Sportking Skipper, 71, Makes His 4,000th Trip in Search of Good Fishing

Saturday saw a milestone in the career of one of the longtime skippers of the sportfishing fleet: Capt. Arnold (Cookie) Cook at the controls of the Sportking departing on his 4,000th fishing trip in a career that has spanned more than 40 years.

As he pulls out from the dock of L.A. Harbor Sportfishing, Cook always greets his passengers and summarizes what fish they can expect to catch and what tackle to use.

Cook, 71, said it started in 1947 when the first passenger fishing boat he skippered was the Scout at Newport Beach.

He moved to Pierpoint Landing in Long Beach in 1950 and skippered the Spitfire and Hurricane. When the landing brought in three new boats, Cook operated the 85-foot America until the landing closed in 1970.

He worked on boats at Oceanside and Newport until 1986 when Jim Peterson offered him the Sportking to skipper on weekends.

Cook said he has seen many changes since the 1950s, noting the decline of many species of fish in local waters. He blames pollution and small fish taken by net boats.

Asked his most memorable experience in fishing, Cook thought a minute and said it was when he harpooned a 478-pound swordfish.

Is retirement in the back of his mind? “I may be one of the oldest active sportfishing skippers,” he said, “ but being out on the ocean finding fish for the anglers keeps me young and active.”

Cook can be found on the Sportking every weekend, and he is the king.

South Bay Catches: Pattie Bolan of Long Beach, a veteran angler fishing aboard the Sportking, landed her first salmon. It rewarded her with the whopper of the week title when it weighed in at 22 1/2 pounds.

Shirel Noguchi of Long Beach, aboard the Pacifica at Catalina Island and using a yellow feather, brought to gaff a 22-pound yellowtail.

Skeeter Sanger of San Pedro, fishing aboard the First String at Rocky Point, reeled in an 18-pound white sea bass.

Jerry King of Long Beach, fishing aboard the El Dorado when it stopped on a floating kelp, set the hook and from under the kelp landed a 16-pound yellowtail.

Fishing Reports: Excellent fishing continues at Catalina Island for barracuda. The salmon arrived one day last week and as quickly as they arrived they left after boats averaged 6 to 20 fish.

Barracuda have failed to show at Horseshoe kelp. The target for the sportfishing boats has been the sand bass being caught near the rigs.

At Marina del Rey Sportfishing: the Happyman fished the bay and returned with 45 sand bass, 35 sculpin, 8 calico bass and 2 halibut.

The Spitfire chalked up 33 calico bass, 21 sand bass and 10 sculpin.

At Redondo Sportfishing: The Blackjack fished Catalina and floating kelp and returned with 86 barracuda, 27 calico bass and one 15-pound yellowtail.

The Sea Spray worked Torrance Beach on the Tuesday morning half-day trip and reported 104 sand bass and 6 rock fish.

The Redondo Special tried Rocky Point and chalked up 33 bonito and 34 sculpin.

At 22nd Street Landing: The First String fished San Clemente and caught 43 sheepshead, 37 bull bass and 17 whitefish.

The Monte Carlo fished the Marineland area and returned with 37 sand bass, 23 calico bass and 18 sculpin.

The Freedom worked Catalina and had a wide-open barracuda bite--311--plus 4 sheepshead.

The Queen of the Sea on a twilight trip fished deep and caught 75 rock fish, 28 bass and 4 sheepshead.

At L.A. Harbor Sportfishing: The Sportking fished the rigs and found 121 sand bass plus 11 sculpin and one black sea bass--caught and released.

The Outerlimits fished Catalina and returned with 103 calico bass, 44 bonito, 6 whitefish and 2 sheepshead.

The Shogun tried the back of Catalina and found barracuda, with 141 brought to gaff along with 41 calico bass.

The Matt Walsh on the morning trip connected for 87 sand bass, 4 sole and 6 sculpin.

The Annie B Barge chalked up a count of jack smelt--301 went into the sacks plus 125 bonito and 3 halibut.

At Long Beach Sportfishing: The Victory fished the rigs and caught 221 sand bass and 10 bonito.

The Southern Cal on a twilight trip fished the flats and returned with 62 calico bass and 25 sand bass.

The Pacifica went to Catalina and caught 73 barracuda, 5 yellowtail and 3 sculpin.

The El Dorado worked Catalina and anglers snared 121 barracuda aboard and 27 calico bass.

The Aztec fished the west end of Catalina and returned with 135 calico bass, 20 bonito and 3 yellowtail landed under floating kelp.