FISHING NOTES : Palos Verdes Angler Uses a Small Boat, Gets Big Results

Jim Rowley of Palos Verdes does all his ocean fishing from his 17-foot aluminum boat, Captain Jack.

He trailers what he calls his fishing machine to any body of water into which he can cast a line.

Rowley has fished from Oregon to Cabo San Lucas in his 17-foot boat. He even has his own skipper, Nelson Oilver, who chums the bait and gaffs or nets the fish.

On a recent trip to Coronado Island, Rowley was fishing for black sea bass outside the kelp in the island’s slide area. This spot is known for giant sea bass.

He fished the bottom using 100-pound test line and a 12/0 hook with a mackerel for bait.

When Rowley finally set the hook, the fight didn’t end for one hour, 20 minutes.

As the giant black sea bass came to the surface, he said there was no way they could gaff or even tow it to the San Diego weigh station.

Fishing close by and watching the action, the party boat Malahani offered to assist and take the catch to the San Diego official scales.

Three crew members were able lift the fish aboard. It weighed 446 pounds. Rowley’s catch was 68 pounds short of an International Game Fish Assn. record for the test line he used.

Californians should note state Department of Fish and Game regulations prohibit possession of black sea bass caught in California waters. Those caught must be returned.

But it is legal to fish for them in the waters off Mexico.

The Shogun returned early Tuesday from a five-day tuna trip, chartered by the Los Angeles Rod and Reel Club. It schedules the trip each year.

Most of the catch is donated to South Bay and greater Los Angeles charities.

The fish are weighed and exchanged for canned tuna that is distributed by the club’s charity foundation.

Jackpot winner was Ray Doil of Culver City with a 33-pound tuna.

Edward Murray of West Los Angeles decked a 65-pound fish, but it was caught while trolling and failed to qualify for the jackpot.

Rosie Cadman at the Avalon scales reported that the season’s marlin catch as of Tuesday has reached 47.

Dennis and Jason Star of Hermosa Beach had a double hook-up three miles off of Avalon. The fish weighed 127 and 127 1/2 pounds.

Another stray albacore was caught trolling over the past weekend aboard the Outerlimits from L.A. Harbor Sportfishing. Eric Hodges of San Pedro decked the 38-pound fish 90 miles out from shore.

Winners in the first Venice Marina Rotary Club fishing tournament were Marina del Rey anglers Ed Lizarroga with a 78-pound mako shark and Dave Faxon with a 23-pound halibut.

South Bay Catches--Gary Nordby of San Pedro, fishing aboard the Outerlimits, caught the whopper of the week, a 46 1/2-pound bluefin tuna.

Corey Mariott of Long Beach, fishing aboard the Excel Qualifier, caught a 35-pound bluefin tuna.

Charlene Harwood of Harbor City, on her first fishing trip, caught a 26 1/2-pound yellowtail at horseshoe kelp fishing aboard the Hitless Miss.

Cal Birchfield of Mar Vista, fishing aboard the Del Mar, caught a 21-pound halibut.

Darren Wilson of Carson, fishing aboard the Sportking, caught an 18-pound yellowtail and 17-pound dorado.

Candice Powell of Long Beach, fishing aboard the Victory at the rigs, caught an 18-pound yellowtail.

Fish Reports--Barracuda in local waters have slowed. Small yellowtail are being caught using small sardines for bait. Tuna continue to show close to San Clemente Island and Dorado catches remain steady.

At Marina del Rey Sportfishing: The Spitfire’s anglers fishing the bay returned with 235 sculpin, 66 sand bass and 10 calico bass.

The Happyman, on a half-day trip, returned with 25 calico bass, 17 sand bass and two barracuda.

The Betty O rock cod trip resulted in a catch of 180 rock cod and four giant squid.

At Redondo Sportfishing: The Sea Spray worked the twin roads area and brought in 106 sand bass, 73 bonito and 35 barracuda.

The City of Redondo, on a half-day trip, returned with 110 bonito and 25 barracuda.

The Blackjack fished Santa Barbara Island for 240 rock cod, 80 bonito and five sheephead.

At 22nd Street Landing: The First String fished off Catalina Island for 173 calico bass, 24 barracuda and five yellowtail.

The Monte Carlo, on a half-day trip, returned with 83 calico bass, 24 barracuda and three yellowtail.

At L.A. Harbor Sportfishing: The Sportking fished the horseshoe kelp and brought in 63 calico bass, 58 bonito, 21 barracuda and five yellowtail.

The Matt Walsh, on a half-day trip, had a count of 41 bonito, 17 barracuda and three yellowtail.

The Shogun fished San Clemente Island for yellowtail. Anglers caught 33 yellowtail, plus 25 calico bass.

The Outerlimits worked San Clemente Island for 43 yellowtail and 15 calico bass.

At Long Beach Sportfishing: The Victory fished horseshoe kelp and anglers caught 141 barracuda, 76 bonito, 36 sand bass and 11 yellowtail.

The Southern Cal, on a half-day trip, returned with 67 calico bass, 15 barracuda and two yellowtail.

The Toronado fished off San Clemente Island and anglers caught 62 calico bass, 41 sheephead and seven yellowtail.