Warm Water Heated Up Ocean Action

Reflecting on 1990’s sportfishing highlights.

Anglers were treated to many days of terrific fishing and it could all be attributed to the summer storms off Cabo San Lucas that pushed warm water and the exotics into Southern California.

Giant squid invaded beaches, followed by dorado in the waters surrounding Catalina Island.

Yellowtail were located under kelp patties, with anglers often catching their limit.

One-day trips rewarded anglers with bluefin and yellowfin tuna, which invaded the outer islands.

The sand bass migration was a month early, with the fish arriving to spawn along the beaches in early June.

Barracuda fishing was sporadic. Late October and early November were the most consistent months for barracuda at rocky point.

Marlin failed to match 1989’s record season as only 183 were weighed in at Avalon. This does not reflect the numbers tagged and released.

Halibut fishing in Santa Monica Bay is showing improvement as short fish being released in the bay have aided the halibut fishery.

Philip Friedman of Torrance, the voice of 976-TUNA, returned last week from a three-week fishing trip to Costa Rica.

Friedman said the best day of the trip saw him catch and release 12 sailfish.

The sails ranged from 90 to 120 pounds. On an average day of fishing he caught dorado, yellowfin tuna, rainbow runners and a variety of bottom fish.

Friedman said he vacations in Costa Rica every year to enjoy some of the world’s most prolific fishing and he releases most of his catch.

Stan Woodward of the King Harbor Marlin Club returned recently from Cabo San Lucas, where using 30-pound test line he caught, tagged and released a marlin weighing in excess of 100 pounds.

South Bay Catches: Rae Kawamoto of Gardena, fishing off San Clemente Island during a rock cod trip aboard the Diawa, caught the whopper of the week, a 26-pound cod.

Bill Stein of Long Beach, fishing at the horseshoe kelp aboard the Southern Cal, caught a 23-pound sheephead.

Bobby Taft of San Pedro, fishing with live squid aboard the Top Gun off Catalina Island, pulled an 18-pound yellowtail from the kelp.

Josephine Wansch of Long Beach, fishing aboard the City of Redondo, caught a 14-pound sheephead.

Fish Reports: Local waters are offering good bass and sculpin fishing. Rock cod fishing at Santa Barbara is rated excellent.