Fishing / Dan Stanton : Big Bonito Hit Hooks at Catalina, Rocky Point

Big bonito have invaded sectors of Rocky Point and Catalina Island. If the surface water conditions remain steady, anglers can look forward to a wide-open bite of the fighting boneheads.

Boats fishing Rocky Point have scored with the fighting fish going from six to eight pounds.

Mickey Halderman of Long Beach, fishing on the Victory, caught a 12 1/2-pounder on 10-pound test line.

At Catalina, boats report the explosive run has been going on for a week, with plenty of yellowtail showing but refusing both bait and jigs.

The Venice Anglers third annual shark derby was held last weekend with 300 anglers participating.

The three top catches were made at the Redondo Canyon area. Duane McCutchin of Redondo Beach caught a 134-pound mako from his boat the Full Force. It was worth $2,500.

Don Snyder of West Los Angeles, fishing aboard his boat the Sea Wolf, caught a 122-pound mako that awarded him a week’s fishing at Cabo San Lucas. Jason Tress was also aboard the Full Force and his 109-pound catch awarded the Redondo Beach angler complete tackle.

Another shark derby will be held Saturday and Sunday, sponsored by Southern California Enterprises. This Marina del Rey derby raises funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Assn.

Fishing will be from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. Morning roll call will be at Frenchy’s sportfishing landing at 6. The Union 76 fuel dock at Bora Bora Way will be the weigh-in station. Four anglers will be allowed per boat with registration at $200. For information, call (619) 723-7470.

Vera Sampson of Harbor City, fishing aboard the American Angler at Benitos Island off Mexico, had to work for her catch.

Using a live mackerel, she made a cast toward yellowtail that were chasing bait. A yellow hit and headed to the rocks. Turning, the fish peeled all of her 25-pound test Izor line. Once around the deck she stopped it down.

After 32 minutes the yellow surfaced and again Sampson had to reel quickly as seals were charging her fish. A deckhand with gaff ready beat the seals to a meal.

Sampson won the jackpot when her catch weighed in at 46 1/2 pounds.

Nick Thompson is only 6 years old but this San Pedro boy showed the veterans how it is done aboard the Matt Walsh Monday morning. While the anglers were catching bass, Thompson hooked and landed two big barracuda. The fish weighed seven and eight pounds each. Nick said he is going to save his money and enter the jackpot the next time he goes fishing.

South Bay Catches:

Kevin McFindgar of Long Beach caught the whopper of the week when he pulled a 26 1/2-pound yellowtail out of the kelp.

Scott Fujinami of San Pedro, on a two-day trip aboard the Outerlimits, won the jackpot with his 24-pound yellowtail caught at Catalina Island.

Walter Mechan of Long Beach won the jackpot aboard the Toronado with a 22-pound yellowtail.

Harvey Baron of West Los Angeles captured the jackpot on the Spitfire with his 16-pound halibut.

Linda Beggs of Harbor City, fishing aboard the Annie B barge with 12-pound test line, bounced to the deck a 14 1/2-pound halibut.

Fish Reports:

At Marina Del Rey Sportfishing: The Spitfire anglers hooked 251 sand bass, 10 bonito, six barracuda and four halibut.

The Happyman on two half-day trips chalked up 435 sand bass, 65 bonito and five halibut.

The Betty O rock cod special returned with 375 rock cod and three cow cod.

At Redondo Sportfishing: The Sea Spray fished Rocky Point and found a wide-open bonito bite with 135 going into the sacks, plus 25 sand bass.

The Redondo Special on a half-day trip to Rocky Point had a count of 85 sand bass, 83 bonito and 11 barracuda.

The City of Redondo anglers hooked 95 bonito and two barracuda.

The Blackjack headed to Catalina and anglers sacked 212 bonito, 55 barracuda and 37 calico bass. The barge Isle of Redondo found the bonito eager to bite. Anglers sacked 95, plus 30 sand bass.

At 22nd Street Landing: The Monte Carlo fished the Horseshoe Kelp and anglers sacked 139 bonito, 101 sand bass and 13 barracuda.

The First String, working Catalina, chalked up 202 bonito, 89 barracuda and 75 calico bass.

At L.A. Harbor Sportfishing: The Sportking trip to Rocky Point paid off with anglers catching 175 bonito, 35 barracuda and 73 calico bass.

The Matt Walsh made a half-day trip to Horseshoe Kelp and returned with 71 bonito, 13 calico bass and 11 barracuda.

The Shogun tried San Clemente Island and anglers caught 155 calico bass, 76 bonito, 50 blue perch, 32 whitefish and 18 sheepshead.

The Annie B barge had a weekend count of 340 mackerel, 265 kingfish, eight sculpin and two halibut.

At Long Beach Sportfishing: The Victory trip to Rocky Point paid off in 365 bonito, 146 calico bass and three halibut.

The Southern Cal twilight trip to the flats resulted in a catch of 108 sand bass, 28 calico bass and 12 barracuda.

The Toronado returned from Catalina with 130 bonito and 105 barracuda.

Freshwater Report:

Stocking of hatchery catfish has resulted in limits for lake anglers.

Fishing Santa Ana Lakes, Rick Hudson, Stan Webster, Fred Mahan and Rob Roberts of Gardena landed 25 catfish that totaled 85 pounds.

Monroe Allen of Santa Monica, using marshmallows, caught a limit of catfish at Anaheim Lake.

Don Camfield and Paul Mintzer of Long Beach fished Irvine Lake and landed 10 catfish that weighed 26 1/2 pounds.

Also at Irvine Lake, Craig Shimmoto and Hideto Kikachi of Torrance caught 10 trout.