FISHING / DAN STANTON : Water Temperature Rises, Action Heats Up

A warming trend helped bring unexpected catches of barracuda and yellowtail at Horseshoe Kelp last weekend.

Anglers aboard the Long Beach Sportfishing boat Victory were fishing kelp for calico bass when they encountered a school of barracuda. Anglers caught 23 barracuda, three yellowtail and two white seabass. Roy Kato of Carson and Al Richards of Long Beach each caught a 12-pound yellowtail.

The landing’s boat Aztec returned Monday morning from a two-day trip to San Nicholas Island with 450 rock cod and four lingcod. John Mortati of Long Beach won the jackpot with a 20-pound sheephead.

Los Angeles Harbor’s rock cod boats had limit catches from two areas.

The Pacifica returned Monday from a 1 1/2-day trip offshore of San Nicholas Island. The 25 anglers caught 250 rock cod and limits of calico bass. John Hudjins, a Long Beach fisherman, caught a 23 1/2-pound lingcod.

The Sportking worked 600 feet of water offshore of Catalina. Anglers caught cow cod, lingcod, grouper and red snappers. Dick Rose of Carson caught a 21-pound cow cod and Pattie Cody of Lomita caught a 10-pound red snapper.

Sonny Bennett at Marina del Rey Sportfishing reports that halibut fishing has improved. With bait readily available, some good-size halibut are being caught in Santa Monica Bay.

Anglers aboard the Annie B barge, anchored in Los Angeles Harbor, caught 50 bonito on Sunday. David Lane of San Pedro caught a 5 1/2-pounder.

Barge master Paul Burube attributed the run of bonito to the warm water temperature.

All South Bay overnight boats that fish the outer islands for white seabass are awaiting the return of squid for bait.

There has been no live squid since storms came through the area earlier this month.

Anchovies and sardines have been in short supply, with most of the boats using frozen strips of squid for bait.

Anglers on the half-day boats have been catching calico bass and rock fish in shallow water.

South Bay catches: Gume Baiz of Westchester, aboard the Aquarius at the Rock Pile, caught the whopper of the week, a 28-pound cow cod.

Gary Hashmario of Culver City, aboard the Del Mar at Venice Reef, caught a 24-pound lingcod.

Stan Gato of Redondo Beach caught a 23 1/2-pound yellowtail aboard the Redondo Special at Rocky Point.