Fishing Notes / Dan Stanton : Youth Will Triumph: 9-Year-Old Outfishes the Old-Timers

He is only 9, but Joel Thompson of San Pedro has displayed strong angling skills.

Fishing at Cherry Bank aboard the Grande 85 out of L.A. Harbor Sportfishing on his first rock cod trip, he caught a two-day limit.

As the engines slowed for the first stop, most fishermen were in the galley or watching television. Thompson was rigging his two bottom rods. On one outfit he attached a three-hook shrimp fly rig, on the other a diamond jig.

As the boat was in position over the rocky bottom, the order came over the public address system, “Drop them.” On his first drop, Thompson reeled in three large groupers.

Rebaiting his hooks with cut squid, he went down and waited. He had one strike and set the hook.

After waiting for another, the weight seemed heavier than his sinker, so he reeled up from 200 feet. As the line surfaced, a cow cod floated on the hook. Thompson grabbed his rod with the jig and with one short cast retrieved the fish.

Capt. Scot McDaniels stood by in amazement and said the crew couldn’t have casted a floater better then the boy.

McDaniels asked him how he had learned to cast a jig so well. Thompson said it was from surface fishing on summer vacations aboard half-day boats.

How did he enjoy his first deep-water rock cod trip? With a wide smile, Thompson said, “Just look at my bag of filets.”

Thompson’s enthusiasm for sportfishing gained him praise from the veteran anglers aboard the Grande 85.

South Bay Catches:

Carl Roberts of Torrance, fishing aboard the Blackjack at Hidden Reef, caught the whopper of the week when from 600 feet he brought to gaff a 22 1/2-pound cow cod.

Oscar Winter of Torrance won the jackpot aboard the Sea Spray, a 20-pound halibut.

Denny Falschlehner of San Pedro, fishing aboard the Grande 85 at San Nicholas Island, caught an 18-pound ling cod.

Fish Reports:

Rain and wind slowed shallow rock cod and halibut fishing.

Boats on two-day rock cod trips caught a variety of bottom fish despite showers and cool temperatures.

At Marina del Rey Sportfishing: The Spitfire fished Santa Monica Bay and returned with 75 sand bass, 25 sculpin and seven halibut.

The Happyman scored on a half-day trip with 25 sand bass, 12 sculpin and six halibut.

At Redondo Sportfishing: The Sea Spray fished Twin Roads and anglers chalked up 80 sculpin and six halibut.

The Redondo Special on a half-day trip to Rocky Point put 63 sculpin and one ling cod into the sacks.

At 22nd Street Landing: The Monte Carlo fished White’s Point and chalked up 38 sculpin, 28 sand bass and one sheepshead.

At L.A. Harbor Sportfishing: The Grande 85 tried San Nicholas Island with success: 525 rock cod and 12 ling cod in two days.

The Matt Walsh worked the Rockpile and caught 93 sculpin, three rockfish, two sand bass and an eight-pound halibut.

The Annie B barge had a weekend count of 265 kingfish, 240 jacksmelt, 107 mackerel, two sand bass and one halibut.

At Long Beach Sportfishing: The Southern Cal worked Catalina Island’s shallow rocks and 210 rock cod, 12 cows and eight ling cod went into the sacks.