Rockfishing Strong on SoCal Coast

Rockfishing has been good along the Southern California coast again this week.

Catalina Island has been producing excellent rockfishing. Anglers are catching lots of perch and even a few yellowtail. The Pursuit out of 22nd Street Landing in San Pedro has been enjoying excellent fishing using live squid for bait.

The Patriot recently returned to Newport Landing, bringing quite a bounty. The 34 anglers aboard reeled in 92 sculpin, 71 rockfish, a sheephead, five whitefish and a lingcod.

Meanwhile, the Sum Fun out of Dana Wharf Sportfishing caught limits of salmon grouper, 40 vermillions and 110 assorted rockfish. Long Beach-based boats had similar counts, as did the boats out of Redondo Beach. Anglers on the Tradition out of have caught as many as nine lingcod on a single trip.

Quick bites

• Private boaters fishing the San Pedro and Long Beach breakwalls have had relatively strong success catching sand and calico bass. The anglers with the greatest success have been fishing around the high tides during the day and night. Live anchovies and sardines, as well as fresh dead squid have been effective, however, most of the anglers have made big catches on artificial swimbaits.

• Lobster hoop netting has been excellent in some parts from Orange County to the Santa Monica Bay. The best time to capture the tasty bugs has been at night when they crawl out from their rocky hideaways in search of food. Anglers should remember to bring their fishing licenses and lobster report cards. People who plan to fish from a pier don’t need a license, however, they still need a lobster report card.

• San Diego boats fishing in day-and-a-half range of San Diego continue to have great success for yellowtail with an occasional yellowfin tuna and dorado. Anglers on the Ocean Odyssey returned with Mexican limits of five fish per angler per day of yellowtail on her most recent trip out of H&M Landing. Boats are finding the 3- to 10-pound jacks under floating kelp paddies.  

• Blue whale watching has been spectacular from Newport Beach to Long Beach to the Santa Monica Bay and north to Santa Barbara. Nevertheless, boaters aren’t just seeing blue whales. On many trips, people have spotted speedy fin whales, humpback whales and minke whales. Vast amounts of krill have these creatures lunge feeding on many occasions, adding to an incredible experience.