OUTDOORS / PETE THOMAS : Run of Yellowtail Makes for Fast, Furious Action

Nothing against rock cod, but this is spring . . .

And with a new season comes not only longer days and warmer weather, but a species of fish that actually fights back.

And sure enough, the strong-swimming yellowtail--and to a lesser extent white seabass--have arrived. In fact, those who spent Saturday aboard South Bay-based boats at San Clemente Island found themselves involved in one of the best bites in years--spring or summer.

L.A. Harbor Sportfishing’s Shogun put its 59 anglers on a fast-paced bite that lasted much of the day. When it was over, the deck was littered with 190 yellowtail weighing between 15 and 25 pounds. The 25 anglers aboard L.A. Harbor’s Top Gun accounted for 131 yellowtail.

Vessels out of 22nd Street Landing in San Pedro posted similar numbers.

“We dropped anchor and got bit immediately,” said Bob Taft, 42, skipper of the Top Gun. “We had 78 fish on the boat in the first hour. We had 130 and the guys just didn’t want any more; it was just steady with between four to 10 fish hooked up (at a time) for 3 1/2 hours until we went home.”

But such bites do not last long, and sure enough, the fish have not been as cooperative in recent days, with boats scratching their way to counts of between none to 35 or so yellowtail.

But Taft said boats have been monitoring a heavy volume of fish over a five-square mile area near the island, and fishing picked up some Wednesday afternoon. As of 1:30 p.m., Long Beach Sportfishing’s Toronado had boated 31 yellowtail in the 20-pound range, according to David Stame, a spokesman at the landing.

“And they were still catching fish,” Stame said. “Even the little kids were catching them.”

Halibut apparently has not been all that hot an item recently among South Bay fishermen.

There was a small turnout for the Marina del Rey derby two weeks ago and, barring a late rush, the upcoming Santa Monica Bay Halibut Derby will have its smallest turnout.

Tournament chairman John Bourget said he will be fortunate to get 1,000 entries for this year’s event, which runs April 24-25 in the bay between the Palos Verdes Peninsula and Point Dume. Last year there were 1,300 participants.

Those this year will be trying to catch Big Bertha, a tagged halibut worth $1,000, and competing for trips to Alaska and Mexico and assorted other prizes. But they also will be indirectly helping the community and the California halibut fishery.

Nearly 80% of the proceeds will go to the boys’ and girls’ clubs of Santa Monica, the rest to the Los Angeles Natural History Museum, which operates a halibut hatchery facility in Redondo Beach and is researching what is believed to be a declining fishery in the bay. Contestants will be asked to participate in a tagging program to aid in the research.

Cost is $35 per person, plus an extra $15 for those wishing to be part of a team. Entries--available at bait and tackle shops throughout the South Bay--must be received by midnight Wednesday. Information: (310) 450-5131.

Although these may be exciting times for fishermen aboard the overnight boats, they have been anything but for most aboard South Bay half- and three-quarter-day boats, which have been struggling uneventfully through this transitional period between winter and summer.

The good news is that the situation is improving, thanks to warmer weather, a slowly rising water temperature and a healthy supply of bait.

“It has been slow,” said Michael Johnston, a spokesman for Redondo Sport Fishing. “The water was cold and green, but now we’re getting a new batch of water. Basically, it’s kicking into springtime. It happens every year about this time.”

Since filling its bait receivers with live squid at the beginning of the week, the landing has reported impressive catches of calico bass and sand bass.