Conditions Help Spark Rebirth of Local Fishing

Local fishing, which wasn’t much until recently, seems to be getting better every day.

Murky water has cleared and warmed, inviting a variety of fish--and landing operators and light-tackle fishermen couldn’t be happier.

“The barracuda are popping up, chasing bait around and we’re getting a good shot at the bass,” said John Glackin, owner of Redondo Sportfishing.

Indeed. Redondo’s fishermen have been catching limits on calico bass and sand bass for the past several days, accounting for a combined count of 348 bass on Tuesday alone. The barracuda merely have added a little spice to the action, not only for the Redondo fleet but for those throughout the South Bay.

“Things are looking really good in front here,” said Ray Duane, skipper of the Matt Walsh out of L.A. Harbor Sportfishing. “The water is 69 to 70 degrees and clean. We have big, healthy barracuda biting, at five and six pounds. Really good fishing.”

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And the fish don’t seem to be settling with the setting sun. Twilight fishing from Malibu to Long Beach is as good as it has been in years.

The Matt Walsh got into one of the better bites Tuesday night, as 25 anglers boated 167 barracuda and 132 sand bass. “And the barracuda are all big stove pipes,” Duane said. “(It) was the best trip this year.”

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Meanwhile, skippers making runs to Catalina are still finding the water thick with barracuda, with some of the fish pushing 10 pounds.

And the Shogun out of L.A. Harbor Sportfishing has been plying the waters off San Clemente Island hoping for a resurgence of the ever-popular yellowtail--and skipper Norm Kagawa found it Wednesday.

Kagawa radioed the landing Wednesday afternoon with a report of 80 fish boated and more being caught. Ray Lagnay of Long Beach Sportfishing’s Toronado reported 42 fish on the deck by 9:30 a.m.

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Big fish honors go to Chuck Woodman of Lawndale, who caught a 41-pound yellowtail aboard L.A. Harbor’s Pacifica at San Clemente Island. Aaron Sanchez of Venice took a 10-pound barracuda aboard Marina del Rey Sportfishing’s Del Mar, and Bob Yamasaki of Long Beach caught a nine-pound calico bass aboard 22nd Street Landing’s Fortune.

Most unusual catch: a 15-pound king salmon caught in deep water during a rock cod trip Monday out of Malibu Sportfishing. “It was a fellow from Hungary who had never been fishing before,” said Helen Howlett at Malibu Pier.

Notes

L.A. Harbor Sportfishing has scheduled two 2 1/2-day trips to the outer banks in search of tuna, aboard the 92-foot First String. The first (at a cost of $250 excluding meals) will embark June 27, and the second ($280 including meals) July 1. Space is limited. . . . Long Beach Sportfishing announced that, through July 16, those paying a full fare for all-day and half-day trips can bring a child younger than 15 free.