Albacore fishing out of Eureka comes down to timing, direction and where the water sets up. Fish can arrive as early as June in some years, and the core of the season runs mid-August through October, per Coastline Charters. Boats run south of the Humboldt Bay entrance.
This is a port-level brief for skippers running their own boat. It covers when the fish show, which way to run, the named structure, how locals fish it and who fishes it. Launch, bar and conditions detail is on the Eureka port information and conditions page.
When albacore show up off Eureka
Season timing has two parts: an early window that varies by year, and a core window you can plan around. Why the fish move the way they do is covered in the albacore species guide. For how Eureka fits into the coastwide run, see the coastwide albacore run (see also the Pacific Northwest offshore fishing guide).
| Window | Timing | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Early arrivals | As early as June, in some years | Coastline Charters |
| Core season | Mid-August through October | Coastline Charters |
Early arrivals
Albacore can arrive as early as June in some years, per Coastline Charters. Since "some years" isn’t a schedule, a June fish is a bonus rather than something to plan around.
The core window
The heart of the season is mid-August through October, per Coastline Charters. Build trailer trips and travel dates around this window.
Where boats run from Humboldt Bay
Everything on this page is referenced from the bay entrance. The route goes out past the jetties, then south.
Out the jetties
The North and South Jetties sit at the Humboldt Bay entrance. They are the exit and the starting reference for every run. Bar conditions depend on the official marine forecast and your own judgment, and this page gives numbers rather than adjectives.
South toward Cape Mendocino
Boats run south of the bay entrance. That heading takes you toward Cape Mendocino and the Lost Coast rocks, which lie south of Eureka along the Lost Coast.
Reading buoy 46022
The nearest NOAA buoy is NDBC station 46022 (Eel River), 17 NM WSW of Eureka, 40.716 N 124.540 W, per the NDBC station page. Watch three readings: wind, wave height and period.
| Reading | What it tells you | What it cannot tell you |
|---|---|---|
| Wind | Wind speed at the buoy | Wind on the grounds to the south |
| Wave height | Sea state at one point, 17 NM WSW | Sea state off the Lost Coast |
| Period | Spacing of the swell at the buoy | How that swell shapes up at the bar |
Buoy 46022 reports one spot and doesn’t see the water off the Lost Coast, so pair it with the official marine forecast.
Grounds and structure
These are the named places you will hear on the radio and at the dock. Where there is no position for a name, it is left unplotted rather than guessed.
| Name | Location | Note |
|---|---|---|
| North and South Jetties | At the Humboldt Bay entrance | Reference point |
| 125-line albacore area | 46-line to 38-line | Named albacore ground |
| Cape Mendocino and the Lost Coast rocks | South of Eureka, along the Lost Coast | In line with the run south |
| Eel River Canyon | Named structure | |
| Redding Rock | Named structure | |
| Pacific halibut grounds | 48-line to 53-line, 280 ft, offshore north of the bay entrance | Halibut, not albacore |
The 125-line
The 125-line albacore area runs from the 46-line to the 38-line. Reading OBS SST against Chart Contours along it helps you decide where to look before you commit fuel. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Cape Mendocino and the Lost Coast rocks
These lie south of Eureka along the Lost Coast, in the direction of the run, and mark the southern end of the route.
Eel River Canyon
Eel River Canyon is named structure that local skippers reference. Buoy 46022 carries the Eel River name but does not sit on the canyon.
Redding Rock
Redding Rock is a named structure on this stretch of the North Coast.
Halibut grounds, 48-line to 53-line
The Pacific halibut grounds from the 48-line to the 53-line sit at 280 ft, offshore north of the bay entrance, the opposite direction from the albacore run. They serve as a local reference and a crossover ground for boats that also fish halibut, but they are not albacore water.
How albacore are fished out of Eureka
707 Sportfishing describes trolling first, then switching to live bait or throwing jigs and swimbaits when the bite is on. Spreads, speeds and terminal gear are covered in the tuna tackle and technique pages.
Troll to find them
Trolling is the search tool. It covers water until fish show, and until you have a bite you are looking rather than fishing a spot.
Switch when the bite is on
Once the bite is on, change the program: go to live bait, or throw jigs and swimbaits. Make the switch when fish are in the water behind the boat.
Who fishes them out of Eureka
These local charters list albacore tuna:
- Coastline Charters: SCRIMSHAW, a 2008 Steigercraft 255 DV. Owner Captain Marc.
- Northwind Charters: Fishy Business.
- 707 Sportfishing: Owner-operator.
- Humboldt Charter Company: Steller Sunrise, Captain Lowell Wallace.
- Green Water’s Eureka Fishing Charters: Captain Tony Sepulveda.
FAQ: Albacore tuna fishing out of Eureka
When is albacore season in Eureka?
Albacore can arrive as early as June in some years. The heart of the season is mid-August through October, per Coastline Charters.
Which way do boats run?
South of the Humboldt Bay entrance, toward Cape Mendocino and the Lost Coast.
What buoy do Eureka anglers watch?
NDBC station 46022 (Eel River), 17 NM WSW of Eureka, 40.716 N 124.540 W. It reports wind, wave height and period at one point, so pair it with the official marine forecast.
How do locals fish them?
707 Sportfishing describes trolling first, then live bait or jigs and swimbaits when the bite is on.
Which Eureka charters run albacore?
Coastline Charters, Northwind Charters, 707 Sportfishing, Humboldt Charter Company and Green Water’s Eureka Fishing Charters all list albacore tuna.
Where are the rules?
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife sets state rules, and federal highly migratory species rules also apply to albacore. Check both before you fish.
