FISHING / DAN STANTON : Anglers Battle Strong Winds and Heavy Seas

Despite recent storms, it was mostly business as usual for the local sportfishing fleet last week.

Most sportfishing boats were limited to local kelp and rock areas as wind and heavy seas curtailed outer island trips.

On Tuesday, sportfishing landings returned to regular scheduled trips, although most have yet to resume two-day trips to Cortez Bank.

Calico bass were plentiful for anglers who did battle the rough weather. The best areas for bass were along kelp beds and coves off Catalina Island.

The L.A. Harbor boat Pacifica returned from Catalina over the weekend with 324 calico bass and 15 sheephead. They also caught a black sea bass that was released.

San Pedro angler Nancy McElroy hooked the black sea bass and said she was using only 20-pound test line. After a 15-minute battle, the fish was finally brought to the surface. Deckhands, who estimated the fish weighed 60 pounds, released it unharmed.

Carson anglers Al Alexander and Randy Long, fishing from their skiff Fishing Toy at the Rocky Point area, had little success with calico bass.

The two fishermen were working an area along the edge of the kelp when Long felt a strike. He set the hook and the fish ran into kelp and stripped his reel down to the end.

Moments later, Alexander had a strike, but the fish broke his line before he could set the hook.

Long was fighting to move his fish out of the kelp. He succeeded only to have the fish wrap the line around the anchor rope.