FISHING NOTES : San Pedro Angler Gets Hooked on Float Tube Fishing

It all started in a back-yard swimming pool for 23-year-old float tube fisherman Marcus Lawton of San Pedro.

After watching and talking with float tube anglers at South Bay beaches, he decided to give it a try.

He outfitted himself with a float tube that goes around the body’s midsection, a jacket with pockets and a pair of flippers for propulsion.

After months of practice in a pool, Larson headed to the beaches to fish the surf. Now he is a veteran of five years of float fishing.

Last weekend Larson loaded his pockets with sand crabs and some cut squid and paddled about a half-mile out in calm surf near Manhattan Beach.

He rigged his rod with eight-pound test and peeled out his line. He got continuous strikes on his bait, but each time the crabs were taken.

Larson said he was sure it was a halibut, as he saw a fish spit the hook out when it came to the surface.

He pushed out one more time against the current, baited with squid and had a bite. He set the hook, and sure that the fish was hooked securely, paddled back to shore with a flattie.

The fish weighed eight pounds. Larson was careful not to injure the fish and released it.

Larson said float tubers must use caution and not go out when the surf is high or the current is strong.

Larson said someday he would like to try fishing from a surfboard.

Dan Armstrong of Redondo Beach returned last weekend from fishing for steelhead at Redwood Creek in Northern California. Armstrong said he caught four that weighed six to 10 pounds.

At the 44th annual Fred Hall Tackle Show at the Long Beach Convention Center this Saturday, a lucky boy or girl is expected to land the show’s 300,000th trout and will be rewarded with fishing equipment.

South Bay Catches:

Kelly Anderson of Long Beach, fishing at Cherry Bank aboard the Toronado, used a squid-baited jig and landed the whopper of the week, a 27-pound cow cod.

Howard Hata of West Los Angeles, fishing aboard the Mustang, won the jackpot with a 23-pound yellowtail.

Lou Spero of Long Beach, fishing at Catalina Island aboard the Southern Cal, won the jackpot with a 22-pound lingcod.

David Summers of Wilmington, fishing at Catalina aboard the Hitless Miss, caught a 20-pound cow cod.

Gary Shiroishi of West Los Angeles, fishing aboard the Blackjack at the Cherry Bank, caught a 19-pound cow cod.

Fish Reports:

Rock cod and sheephead continue to dominate the fish counts at the outer islands.

Santa Monica Bay halibut catches have improved, with anglers landing two per rod.

At Marina del Rey Sportfishing: The Spitfire fished Del Rey Beach and anglers hauled in 24 halibut, 20 sand bass and four sculpin.

The Happyman half-day trip returned with 45 sculpin, 25 sand bass and seven halibut.

The Betty O rock cod special sent the anglers deep and they were rewarded with limits as 705 went into the sacks.

At Redondo Sportfishing: The Sea Spray fished Twin Roads and found halibut. Anglers caught 25, plus 53 sculpin.

The Blackjack worked the Cherry Bank and anglers sacked 429 rock cod and 12 cow cod.

At 22nd Street Landing: The Diawa went to the Cherry Bank and returned with a limit of 315 rock cod.

The Freedom headed to San Clemente Island and anglers caught a variety: 192 sheephead, 101 blue perch, 53 whitefish, 48 calico bass and 31 sculpin.

At L.A. Harbor Sportfishing: The Outerlimits checked out San Clemente and Catalina islands for 190 rock cod, 120 sheephead, 108 calico bass, 58 sculpin and 18 cabazon.

The Shogun trip to San Clemente Island chalked up 370 rock cod, 212 sheephead, two lingcod and one halibut.

The Annie B barge had a weekend count of 777 jacksmelt and 347 kingfish.

At Long Beach Sportfishing: The Toronado worked the shallow rocks at Cherry Bank and anglers garnered 675 rock cod and five cow cod.

The Southern Cal fished Catalina and chalked up 109 rock cod and six lingcod.

Freshwater Notes:

Don Knight of San Pedro, fishing at Anaheim Lakes, used power bait to land a 5 1/2-pound rainbow trout. Zachary Gollotte of Long Beach caught five trout that totaled 11 1/2 pounds.