Yellowtail hitting midseason form off San Clemente Island

Capt. Tom Lee of the vessel Freedom says conditions at San Clemente Island "went from winter to summer mode" over the weekend "and it's just wonderful, wonderful to see."

On Sunday, Lee's 32 passengers boated 29 yellowtail weighing between 15 and 35 pounds, and lost 20 others because they did not have heavy enough tackle to keep the powerful jacks from diving for rocks and kelp.

The Toronado out of Pierpoint Landing in Long Beach was among other vessels present for the season's first significant yellowtail bite and returned to port Sunday night with 19.

On Saturday, the Outrider, which like the Freedom runs from 22nd. St. Landing in San Pedro, logged a count of eight yellowtail, 45 bonito and limits of calico bass for 10 anglers.

Gigantic schools of smaller yellowtail -- in about the 12-pound class -- are breezing about the island shoreline, Lee says, but have yet to cooperate for anglers tossing live squid for bait.

Large bonito are also in the area, but commercial seiners, who can net $700 a ton, have been using spotter planes and wrapping entire schools.

Lee adds that calico bass also have sprung to life in the warmer water -- it's as warm as 71 in some spots -- and his anglers caught more than 100 calicos Sunday.

The Freedom and Toronado are running overnight trips all week -- the Toronado's Wednesday night trip benefits the 976-tuna.com Christian Rodriguez memorial fund -- and anglers are advised to come prepared.

Bring reels spooled with 30- to 40-pound test line, half-ounce sinkers and No. 2-0 hooks, and lighter rigs for calico bass.

Catalina seabass

Heavy boat traffic drove most of the croakers into hiding for much of a weekend tournament on the island's backside, but on Monday the broad-tailed behemoths voraciously resurfaced.

Capt. Tino Valentine of the Phantom, which runs from Pierpoint, logged one-fish limits for passengers and crew, including one seabass he expected to top 60 pounds.

On the frontside, says Capt. Norris Tapp of the Freelance out of Davey’s Locker in Newport Beach, calico bass are extremely active and his passengers caught well over 100 calicos to about four pounds on Saturday and Sunday.

Barracuda invade the Bay

Philip Friedman, founder of 976-tuna.com and friends with Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw, rubbed in the fact that barracuda had invaded Santa Monica Bay. His report:

" 'You're killing me,' Shaw said via text message. Shaw is busy helping the Lakers prepare for the Western Conference finals but eager to enjoy the kind of action my sons and I experienced Sunday.

"It began when Philip and Patrick received a cellphone call from Capt. Andy Siratt of the Enterprise. 'This is the real deal,' said Siratt. 'There are football fields of big barracuda for miles. Get out here!'

"We raced to King Harbor and jumped aboard the 976-TUNA vessel. We could see a fleet of boats about four miles off El Segundo.

"As we neared the boats we could hardly believe our eyes. Hundreds of birds were diving on anchovies and sardines being forced to the surface by marauding barracuda. These bird schools went on for miles.

"We shut down in the middle of this incredible spectacle and were surrounded by barracuda breaking the surface. Philip and Patrick cast chrome Sumo lures and instantly hooked up. Most of the barracuda were in the 5-pound class with an occasional fish to 9 pounds requiring a gaff.