FISHING NOTES : Spawning Sand Bass Provide Plenty of Action, Few Halibut Hit the Hook
Spawning sand bass continue to provide anglers with limits. The fish are being caught by the local sportfishing fleet and private boats, with the biggest concentration of fish off the sandy beaches from Santa Monica Bay to Huntington Flats.
The vast schools of sand bass have made up most of the local catches, along with some halibut.
The sand bass average 3 to 5 pounds, but two unusual ones were hooked over the weekend. Eric Noguhi of Long Beach, fishing on a twilight trip aboard the Southern Cal, landed one that weighed in at 10 1/2 pounds. Mario Arana of Wilmington pulled up a 9-pounder out of the rocks while fishing aboard the Monte Carlo.
The massive schools of barracuda and bonito continue to breeze through the horseshoe kelp but won’t bite. So where can anglers catch the exotics? Catalina. Boats have found wide open barracuda bite at both sides of the island. The yellowtail seem eager to bite. They chase the bait and the talented anglers have been coming up with 20-pound-plus fish.
For the game-fish angler, this is the most exciting time of the year when the reports come in that albacore have been caught.
Expectations for a close-in run within the islands depend on water conditions. The fish are being caught over 100 miles out and about 30 jig fish have been decked so far.
South Bay Catches:
John Ecmark of Torrance, fishing at the west end of Catalina aboard the private boat Mary Lou, had no gaff aboard and had to use a spear to bring a whopper-of-the-week on deck. It was a 26-pound halibut.
Paul Nokatza of Santa Monica, fishing in Catalina aboard the El Dorado, tossed a scampi into a kelp pattie and landed a 20 1/2-pound yellowtail.
Hiram McFredridge of Torrance, aboard the Blackjack at rocky point, reeled in a 17-pound yellowtail.
Charlie Bostich of San Pedro, on the Aztec at San Clemente Island, hooked and landed a 14-pound halibut.
Fish Reports: The Outer Limits from Los Angeles Harbor Sportfishing departed Monday on a 2 1/2-day trip to find the albacore.
At Marina del Rey Sportfishing, the Betty O returned with reds and grouper of up to 8 pounds.
The Spitfire fished the El Segundo area and chalked up 120 sand bass, 65 calico bass and one halibut. The Happyman racked up 320 sand bass, four halibut and two bonito.
Redondo Sportfishing: The Sea Spray, fishing rocky point on the morning trip, chalked up 108 sand bass, 18 sculpin, three barracuda and one bonito.
The Redondo Special twilight trip resulted in a catch of 91 sand bass and 36 sculpin.
The Sharpshooter fished the El Segundo area and anglers reeled in 201 sand bass while the Barge Isle had 1,650 mackerel, 12 sole, 11 bonito, eight barracuda and two sand bass.
22nd Street Landing: The First String fished the flats and oil rigs and 319 sand bass, 42 calico bass, 10 barracuda and eight sculpin went into the anglers’ sacks.
The Monte Carlo, on a twilight trip, had a night catch of 360 sand bass and 25 sculpin.
The Freedom Catalina trip resulted in a wide open barracuda bite of 77 and 23 sheeps head.
L.A. Harbor Sportfishing: The Sportking fished the flats and the oil rigs and returned with 501 sand bass, eight barracuda and three halibut.
Matt Walsh, fishing the rock pile on a half-day trip, returned with a catch of 220 sand bass and one halibut. The day and twilight trips of the Barge Annie B totaled 1,601 croaker, 1,400 herring, 998 jack smelt and 700 mackerel.
Long Beach Sportfishing:
The Victory fished the flats and horseshoe kelp and anglers reeled in 508 sand bass, 21 calico bass and seven halibut.
The Aztec, on a two-day trip to San Clemente, caught 75 bull bass, 33 whitefish and 28 sheeps head.
The Southern Cal twilight trip produced a catch of 312 sand bass and one halibut.
The El Dorado fished Catalina and had a catch of 55 barracuda, 61 calico bass, three yellowtail and three halibut.
