Fishing Notes : Calmer Weather Expected to Fatten Catches

With the transition from spring to summer, anglers can look for improvement after recent windstorms slowed action.

Catalina Island is the hot spot for barracuda. The three-quarter-day boats have been heading to the island and anglers have been catching six to eight per rod.

Yellowtail have been showing under kelp patties, and with an assortment of jigs and bait, party boats have averaged two to three fish on each stop.

Horseshoe Kelp fishing has been only fair.

The water temperatures have been going up and down like a yo-yo and the migratory fish should return with warm, clean water.

Fishing aboard the private sportfisher Tin Fish at Catalina off the Silver Canyon area, Tako Takakuwa of Torrance was casting for barracuda and, after catching several, decided to try his skill with a light rod and 10-pound test Izor line and a large anchovy. On the first cast his line peeled down to the end of his reel and the battle started.

After six times around the deck and a 26-minute fight, he brought aboard a 24-pound salmon.

The salmon that have been caught this spring could indicate what can be expected along the coast as a summer fishing bonus.

South Bay Catches: Retired Sheriff’s Deputy Ron Hayden of Santa Monica, fishing aboard the Happyman, landed the whopper of the week, a 34-pound halibut he caught in the bay.

Tyrone Walsh of Long Beach, aboard the Toronado, tossed a jig into the kelp pattie and reeled in a 29-pound yellowtail.

George Fernandes of Long Beach, fishing aboard the Pacifica at Catalina for bass and barracuda, brought to gaff a 28-pound halibut.

Greg Gobseal of Hermosa Beach, on the Redondo Special and using a halibut jig, brought aboard a 22-pound halibut.

Diana Jackson of San Pedro, fishing aboard the First String and using a sardine, reeled in a 12 1/2-pound yellowtail from a floating kelp pattie.

Ed Hart of West Los Angeles, fishing aboard the Sportking at a kelp pattie, hooked a yellowtail and bounced it over the rail onto the deck. After unhooking the 12-pound fish, he rebaited only to have another fish break off.

Fish Reports: A shortage of quality bait the past several days has eased with some sardines mixed in with anchovies, and the fishing fleet has been throwing less chum to provide anglers with enough bait to fish.

At Marina del Rey Sportfishing: The Happyman fished Santa Monica Bay and returned with 35 bonito, 25 sand bass, 28 whitefish and 8 bonito.

The Spitfire tried Torrance Beach and anglers caught 94 sand bass, 35 sculpin and 4 sole.

At Redondo Sportfishing: The Sea Spray on Tuesday’s morning trip to Rocky Point chalked up 23 sculpin, 25 sand bass, 28 whitefish and 8 bonito.

The Redondo Special afternoon trip resulted in 37 calico bass, 6 sculpin and one 20-pound halibut.

The Blackjack fished the east end of Catalina and returned with 110 bonito, 42 barracuda, 22 calico bass and 11 yellowtail.

The barge Isle of Redondo caught 260 corn-fed mackerel, 11 barracuda and 5 bonito.

At The 22nd Street Landing: The First String fished Catalina and 118 bonito, 47 barracuda and 22 calico bass went into the sacks.

The Freedom worked Catalina and returned with 37 barracuda, 12 sand bass, 11 sculpin, 3 halibut and 1 yellowtail.

The Monte Carlo fished Horseshoe Kelp and anglers on the morning run caught 32 calico bass, 14 bonito and 4 halibut.

At L.A. Harbor Sportfishing: The Sportking fished the west end of Catalina and chalked up 34 barracuda, 26 bonito, 28 calico bass, 5 sculpin and 1 kelp pattie yellowtail.

The Matt Walsh on the half-day trip to Middle Grounds caught 96 sculpin, 21 rockfish and 10 sand bass.

The Grande tried San Clemente Island and returned with 205 bonito, 55 calico bass and 2 yellowtail.

The Outerlimits fished Catalina and chalked up a limit of bonito and a half-limit of calico bass.

The Shogun tried Catalina and returned with 63 bonito, 25 calico bass and 18 barracuda.

Annie B barge anglers caught 600 mackerel, 55 bonito and 2,000 queenfish.

At Long Beach Sportfishing: The Victory fished Catalina and anglers caught 56 barracuda, 45 calico bass and 24 sheepshead to 10 pounds.

The Toronado fished the east end of Catalina and put 46 barracuda, 12 calico bass and 21 bonito in the sacks.

The Aztec worked Catalina and had a big bonito bite of 130 plus a limit of calico bass.

The Southern Cal on its twilight trip returned with 41 calico bass, 26 sand bass and 11 barracuda.