Estevan Tuna
Products were once
available in Victoria
at The Market on
Yates and The
Market on
Millstream stores,
but not now due to
low 2016 catches.
Tuna Report 2017
Albacore Tuna fishing on MV Estevan 2017 update
Last year (2016), fishing started in early
June, and slowed down a lot in August. Most of us got our boats
ready and earlier than usual, hoping to catch last year's fish. This
seldom happens but we are always optimistic. For 2017 the fish
seemed to be in the usual spots. In June and July there was not too
much wind to hamper efforts, just a lot nicer to roam around, catch
was just OK, but not great. In August fishing really dropped off the
fish had moved farther offshore and more to the South.
We fish mostly 60-100 miles offshore, so with
slow catches, we roamed out to 180 miles offshore and mid Oregon,
boats moved out even farther and farther, 200 to 1500 miles
offshore, some were lucky as this trend continued right through
September till the season just petered out, and the weather became
rough.
One good thing was fish size average weight was
up a pound or two. With poor over all landings, the wholesale prices
ended at $ 4.40/lb. In 2015 the last good year price was $1.40 to
$1.80. The statistics are not all in yet but from an average of
16-18 thousand tons, this year may be 6-8 thousand tons. This is
from the whole Pacific North West, USA and Canada. With especially
poor catches in B.C., Washington was poor as well, and Washington
was best area in 2015. In 2016 there was not much bait or feed
sighted, 2017 had the most life for feed, etc. I have ever seen.
All Good, but he fish didn't arrive in large
numbers, every day was very erratic, on the way to Astoria travelled
for 80 miles through finning anchovy schools, not one Tuna caught
some times nothing caught till the last hours of the day, then
another story the next day. We went into Astoria twice for fuel and
repairs, and once to Newport for fuel, used a lot of it.
My high point of the year was having the best
seat in the house to view the Eclipse, we were out 180 miles off
Newport Oregon, went very dark for few seconds, then blindingly
bright ,doubt I will ever see an event like this again, glad to get
off that boat and get home.
Next year will be different again, hope those
fish stay on the route to North America.
