Run of White Sea Bass Keeps Holiday Anglers Busy

South Bay anglers found fishing to be good for white sea bass off Catalina Island during the three-day holiday weekend.

The return to excellent surface action was attributed to diminishing winds that had slowed fishing for several days.

Several area landings were able to provide anglers with a one-fish limit.

22nd Street Landing’s new sportfisher, the Islander, fished off Catalina and 41 anglers returned with a white sea bass each.

Captain Paul Strasser said he had to move out of the sea bass area when his anglers caught their limit.

Strasser then found a barracuda bite and anglers caught 93 to complete the Monday catch.

Torrance fishermen who caught big white sea bass on the Islander trip included Mike Fadley (24-pounder), Jon Minami (23-pounder), Chris Hall (22-pounder) and George Schipper (21-pounder). Steve Quintus of Harbor City caught a 21-pounder and James Voorhis of Long Beach had a 20-pounder.

Anglers aboard the L.A. Harbor Sportfishing’s Outerlimits also had white sea bass limits.

Bill Duckett of Gardena had the jackpot winner with a 23 1/2-pounder. Eiveen Manion of Redondo Beach had a 22-pounder, Eric Hobday of Torrance had a 21-pounder and West Los Angeles fishermen Fred and Jim Rodma caught 20 and 21-pounders. Mike Cohen of Venice had a 20 1/2-pounder and Mike Lee of Long Beach caught a 20-pounder.

L.A. Harbor Sportfishing’s Pacifica returned Monday from a two-day trip with 33 white sea bass and limits of barracuda.

Joe Chou of Gardena caught a 30-pound white sea bass to win the jackpot and Jim Nicholas of Torrance had a 28-pounder. Ron Notingham of San Pedro caught a 22-pounder and Keith Brewer of San Pedro had a 20 1/4-pounder.

The Pacifica also caught and released two black sea bass estimated to be between 50 and 100 pounds.

The third annual fish for the homeless leaves Friday night aboard the L.A. Harbor Sportfishing’s Outerlimits.

Again this year, all fish caught by the anglers will be donated to the Fred Jordan Mission.

Representatives from the Mission will meet the boat at 7 p.m. Saturday and transport donated catches for distribution to needy families.

The Grunion season will resume on Saturday and Sunday nights. Runs are expected to hit the South Bay Beaches nine times during the month of June.

Cabrillo Marine Museum will resume its grunion programs. Information: (213) 548-7562.

Two area fisherman had a successful 16-day trip to Revillagigedo Islands in Mexico aboard the Red Rooster. Jerry Massey of Redondo Beach was a jackpot winner with a 291-pound yellowfin tuna and Joe Davidson of San Pedro was a jackpot winner with a 283-pound yellowfin tuna.

South Bay Catches--Jim Burgner of Torrance, fishing aboard the Pronto off Catalina Island, caught a 47-pound white sea bass, the whopper of the week.

Paul Wilson of Gardena, fishing aboard the First String off Catalina, caught a 32-pound white sea bass.

Chris Racaza of Wilmington, fishing Santa Monica Bay aboard the Del Mar, caught a 25-pound halibut.

Freshwater Notes--South Bay anglers fished Irvine Lake and caught lunker trout.

Ruben San Jose of Carson landed an 11-pound trout and John Kingston of Long Beach brought in a 10 1/2-pounder.