FISHING NOTES : Heal the Bay Tournament to Be Held Saturday

It’s fishing for fun and prizes on Saturday as the second annual Heal the 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 trophies 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 Vincente and Point Dume. According to Woods, among those expected to compete in the one-day tournament will be television performers Alex Karras 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 trophies have been donated and all of the proceeds will go toward Heal the 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.

Redondo Sportfishing boat Reel Special made a scouting trip this past weekend to Tanner Bank and found tuna. Pat Conklin of Redondo Beach, using light tackle, took over an hour to land a bluefin tuna that weighed 110 pounds. Adam Berry took only 15 minutes with heavy tackle to bring in a 102-pounder. The Redondo fisherman also caught a 60-pounder. The trip’s total was 12 bluefin tuna and a yellowtail.

The season marlin count continues to climb. Rose Cadman, weighmaster at Avalon, reported on Monday that the catch count reached 181.

David Oberhaven of Long Beach, fishing aboard the boat Water Closet, used 20-pound test monofilament line and fought for four hours before boating a 142-pound marlin. Scott Ellison of Wilmington fished the Osborne Bank and decked a 165 1/2-pound marlin in 40 minutes.

Bill Mister of Avalon was fishing off the Avalon Bank aboard the boat Rio Ho Hum and weighed in a 158 1/2-pound marlin.

Sonny Bennett of Marina del Rey fished Venice Reef with success. Fishing from his skiff using squid for bait and a halibut rig, he caught three halibut that weighed up to 22 pounds.

Redondo fisherman Danny Armstrong returned recently from a trip to Morro Bay and said he found good conditions. He caught 13 halibut that weighed eight to 18 pounds in three days of fishing.

South Bay Catches: Mike Shanks of Redondo Beach, fishing off the Cortez Bank aboard the Outerlimits, caught the whopper of the week, a 60-pound bluefin tuna.

Delphia Garza of Long Beach, on her first trip, landed a 27 1/2-pound yellowtail fishing at horseshoe kelp aboard the Victory.

John Gomez of Venice, fishing aboard the Blackjack at San Clemente, caught a 25-pound yellowtail.

Bob Sullivan of West L.A., fishing aboard the New Image, caught a 19 1/2-pound yellowtail.

Tim Overstreet of Manhattan Beach, fishing aboard the Grande off Catalina Island, caught an 18-pound sheephead.

James Ferguson of Culver City, fishing off San Miguel Island aboard the Condor, caught a 15-pound lingcod. Elie Adams of Venice, fishing aboard the Spitfire in Santa Monica Bay, caught a 9-pound, 6-ounce calico bass.