FISHING : Area Club Treats Children to Half a Day Aboard Barge

The Los Angeles Rod and Reel Club held its 43rd annual fishing trip for kids on Monday in Los Angeles Harbor.

There were 450 boys and girls ranging in age from 8 to 16 on the trip. They were treated to half a day of fishing aboard the Annie B Barge located inside the harbor.

Fifty club members were aboard the barge, along with several volunteers to help introduce the youths to ocean sportfishing.

Trophies and awards were given to several of the anglers.

Richard Wilson, 9, of West Los Angeles caught the most fish, and Todd Doran, 10, and his brother Troy, 9, of Redondo Beach caught the largest jack smelt. Duane Bell, Darrell Montoya and Jess Biglow of West Los Angeles caught halibut.

Each of the youths was given a hat and shirt at the conclusion of the trip.

Club President Abe Zide said that the club also helps fund marine research and scholarships. The LARRC Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable organization.

Local update--Anglers continue to catch 10-fish limits of sand bass in the South Bay.

Anglers have been most successful using anchovies for bait to catch bass, which are spawning in sandy areas. Anglers using jigs have also had luck fishing the bottom, with some of the fish weighing eight pounds.

Catches of barracuda and bonito at Horseshoe Kelp and in Santa Monica Bay were also reported.

During the weekend, Marina del Rey Sportfishing’s Del Mar was working the bay for barracuda and sand bass when a school of small skipjack was spotted around the boat. But only one was caught as the fish moved northward with the flow of warm water.

Mato Gonzales of San Pedro, aboard the Matt Walsh, caught a 10-pound barracuda.

Chris Lyons of Carson, Alex Schub of Mar Vista and Art Preston of Gardena each caught eight-pound barracuda.

Johnny Olds of San Pedro caught a nine-pound sand bass.

Island update--With parts of San Clemente Island closed to boating and fishing last weekend because of military exercises, South Bay overnight sportfishers concentrated their efforts off Santa Catalina Island.

Several limits of barracuda were reported, but yellowtail fishing has been slow.

Before returning in the afternoon, the fleet stopped at the flats, and anglers were able to catch limits of sand bass.

South Bay fishermen returned from trips to Mexico with impressive catches.

Bob Uzzo of Hermosa Beach, fishing in the Bay of Los Angeles aboard the Sportsman’s Tours, caught a 42 1/2-pound yellowtail.

Evan Campbell of Venice, fishing off San Jose Del Cabo, caught two marlin that averaged 200 pounds.

Mark Blackman of Torrance, fishing off Mazatlan, caught a 106-pound sailfish.

A rare ocean exhibit was unveiled at Cabrillo Marine Museum last weekend.

The exhibit is called “Open Ocean: The Vast Frontier.”

According to Susanne Lawrenz-Miller, one of the directors of the saltwater aquarium, the exhibit offers a view seldom seen except by scuba divers.

Along with colorful jellyfish, the exhibit displays unusual organisms of all sizes. Among the highlights are marine life such as sea angels, sea butterflies, flap jacks, football fish and a mako shark.

Aquarium director Mike Schardt, who oversees the development of the display, said the viewing experience is similar to a voyage aboard a spaceship.

Schardt said sea life such as plankton and deep sea shrimp will be added to the exhibit as they become available.

Admission to the new ocean exhibit is free. Information: (310) 548-7562.

South Bay catches--Keith McKibbin of El Segundo, aboard the Del Mar off Venice Reef, caught the whopper of the week--a 40-pound white seabass.

Danny Montgomery of Long Beach, aboard the Toronado off Catalina, caught a 33-pound yellowtail.

Bob Bradfield of Long Beach, aboard the Freedom off San Clemente Island, pulled a 32 1/2-pound yellowtail out of the kelp.

Eldred Floyd of Long Beach, aboard the Victory at Horseshoe Kelp, caught a 24-pound yellowtail.

Mona Schwartz of Wilmington, aboard the Hitless Miss at the rigs, caught a 15 1/2-pound yellowtail.

Freshwater notes--Catfish are being caught at Irvine Lake.

Al Harris of Carson, using strips of mackerel for bait, caught a 13-pounder.

Elicer Garcia of Wilmington caught an 11 1/2-pounder.