The local surface fishing season blasted off in the past couple of days with something coming out of nothing, much as the universe is said to have begun. It's odd how this seems to happen at least once every year, with a nothing-doing bite going off into a full fledged snap all at once, often over hundreds or even thousands of square miles of water.

Ed Zieralski reported for the Union-Tribune online signonsandiego.com/sports/outdoors that the Pegasus and the Sea Adventure 80 took at least 50 and 100 albies on Friday, June 28. Buzz Brizendine reported to Fisherman's Landing that his Prowler, fishing on a one-day trip, had 25 albacore by seven a.m. Saturday morning. When Randy Toussaint tied up the Royal Star the same morning he remarked, "Everybody outside is getting albacore."

By eleven a.m., Bill Cavanaugh of the Pacific Queen reported 29 albies for his boat and said "Everybody's got 25 to 50 so far."

The Apollo called in with 25, and there was a dockside rumor the boat had something like 200 on a multi-day trip.

The Spirit of Adventure, docking at H&M Saturday morning, showed off a three-day catch that appeared to sport all three tunas, halibut, bonito, barracuda, rockfish, whitefish, bass and just about anything you'd expect to see in our waters, including an opah!

So there you go. It's on, and if it stays on, as I expect, you can expect a hard time finding a spot to park at the San Diego Sportfishing landings. No pain, no gain, as they say. Better grab your boots and gear, because here we go!