Look up any southern California street this month and you'll likely spot a gorgeous purple tree in full bloom, a Jacaranda. They're all over the place, even up around Oxnard and Ventura, where boats fishing the Channel Islands have made some nice catches on halibut and white seabass. This photo comes from former Excel skipper Shawn Steward and his Aloha Spirit.

Yellowtail are biting for the long range fleet, but not so many big ones that boats are tempted to leave the tuna grounds, because a good bluefin bite is also blooming. Yellowfin are mixed in and a very few (so far) albacore. Excel's report from yesterday is a good example of what's been going on for those who can get on tuna in a biting mood.