How to Catch Bluefin Tuna in the Pacific Coast
The short answer
Bluefin Tuna in the Pacific Coast hold on bluewater. They peak Jun–Oct. Start with vertical jig: Heavy knife jig dropped to the deep marks and yo-yoed — the flat-fall night bite is the SoCal standard. Gray light for the topwater; the deep jig bite runs all night.
When Bluefin Tuna bite in the Pacific Coast
Late spring through fall — the SoCal foamers
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
off | off | off | around | around | peak | peak | peak | peak | peak | around | off |
What to throw for Bluefin Tuna
Best first. The retrieve matters more than the lure, so each one says how to work it.
- Vertical jig — Heavy knife jig dropped to the deep marks and yo-yoed — the flat-fall night bite is the SoCal standard.
- Topwater — A big popper or stickbait into a foamer — cast beyond and work it through the edge, hang on.
- Live bait — A flylined sardine on fluoro when the school is up but picky.
Where to find them
Look for bluewater.
SoCal bluefin range from 30-pounders to true cows in the same zone — bring two setups. Glass for foamers and bird schools, slide in quiet, and never drive through the fish. Check the current limits before you gaff.
Tide and timing
Tide isn't the driver for bluefin tuna — gray light for the topwater; the deep jig bite runs all night.
Tackle
80 lb-braid jig stick up to 100+ lb rail gear for the big models · 60–130 lb fluoro
Check the regulations
Size and bag limits change by state and by season, and they change more often than any article gets updated. Check your state agency before you keep anything.
Sounder links the right state agency for wherever you drop a pin, and flags a fish that’s out of slot as you log it.