Pacific Queen Opens 2026 with 78 Bluefin Tuna Near San Diego

A 78-fish opener is the kind of number that changes the mood on the San Diego docks fast. The Pacific Queen came back on April 12 with 78 bluefin tuna on its first trip of 2026, and captain Drew Card said the fish were found closer to home than many anglers expected, in a zone that kept the run within practical reach for a one-day shot.

That matters because this was not just a big count, it was a usable one. Fisherman’s Landing said the bluefin were within 1-day range and ran 25 to 50 pounds, which puts them squarely in the class that gets open-party boats filling flylines instead of chasing fantasy-grade giants. Card also described the fish as hungry, the kind of bite language tuna fishermen pay attention to because it usually means the action can hold long enough to matter for everybody on deck, not just the first few anglers over the rail.

The opener also had a better shape than a one-off fluke. The Pacific Queen reported 20 bluefin on its first 2-day trip of the year on April 11, and Card said there were already reports of yellowfin tuna in 3-day range. Taken together, that points to a spring offshore scene that is waking up in layers, with bluefin showing close enough to book short trips and yellowfin starting to hint at a broader mix later in the week. For San Diego anglers deciding whether to lock in a spot now or wait for the bite to settle, that is the kind of early read that can make or break a May calendar.

Fisherman’s Landing reinforced that message on April 17, saying bluefin were still being caught within 1-day range and that a majority of the fish were coming on 25- to 30-pound flyline setups with fluorocarbon and small #4 to 1/0 hooks. That is useful, practical tackle guidance, not dockside theory. It tells you the fish are still feeding well enough to reward light, clean presentations, and it tells you exactly where the landing thinks the bite lives right now.

The booking picture backs up the urgency. The Pacific Queen’s next departure was set for Wednesday morning, with open spots throughout May, while the broader calendar also showed the Tomahawk and Poseidon with light loads. That is the sort of availability that disappears quickly if the fish stay near home. It also fits the boat’s recent track record: Pacific Queen finished No. 2 among charter boats for bluefin in 2025 with 4,247 fish, just behind Polaris Supreme at 4,461. In other words, this was not a random banner ride. It was the kind of start that suggests San Diego’s spring bluefin season may already be taking shape, and if the fish hold in 1-day range, the booking window could close before the weather does.