Giant bluefin crash the 100-fathom line as warm eddy spins up off Wilmington

The canyon finally woke up this week, and when it did, it woke up hard. We're seeing the kind of bluefin action that makes you remember why you run 65 miles offshore in the first place — fish pushing triple digits and feeding like they mean it.

The magic zone has been the 100-fathom line where a warm-core eddy has been spinning for the past ten days. Water temps jumped from the low 60s to a solid 68 degrees, and that thermal break is stacking bait like a dinner bell. The bluefin are responding accordingly. We're talking fish in the 80- to 96-inch class, genuine giants that'll test your tackle and your back in equal measure.

Chunking has been the name of the game. Fresh butterfish and squid on 9/0 circle hooks, fished on 80-pound fluorocarbon leaders about 30 feet back from a 16-ounce sinker. The key is getting that bait down into the thermocline where the tuna are feeding. These fish aren't surface-oriented right now — they're working that 40- to 60-foot zone where the temperature gradient is holding the bait.

Trolling has been productive too, especially early morning and late afternoon when the current slacks off. Spreader bars with small cedar plugs and daisy chains are getting bit, but you need to get them down. Use planers or downriggers to hit that 50-foot zone. The fish are particular about speed — 6.5 to 7 knots seems to be the sweet spot.

The yellowfin bite has been more consistent but smaller fish. Most are running 30 to 50 pounds, perfect for the dinner table. They're hitting the same baits as the bluefin but staying higher in the water column. If you're marking bait at 20 to 30 feet, that's yellowfin water. Switch to lighter leaders — 60-pound fluoro — and smaller hooks. An 8/0 circle on a chunk of butterfish will get you bit.

Mahi have been scattered but when you find them, you find them in numbers. The weed lines along the canyon edges are holding decent fish in the 15- to 25-pound range. Small ballyhoo on wire leaders trolled at 8 knots, or live bait if you can find it. The key with mahi right now is covering water until you find the school, then working it hard.

White marlin are starting to show in better numbers as we move deeper into summer. The 30-fathom line has been producing fish on small ballyhoo and squid strips. These aren't the big fish we'll see in August, but they're willing biters that'll give you a good account of themselves on 30-pound tackle.

Wahoo have been the wildcard. They're not thick, but when one shows up, it's usually a good one. High-speed trolling with Ilander-and-ballyhoo combos at 12 to 15 knots along the canyon walls has been the ticket. Wire leaders are mandatory — these fish will cut you off without hesitation.

The bait situation has been excellent. Plenty of squid, butterfish, and small mackerel in the canyon. The commercial guys are reporting good numbers of sand eels too, which explains why the tuna are feeding so aggressively. When the bait is this thick, the predators follow.

Looking ahead, this warm eddy should hold for another week or two before the Gulf Stream shifts it around. The new moon on Sunday will bring stronger tides, which should push more bait into the canyon and keep the bite going strong. Water temps are holding steady in the high 60s, perfect tuna water.

The weekend looks promising with light winds and manageable seas. If you're thinking about making the run, now's the time. This is the kind of bite that defines a season, and it won't last forever. The canyon is fishing as well as I've seen it in years.