FISHING / Dan Stanton : Whale Watchers Get Binoculars, Cameras Ready

It’s whale watching time.

Get your cameras out, take along your binoculars. The annual Pacific gray whale journey from the Arctic to Baja California has started.

South Bay whale watchers have a good vantage point while the whales pass close to the bay off Palos Verdes.

Starting Monday, the Redondo Sportfishing and San Pedro landings will have double deck boats operating two trips daily.

Cabrillo Marine Museum will start its 17th year of whale watching trips that include trained narrators aboard.

The whales have been protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1969. A watch program has been formed by volunteers of the National Coalition for Marine Conservation so that anyone who sees a whale that has been injured or beached can call 1-800-367-8222.

The second rock cod trip to feed the homeless returned over the weekend with close to a ton of fish for the L.A. Rescue Mission.

Tony Salas, the trip’s charter master, was told by the mission that the catch will feed 8,000 homeless and hungry people.

The mission will also distribute fish to other charity organizations to feed the needy.

Among award winners: Heaviest bag of fish won Bob Holrow of West Los Angeles a custom rod and reel; jackpot winner Dave Dimwiddie of West Los Angeles won a custom rod and reel; team award for heaviest fish went to Paul Friedman of Torrance, the voice of 976-TUNA, who won fishing gear; second team award for heaviest bag went to John Yen of Santa Monica, who also won fishing gear.

South Bay Catches:

On shore leave from the Navy, Stephen Grossberg of Marina del Rey went fishing for rock cod aboard the Betty O and caught the whopper of the week when he brought up a 32-pound halibut.

Using 12-pound test line and live squid, Curt Wenzel of Torrance won the jackpot aboard the Redondo Special with his 29-pound halibut.

John Darco of San Pedro, fishing aboard the Outerlimits at San Clemente Island, brought to gaff a 20-pound yellowtail using live squid and light tackle.