FISHING / DAN STANTON : Derbies Make Charities the Big Winners

It was a huge turnout for the Santa Monica Halibut Derby last weekend.

Almost 2,000 anglers participated in the annual two-day charity event with 460 legal halibut weighed in.

Once again this year, Big Berthas (a $25,000 tagged fish) eluded the bait and jigs. Tim Crissman from Newhall, fishing off Torrance Beach from his boat the Mad-Gaffer, was grand-prize winner with the 31-pound 2-ounce halibut he caught Saturday.

Crissman said he knew when he set the hook it had to be a big fish. It started taking line immediately, and after it came aboard he was sure of first place.

Crissman has a choice of trips to fish in Alaska or Mexico.

Other winners of prizes and cash awards were William Northington of Redondo Beach, landing his 20-pound 4-ounce halibut at the Pipeline; Robbie Henderson of Redondo Beach, fishing at the El Segundo Stacks where he used dead anchovies and decked a 20-pound 3-ounce halibut, and Scott Herman of Torrance, who was drifting off Torrance Beach when he landed an 18-pound 7-ounce halibut.

The team event winners were Redondo Beach anglers Jerry Foot and William Northington for catching four fish each.

Anglers turned in 25 fish with research tags attached and will receive $5 from the Department of Fish and Game.

A ton of fish were caught in the fourth annual feed for homeless rock cod derby.

As the First String returned to San Pedro, with 50 anglers who fished San Nicholas Island, charity organizer Tony Salas said angling success stories were too numerous to mention.

All were expert rock cod fishermen. Their entire catch will go to feed the needy.

Bill Benn and John Moore of the Los Angeles Life Food Recovery Program said this catch should feed 2,300 needy persons.

The jackpot and prize winners included Torrance angler Jack Komda for limiting out first and second place for Jay Grossflam of Carson. John Glover won a sheephead jackpot with his 15-pounder.