The enigmatic Humboldt squid that recently for Southern California anglers have suddenly disappeared.
"They're gone," said Native Sun Capt. Gabe Ceballos out of Long Beach Sportfishing. Ceballos said he searched a broad area in the coastal waters off Long Beach and San Pedro on a Sept. 27 twilight trip and found little evidence of the giant mollusks that were so plentiful just days before.
Other sportboats reported similar results.
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"Thousands, maybe millions here one day and then gone the next," said Enterprise skipper Andy Siratt from Long Beach Marina Sportfishing.
While the Humboldt squid provided an economic boost to the local sportfishing economy in the short run, to other fisheries. The jumbo squid have voracious, insatiable appetites and consume just about everything in their paths. They can grow up to 6 feet long and gain 100 pounds in a year, so the squid are in a constant search for food.
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That's bad news for calico and sand bass, rockfish and other species that dare to cross the path of the ferocious mollusk. Hunting in packs 1,200 strong at times, anglers fear the squid have cleaned out many local fishing spots, leaving them devoid of life. Only time will tell as the squid have pushed into the waters off Santa Barbara, presumably in search of more food.
Nevertheless, the Enterprise was out on Wednesday and had limits of rockfish so the squid could have left some fish behind.
Redondo-based captain reels in big fish
Capt. Gary Lacroix of the Highliner from Redondo Beach took a holiday recently and fished on a seven-day trip on board the San Diego-based Shogun.
"The trip couldn't heave been any better," said Lacroix.
On the way to Guadalupe Island, the group caught plenty of yellowtail and bluefin tuna. The backside of Guadalupe produced excellent fishing for 25- to 40-pound yellowtail; on the front side, 60- to 100-pound yellowfin tuna provided good action.
There was an epic battle on the yellowfin tuna grounds during the trip as up to nine great white sharks picked off most of the hooked tuna. Lacroix caught the largest tuna, weighing in at 96 pounds, of the trip.
Quick bites
- Tuna fishing out of San Diego is still a viable option available for anglers, but only if they are willing to travel more than 150 miles south of Point Loma. Bluefin tuna in the 12- to 18-pound class have been hit-and-miss, but 5- to 10-pound yellowtail have been plentiful, along with a few 15- to 25-pound dorado, on floating kelp paddies. Hurricane Hilary could extend the offshore tuna season. Some anglers believe that hurricanes flush warm water and more fish from south to north.
- The Santa Monica Bay continues to be home to lots of market squid, whose presence seems to have prolonged surface fishing. The Redondo Special has been catching lots of short white sea bass (less than 28-inches in length) and a few legal sea bass to more than 25 pounds. Rockfishing remains good if the surface fish don’t come out to play.
- On the other hand, surf fishing came to a screeching halt last week as a red tide stretching from the Mexican border to the Santa Monica Bay has rolled in.
- Dave Aird, who worked at Long Beach Sportfishing for 15 years, died Sept. 19 at the age of 54. There will be a memorial celebration of his life at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 6 on board the Native Sun out of Long Beach Sportfishing followed by a burial at sea. RSVP by calling 562-432-8993 or email charter.master@lbsf55.com.
