Fishing Notes : Anglers to Tackle Rich Halibut Derby

Looking for something to do on April Fools’ Day?

Get your halibut tackle ready and hook a no-foolin’ winner in the Santa Monica Bay halibut derby April 1 and 2.

While others could be playing pranks you could be reeling in a halibut and share in $25,000 in cash and prizes.

Every one catching a halibut longer than 23 inches will be in the drawing for many prizes: $5,000 awaits the angler who catches Big Bertha, the specially tagged fish.

The $30 entry fee will be donated to the Santa Monica Youth Fishing program and the Natural History Museum Department Fisheries.

Last year 600 children were taken out on fishing trips.

Entry forms are available at South Bay sportfishing landings and tackle stores. Additional information can be obtained by calling 450-5131.

Redondo and Marina del Rey party boat anglers have landed more than 100 halibut weighing about 22 pounds during the past several days.

The King Harbor Marlin Club will hold its sixth annual halibut tournament Saturday and Sunday.

South Bay Catches:

Al Sakamoto of Santa Monica, spear-fishing near Dockweiler Beach, was awarded the whopper of the week with his 50-pound white sea bass.

Chris Burch of Torrance, aboard the Redondo Special, won the jackpot with his 22-pound halibut.

John Cruz of Gardena, aboard the Hitless Miss, won the jackpot with a 21 1/2-pound halibut.

Graham Bake of Venice, fishing aboard the Happyman, caught a 21-pound halibut.

Larry Watkins of San Pedro, at Catalina Island on the Top Gun, caught a 17 3/4-pound halibut.

Mehoi Missezal of Culver City, on the Spitfire, won the jackpot with his 17-pound halibut.

Roger Castelman of El Segundo, on the Spitfire, caught a 14-pound halibut.

Fish Reports:

The return of anchovies has sparked surface action.

Halibut fishing improved in the bay, anchovies being the best bait.

Rock cod fishing at the islands with jigs and squid has rewarded anglers with limits.

At Marina del Rey Sportfishing: The Spitfire fished the bay and anglers sacked 53 halibut, 30 sculpin and 10 sand bass.

The Happyman on a half-day trip to Sunset Beach chalked up 34 halibut and 10 sculpin.

At Redondo Sportfishing: The Sea Spray fished Twin Roads area and anglers caught 470 sculpin, 41 sand bass, 22 rockfish and eight halibut.

The Redondo Special on a half-day trip returned with 200 rockfish, 14 halibut and 10 sand bass.

The Blackjack fished Cherry Bank in 600 feet of water and anglers had a limit of rock cod, one lingcod and one cow cod.

At L.A. Harbor Sportfishing: The Top Gun worked Catalina Island and anglers sacked 41 rock cod, 14 blue perch, five sculpin, two sand bass, one lingcod and one cabezon.

The Matt Walsh on a half-day trip to Horseshoe Kelp collected 28 sculpin, 24 sand bass and caught and released a black sea bass.

The Annie B barge found a wide-open mackerel bite, with a count of 1,415, plus 1,122 kingfish and 593 queenfish.

At Long Beach Sportfishing: The Southern Cal fished the east end of Catalina and anglers cranked in 220 rock cod and two lings from 700 feet.