FISHING : Adventurous Anglers Can Be Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Despite warnings from lifeguards, South Bay anglers continue to climb onto the rocks to fish from Point Fermin to Rocky Point.

When the tide is at its lowest point, fishermen have been climbing down the rocks at Palos Verdes Peninsula and placing themselves in danger. During recent storms, three fishermen were washed off the rocks at Smuggler’s Cove and Lunada Bay.

Lifeguard captain Bob Buchanan said that there have been 15 fishing-related drownings in the past 10 years in the area.

He said that last year more than 20 rescues were made from Abalone Point and White Point, two popular fishing locations.

Buchanan said there are lifeguard stations at White Point and Abalone Point. The White Point station is open year-round and the Abalone Point station is open from June to September.

Buchanan said anglers should always check tide and weather conditions before climbing down to any rocky spot along Palos Verdes Peninsula that can be lashed by heavy swells.

In addition, he said private boaters should stay at least 300 yards from shore to avoid drifting onto the beach and rocks while fishing.

Rescues of boaters and windsurfers have also been made off Cabrillo Beach.

Long Beach residents Marc Larson and Troy Shearer, both 25, said they have learned to respect the ocean from their experiences as youths.

During summer days, Larson said they would climb over the fence from Cabrillo Pier and fish on top of the L.A. Harbor breakwater wall.

Shearer recalls an incident that happened while the two were fishing at the breakwater several years ago. Without any warning, he said, huge waves started to break over the wall.

He said they had to crawl on the rocks, leaving their fishing gear and bags of fish behind. Then they had to climb another fence to return to the safety of the pier.

Now the anglers say they fish only from a skiff far offshore and away from the dangerous rocky shore.

Two San Pedro fishermen returned Monday from a weekend trip off Loreto, Mexico.

John Palmino caught a 35-pound yellowtail and a 12-pound dorado. Mike Wang caught three yellowtail--each averaging more than 20 pounds. They said they used cut mackerel for bait.

Stormy weather conditions failed to halt weekend fishing as the seas remained relatively calm. South Bay Sportfishing landings reported a variety of fish were being caught.

Half-day boats from Redondo to Long Beach returned with catches of calico bass and sheephead. The only rock cod boat fishing off Catalina Island was the Sportking, and it returned with good counts of red and lingcod.

South Bay Catches: Don White of Torrance, aboard the Monte Carlo at Horseshoe Kelp, caught the whopper of the week--a 21 1/2-pound sheephead.

Walter Haines, aboard the Toronado off Catalina, caught a 19-pound sheephead.

Marty Albar of San Pedro, aboard the Sportking off Catalina, caught a 17-pound lingcod.

Molly Sherman of Long Beach, aboard the Hitless Miss at the Rock Pile, caught a 15 1/4-pound sheephead.

Freshwater Notes: Long Beach resident Manuel Mundoza, who was fishing Irvine Lake, caught an 8 1/2-pound trout.

Frank Lipanowitch of San Pedro, fishing at Jess Ranch Pond, caught a 6 1/2-pound trout.