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Sports

Lobster, Rockfish and Bass Bonanza

Private boaters are scoring on bass and rockfish, and crustaceans are crawling.

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.

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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 9 lingcod on a single trip.

Big Fish Tackle cleans house

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Capt. Shawn Morgon from Big Fish Tackle in Seal Beach is having a blowout sale from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

“We need to make room for our Christmas specials so we are discounting everything in the store,” he said.

More than 3,000 items are on sale, and prices start at 25 cents. The store will give out free T-shirts to anyone who spends at least $30 on terminal tackle, and customers who purchase a Phoenix rod at the regular price will receive a $25 Big Fish Tackle gift certificate.  

Additionally, Morgon plans to offer 20 percent off all baits.

Big Fish Tackle is at 1780 Pacific Coast Highway in Seal Beach. For more information, call 562-596-0040.

Quick bites

  • Private boaters fishing the San Pedro and Long Beach breakwalls have been having fair to great success catching sand and calico bass. Philip Friedman Jr. reported limit-style bass fishing on his last three trips. The anglers having 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 bait; however, most of the anglers have been making big catches on artificial swimbaits.
  • Lobster hoop netting has been fair to excellent 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, but 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.  
  • from Newport Beach north to Santa Barbara. On many trips, people have also 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.
  • Reminder: If you show your fishing license at any Taco Surf location, the eatery will knock 15 percent off your final bill. The chain has locations in Seal Beach, Los Alamitos and Belmont Shore.
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