Anglers Catching Limits of Barracuda at Horseshoe Kelp

Barracuda and yellowtail returned to South Bay waters last week and limits were not uncommon.

The Horseshoe Kelp appeared to be the hot spot last weekend. Anglers aboard the L.A. Harbor boat Matt Walsh caught 10-fish limits of barracuda. The average weight was six pounds. Bob Zimmer of Carson caught an 8 1/2-pounder.

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Long Beach Sportfishing’s Victory returned early Monday from a successful trip. Long Beach fisherman Jerry Dow caught a 10-pound barracuda.

The fish are being caught in the mornings on bait and jigs.

Yellowtail are starting to move into the Rocky Point area again. Matt Sullivan at Redondo Sportfishing said 10 were caught Monday aboard the Redondo Special. On Tuesday, four were caught, including a 30-pounder.

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South Bay boats returned Monday and Tuesday from trips to Cortez and Tanner banks, but failed to find any volume of tuna.

Anglers aboard the 22nd Street Landing’s El Dorado caught two bluefin tuna and limits of rockfish. The trip’s largest fish, a 25-pound yellowtail, was caught by Jerry Urbanovic of San Pedro.

L.A. Harbor’s First String returned with five yellowtail and limits of rockfish. Irma Giese of San Pedro caught a 35-pound yellowtail.

Anglers on Long Beach Sportfishing’s Toronado caught four yellowtail and limits of rockfish and bonito. Byron Kenna of Long Beach caught a 28-pound yellowtail.

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Rosie Cadman at the Avalon weigh station reports that marlin fishing is starting to improve, with 34 brought to scale thus far.

Phil Albano of San Pedro, aboard the Brandy Wine, used 30-pound test line and battled a marlin for 45 minutes. The fish jumped 15 times and peeled his line before Albano was able to bring it to the boat. The marlin--Albano’s first--weighed 135 pounds.

King Harbor Marlin Club member Rick Henderson, aboard his boat Reel Delight, used 20-pound test line and caught a 127 1/2-pound marlin.

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The Dream Street Foundation of West Los Angeles conducted its fourth annual summer fishing trip for boys and girls with life-threatening illness, introducing 25 youngsters to ocean sportfishing.

Captain George Xenios donates his 90-foot sportfisher Victory, fishing gear and food.

Working with the crew to help the youths were TV personalities Fritz Coleman and actress Linda Blair.

Sea conditions at Horseshoe Kelp were perfect, and barracuda, bass and bonito made up most of the catch. The first fish caught was the largest, a five-pound barracuda by Logan Wooner. Monica Greenwood landed the largest calico bass at four pounds and Ed Heitl caught a four-pound bonito.

The 35 youngsters were given gifts and certificates.