Dorado from a pier...

Talking to Josh at Hogan's Bait and Tackle in Dana Point and he mentioned that two dorado (aka mahi mahi and dolphinfish) were caught from the San Clemente Pier the last week of July. He saw the pictures. This is only the third California pier to record dorado from the pier, the others being the Ocean Beach Pier in San Diego and the Oceanside Harbor Pier (which initially seemed hard to believe).

Even more amazing was a dorado caught by an angler fishing from the jetty rocks. A crew member on a Sportfishing boat watched him fight and land the fish as the Sportfishing boat was coming into the harbor. Eviently there were a huge number of dorado avaliable locally just a few weeks ago although the catch now seems to have slowed down.

Wow! Dream catch from shore! Thanks for passing on the news!

Awesome to catch from shore.

Wow! Any news on how they were rigged?

No, he didn't know that although I imagine it was an artificial lure.

Killing me man! Dream catch indeed. Thanks for sharing!

The dorado are still all over just a couple of miles out from dana to oceanside, they are just not biting real well. So there still is a slim chance of getting one from a pier down there.

Probably not as surprising but I landed 3 Dorado off the beach at Punta Arenas, 40 miles South of La Paz. We were Surf fishing for Roosterfish when the Dodos came into the beach chasing bait. Amazing!

With the incredible volume of dorado out by catalina this week I would not be surprised if someone caught one at the mole while fishing for bonito. Its been a fun week over there. The catalina flyer caught a bluefin tuna on its way to the island.

If anyone hears of a dorado from a pier, a verifiable catch, please let me know.

I heard from another source that the Catalina Flyer caught the tuna while it was docked in Avalon Harbor in between trips. I do wonder if they would allow you to use a trolling rod on the ferry boat though.

My understanding is they caught it on the way over and then took photos on the front of the boat at the dock. I do know of several bluefin taken on inflatables just a few hundred yards out of the harbor though.

LA area sportfishing boats saw a great dorado bites this week not far from shore on paddies. I went out yesterday to find one for myself. Have not heard one from pier/shore yet. Spectacle was that one of the angler hooked on a large blue marlin on 15lb test rig. It of course broke it off after 10 min or so.

I have seen the crew of Catalina flyer cast lures while they are moored in front of the Mole.

I doubt they would allow trolling while on the way. May be too fast anyways for most fish except wahoo, I hear.

Going to Mole for an overnight trip this Thursday.

Anybody wants to join me??