Yellowtail Fishing at the Channel Islands from Oxnard and Ventura

Yellowtail fishing with Graphic Slayer Sportfishing means a private boat. It is your group and nobody else, running from Oxnard and Ventura out to the Channel Islands. Yellowtail are pelagic fish, and we hunt them offshore of Anacapa and Santa Cruz Islands. The trip built for that is the Full Day Trip, Hunting Pelagics. It goes after yellowtail and white seabass, the biggest fish around those two islands. This kind of day suits a small group of up to 4 anglers who want the boat to themselves and want to spend a full day out at the islands. It also suits anyone who cares about how the fish eats at home. Every fish that comes over the rail is ikejime'd and bled, so the fillets you take home are handled right from the start.

When is yellowtail season? Yellowtail are fished in season, offshore of the islands. I am not going to print months on this page. The honest answer is to call or text JT, and he will confirm by phone whether yellowtail are around and which trip fits your dates. The Full Day Trip, Hunting Pelagics, runs 7 days a week. If you want to go farther, the Outer Island Full Day to Santa Rosa is weather permitting. JT reads the forecast about seven days out, so call or text him before you book that one. The weather decides that trip, not the calendar.

Here is what the trips cost. Every price is for the whole boat, up to 4 guests. The Full Day Trip, Hunting Pelagics, is the yellowtail and white seabass trip. It is 10 hours, 6 AM to 4 PM, 7 days a week, and costs $1,314 for the boat. The Outer Island Full Day to Santa Rosa is 11 hours, 6 AM to 5 PM, weather permitting, and costs $1,657 for the boat. That one is the long run for quality fish, inshore and offshore. The 3/4 Day Trip, Island Fishing, is 9 hours, 6 AM to 3 PM, 7 days a week, for $1,200. It fishes Santa Cruz and Anacapa and whatever those grounds are giving up that day. The Half Day Trip, Inshore Fishing, is 8 hours, 6 AM to 2 PM, Monday to Friday, for $1,085. It works local inshore and nearshore spots for sheephead, rockfish, halibut, bonito, calico bass and more. On the regular trips I bring the rods and the bait.

There is also the 3/4 Day Bare Bones, BYOT, Trip. It is 9 hours, 6 AM to 3 PM, 7 days a week, and costs $1,000 for the boat. It is the island day with your own gear. That means four anglers max and three rod setups each. You get a licensed captain, the Graphic Slayer, a cooler and ice. Bring cash if you want live bait. This one is for anglers who already have their own yellowtail gear and know how they want to fish it.

The boat is the Graphic Slayer, a 22' Westcoaster Bayrunner. It is set up for a small group, up to four anglers. Your captain is John "JT" Lepien. He has spent decades fishing these waters, from Oxnard and Ventura out to Anacapa, Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands. His other passion is cooking. He has practiced ikejime since 2010, long before it was a mainstream way to keep a fish fresh. Every fish is handled with care, ikejime'd and bled to help keep its quality, texture and flavor. Graphic Slayer Sportfishing holds a 4.7 from 23 reviews on FishingBooker.

Every trip leaves at 6:00 AM. We run from Oxnard and Ventura, and JT will confirm exactly where to meet when you book. Plan to be there ready to go before the boat leaves, because the day starts on time. From the harbor we head out toward the islands. On the pelagic trip that means the waters offshore of Anacapa and Santa Cruz, looking for yellowtail and white seabass in season.

What should you bring? On the regular trips I bring the rods, the bait and the local knowledge. You bring a fishing license and lunch. On the Bare Bones trip you bring your own gear, up to three rod setups each, and cash if you want live bait. The boat provides the cooler and ice. For anything else, like clothes or food for a long day, ask JT when you call and he will tell you what makes sense for your trip.

Do I need a fishing license? Yes. Each angler brings a license. I bring the rods and the bait on the regular trips, but the license is on you. If you have questions about which license you need, ask JT before the trip.

Can I bring my own gear for yellowtail? Yes. That is what the 3/4 Day Bare Bones, BYOT, Trip is for. Four anglers max, three rod setups each, at $1,000 for the boat. If you would rather use the boat's gear, book one of the regular trips and I bring the rods and bait. If you want your own gear on the full day pelagic trip, ask JT.

Will we catch yellowtail, and what happens to the fish? I do not promise a catch. The pelagic trip goes where the yellowtail and white seabass are in season, and JT can tell you by phone what the fish are doing before you book. Every fish that comes over the rail is ikejime'd and bled for the table. To book, call or text JT at (805) 302-1901, or use the Book a trip button on graphicslayersportfishing.com. Tell him your dates, your group size and that you want yellowtail fishing, and he will tell you which trip fits.