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Pioneer Captain Works to Make Sportfishing More Enjoyable

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For more than four decades, Captain Russ Izor has been working to improve recreational fishing.

He credits his mother who, in the 1930s, jigged for bait so that he and his father could catch fish on the Hermosa pier.

He recalls that in those days, as a boy of 10, he caught fish from the Ocean Park pier that weighed more than he did.

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When he graduated from Fairfax High School his goal was to someday build and operate his own charter fishing boat.

Izor said the thought seemed incongruous at the time. So he landed a job in a Hollywood studio, though fishing was never set aside.

He said a strike at the studio prompted him to build his first boat, the 36-foot Longfin, that was launched in 1949.

Since then, he has designed and built several boats, each with improvements and comfort for anglers.

The 65-year-old captain said fishing has deteriorated since the peak days of the 1950s and ‘60s but modern electronics has made locating fish easier.

Izor’s accomplishments are a matter of record.

He continues to get involved in many fishing and coastal projects, and is credited with helping to restore kelp beds along the South Bay coastline and Catalina Island.

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In 1986, Izor was instrumental in having 5,000 cubic yards of rock set near Long Beach to make an artificial reef. The Department of Fish and Game says this is the most productive fish reef of all man-made reefs off the California coast. The department has named it the Izor Reef.

At one time, after 5,000 days of fishing, he had thoughts of retirement, but the old captain’s ego wouldn’t let him.

He wanted to build and operate not just another boat, but what he considered to be the ultimate in luxury for a day boat. He was able to obtain backing in 1986 and launched the 93-foot First String with the fishermen’s comfort in mind. He sails out of 22nd Street Landing in San Pedro.

Izor may have missed his calling in the movies but he is the star of the Robert W. Morgan show at 6:35 a.m. every Friday on KMPC Radio, where he reports on what anglers can expect to catch over the weekend.

South Bay Catches:

Mike Cardinas of San Pedro, fishing aboard the First String at Catalina Island with live squid, hooked a white sea bass that won him the whopper of the week. It weighed in at 35 pounds.

Rick Swelles of Lomita, fishing aboard the Outerlimits at San Clemente Island, won the jackpot with a 30-pound halibut.

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Chuck Rogers of Torrance, fishing for rock cod aboard the Blackjack at Santa Barbara Island, brought to gaff a 21-pound lingcod.

Fish Reports:

The return of sunny skies and calm seas after last week’s storm found the fish hungry on Sunday and Monday.

Heading the deep sea menu were catches of halibut, sculpin and whitefish in local waters.

Rock cod fishing at the outer islands averaged half limits because of the currents.

At Marina del Rey Sportfishing: The Happyman fished the bay and 35 sculpin, 20 sand bass and 8 halibut went into the sacks.

At Redondo Sportfishing: The Sea Spray fished the Sunset Beach area and racked up 28 halibut, 35 sculpin and 23 rock cod.

The Redondo Special fished Rocky Point and returned with 30 sculpin, 20 mackerel and 12 whitefish.

At 22nd Street Landing: The Monte Carlo fished Catalina and anglers caught 39 sculpin, 27 whitefish, 20 sand bass, 2 sheepshead and 1 halibut.

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At L.A. Harbor Sportfishing: The Matt Walsh fished the Marineland area and had a wide-open sculpin bite, catching 107 plus 9 rockfish and 1 sole.

The Outerlimits fished San Clemente Island and chalked up 150 blue perch, 66 calico bass, 11 whitefish, 7 sculpin and 5 sheepshead.

The Annie B barge had a weekend count of 996 jacksmelt, 4 sculpin and 2 bass.

At Long Beach Sportfishing: The Southern Cal fished the 14-mile bank and returned with 43 rock cod, 2 lingcod, 9 whitefish and 3 halibut.

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