FISH REPORT
FRESHWATER
Los Angeles County
CASTAIC LAKE--The bass bite remains steady for mostly smaller fish on the upper lake. Plastic worms and live baits are working. The lower lake is producing an occasional lunker bass.
PYRAMID LAKE--Smallmouth bass are providing big fun, striking small plastics. Trout are still being caught in fair numbers, and striped bass are showing signs of life but not really biting.
Ventura County
LAKE CASITAS--A 14-pound 6-ounce bass was caught on a plastic worm by Steve Morris, Woodland Hills. Several others weighed in at 10 pounds or more. Trout action is good on Power Bait and spinners. Red-eared perch are biting on white mini-jigs and night crawlers.
LAKE PIRU--Mostly small bass are providing fair action on plastics in the shallows, while trout fishermen trolling Needlefish are still scoring occasional pan-sized rainbows.
Santa Barbara County
LAKE CACHUMA--Bass are in the shallows and biting on plastic worms and spinnerbaits. Trout action is fair to good for trollers using night crawler-flasher combos and Needlefish. The fish are running to about five pounds.
Orange County
IRVINE LAKE--Big trout are still the story, but an 11-pound bass was weighed and released.
LAGUNA NIGUEL LAKE--Trout and bass action remain steady on the usual baits, lures and techniques. A plant of 1,000 crappies and 100 “big” bass will take place next week.
SANTA ANA RIVER LAKES--Top catch was a 13-7 rainbow by Michelle Watson, Del Mar, on a night crawler. Fishing is fair to good overall.
OSO RESERVOIR--Bass fishermen are in heaven here, catching up to 30 fish a day and striking any top-water lure thrown their way. No huge fish, but plenty of action.
San Bernardino County
JESS RANCH LAKES--Trout are well stocked and biting on the usual stuff. One came in at nine pounds.
Riverside County
CORONA LAKE--A 16-4 rainbow tops the list. Trout fishing will remain fair as long as we have cool nights and not-too-hot days.
LAKE PERRIS--Cole Brewer, Riverside, 12-pound bass on a four-inch plastic worm. Brian Gilmore, San Clemente, 8-2 bass on a Rapala. Several slightly smaller bass were weighed in. The trout bite is fair and bluegills and crappies are getting active.
LAKE SKINNER--Striped bass got active after a recent trout plant and one weighed in at 18-8. Largemouth bass are providing lots of action too. Some trout.
San Diego County
SAN DIEGO CITY LAKES--The bass lakes are producing well for those using crankbaits, shiners and plastics, and the trout lakes (Murray and Miramar) are still yielding decent numbers. The bluegill bite is picking up at Lower Otay.
LAKE POWAY--Bass fishing is the best bet and it’s pretty good for fish averaging two-five pounds. A 10-pounder was caught on a waterdog. Some trout.
LAKE CUYAMACA--The trout bite has tapered off, but limits are possible for those using Power Bait and night crawlers. Catfish action is picking up.
Eastern Sierra
Lower Owens River flows have increased so fishing is a little tough, although some big rainbows are still being caught, by bait and fly fishermen alike. The Owens Gorge is producing easy catches of eight-inch browns for those using midge patterns sizes 20-24. Pleasant Valley Reservoir is the best bet, and the river leading into the lake is yielding some browns to about 18 inches. Tinnemaha Reservoir is fair for bass and trout.
SALTWATER
The Times accepts and publishes the catch count as a public service. Any responsibility for accuracy is that of the landing operator.
MORRO BAY (Virg’s Landing)--55 anglers (2 boats): 25 red snapper, 125 red rockcod, 250 rockcod, 100 rockfish.
AVILA BEACH (Patriot Sportfishing)--18 anglers (1 boat): 125 red rockcod, 54 red snapper, 1 cow cod.
SANTA BARBARA (Sea Landing)--16 anglers (2 boats): 138 barracuda.
OXNARD (Cisco’s)--46 anglers (4 boats): 16 white seabass, 2 sculpin, 110 barracuda, 25 whitefish, 8 calico bass, 20 red snapper, 70 rockfish. (Captain Hook’s/Gold Coast)--26 anglers (1 boat): 60 barracuda, 35 rockfish, 1 lingcod.
PORT HUENEME--17 anglers (1 boat): 116 barracuda.
MARINA DEL REY--55 anglers (4 boats): 2 halibut, 148 sculpin, 3 sand bass, 37 rockfish.
REDONDO BEACH--37 anglers (2 boats): 370 sculpin, 15 calico bass, 20 sand bass, 2 whitefish, 1 black seabass (released).
SAN PEDRO (L.A. Harbor Sportfishing)--49 anglers (3 boats): 12 white seabass, 75 calico bass, 28 sculpin, 28 blue perch, 24 rockfish, 10 barracuda, 8 sheephead, 2 red snapper, 1 halibut. (22nd St. Landing)--132 anglers (5 boats): 33 yellowtail, 1 white seabass, 8 calico bass, 17 barracuda, 2 halibut, 45 whitefish, 10 sculpin, 16 sheephead, 152 rockfish, 15 red rockcod, 71 bonito, 26 salmon grouper, 60 Spanish mackerel, 6 red snapper, 4 opaleye, 2 sand dab, 1 sargo.
LONG BEACH (Sportfishing/Berth 55)--25 anglers (2 boats): 1 yellowtail, 5 calico bass, 13 sculpin, 13 barracuda, 2 sand bass, 2 whitefish, 9 rockfish, 2 sargo, 1 sole, 1 red snapper, 2 blue perch. (Marina Sportfishing)--30 anglers (2 boats): 14 yellowtail, 12 calico bass, 1 halibut, 1 sheephead, 3 sculpin, 53 rockfish, 14 salmon grouper, 3 sole, 9 red snapper. (Pierpoint Landing)--32 anglers (3 boats): 37 yellowtail, 27 barracuda, 3 calico bass, 67 rockfish, 42 whitefish, 1 sculpin, 3 sheephead, 4 perch, 2 halibut.
SEAL BEACH (Big Fish)--24 anglers (1 boat): 3 sand bass, 13 sculpin, 38 halibut, (33 released).
NEWPORT BEACH (Davey’s Locker)--80 anglers (4 boats): 19 yellowtail, 11 sand bass, 7 calico bass, 7 halibut, 12 sheephead, 15 blue perch, 14 rockfish, 1 sargo, 1 cabezon.
DANA WHARF--54 anglers (2 boats): 6 calico bass, 24 sand bass, 2 sculpin, 2 sheephead.
OCEANSIDE (Helgren’s)--27 anglers (2 boats): 4 red snapper, 2 sand bass, 2 halibut, 22 sculpin, 4 sheephead, 169 rockfish.
SAN DIEGO (H&M; Landing, Fisherman’s, Point Loma)--76 anglers (5 boats): 1 halibut, 14 yellowtail, 10 whitefish, 55 sand bass, 61 rockfish, 114 sculpin, 1 sheephead. (Seaforth)--65 anglers (4 boats): 1 yellowtail, 20 calico bass, 2 sand bass, 52 rockfish, 16 sculpin.
TROUT PLANTS
LOS ANGELES COUNTY--Big Rock Creek, Castaic Lake, Castaic Lagoon, Elizabeth Lake, Piru Creek (Frenchman’s Flat). RIVERSIDE--Fullermill Creek, Fulmor Lake, Hemet Lake, Lake Perris, Strawberry Creek. SAN BERNARDINO--Arrowbear Lake, Santa Ana River, Santa Ana River (South Fork). SAN DIEGO--Doane Pond, San Luis Rey Creek. SANTA BARBARA--Lake Cachuma, Davey Brown Creek, Manzana Creek, Santa Ynez River. SAN LUIS OBISPO--Atascadero Lake, Lopez Lake, Santa Margarita Lake. VENTURA--Lake Casitas, Lake Piru, Reyes Creek, Rose Valley Lake. INYO--Cottonwood Creek, Diaz Lake, Georges Creek, Independence Creek, Lone Pine Creek, Shepards Creek, Symmes Creek, Tuttle Creek.