FISHING : Needy Youths Angle for the Big One

Summer fishing trips for boys and girls are under way on the Annie B Barge, inside Los Angeles Harbor.

The barge is open Tuesday through Sunday and plays host to clubs and organizations with youth programs to introduce them to ocean sportfishing.

Monday is the 42nd anniversary of the Los Angeles Rod and Reel Club’s kids fishing trips.

Approximately 400 boys and girls will be shuttled to the barge from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The participants are disadvantaged youths from throughout the Los Angeles area.

Many have never been fishing or even been on the ocean before.

Members of the rod and reel club will be accompanying the groups to teach the basics of sportfishing.

Prizes and trophies will be awarded for the largest fish and small weighted legal fish.

Plenty of food will also be served. Last year, 1,500 hot dogs and hamburgers were consumed along with soft drinks and milk.

Annual funding for the youth programs is provided by the Los Angeles Rod and Reel Club Foundation, a nonprofit charitable organization.

For the past 40 years, the foundation has helped provide funds for marine research that has helped to improve the fishery.

What is billed as the biggest fishing derby ever is under way and will continue for the next 16 weeks.

Weekly prizes will be awarded for the 10 largest species of fish caught each week in the saltwater derby.

South Bay landings participating include Redondo Sportfishing and L.A. Harbor Sportfishing as well as Long Beach Belmont Pier. The contest includes landings from San Diego to Santa Barbara.

The landings will officially weigh the fish and post the results if it is determined to be the largest fish caught that day.

The entry fee is $2.

Five Palos Verdes fishermen returned last week from a three-day trip aboard Joseph Jaconi’s boat, Mariner.

Joining Jaconi was Denny McLaughlin, John Blandford, Bill Hogentogler and Dave Roy.

Jaconi said the group had three days of perfect weather and water conditions while fishing from La Paz to Cerraivo Island in Mexico.

Roy caught tuna up to 100 pounds and Blandford and Hogentogler caught dorado in excess of 60 pounds. McLaughlin hooked a striped marlin and Jaconi landed yellowfin tuna and hooked up with a sailfish.

The five anglers also caught wahoo weighing up to 40 pounds.

Local fishing continues to improve as summer approaches.

The action at rocky point and horseshoe had been slow until the past weekend when barracuda returned to the area. Anglers used blue and white jigs to catch half limits to eight pounds.

Catalina and San Clemente islands have been the hot spots for calico bass.

Yellowtail and sea bass fishing should improve as squid is floating again after being absent for several days.

Area Catches--Scott Hart of San Pedro, fishing off Catalina Island aboard the Top Gun, used a live squid to catch the whopper of the week, a 38-pound white sea bass.

Ed Vasques of Redondo Beach, fishing aboard the Redondo Special at rocky point, caught a 37-pound white sea bass.

Joe Tinario of West Los Angeles, fishing aboard the Outerlimits at San Clemente Island, caught 24-pound yellowtail.

Robert Levy of Harbor City, fishing aboard the Hitless Miss at the horseshoe kelp, caught a 14-pound salmon.

Jim Gelaspi of West Los Angeles, fishing aboard the Happyman in Santa Monica Bay, caught a 16-pound halibut.