FISHING : Warm Water, Abundance of Bait Help Keep Action Hot

There appears to be an around-the-clock abundance of fish for anglers to catch as this fall’s run is reported to be the best in two years.

Anglers aboard half-day boats have been catching limits of calico bass and good-size yellowtail at Rocky Point.

With the continued warm water currents and squid for bait, excellent fishing for yellowtail and white seabass off Catalina and San Clemente islands also has been reported.

The best time to catch white seabass off Catalina appears to be at night.

The L.A Harbor Sportfishing boat First String returned last weekend from a day-and-a-half trip off the west end of Catalina. The 24 anglers used live squid for bait and caught 55 yellowtail, 42 barracuda and limits of good-size calico bass.

The trip’s jackpot winner was San Pedro fisherman Tony Agrich, who caught a 30-pound yellowtail.

Captain Jim Peterson said several other larger fish were hooked but were lost when they went into rocks or kelp and broke tackle.

The 22nd Street Landing boat Islander departs this weekend on a two-day trip to Cortez Bank in search of tuna and yellowtail.

A Redondo Sportfising boat also plans to fish Cortez Bank and San Clemente Island.

The third annual Santa Monica Bay Top Rod Celebrity Pro/Am tournament held on Saturday drew 152 anglers.

Tournament director Tom Woods said that the event was a success, with 71 legal fish caught and 200 pounds donated to homeless at area missions.

The Top Rod winner was Kevin Justice of Torrance, who finished with 45 points. Justice won $1,000 and a boat generator.

In the halibut division, Dave Sax of Marina del Rey caught a 19-pounder. Second place went to Terry Green with a 16-pound, 4-ounce halibut and Roy Watson was third with a 14-4 fish.

In the team division, first place went to Venice fishermen Mike Fitzmaurice and Brian Berger.

Anglers aboard boats on long-range trips to Mexican waters have been reporting good catches.

Dave Harney of Long Beach returned from a 10-day trip aboard the Royal Polaris. He won the trip’s jackpot with a 55-7 wahoo.

A combined 42 bluefin and yellowfin tuna were caught during a two-day trip aboard the Conquest, which fished 175 miles from Point Loma.

Phil Friedman, the voice of 976-TUNA, organized the trip and was joined by Torrance fishermen Bob Alverez and Mark Thompson, who caught three fish each.

Friedman caught six fish that averaged 25 pounds.

Members of the Torrance Rod and Reel Club returned from trips with excellent catches.

Carl Hanni fished the Delta and caught a 30-4 striped bass.

Dave Gowdy of Marina del Rey, fishing for marlin aboard his boat Sicomo-Mo, caught a 149-pounder, which he brought to the scale at Avalon.

According to Rosie Cadman of Avalon, 53 marlin have been brought to the scale this year. She plans to keep the scale open until December.

South Bay catches: Brian Fujimoto of San Pedro, fishing aboard the Diawa off San Clemente Island, pulled a yellowtail from the kelp. The fish weighed 43 pounds to earn whopper-of-the-week honors.

Chip Bisset of Culver City, fishing off San Clemente Island aboard the Grand, caught a 35-pound white seabass.

Charles Lee of Long Beach caught a 25-pound yellowtail while fishing aboard the Victory at Rocky Point.

Craig Sawa of Venice, who was aboard the Sumo off Santa Monica Bay, caught a 23-pound halibut.

John Solomon of Long Beach landed a 22-pound yellowtail while fishing off Catalina aboard the Toronado.