FISHING NOTES : 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.

Saturday’s Heal the Bay tournament had 150 anglers and eight fishing clubs, with the Venice Anglers finishing in first place. Pete Haynes of Malibu, an Izor Line entry, had 50 points to win the individual angler entry.

The largest single fish caught was by Marina del Rey resident Dave Faxon, who hooked an 18-3 halibut.

Second-largest fish was a 17-8 halibut caught by Betty Stewart of San Pedro.

Proceeds benefited the Heal the Santa Monica Bay Foundation.

The Daniel Freeman Hospital Fishing Club returned from a weekend of fishing the Cortez Bank aboard Long Beach Sportfishing’s Aztec.

The fishermen scored with 15 bluefin tuna and 11 yellowtail. Mike Willoughby of Carson won the jackpot with a 45-pound tuna.

Gene Rutledge of Redondo Beach had a 42-pounder, Ed White of Gardena a 41 1/2-pounder and Bill Gehrang of Torrance a 35-pounder. Perry Willsey and Danny Batastini of Torrance caught 30-pound-plus tuna and yellowtail, as did Inglewood fisherman Greg Mendes.

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.

South Bay Catches: Edward Engles of Long Beach, fishing at Cortez Bank aboard the Outerlimits, fought a bluefin tuna for 45 minutes and decked the whopper of the week. It weighed 68 pounds.

Warren Sakamoto of Gardena, fishing aboard the Toronado at Cortez Bank, caught a 54-pound bluefin tuna.

Mike Shulz, fishing at Tanner Bank aboard the First String, caught a 53-pound bluefin tuna.

Jack Baker of Redondo Beach, fishing Tanner Bank aboard the Sea Spray, caught a 47-pound tuna and a 37-pound yellowtail.

Tom Lee of San Pedro, fishing at Cortez Bank aboard the Diawa, caught a 45-pound bluefin tuna.

Paul Byers of Inglewood, fishing the Cortez Bank aboard the Diawa, caught a 44-pound bluefin tuna.

Bill Young of Redondo Beach, fishing aboard the Blackjack, caught a 42-pound bluefin tuna.

Rico Curtis of Lomita, fishing aboard the First String at Tanner Bank, caught a 42-pound bluefin tuna.

Ron Viodes of Lomita, fishing aboard the First String, caught a 38 1/2-pound bluefin tuna.

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.