FISHING : Rockfish, Calico Bass and Yellowtail Provide Most of the Action

As we head into winter, South Bay sportfishing landings are scheduling combination surface and rock cod trips.

The bulk of the action is for rockfish, with calico bass and yellowtail still providing good surface action.

If the abundance of squid remains along with unseasonably high water temperatures, look for yellowtail catches to continue.

With an expected white sea bass run, anglers could witness a sensational winter.

The Phantom from Long Beach Sportfishing headed to Catalina Island with tanks of squid for surface and rockfish and found a wide-open bite.

Captain Larry Moore said his first stop was for calico bass, then rockfish later in the day.

On the first stop all eight anglers made a cast towards the kelp and the action exploded.

Every angler hooked up with yellowtail. Some came aboard, others too big to hold with light tackle spooled line and the fish broke off. For two hours it was steady yellowtail fishing, with 41 bagged.

After the yellowtail departed, it was bottom fishing time with rock cod, big cow cod and lingcod rounding out the day’s catch.

Jackpot winner was Torrance fisherman Bob Whitmarsh, who caught nine yellowtail and won with a 25-pounder. Torrance fishermen with good catches were Randy Horton, with eight yellowtail, and Al Donaldson, Jeff Jones, Jack Kenny and Cliff Barackman with six each plus various cod.

Michael Sais of Harbor City was fishing aboard the half-day boat Matt Walsh out of L.A. Harbor Sportfishing using cut squid and caught a 6 1/2-pound cabazon.

Had this fish survived it could have been donated to the Cabrillo Marine Museum.

Leon Simon of Wilmington, fishing off the rocks near the palms at Cabrillo Beach, hooked a bonito estimated at 10 pounds. Just as he had it coming in a hungry seal made off with it.

Simon said he caught two more but they were much smaller.

Winners have been announced for the Venice Anglers annual wahoo tournament at Baja’s San Jose del Cabo.

First-place went to Lou Sepa who caught a 69 1/2-pound wahoo. Second-place finisher was Jack Bailey, who hauled in three wahoo totaling 96 pounds.

First-place winner in the ladies division was Vickie Diaz, who caught three dorado and a tuna. Second spot went to Sarah Lee with a 21-pound dorado.

All winners are Venice residents.