FISHING NOTES / DAN STANTON : Overnight Runs for Bluefin, Yellowtail Remain Strong

Bluefin tuna and yellowtail success stories continue for South Bay anglers, with overnight party boats concentrating their efforts on Cortez and Tanner banks.

After the boats reach the fishing area before daylight, anglers snag small mackerel and fill the tanks with bait.

The boat captains point out that those who prefer line above 50 pounds can land a tuna in less than 25 minutes.

Anglers who prefer to use 20- to 30-pound test line fight a huge tuna for an hour or more.

Danny Walters of Long Beach, fishing aboard Long Beach Sportfishing’s Toronado at the Cortez Bank, was using 30-pound monofilament. He hooked a bluefin tuna that took one hour, 28 minutes to land.

Walters said it takes some luck and skill to use light tackle, but he fishes with it in hopes of someday catching a record fish for that test line.

His tuna weighed 50 pounds, 6 ounces.

Marlin catches off Catalina Island have reached 186, but the action is slowing, reports weighmaster Rosie Cadman.

Cathy Oldfield of Avalon, fishing aboard the boat Kelsea, fished the slide area with 12-pound test line. She hooked a 145-pound marlin that took two hours to bring into the boat.

Craig Knehan of Avalon trolled the east end of the island from his small skiff and caught a 109-pound marlin.

Fish Reports: Warmer currents outside rocky point have produced big bonito.

The yellowtail bite at Catalina and San Clemente islands has slowed. Calico bass fishing remains excellent.

At Marina del Rey Sportfishing: The Spitfire fished the Topanga area and had a catch of 55 calico bass, 35 barracuda, 30 bonito, six yellowtail and two white sea bass.

The Happyman half-day trip to the bay returned with 265 sculpin, 18 barracuda and four calico bass.

The Betty O rock cod trip to close-in reefs had a catch of 250 rock cod.

The Sumo fished rocky point and returned with 65 bonito, 26 calico bass and 12 barracuda.

At Redondo Sportfishing: The Sea Spray worked rocky point for 148 bonito, 82 calico bass, 10 barracuda and two yellowtail.

The Blackjack fished Cortez Bank for 22 yellowtail, nine bluefin tuna and a variety of bottom fish.

The City of Redondo half-day trip resulted in a catch of 237 bonito and 11 barracuda.

The Redondo Special half-day trip returned with 115 bonito, three barracuda and a yellowtail.

The Isle of Redondo barge had a weekend total of 150 mackerel, 45 bonito, 35 rockfish and a sculpin.

At 22nd Street Landing: The First String’s trip to horseshoe kelp chalked up 151 barracuda, 137 bonito and 10 calico bass.

The New Image fished Catalina and returned with 150 bonito and two yellowtail.

The Diawa fished Tanner Bank for 21 bluefin and five yellowtail.

The Monte Carlo half-day trip to horseshoe kelp returned with 111 barracuda and 41 bonito.

At L.A. Harbor Sportfishing: The Sportking worked horseshoe kelp for 113 barracuda, 103 bonito, 11 yellowtail and two halibut.

The Matt Walsh, on a half-day trip, returned with 110 barracuda and 12 calico bass.

The Shogun fished Cortez Bank and returned with nine bluefin tuna, a yellowtail and a variety of rockfish.

The Annie B barge had a weekend count of 1,821 mackerel, 240 bonito and seven sand sharks.

At Long Beach Sportfishing: The Victory fished horseshoe kelp and had a variety catch of 157 barracuda, 33 calico bass, 31 bonito, 17 yellowtail and two halibut.

The Toronado fished San Clemente Island and returned with 126 whitefish, 35 sheephead and two bluefin tuna.

The Southern Cal, on a half-day trip to horseshoe kelp, returned with 66 barracuda and 49 bonito.