, and BSF makes it easy.
Fishing Within New Bottom Regulations
April 2023 also brought new bottom fishing regulations into the picture. Adjustments like these force crews to be more deliberate with their planning. You cannot rely on old habits or fallback options.
Instead of limiting the day, the regulations sharpened the approach. The focus stayed on offshore opportunities, with bottom fishing decisions made carefully and within the new framework.
That kind of adaptability matters early in the season. Conditions are already changing.
Regulations are part of the equation, whether you like them or not. The crews that succeed are the ones that account for both without letting either dictate the entire day.
Why Early April Trips Matter
- They confirm that the fish are present.
- They confirm that the timing is right.
- They confirm that the season is building, not stalling.
For anglers, that matters. For crews, it sets the tone for the months ahead.
Tuna fishing in San Diego is not defined by one explosive moment. It is built through steady progression. April trips are where that progression becomes visible.
This day delivered mixed-grade bluefin, cooperative kelp paddies, and a clear signal that offshore fishing was lining up the way it should. Not because everything went perfectly, but because the crew stayed flexible and read the conditions honestly.
Those are the trips that set expectations for the rest of the year.
When early April produces days like this, it is not about what already happened. It is about what is coming next.