Fishing Notebook : Winter’s Chill Can’t Stop These Avid Anglers
The winter chill and the winds churning the ocean over the weekend failed to prevent good catches. What’s a few degrees to avid fishermen?
Some landings kept boats in the past weekend but have resumed daily operations.
South Bay Catches: Cal McCullan of Long Beach, fishing at Catalina on the Reel Special, won the day’s jackpot with a 38-pound sea bass he brought to gaff after a 15-minute battle.
Charlie Asare of Wilmington, fishing at Catalina Island aboard the Aztec looking for calico bass, reeled up to re-bait and a stray yellowtail grabbed the anchovy. He won the jackpot with his 17-pounder.
Bruce Shoemaker of Torrance, fishing on the Sea Sport, had a limit of calico bass and then clinched the jackpot with a 19-pound halibut.
John Anthony of San Pedro, fishing on the El Dorado near the Marineland area kelp, caught a 8 1/2-pound calico bass.
Juan Juarez of San Pedro, fishing on the Calico Ed at the east end of Catalina, had the catch of the day with a 9-pound, 3-ounce sheepshead.
Freshwater Notes: Jim White of Gardena, fishing at Anaheim Lake, caught a 16-pound, 1-ounce rainbow trout. Lake manager Alice Carlson said White’s fish is the biggest ever caught at the lake.
April Baker of Long Beach won the sweepstakes at the El Dorado Park kids’ derby. She caught a nine-pound carp and her younger brother Jason finished a close second with a five-pounder.
Fish Report: At Redondo Sportfishing, the City of Redondo, fishing rocky point on the morning half-day trip, chalked up a good count for its 21 anglers Tuesday--150 bonito, 58 rock fish and a sheepshead. The rock cod averaged eight to 10 pounds.
At L. A. Harbor Sportfishing, the Matt Walsh, on the morning run fishing the area of the palms, had a count of 102 bonito, 5 calico bass, 8 sculpin and 11 whitefish. The bonito averaged five to eight pounds.
At Long Beach Sportfishing, the Victory, on its three-quarter-day trip, rewarded the 29 anglers with 2 legal barracuda, 87 bonito, 71 calico bass, 23 sand bass and a 9-pound halibut.
The Aztec fished the east end of Catalina and put 75 calico bass and a full limit of bonito in the sacks.
The El Dorado, on a half-day trip, had a full limit of bonito plus 51 calico bass to six pounds.
Fishing Note: A surprise retirement party was held Saturday for Eddie Rabbitt, who built and operated the 165-slip Yacht Haven Marina in Wilmington since 1947. Rabbitt, a 50-year resident of the South Bay, will retire in January.