Fishing Notebook : Poisoning Threat: Mussels Quarantined Through Oct. 30

A mussel quarantine is in effect through Oct. 30 along California’s entire coastline, including all South Bay bays and inlets.

Fish and Game and health officials imposed the quarantine to prevent the eating of shellfish tainted with toxic organisms found during summer.

Commercial shellfish sold in markets are not affected by the ban since shellfish producers are required to submit specimens to be tested for parasitic shellfish poisoning.

During the summer, crabs and abalone are safe to eat, as these species do not feed on toxic organisms as do mussels.

South Bay Catches: Bob Jones of Hawthorne caught the whopper of the week when he hooked a 24-pound halibut fishing aboard the Sportking at Catalina Island.

Jim Farrell of Lomita, aboard the Shogun at Catalina Island and using a live squid, reeled in an 18-pound white sea bass.

Chari Sirisuts of Torrance, aboard the half-day boat Redondo Special at Rocky Point, brought to gaff a 17-pound halibut.

Ted Cruiz of Harbor City, on his first ocean sportfishing trip aboard the Hitless Miss, reeled in a 16 1/2-pound white sea bass at the rigs.

Douglas Gross of Long Beach, fishing aboard the Shogun at Catalina, found a sardine in the bait tank and on his first cast hooked a 14-pound white sea bass.

Kelley Pitts of Long Beach, aboard the Pacifica at the ship rock area, landed an 11 1/2-pound yellowtail.

Fish Report: A shortage of live bait has failed to slow the action as anglers went to jigs and feathers.

By Tuesday the bait situation had improved and anglers continue to catch a variety of quality fish.

At Marina del Rey Sportfishing: The Del Mar fished Santa Monica Bay and returned with 44 bonito, 31 barracuda, 19 sculpin, 2 halibut and calico bass.

The Happyman on the morning trip to the Twin Roads area caught 26 barracuda, 15 calico bass and 14 sand bass.

At Redondo Sportfishing: The Sharpshooter fished Twin Roads and anglers returned with 119 barracuda, 55 sand bass, 20 bonito, 16 calico bass and 11 sculpin.

The Redondo Special on the morning trip to Rocky Point had a good catch of 33 barracuda, 20 sand bass, 3 halibut and 2 bonito.

The Sea Spray on the afternoon trip to Rocky Point reeled in 35 sand bass, 28 barracuda, 7 halibut and 6 bonito.

At the 22nd Street Landing: The Queen of the Sea, on a twilight trip to the middle grounds, chalked up 26 barracuda, 18 calico bass, 11 bonito and 7 sculpin.

The First String headed to Catalina and returned with 23 barracuda, 16 calico bass and 15 bonito.

The Monte Carlo fished the Marineland area on the morning trip and caught a limit of bonito to 9 pounds, plus 12 barracuda.

At L.A. Harbor Sportfishing: The Grande 85 fished San Clemente and anglers caught 191 bonito, 93 sheepshead, 78 rockfish and 21 bull bass to 8 pounds.

The Sportking, fishing Bull Kelp and the rigs, chalked up 58 barracuda, 104 sand bass, 31 bonito and 6 halibut to 24 pounds.

The Matt Walsh on the half-day trip to the Rock Pile returned with 39 barracuda, 17 bonito, 11 sand bass, 6 calicos and 6 sculpin.

The Annie B barge at Barge Reef over the weekend reported 1,400 croaker, 2,111 jack smelt, 27 bonito, 12 sand bass and 2 halibut.

At Long Beach Sportfishing: The Victory headed to Catalina and caught 88 barracuda, 71 calico bass, 19 sheepshead and 1 yellowtail.

The Southern Cal fished the Horseshoe on the afternoon trip and returned with a good count of 61 sand bass, 41 barracuda and 2 halibut to 11 pounds.

The Aztec fished Catalina at the east end and chalked up 112 calico bass and 88 bonito.

The Pacifica fished San Clemente and found 24 barracuda, 35 calico bass, 3 sheepshead and 2 halibut. Yellowtail refused to take the bait.