FISHING : Catches Are Getting Bigger in Size and Number in Southland Waters

Multiday fishing trip catches are increasing, with heavyweight fish starting to show up.

Prospects are looking up for a good fall run as fish have been moving closer for the South Bay party boats.

Albacore have been scattered 70 miles out from Point Loma, a 2 1/2-day run for San Pedro and Long Beach boats.

There are schools of bluefin and skipjack mixed in the albacore migration.

L.A. Harbor’s Outerlimits returned early Monday with a catch of 220 albacore, 400 skipjack, nine bluefin and one yellowtail. Capt. Gary Norby said most of the albacore caught are in the six- to eight-pound range.

He said the trip’s catches included some 20-pounders.

Good weather, calm seas and closer-in fish are expected to continue.

The jackpot fish on the trip was taken by Carson angler Horce Staboley, who, after a 28-minute battle, landed a 35 1/2-pound bluefin tuna.

Mark Larson of San Pedro caught 25 albacore in two days and won the jackpot the second day with his 19 1/2-pound yellowtail.

Spanish mackerel have been invading the area of the rigs and horseshoe kelp the past several days.

The Sgt. Randy Martin Redondo Pier fishing derby that began in March has come to an end.

Redondo pier angler Andras Bodos had the event’s top catch, an 18-pound, 2-ounce halibut.

Marlin catches continue to be weighed in near-record numbers at Catalina Island.

John Stoner of Avalon weighed in his fourth last week, caught off Avalon Bank. It weighed 153 pounds.

Catches

Tom Newman of Long Beach, fishing aboard the Pacifica on a two-day albacore trip, caught the whopper of the week with his 91-pound bigeye tuna.

Frank Urban of West Los Angeles won the jackpot fishing aboard the Eagle, with his 42-pound halibut.

Michael Uno of West Los Angeles, fishing for the first time on the ocean using rental equipment at Catalina Island aboard the Bold Contender, won the jackpot with a 19 1/4-pound yellowtail.

Mike Tagami of Hawthorne, fishing aboard the Sea Spray, took the jackpot with his 13-pound white seabass.

Carl Schwartz of Harbor City caught a 17-pound yellowtail fishing at the rigs aboard the Hitless Miss.

Fish Reports

At Marina Del Rey Sportfishing: The Spitfire fished the Sunset Beach area and anglers connected for 100 sculpin, 55 bonito, 45 sand bass and one halibut.

The Betty O on a half-day trip to the bay chalked up a count of 322 sculpin, one barracuda and one halibut.

At Redondo Sportfishing: The Sea Spray fished rocky point and 70 bonito, 38 sand bass, 12 sculpin and one halibut went into the sacks.

The Redondo Special half-day trip returned with 22 bonito and 20 rockfish.

The Blackjack worked Catalina for 42 bonito, 28 blue perch and two ling cod.

Anglers on the Isle of Redondo barge caught 481 mackerel, 53 rockfish and 48 bonito.

At 22nd Street Landing: The First String checked out the horseshoe kelp and anglers sacked 210 bonito, 33 calico bass and three sheepshead.

The half-day boat Monte Carlo worked the oil rigs and anglers had a reward of 210 fighting Spanish mackerel plus 12 sculpin.

At L.A. Harbor Sportfishing: The Sportking headed to rocky point and anglers caught a variety of 60 bonito, 41 barracuda, 72 calico bass, 10 sculpin and two sheepshead.

The Matt Walsh half-day trip to the rockpile chalked up 33 bonito, 13 barracuda, eight calico bass and five sand bass.

The barge Annie B had a weekend total of 818 jacksmelt, one halibut, one bass and one sculpin.

At Long Beach Sportfishing: The Victory fished White’s point and returned with 111 bonito, 72 calico bass and 30 sand bass.

The Toronado trip to Catalina scored with 119 bonito, 38 blue perch, 18 calico bass.