Halibut Derbies in Full Swing

Two Southern California halibut derbies have kicked off, with anglers catching flatfish weighing more than 20 pounds.

The Dana Wharf Halibut Derby has Danny Stevenson in first place with a 39.3-pound flatfish. Paul Pappas decked a 26.5-pound flatfish for second place, while Scott Buchart held on to third place with a 25.8-pound halibut.

The Pot Of Gold Halibut Derby out of Long Beach Sportfishing has also seen some nice halibut on most days. John Tran is in the lead after the first week with a 26.45-pound halibut, while Tom Pae is in second with a 25.05-pound fish. In third place, Darryl Singleton has a 7-pound halibut.

Steve Bermudes, who was on board the Native Sun on Friday out of Long Beach Sportfishing, said all the big halibut came on large live sardines.

"That was the hot bait," Bermudes said.

Other anglers have also had great success fishing with live squid.

Steve Kohatsu from Pomona said he has been catching lots halibut with plastic lures while surf fishing off Marina del Rey. The halibut derbies are big news, considering some anglers recently have reported a shortage in the species.

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In addition to halibut, private boaters continue to do well on sculpin, sand bass and hoop net lobster.

The three-quarter-day boat Clemente out of Dana Wharf Sportfishing had a couple of days recently where anglers limited out on sand bass. Sand bass weighing up to 7 pounds have been biting on live and fresh dead squid pinned on a 1-ounce leadhead. Sand bass were also taken in decent numbers off Corona del Mar, Newport Beach, Long Beach and in the Santa Monica Bay.

There have also been a few white sea bass caught recently off Newport and Huntington beaches. Capt. Ricky Perez from the Black Pearl in Long Beach reported the sea bass, which are members of the croaker family, were caught in areas where there are copious amounts of squid.

"I have heard of some croaker [weighing up] to 55 pounds," Perez said.

Perez took a small skiff out Thursday and fished off San Pedro, catching limits of sand bass, along with some fat sculpin and cabezon.