Yellowtail Catch Gets Season Started

Southern California saltwater anglers are hoping the weekend catch of two large yellowtail at San Clemente Island along with another big yellowtail taken at Catalina Island signals the beginning of the spring season for these hard-fighting game fish.

Bill Kerr and Nils Thoresen were on board the Sea Horse, which runs from Dana Wharf Sportfishing, when they caught what is believed to be the first yellowtail of the season. Kerr decked a 31.8-pound yellowtail and Thoresen caught a 28.2-pounder.

Options skipper Wes Flesch was on a busman’s holiday on Sunday, fishing on board the Pacific Edge out of King Harbor, and picked up a 40-pound yellowtail. Dan Burns from the boat Blackjack was also on board.

“It was the most awesome display of yellows I have ever seen, but of course they didn't want to eat,” Burns said. "If we had squid that could have made the difference, I think. We were lucky we got the one.”

“This is great news, if there are more,” said Don Ashley from Pierpoint Landing in Long Beach. “We have been waiting for something like this to happen and plan on sending boats as soon as it looks like this is for real.”

Both islands are within range for boats over much of the Southern California coast.

Unfortunately, there remains a lack of live squid for bait, which has hindered the bite. As of 3 p.m. Wednesday, the Sea Horse reported taking no yellowtail while fishing at San Clemente Island.

Pot of Gold Halibut Derby

The Pot of Gold Halibut Derby came to an abrupt end for lack of participation. Dave Kiel from Granada Hills caught the largest fish of the derby on its final day Sunday—a beautiful 36.6-pound halibut. Nine finalists will split the approximately $900 jackpot and receive lots of free gifts from the derby's sponsors. The three-quarter-day boat Native Sun has resumed its regular run out of Long Beach Sportfishing and is now fishing for rockfish.

Surf fishing

Surf fishermen encountered some good action this week with a few corbina starting to bite, along with some barred perch and even a few halibut. There continues to be an abundance of sand crabs along the beaches and a variety of surf fish feeding on them. Good fishing was reported at Dog Beach at the Huntington Cliffs for barred perch to 3 pounds as well as some corbina.

Fourteenth Street in Seal Beach has also been good this week. Fishing between the pier and the navy jetty has produced barred perch, corbina and spotfin croaker. Sand crabs and 6-pound test have been the best way to make a catch here. Fishing around the high and low tides produced the best action.

Grunion run

There is a grunion run currently under way through Friday. Surf fishermen normally encounter better halibut fishing during these runs. The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is having its “Meet the Grunion Night” Thursday night. The aquarium exhibit hall will open at 8 p.m., with a film on grunion to be screened at 9 p.m. The cost to attend is $5 for adults and $1 for seniors, children and students. Tickets can be purchased on site (cash only). Afterward, those who wish to participate will head to the beach to await the spawning run, which has a projected two-hour window of 10:45 p.m. to 12:45 a.m.

Fishing nearby

Rock fishermen around Palos Verdes continue to catch lots of opaleye perch as well as a few calico bass. Free divers along the magnificent kelp forests continue to see lots of white sea bass and spear a few. Most of the sea bass have been in the 25-to-40-pound class.

Redondo Special Capt. Eric Hobday says water temperatures are rising but they are still focusing their attention on rockfish. Hobday did see a single barracuda jump out of the water near Rocky Point recently and hopes it won’t be too much longer until the surface bite takes off. In the meantime, the rockfish bite has been excellent.

The Tradition out of Redondo Sportfishing is running a special seminar/fishing trip May 13. The trip is specially priced at $55 and will fish from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be instructors on board for novice and expert anglers alike. Special raffle prizes will also be given away. Reservations can be made by calling 818-855-9501.

First barracuda of 2011 caught

The Redondo Special caught what is thought to be the first barracuda of 2011 in the Santa Monica Bay Friday morning on their half day run out of Redondo Sportfishing.

"We saw quite a few fish and caught four," reported skipper Eric Hobday.

Anglers are hoping that this is the beginning of the springtime migration of barracuda into our local waters.

Elson Alversado, of Lawndale, caught the jackpot fish with a 7-pound barracuda. One of the best ways to take barracuda is fishing with lures or in the vernacular, fishing the iron. Blue and white lures are very productive with both lighter surface jigs and heavier yo-yo style iron highly effective.

The arrival of barracuda in the Santa Monica Bay could be a precursor to the toothy critters moving into other local areas as well.