Fishing Notebook / Dan Stanton : Water Warms, Surface Fish Rise, Anglers Thrive

Warm weather and climbing water temperatures have sparked an early spring run of surface fish.

The Freedom from 22nd Street Landing was fishing San Clemente Island with live squid and anglers were catching bull bass when a breezing school of yellowtail made a strong showing, chasing the bait.

Fishermen, switching to heavy gear, battled the tackle busters and 19 came aboard, going to 40 pounds.

Two other boats from the landing, the New Hustler and the Charisma, joined the action and another 14 were landed.

Improvement in local waters was noted this past week as the Victory from Long Beach Sportfishing and the Monte Carlo from 22nd Street limited out on bonito and barracuda in the Horseshoe and Rocky Point areas.

South Bay Catches: Lou Bourgeois of Redondo Beach, fishing aboard the Charisma at San Clemente Island, caught the whopper of the week when he hooked a yellowtail that he had to follow several times around the boat to bring to gaff. It weighed 40 pounds.

Gary Norby of Long Beach, fishing aboard the Outerlimits at the west end of Catalina Island using a jig, caught a 28-pound white sea bass.

Jim Stein of Long Beach, fishing aboard the Outerlimits at Catalina using a live squid, reeled in a 20-pound white sea bass.

Chuck Mallory of Long Beach caught a 16-pound lingcod he coaxed out of the rocks fishing aboard the Aztec at Tanner Bank.

Don Proutt of Hawthorne, aboard the Spitfire using a halibut rig in Santa Monica Bay, caught a 12 1/2-pound halibut.

Fish Reports: Halibut action in Santa Monica Bay slowed over the weekend because of a shortage of bait, but on Tuesday a good supply of bait increased halibut catches.

San Clemente Island is the hot sportfishing action for bull bass and yellowtail.

At Marina del Rey Sportfishing: The Spitfire, fishing the Sunset Beach area for halibut, had a count of 12, plus 80 sculpin.

The Happy Man half-day trip, fishing for halibut at the Short Banks, landed 17 and 40 bonito.

The Betty O rock cod special, fishing the Deep Hole, returned with 250 reds.

At Redondo Sportfishing: The Sea Spray on the Tuesday morning trip to the Torrance Beach area caught 15 halibut, 25 rockfish and 56 sculpin.

The Blackjack fished Cherry Bank and anglers hauled in 420 red rock cod and 12 cows to 11 pounds.

At 22nd Street Landing: The Monte Carlo fished the Rigs and Horseshoe Kelp and had a limit of bonito to 7 pounds, 55 rockfish and 25 sand bass.

The Freedom fished San Clemente Island and returned with a limit of bull bass and 14 white sea bass.

At L.A. Harbor Sportfishing: The Outerlimits fished the west end of Catalina and chalked up 210 calico bass, 12 sheepshead and 2 white sea bass.

The Shogun fished Tanner Bank for rock cod and 150 red rock cod, 9 cows and 11 whitefish went into the sacks.

The Grande, on a two-day trip to the Cortez, returned with limits for all anglers--720 rockfish and 37 cows.

At Long Beach Sportfishing: The Victory fished the Rigs and Horseshoe and anglers caught a limit of bonito, 41 bass and 7 barracuda to 6 pounds.

The Southern Cal half-day trip produced 120 bonito to 6 pounds, 35 calico bass, 16 whitefish and 1 halibut.

The Aztec fished Cherry Bank; 330 rock cod and grouper to 12 pounds, 6 cows and 2 lings to 14 pounds made up the catch.

Derby Note: The King Harbor Marlin Club will play host for its annual halibut derby April 16 and 17 at Redondo Beach. For information call the club at 545-0649.