FISHING NOTES : Albacore on the Move, Tuna Action Looks Good

This could be the start of a record-breaking sportfishing year. Migrating albacore were discovered 100 miles from Point Loma last week, possibly indicating the start of an early summer run.

Anglers are waiting to see if this school of fish could be the one that wintered at Guadalupe Island and has started its migration northward early.

L.A. Harbor Sportfishing’s Shogun was on a five-day trip to San Benitos in Mexico fishing yellowtail when Capt. Norm Kagaw received word of the albacore. Anglers set the jigs out and Kagaw said 50 fish were caught with the average weight of six to 15 pounds. Kagaw said conditions look perfect for a good summer of tuna fishing.

The Shogun returned Friday with 359 yellowtail and 103 albacore. Jackpot winners were Rancho Palos Verdes fishermen Jim Hammand with his 21 3/4-pound yellowtail and Dean Zuchi of Torrance, who caught a 20 1/4-pound fish.

The King Harbor Marlin Club’s annual marlin tag-and-release trip to Rancho Buena Vista in Baja was a huge success.

Over 65 marlin were tagged and released during the three days of fishing. Club member Clyde Rainwater said that after the tagging was completed, the group fished for rooster fish, yellow-fin tuna, and cabrilla. The trip’s jackpot was awarded to Wolfgang Nachsel with a 196-pound marlin.

The Cabrillo Marine Museum will hold its annual Catalina marine observation trip Saturday aboard the Shogun. Staff divers will bring up marine life for deck observations and study. The highlight of the trip again will be shark baiting in an attempt to lure them for close-up observation.

Departure time at L.A. Harbor Sportfishing is set for 6 a.m. The group will return at 6 p.m. Information: Larry Fukuhara at (213) 548-7563.

Seymor Burtin of Long Beach, fishing off Catalina aboard the Toronado, caught the big fish of the week, a 52-pound white sea bass. Tony Shaw of Gardena, fishing aboard the Blackjack off Catalina, won the jackpot with a 45-pound white sea bass.

Jerry Hartman of West Los Angeles, fishing off Catalina aboard the First String, caught a 32-pound white sea bass. Greg Solmon of Malibu, fishing off Catalina aboard the Outerlimits, caught a 29-pound white sea bass.

Jim Brown of San Pedro, fishing off Catalina aboard the Betty G, caught a 24-pound halibut. Eugene Archiball of Westwood, fishing off Catalina aboard the Victory, caught a 16 1/4-pound yellowtail.

Fish Reports: Big bonito have started to bite again from Rocky Point to Santa Monica Bay. Halibut fishing remains slow, with legals being caught in the mornings.

At Marina del Rey Sportfishing: The Spitfire worked the bay for a catch of 60 sculpin, 45 sand bass and three halibut.

The Happy Man half-day run off Venice Beach returned with 40 bonito, 25 sculpin and 15 sand bass. The Betty O rock cod special fished the shallow rock piles and caught 171 rock cod and three cow cod.

At Redondo Sportfishing: The Sea Spray fished rocky point and had a catch of 53 bonito, 47 sand bass, 31 sculpin, 12 barracuda and nine rockfish.

The Blackjack worked Catalina for 78 bonito, 24 barracuda and nine white sea bass. The Redondo Special half-day trip to rocky point resulted in a catch of 57 sand bass, 21 bonito and two barracuda.

The Isle of Redondo Barge caught 1,140 mackerel and 50 bonito.

At 22nd Street Landing: The First String fished the west end off Catalina and anglers caught 124 barracuda, 48 bonito and 12 calico bass. The Monte Carlo fished horseshoe kelp on a half-day trip and returned 57 bonito, 37 calico bass, 12 sand bass and a white sea bass.

The Freedom worked Catalina for 156 bonito, 38 calico bass and five sheephead.

At. L.A. Harbor Sportfishing: The Sportking headed to rocky point and anglers caught 216 bonito, 81 barracuda, 47 calico bass and two yellowtail. The Outerlimits Catalina white sea bass special trip caught 73 calico bass and 16 white sea bass.

The Shogun fished off Catalina and anglers caught 68 bonito, 22 calico bass, 19 bonito, seven yellowtail and a halibut. The Annie Barge anglers connected for 820 jacksmelt, 815 kingfish, four halibut and two sand bass.

At Long Beach Sportfishing: The Victory fished Catalina and caught 181 barracuda, 60 bonito and 55 calico bass. The Aztec, on a half-day run to the rigs, returned with 40 bonito and a yellowtail.

The Toronado, fishing off Catalina, caught 112 barracuda, 50 bonito and a yellowtail.