The Cow Count for 2010
No boats bearing cow tuna are expected until January, so I've made a tally for the 2010-2011 season to date. I added the fish three times and got three different results, but I liked the last (bigger) number best, as it included a few fish I missed earlier. I may still be short by a fish or two, since I was quite ill for several weeks and missed some boats. I have tried by contacting the boats to get those numbers, but can't be certain I got every one.

So the count, as of December 27, stands at 165 tuna over 200 pounds, including five over 300 pounds and the bull tuna of 405.2 pounds that came to Mike Livingston of Sunland aboard Mike Lackey's Vagabond.

Fishing on the "inside," the waters offshore from southern Baja, slowed a bit when cooling took place shortly before Christmas, but several skippers, including JJ Gerritsen, told me there was a "push" of warm water up from the south that raised those temperatures to the mid-70's again, If that condition holds, there may yet be some good fishing on the southern banks. Alijos Rocks has been holding up very well, and Excel appeared to be on her way there to try the place for New Year's.

Happy New Year to all anglers, everywhere!