SANTA MONICA, Calif. (KABC) — Southern California anglers are seeing an unusual abundance of warm-water fish species as elevated ocean temperatures linked to El Ni\u00f1o and marine heatwaves draw species typically found farther south into local waters.<\/p>\n
Fishermen operating near Marina del Rey and Santa Monica say they are catching species and sizes of fish rarely seen in the area.<\/p>\n
“Biggest yellowtail I’ve ever seen ever up here,” said Tony Villanueva, a boat captain.<\/p>\n
Alex Garcia, also a boat captain, said anglers have been landing unusually large catches.<\/p>\n
“We’ve been catching a bunch of big bonito,” Garcia said.<\/p>\n
According to fishermen, these species are more commonly associated with waters off Mexico and are now appearing along the Southern California coast.<\/p>\n
“People go on overnight trips and pay big money to go catch the fish that we’re catching right here right in our backyard,” Garcia said.<\/p>\n
Dr. Julia Coates, an environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, said warmer ocean conditions are driving the changes.<\/p>\n
“Right now we’re experiencing warm water due to what’s called a marine heatwave,” Coates said.<\/p>\n
Coates said the marine heatwave is bringing unusually warm water to Southern California, along with tropical and pelagic fish species that typically swim in deeper waters.<\/p>\n
Garcia said the unusual conditions have created rare sightings for local anglers.<\/p>\n
“To see a hammerhead shark with yellowtails swimming around it was pretty cool,” Garcia said.<\/p>\n
Veteran boat captains who have spent decades fishing local waters describe the phenomenon as a rare event.<\/p>\n
“We had fish up to, like, 25, almost pushing 30 pounds. Unheard of here, unheard of. Dorado, catching Dorado on the anchor right off Santa Monica,” Villanueva said.<\/p>\n
Garcia said water temperatures are significantly higher than normal.<\/p>\n
“The water temperature obviously is way higher than it usually is. It’s like 76 degrees out there,” he said.<\/p>\n
While the warmer waters have boosted fishing opportunities, Coates said similar conditions in the past have had serious environmental consequences.<\/p>\n
“We saw a dramatic loss of kelp and kept forests in Northern CA, that ecosystem was dramatic and changed and has not yet recovered,” Coates said, referring to a previous thermal anomaly.<\/p>\n
Villanueva also noted the effects of unusually warm water farther south.<\/p>\n
“Down south, the water’s so warm that it’s actually killing off some fish because the water’s too warm,” he said.<\/p>\n
Coates said Southern California experienced a similar combination of El Ni\u00f1o conditions and marine heatwaves between 2013 and 2016 during an event known as “The Blob,” which kept ocean temperatures warmer for an extended period.<\/p>\n
Despite expectations for high surf, local fishing operators say they plan to continue running trips.<\/p>\n
“The fish are out there, it’s a really cool time to get out on the water,” Garcia said.<\/p>\n
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