Season's First Albacore Caught in SoCal

Capt. Sam Patella of the American Angler has caught the first reported albacore tuna in Southern California this year.

Two 15- to 18-pound longfins were caught about 239 miles from Point Loma on Sunday.

Anglers are not sure whether these are resident albacore that settle year-round around Guadalupe Island and other parts of the Baja California offshore waters or the beginning of the 2011 migratory season.

In either case, it helps raise expectations, as the San Diego offshore season until now has been very poor, according to locals.

"This is right where you might like to see them [albacore] at this time of the year," said Buzz Brizendine from Prowler Sportfishing. 

Fishermen will be monitoring the numbers of albacore to see what develops.