Yes, I know that salmon season is just starting in the ocean, Buoy 10 is opening Aug. 1, and sturgeon season will still be open until July 31. But the albacore season is just around the corner.

NOAA water temperature analysis maps inside the 125-line are showing a patch of 59-degree water just off the mouth of the Columbia River and a patch of warmer water just below that. When the bigger stretch of warm water from Northern California meets up – it’s tuna time.

For the past 10 years, tuna fishing in Washington’s offshore waters has improved with each succeeding season. Fish have been more plentiful and charter boat skippers have gained more experience as they experiment and try and improve upon albacore fishing techniques. One of our biggest assets has been the accessibility of live bait (anchovies) in Ilwaco.

For many years, Southern California has been the Mecca for albacore tuna fishing, but as we mentioned in the previous paragraph, fishing out of Washington and Oregon ports are now producing the best fishing on the West Coast.

Charter prices range from $265 for a one-day trip, to somewhere in the neighborhood of $550 for a two-day trip. Some charter boats do not carry live bait; you want to be on a boat that carries live bait. Live bait generally offers the opportunity to catch more fish. Fishing with live bait gets you up close and personal with the tuna and gives you a much better appreciation of the sport.

Tuna boats out of Ilwaco will probably commence their first trips around the third week of July, depending on the location of the tuna. Excellent tuna fishing will continue throughout the months of August and September.

The Oregon Tuna Classic comes to Ilwaco on Aug. 6 and benefits regional food banks and Ducks Unlimited. The entry fee is $300 per boat team and prizes include, first place $3,000, second place $2,000 and third place $1,000.

The shotgun start takes place at Buoy #2 (bell & red) at 6 a.m. on the west side of the bar. Generally, there are 60 to 80 sport boats entering this event.

If you want to register for this event, just punch up Oregon Tuna Classic on your computer.

STURGEON

Sturgeon fishing has picked up slightly on the Lower Columbia between the Wauna Power lines and Buoy 10. Fish checkers registered one keeper sturgeon for every 10 rods for recreational boats and one keeper for every nine rods on charter boats. As previously mentioned, sturgeon season between Wauna and Buoy 10 is open seven days a week through July 31.

BOTTOM FISH

Charter boats fishing deep water off the Washington coast are catching some really nice fish, including lingcod.

Ron Malast can be reached at 665-3573 or raiders7777@centurylink.net