FISHING NOTES / DAN STANTON : Heal the Bay Tournament Open to Angling Clubs, Individuals

It’s fishing for fun and prizes on Saturday as the second annual Heal Santa Monica Bay Top Rod Tournament will be held. The competition is open to individuals and angling clubs in this multi-species tournament.

Fishermen from the El Segundo Rod and Gun Club will be defending their Top Rods championship. Tournament chairman Tom Woods says that eligible fish include calico bass, sand bass, barracuda, white sea bass, yellowtail and halibut that must measure 25 inches or more.

Fish caught for prizes and trophys will be counted on a point system. Two divisions--individual and club trophy--are offered. There will also be prizes for the heaviest fish for each species. The entry fee is $25.

The fishing area is restricted to five miles offshore between Point Vencente and Point Dume. According to Woods, among those expected to compete in the one-day tournament will be television performers Alex Karris and Tony Dow. Weigh-in will be at Burton Chace Park from 2 to 4:30 p.m. An awards ceremony with a fish fry and entertainment will take place at the park following the weigh-in.

All prizes and trophys have been donated and all of the proceeds will go toward Heal Bay, a nonprofit conservation group.

Information: Tom Woods at (818) 249-7755. Late entries can also enter the tournament up to 5:30 a.m. Saturday at the park.

Fishing reports: A late-season run of barracuda has anglers filling out limits. Catalina is good for bass and yellowtail and the Cortez Bank remains a hot area for tuna.

At Marina del Rey Sportfishing: The Spitfire found the barracuda outside Venice reef and returned with 109 barracuda, 25 bonito, a yellowtail and a halibut.

The Happyman, on a half-day trip, returned with 45 barracuda, 35 sculpin and 20 bonito. The Betty O fished shallow rock piles and anglers caught 315 rock cod and three cow cod.

At Redondo Sportfishing: The Blackjack worked San Clemente Island for 300 rockfish and 19 yellowtail. The Sea Spray fished outside rocky point and scored with 270 bonito, 62 sculpin and 28 calico bass.

The City of Redondo, on a half-day trip, returned with 90 bonito, 35 calico bass, two barracuda and a yellowtail. The Redondo Special, on a half-day trip, returned with 138 bonito, 80 calico bass and two barracuda.

At 22nd Street Landing: The New Image worked Catalina for 92 bonito and 10 yellowtail. The Monte Carlo, on a half-day trip, returned with 31 barracuda, 21 calico bass and a sheephead.

The First String Catalina trip resulted in a catch of 48 barracuda, 47 bonito and 33 calico bass.

At L.A. Harbor Sportfishing: The Sportking trip to the horseshoe kelp resulted in a catch of 88 barracuda, 35 bonito, 25 calico bass and four sheephead. The Matt Walsh half-day trip returned with 61 barracuda, 29 bonito and six sculpin.

The Outerlimits trip to the Cortez Bank had a catch of 27 bluefin tuna and 26 yellowtail. The Annie B Barge had a weekend catch of 882 mackerel, 750 bonito and 40 sculpin.

At Long Beach Sportfishing: The Victory worked the horseshoe kelp for 181 barracuda, 123 calico bass and 26 yellowtail.

The Southern Cal, on a half-day trip, returned with 55 bonito and 51 barracuda.

The Toronado fished San Clemente Island and returned with 55 bonito, 27 barracuda, 12 yellowtail and three sheephead.