Fishing at the bluefin pens has varied from red hot to nothing doing over the past weeks. Lately it seems to be on the upsurge again, with dayboats scoring and day and a half boats getting the most time there.

The dock count for August 9, with 326 anglers fishing, was 545 yellowtail and 129 bluefin tuna.

Neighbor Mark Maruccia of Oceanside had a decent day at the pens August 8, fishing aboard the El Capitan with veteran skipper Alan Fay. He brought over a couple of fresh fillets and briefed me on his experience. Fishing commenced predawn early, he said, and the boat drifted along for some plunking action. "It was mostly over after 10 A.M.," he said. "I think we ended up with 36. I saw the skipper catch a couple. Some guys did really good.

"I was able to get four bluefin," continued Mark. "I fished with an Accurate 665, a Seeker 6470, 40-pound Seaguar and 40-pound Izorline. I nosehooked all my sardines on 3/0 Mustad circle hooks.

"I had fun," he said. "After ten o'clock, I think we only got two more fish. But we stayed there until after dark and they didn't bite like that again."

El Capitan operates out of Point Loma Sportfishing www.point lomasportfishing.com and can be reached by telephone at 619-223-1627.