In the process of moving its fishing boat out of the harbor due to a potential tsunami, two fishing crew members seized the opportunity to fish, and were rewarded with not one but two rare catches.
On September 17, while out at sea awaiting the all-clear to return to the harbor, two crew members of Dana Wharf Sports’ 50-foot Helena caught first one, and then a second wahoo fish.
The tropical fish is rarely seen in this locale, and was spotted for the first time last year. Although wahoos have reportedly been caught by anglers on private boats, Dana Wharf charters had, until now, not been so lucky.
A type of mackerel, the wahoo is usually found in Hawaii and on Baja California’s southern tip. However, like some other tropical fish species, the recent unusually warm ocean temperatures have caused wahoos to extend their range into local waters. Until last year, the wahoo, which is good for eating either as sushi or cooked, had not been seen north of the Mexican border.
The fishing off Dana Point has grown more exciting as fish that are usually found in warmer waters are making appearance with increasing regularity. Brochure printers can use pictures of these rare catches to create even more enticing promotional materials. On September 18, a short-billed spear fish, which is similar to a marlin and generally found in Mexican waters, was caught by an angler on the Dana Wharf charter, Clemente.
