Wire Leaders Bring In Toothy Catch

Most anglers would rather not fish with wire leaders, but Long Beach’s Tom Murphy, 74, is an exception.

Murphy, who fishes aboard South Bay sportfishing boats twice a week, has been using the cumbersome leaders since he started fishing with his father at age 8.

Murphy said he is from the old school, and his experience has taught him that more fish can be caught using wire when fishing for toothy species.

Most anglers, according to Murphy, tie hooks to their monofilament line, and species, such as barracuda, bonito and halibut, tend to break the line with their sharp teeth.

Murphy said that on a recent trip during a wide-open barracuda bite, it was easy for him to catch the 10-fish limit from the bow of the boat.

When several anglers approached him and asked what he was using, Murphy explained that it was a wire leader. He told them it has good holding power, and when attached to a 20-pound line, fewer fish are lost.

He said he will only tie a hook to his line with a light sinker if the fish refuse to bite with wire.

When fishing for rock cod or tossing his jig, Murphy attaches a split ring and a snap swivel.

Angler Ralph Sobrino said he and his young son learned from Murphy that fishing is not all luck and requires a certain amount of skill and the correct gear.

Sobrino said that when on fishing trips with Murphy, he and his son have yet to hit the jackpot.

Local fishing continues to improve after the season’s first storm, as water temperatures return to normal.

Calico bass and white seabass were plentiful at Rocky Point, with anglers catching near limits.

The southern Channel Islands yielded yellowtail, most taking squid-baited hooks, and limits of calico bass and sheephead were reported.

The 22nd Street Landing’s Islander returned last weekend from a two-day trip to the Cortez Bank and found bluefin tuna and yellowtail.

Although only four tuna were caught, there was a steady bite on yellowtail for more than an hour.

When the surface action stopped, anglers went to the shallow, rocky bottom and filled their sacks with rockfish.

Ed Leevant of West Los Angeles was the trip’s big winner with a 22-pound bluefin tuna.

Two of the largest lobsters brought to the surface since the season started in October were weighed in at Long Beach Sportfishing over the weekend.

Ray Arntz of Long Beach made a dive to the bottom aboard Mr. C near the west end of Catalina Island in anticipation of catching a lobster for dinner.

On his first dive, he came up with an added bonus. As he resurfaced and climbed the boat’s step, he handed one lobster to the captain. Wrapped around his diving gear was a second lobster.

The first weighed 14 pounds, and the second, 12 pounds.

Arntz said they were the only two lobsters in the area, and rather than diving back down, he managed to bring the two up at the same time.

South Bay Catches: Jim Mellin of San Pedro, fishing off San Clemente Island aboard the Grande 85, caught the whopper of the week--a 35-pound yellowtail.

Tom Gaston of Gardena, fishing off Catalina aboard Outer Limits, caught a 28-pound white seabass.

Sally Lewis of Wilmington, fishing aboard the Hitless Miss at Horseshoe Kelp, caught a 17 1/4-pound yellowtail.

Mike Blue of Long Beach, aboard the Victory off Rocky Point, caught a 15-pound sheephead.

James Tani of Long Beach, fishing off Catalina aboard the Reel Special, caught a 13 1/2-pound yellowtail.