FISHING NOTES : No Blues for Local Fishermen: Bluefin Are Hooking Up on Live Squid

Catalina Island bluefin fishing is ready to explode.

The blues have refused anchovies, feathers and iron. The lure to get them to bite is live squid.

The Toronado from Long Beach Sportfishing, with tanks of live squid, returned with 20 blues over the weekend. They weighed 14 to 36 pounds, and many others escaped on broken tackle.

Brian Fulton of Long Beach hooked the largest. After staying with the fish for 32 minutes, he landed a 36-pounder.

Phil Nakatuska of Santa Monica reeled in a 30 1/2-pounder in 25 minutes.

David Little of Long Beach used 12-pound test line for his bluefin, and the 30-pound fish was brought aboard in 37 minutes.

Capt. Don McLean, who departed Long Beach Sportfishing on his boat Chieftain for summer fishing in Brookings, Ore., phoned to say that albacore are being caught 60 miles from the Oregon coast.

To say that local albacore fishermen are becoming impatient is an understatement. The chance for albies locally is doubtful.

Winn Nott of Long Beach, who on May 30 caught a 30-pound, 8-ounce ling cod using 8-pound test line, received certification as world record-holder.

Dick Aker of Torrance, fishing aboard the Sea Spray at Twin Roads, took a cue from the area and reeled in twin sand bass. Both of the sandies weighed 8 pounds.

South Bay Catches: George Papaidawu of Lomita, fishing aboard the El Dorado at Catalina with squid, failed in his effort to hook a bluefin tuna but caught the non-blue whopper of the week when he reeled in a 30 1/2-pound yellowtail.

Juan Sugimaura of Torrance, at Rocky Point aboard the Redondo Special, used cut bait and caught a 26 1/2-pound halibut.

Thomas Payne of San Pedro, fishing for sand bass from the Monte Carlo, reeled in a 26-pound halibut.

Harold Moss of Wilmington, aboard the Hitless Miss at the oil rigs, tossed a jig into floating kelp and reeled in a 14-pound yellowtail.

Fish Reports: Sand bass counts continue to soar. Yellowtail fishing at the rigs over the weekend saw the counts drop slightly.

Marina del Rey: The Happyman, fishing the bay on the afternoon trip, returned with 50 sand bass, 12 barracuda and 2 halibut.

The Spitfire fished Twin Roads and anglers caught 70 calico bass, 35 sand bass and 4 halibut.

The Betty O’ rock cod special had a full limit of rock fish.

Redondo Sportfishing: The Sea Spray on the morning half-day trip Monday chalked up 126 sand bass and 33 barracuda at Rocky Point.

The Blackjack tried Catalina and returned with 52 barracuda, 23 bonito, 22 calico bass and 35 blue perch.

The Sharpshooter fished Rocky Point and caught 88 bass, 17 bonito, 9 barracuda and 1 yellowtail.

22nd Street Landing: The First String checked out San Clemente and 75 bonito, 48 barracuda, 31 sheepshead and 22 calico bass went into the sacks.

The Monte Carlo, on a morning trip to Middle Grounds, chalked up 96 barracuda, 25 calico bass and 11 bonito.

Queen of the Sea struck a barracuda bite and anglers landed 310 plus 12 bonito.

L.A. Harbor Sportfishing: The Sportking fished the rigs and 355 sand bass and 46 barracuda to 7 pounds went into sacks.

The Matt Walsh, on the morning trip to Horseshoe, caught 165 sand bass, 29 barracuda, 15 calico bass and 1 yellowtail.

Outerlimits fished Cortez and anglers reeled in 140 bull bass, 150 rock fish and 2 yellowtail.

Anglers aboard the barge Annie B caught 400 herring, 256 mackerel, 21 sand bass, 2 halibut and 2 sharks.

Long Beach Sportfishing: The Victory fished the Flats and oil rigs and anglers scored with limits as 306 sand bass and 121 barracuda were hauled aboard.

The Southern Cal twilight trip resulted in a good count of 260 sand bass, 34 barracuda and 12 bonito.

The Toronado fished Catalina using live squid and returned with 135 calico bass, 45 barracuda and 20 bluefin tuna.