FISHING / DAN STANTON : Anglers Say Best Action Is Starting to Surface

Surface action has been steadily improving as large schools of bonito have moved into South Bay waters.

Barracuda, yellowtail and white seabass have been spotted across a wide area.

Off San Clemente Island, overnight boats reported schools of bluefin tuna on the front side of the island, but the fish have refused jigs or bait.

L.A. Harbor Sportfishing’s Pacifica returned Monday from a day and a half trip in search of tuna at Cortez Bank.

Captain Guy Ashley said they saw schools of tuna, but none were caught.

The 18 anglers aboard caught yellowtail between 15-30 pounds. Scott Welden of Long Beach caught a 30-pounder, which won the jackpot.

The Horseshoe Kelp half-day boats found surface species such as yellowtail and barracuda over the weekend.

The Matt Walsh returned Sunday morning with one of the largest yellowtail caught in local waters in several years.

Carson fisherman Maris Montes, using a jig, hooked the fish, which peeled his 20-pound test line. Captain Todd Phillips followed Montes around the deck for 35 minutes to avoid having the fish run the line around the anchor or lines of other anglers.

When the fish surfaced, it took two deckhands to lift it aboard.

The yellowtail was 42 1/2 pounds.

Gardena fisherman Scott Fujinami, aboard the City of Redondo, caught a 9 1/2-pound calico bass at Rocky Point.

On the same trip, Paul Nakama of West Los Angeles landed a 7 1/2-pound barracuda.

Four Long Beach fishermen returned recently from a two-day trip to Cabo San Lucas fishing for marlin aboard the Lucky L.

Tommy Larkin, 10, caught marlin weighing 115 and 150 pounds. His father caught marlin that weighed 135 and 150 pounds.

In addition, Anthony Maust and Charles Larson each caught a marlin. Larson’s weighed 125 pounds and Maust’s fish was a 140-pounder.

According to captain Brian Dull, water temperature off Cabo was 82 degrees.

The third annual Avalon Descanso Beach Halibut Derby will be held Sunday.

The first-place winner will receive $500, second place $350 and third $150.

Every entry will be awarded a prize donated by merchants.

Information: (310) 510-0113.

The first of two free fishing days for 1992 is Saturday.

Anglers may fish without having to purchase a California license.

The event coincides with National Fishing Week. All other fishing regulations and bag limits will be enforced on that day.

Long Beach Sportfishing is also joining in by offering free trips to children 15 or younger during June.

Don Ashley, a spokesman at the landing, said a child must be accompanied by a paying adult on any day or overnight island boat.

Ashley said the promotion is designed to help introduce children to ocean fishing.

South Bay Catches--Bryan Sukimoto of San Pedro, using a small sardine for bait while fishing aboard the Diawa off San Clemente Island, caught the whopper of the week--a 42-pound white seabass.

Kilwon Chang of West Los Angeles, aboard the Happyman at Venice Reef, caught a 36-pound halibut.

Tosh Mayeda of Gardena, aboard the Vagabond off San Benitos Island, caught a 26-pound 8-ounce yellowtail.

Tony Nimer of Long Beach, aboard the Victory at Horseshoe Kelp, caught a 22-pound white seabass.

Peter Villanueva of San Pedro, aboard the Sportking at Horseshoe Kelp, caught an 11-pound barracuda.