FISHING : Sportfishing Season Expected to Be Excellent in Catalina Waters

Doug Oldin, the harbor master at Two Harbors on Santa Catalina Island, says early indications point to an excellent sportfishing season.

According to Oldin, water temperatures taken by the USC Marine Laboratory at the isthmus have ranged from 62 to 65 degrees, above their seasonal norm of 58. The warm waters have led to some unusual catches.

Two trigger fish have been caught and sea turtles have been spotted off Catalina beaches. In addition, boats jigging at night for squid have reported seeing red crabs and schools of barracuda.

Oldin believes marlin fishing will also improve. Last year was one of the worst for area marlin fishermen.

Island residents have been catching white sea bass at Two Harbors and at Silver Canyon.

Gary Adams weighed in a 30 1/2-pound white sea bass, Neal Salmavnovich a 29-pound white sea bass and Amell Kedis a 27-pound sea bass.

The King Harbor Marlin Club had its annual halibut derby over the weekend.

First place went to Rich Henderson, who caught a 35-pound 5-ounce halibut and an 18-pound 3-ounce halibut. The team pairs winners were Larry and Emily Brown.

The overall team event winners were Rich Henderson, John Valle, Jeff Rowland and Steve Fluffer. They caught 71 pounds 3 ounces of halibut.

Late entries for the annual Santa Monica Halibut Derby on Saturday and Sunday will be accepted at 2117 Ashland Ave., Santa Monica.

Information: (310) 450-5131.

Local update: The warming trend has brought schools of barracuda to South Bay waters.

Redondo Sport Fishing and Marina del Rey Sportfishing boats found a plentiful supply of barracuda last weekend.

Anglers aboard Redondo’s Sea Spray and Marina del Rey’s Del Mar approached their limits of legal-size, 28-inch barracuda.

Sonny Benette at Marina del Rey Sportfishing said that halibut fishing has been excellent the past week.

Jim Ferguson of Santa Monica caught a 22 1/2-pound halibut, Dave Field of West Los Angeles landed a 16 1/2-pound halibut and Gardena fisherman Kim Lee caught a 16-pounder.

Barry French of Redondo Beach also returned from a successful marlin trip to the Bay of Cortez in Mexico last weekend.

French caught four marlin that weighed more than 150 pounds.

South Bay catches: Yosh Kamita of Gardena, aboard the Toronado off Catalina, caught the whopper of the week--a 40-pound white sea bass.