Biologists’ Study of Sand Bass Habits Is Resumed

Last week on two twilight trips with volunteer anglers aboard, First String, Russ Izors’ boat from 22nd Street Landing, caught 742 sand bass. Mac Oliphan and Paul Gregory, biologists from the Department of Fish and Game, then tagged and released the fish.

That marked the beginning of the second year of the catch, tag and release study of sand bass migration, in which the department seeks answers concerning the spawning habits of the fish at South Bay beaches.

Gregory said that little is known about this species of bass and it may take two more years to complete the study.

According to Oliphan, 28 tags from last year were returned. The average distance the fish traveled before being caught again was just under 10 miles.

There are more than 1,400 bass wearing tags from the past two years of the tag program.

Anglers fishing from a party boat can give the tag to the crew, who will then record where the fish was landed and the fisherman’s name and address. The angler will receive a $5 reward by mail.

Anglers fishing from private boats can mail the tag with the information to the Department of Fish and Game, 330 Golden Shores, Long Beach.

Rowan Henry of King Harbor Marlin Club battled a swordfish for 10 hours and 55 minutes that he hooked 10 miles out of San Diego using a mackerel for bait on a 50-pound test line.

The fish weighed in at 129 pounds.

The Venice Anglers will hold their third annual Shark Tournament this weekend with a top prize of $2,500.

Weigh-in will be at Marina del Rey each day until 5 p.m. Information: Jack Bailey at (213) 823-9715.

Lomita anglers Ryan and Sharon Asato returned from a long-distance trip Monday with six albacore, 12 yellowtail and three bluefin tuna that weighed more than 50 pounds each.

South Bay Catches: Jeff Fukawa of West Los Angeles, fishing aboard the Outerlimits on a half-day tuna trip, caught the whopper of the week, a 50-pound bluefin. . . . Al Rankin, fishing aboard the Victory at the rigs, caught a 28-pound white sea bass. . . . Bruce Cooper of Torrance, fishing at Catalina aboard the Shogun, caught a 19 1/2-pound yellowtail. . . . Dave Daniel of Lomita, fishing at Rocky Point aboard the Redondo Special, caught a 15-pound halibut. . . . Paul Marler of Torrance, fishing Catalina Island aboard the Toronado, caught a 14-pound white sea bass.

At Long Beach Sportfishing: The Victory fished the rigs for 287 sand bass, 50 bonito and five halibut. . . . The Southern Cal on a half-day trip returned with a catch of 360 sand bass. . . . The Toronado Catalina trip anglers sacked 157 barracuda, 26 calico bass and one yellowtail.

At Marina del Rey Sportfishing: The Spitfire worked the Venice reef and anglers sacked 177 sand bass, 40 calico bass and 30 bonito. . . . The Happyman on a half-day trip returned with 110 sand bass, 20 bonito and one halibut. . . . The Betty O rock cod trip resulted in a catch of 190 rock cod.

At Redondo Sportfishing: The Seaspray fished Rocky Point for 235 sand bass and 76 barracuda. . . . The Blackjack worked Catalina Island and anglers caught 155 calico bass. . . . The Redondo Special on a half-day trip returned with 130 sand bass, seven bonito and four halibut. . . . The City of Redondo half-day trip resulted in a catch of 102 sand bass and 50 bonito. . . . The Barge Isle of Redondo took in 1,850 mackerel and 81 bonito.

At 22nd Street Landing: The First String fished the rigs and chalked up 310 sand bass, 76 barracuda and 15 calico bass. . . . The Monte Carlo on a half-day trip returned with a catch of 225 sand bass and 95 calico bass.

At Los Angeles Harbor Sportfishing: The Sportking on a twilight trip sacked 575 sand bass and 77 barracuda. . . . The Outerlimits worked San Clemente Island for a catch of 210 calico bass, 21 yellowtail and 12 barracuda. . . . The Shogun fished the horseshoe kelp and gathered 600 sand bass and one halibut. . . . The Matt Walsh on a half-day trip returned with 151 sand bass and seven barracuda. . . . The Annie B Barge weekend total was 1,115 kingfish, 109 mackerel and two halibut.

Fish Reports: Local sand bass action continues barracuda showing on twilight trips. . . . Yellowtail catches at San Clemente Island showing improvement after several days of no catches.