Yellowfin Tuna Fishing Reports — San Diego & Southern California
San Diego boats have landed 38,872 yellowfin tuna in the last 30 days across 582 trips. The bite is on 2.5-day trips right now: the Relentless put 749 yellowfin on the deck for 12 anglers on September 22. Through September, the 2026 season is running 1175% ahead of 2025 on the same dates.
When is yellowfin tuna season in San Diego?
September, with the count peaking in September — 4,282 yellowfin in September 2025. Fish show as early as April; the season is effectively over by the turn of the year.
View as table
| Month | 2026 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | — | — |
| Feb | — | — |
| Mar | — | — |
| Apr | 220 | — |
| May | 36 | — |
| Jun | 54 | — |
| Jul | 2,681 | 16 |
| Aug | 13,280 | 13 |
| Sep | 37,130 | 4,282 |
| Oct | — | 890 |
| Nov | — | 774 |
| Dec | — | 17 |
Which boats are catching yellowfin right now?
Eight boats account for the bulk of the last 90 days. Every name links to that boat's page — schedule, reports, and booking.
Does the moon phase matter for yellowfin?
The bright and dark moon results differ in our data: since June 2025, dark-moon trips (under 25% illumination) averaged 1.42 fish per angler across 375 trips, versus 2.44 on the full moon (499 trips) — a raw split across 1,322 trips, not controlled for season. Tonight: waning gibbous, 90% illuminated.
What are your best chances of catching a yellowfin?
2.5-day trips led at 65.0 yellowfin per trip over the last 90 days across 69 trips. The next dark-moon windows are October 6–15 and November 4–14.
| Trip length | Avg yellowfin · 90d | Listed price · mid-50% |
|---|---|---|
| 3/4-day trips | 33.1 (121 trips) | $83–$140 (1,154 listings) |
| Full-day trips | 49.9 (293 trips) | $124–$240 (3,187 listings) |
| Overnight trips | 54.2 (223 trips) | $240–$340 (1,317 listings) |
| 1/2-day AM trips | 9.0 (16 trips) | $75–$80 (3,706 listings) |
| 1.5-day trips | 45.7 (109 trips) | $495–$570 (363 listings) |
| 2-day trips | 58.4 (137 trips) | $735–$932 (485 listings) |
| 2.5-day trips | 65.0 (69 trips) | $992–$1,242 (84 listings) |
| 3-day trips | 37.1 (66 trips) | $1,449–$1,811 (468 listings) |
| 3.5-day trips | 43.5 (23 trips) | $1,400–$1,700 (17 listings) |
| 4-day trips | 148.2 (5 trips) | $2,267–$2,584 (94 listings) |
Upcoming trips with open spots
Yellowfin tuna FAQ
What is the best trip length for yellowfin tuna?
Over the last 90 days, 2.5-day trips led at 65.0 yellowfin per trip across 69 trips.
Do I need a passport for a yellowfin trip?
Most yellowfin trips fish offshore Mexican waters: a Mexican fishing permit is required and sold with your ticket. A passport (book or card) and FMM apply only when the boat fishes within 12 miles of the Mexican coast or islands. Confirm with the landing when you book.
How many yellowfin can I keep?
In U.S. waters, up to 10 yellowfin within the 20-finfish CDFW daily bag; in Mexican waters, no more than 5 yellowfin within the 10-fish daily limit. Rules change — verify current CDFW / CONAPESCA regulations before your trip.
What months are best for yellowfin tuna?
The count peaks September. September 2025 was the single best month on record here: 4,282 yellowfin.
Keep exploring
Counts sourced from 582 trips reported by Southern California landings, August 30, 2026 – September 29, 2026. Every figure on this page is computed from that data.