Fishing Notes / Dan Stanton : Marina Charity Halibut Derby to Limit Anglers to 1,200

Warm up your halibut tackle.

The 15th annual Marina del Rey halibut derby is set for March 18-19.

Carl Lambert, president of the sponsoring Marina del Rey Anglers, said the competition is limited to 1,200 fishermen.

Last year the derby provided $25,000 in cash and other prizes. The first-place winner this year will get a trip for two to Australia.

Proceeds are donated to the Boy Scouts, Pardee Sea Scouts Base, Cal State Northridge’s halibut research and other charities.

Anglers are urged to apply early because of the limit on entries.

Applications are available at tackle stores or by calling 822-7090.

The Torrance Rod and Gun Club’s 37th annual banquet was held in Torrance last Saturday, with awards presented for 1988 fishing tournaments.

The largest marlin of the year, a 111-pounder, was caught by Torrance angler Jim Lowere.

The largest yellowtail weighed in at 26 pounds for Mark Freeman of Torrance.

The award for the largest striped bass went to Carl Hanni of Santa Monica. It weighed 27 pounds, 12 ounces.

The yearly albacore award and salmon winner was Ray Hawks of Torrance, whose albacore weighed 26 pounds and the salmon 30 pounds, 4 ounces.

The club also received the 1988 Button Award with an American shad.

South Bay Catches:

Sung Soo Chung of Torrance, fishing aboard the Sea Spray, caught the whopper of the week using a halibut rig. It weighed 29 pounds.

Sandy Greg of West Los Angeles, on a two-day trip aboard the Admiral, won the jackpot with a 20 1/2-pound lingcod.

David Thompson of Long Beach, aboard the Pacifica, reeled in the jackpot with an 18 1/4-pound cow cod.

Fish Reports:

Local halibut catches have improved after several days of slow fishing.

Fishermen on two-day rock cod trips to the outer islands continue to catch limits.

At Marina del Rey Sportfishing: The Spitfire returned from Santa Monica Bay with 20 halibut, 22 calico bass and 20 sand bass.

The Betty O rock cod trip to the Redondo Canyon area chalked up 380 rock cod and one cow cod.

At Redondo Sportfishing: The Sea Spray fished Torrance Beach and anglers sacked 58 sculpin, 55 rockfish and 22 halibut.

The Blackjack had success at Santa Barbara Island with 210 rock cod, five cow cod and two lings.

At 22nd Street Landing: The Freedom worked Catalina Island and had a wide-open sculpin bite with anglers sacking 150, plus 37 rockfish.

At L.A. Harbor Sportfishing: The Outerlimits tried San Clemente Island and had a varied catch of 171 rockfish, 36 bull bass, eight lingcod and three cabezon.

The Grande fished Cherry Bank on a two-day trip and returned with 225 rock cod and 14 cows to 22 pounds.

The Matt Walsh worked the Rockpile and anglers caught 126 sculpin, seven rock cod, four sole, two sand bass and one halibut.

The Annie B barge had a weekend of 1,007 mackerel, two sand bass, two sculpin and one halibut.

At Long Beach Sportfishing: The Southern Cal fished Catalina and chalked up 164 rock cod and 11 calico bass.

The Pacifica worked Tanner Bank on a two-day trip and anglers sacked 450 rock cod and 12 cows.