FISHING / DAN STANTON : Angler Donates Big Sheephead to Museum

Bob Oyama of Long Beach has donated another fish to the Cabrillo Marine Museum.

Oyama, who was fishing for yellowtail Monday aboard the Matt Walsh at the rockpile, sent his bait toward the bottom and hooked the largest sheephead of the year.

The fish was netted and placed in a bait tank. After the boat docked, the museum truck picked up the fish and transported it to the museum.

Oyama has donated fish to the museum on several occasions.

The male sheephead weighs 23 1/2 pounds and is on display at the museum in San Pedro. Its brilliant orange and black coloring lights up the display tank.

Jack Wright of Redondo Beach was trolling in his skiff three miles out from Redondo Pier when he got a strike.

Wright stopped his outboard motor as the fish was moving his small skiff toward shore.

After 15 minutes, he was able to reel the fish to the surface and described it as the largest bonito he had landed while trolling. It weighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces.

South Bay Catches: The whopper of the week was hooked by Ted Thaser of West Los Angeles. He was fishing aboard the Blackjack off Santa Barbara Island and caught and released a black sea bass that was estimated to weigh more than 300 pounds.

Marc Sonodra of San Pedro, fishing aboard the Outerlimits, caught a 45-pound bluefin tuna.

Bob Zimmer of Long Beach, fishing at horseshoe kelp aboard the Sportking, caught a 28-pound yellowtail.

Richard Hollaway of Gardena, fishing aboard the Freedom off San Clemente Island, caught a 26-pound yellowtail.

Sonny Bennett of Marina del Rey, fishing from his skiff at the deep hole, caught a 26-pound halibut.

Gary DuBoise of Long Beach, fishing aboard the Southern Cal, caught an 18-pound white sea bass.

Mike Hagmaier of Long Beach, fishing aboard the Victory, caught an 18-pound white sea bass.

Fish Reports: Local fishing for exotics has made a drastic change. A late-season run of barracuda started over the weekend with some decent-size fish up to 10 pounds being caught.

The local yellowtail bite seems to have leveled off. Tanner Bank trips continue to produce yellowtail and some bluefin tuna.

Halibut fishing in Santa Monica Bay is showing improvement and anglers are catching a mixed bag of bass and yellowtail at the outer islands.

At Marina del Rey Sportfishing: The Happyman, on a half-day trip, returned with 12 halibut, 40 sculpin and 20 bonito.

The Spitfire fished the bay and anglers caught 13 halibut, 65 sculpin, 35 sand bass and five calico bass.

The Betty O rock cod trip resulted in a catch of 250 rock cod, three cow cod and a lingcod.

The Sumo worked the deep rocks and returned with 120 rock cod and 11 sheephead.

At Redondo Sportfishing: The Sea Spray fished rocky point and anglers sacked 142 sculpin, 27 bonito and 15 sheephead.

The City of Redondo, on a half-day trip, returned with 55 calico bass and 22 sculpin.

The Blackjack fished Santa Barbara Island for 35 calico bass, 19 yellowtail and 17 sheephead.

The Isle of Redondo had a weekend total of 190 mackerel, 36 rockfish and six bonito.

At 22nd Street Landing: The First String worked Catalina Island and had a variety catch of 141 blue perch, 97 calico bass, 91 bonito, 10 sheephead and a halibut.