FISHING NOTES : Anglers Find Reel Action With White Sea Bass Off Catalina

It’s a wide open white sea bass bite off Catalina Island as anglers continue to catch 30-to-50-pound lunkers.

Frank Hall at 22nd Street Sportfishing in San Pedro recalls the early 1950s and ‘60s when the bass caught off of Catalina’s west end weighed upwards of 70 pounds.

Hall said some big fish were also caught during the days of El Nino, but not the quality his boats have been returning with the past two weeks.

Anglers are using squid for bait and 30-pound test line. The limit on bass remains one per angler until June 15.

After anglers catch their limit, the boats have been moving up the island and locating good action on barracuda and calico bass.

The biggest sea bass caught the past week was by Stan Pleasonto of Culver City, whose 59-pound fish was caught while fishing aboard the Shogun of L.A. Harbor Sportfishing.

Catalina Island Isthmus Sheriff Joe Stoveres was diving at the back side of the island and speared a 34 1/2-pound fish. His partner, Paul Eire, brought up a 33-pound fish.

Dave Luchau of Avalon speared a 39 1/2-pound halibut near shore.

Marty Simon of Hermosa Beach was fishing off the King Harbor rocks for halibut when a bonito struck his anchovy.

Simon battled the fish for several minutes. While he was reeling in the fish, estimated to weigh about five pounds, his line snapped, breaking the tip of his fishing rod. A seal had gobbled up his catch.

The winners for returned tags during the recent halibut derbies has been announced. Bob Burnham of Hawthorne won $500 and Bill Northington of Redondo Beach won $200.

South Bay Catches: Harry Hill of West Los Angeles, fishing off Catalina aboard the First String, caught a 42-pound white seabass.

Al Matsumoto of Harbor City, fishing off Catalina aboard the Aztec, caught a 41-pound white sea bass.

Victor Ayala of Lomita, fishing aboard the Southern Cal, caught a 39 1/2-pound halibut.

John Dodge of Long Beach, fishing off Catalina aboard the Indian, caught a 35-pound halibut.

Jeff Medove of Carson, fishing off Catalina aboard the Aztec, caught a 30-pound white sea bass.

Verda Simpson of Harbor City, fishing at Catalina aboard the First String, caught a 22 1/2-pound white sea bass.

Fish Reports: Local barracuda fishing slowed since the weekend as the fish scattered offshore. White sea bass and yellowtail catches remain steady off Catalina and San Clemente islands.

At Marina del Rey Sportfishing: The Spitfire worked the bay and returned with 15 calico bass, 14 sand bass, 10 sculpin and a barracuda.

The Happyman fished off Venice on a half-day trip and had a catch of 30 calico bass, 14 bonito and a barracuda.

At Redondo Sportfishing: The Sea Spray worked outside the barge area and anglers caught 127 barracuda and 27 sculpin.

The Blackjack fished off Catalina and returned with a catch of 51 bonito, 43 calico bass, seven yellowtail and five barracuda.

The Redondo Special, on a half-day trip to rocky point, returned with 114 barracuda and six bonito.

At 22nd Street Landing: The First String worked Catalina and anglers sacked 79 barracuda, 77 bonito, 51 calico bass and 21 sheephead.

The Monte Carlo half-day trip to the horseshoe kelp rewarded anglers with 44 barracuda, 12 calico bass and 13 sheephead.

At L.A. Harbor Sportfishing: The Sportking trip to the rigs resulted in a catch of 61 barracuda, 75 bonito and a cabazon.

The Outerlimits fished San Clemente Island and caught 200 calico bass, 11 white seabass and three yellowtail.

The Annie B barge had a weekend count of 1,231 mackerel, 418 jacksmelt and nine bat rays.

At Long Beach Sportfishing: The Victory worked the rigs and caught 112 calico bass, 96 bonito, 35 sculpin and 13 barracuda.

The Southern Cal on a half-day trip to the horseshoe kelp returned with 24 barracuda, 29 bonito and two halibut.

Freshwater Notes: Ed Wilson of Carson, fishing at Irvine Lake, caught the five-fish limit of trout. His stringer weighed 13 pounds.

Kevin Newlin of Lawndale caught seven pounds of trout at Irvine Lake.

Clint Hayes of Torrance fished Castaic Lake and caught a 24-pound fish.

William Hopkins of Hawthorne fished Pyramid Lake using mackerel for bait and caught a 16-pound catfish.