Fishing Report: This Year's Best Fishing So Far

This week has seen the best fishing of 2011 so far, as San Diego tuna have been biting better than they have all season.

The fish are still about 120-140 miles from Point Loma, but they have been biting with a vengeance at times. The Pacific Voyager from Seaforth Sportfishing reported 189 bluefin tuna, 104 yellowfin tuna, 5 albacore, 12 dorado and 14 yellowtail during a three-day trip earlier in the week. On Wednesday afternoon, the Islander had more than 100 tuna, mostly 12- to 18-pound bluefin, with a few bigger yellowfin tuna mixed in. The New Lo-An was nearing 80 tuna by 5 p.m on Wednesday and reported vast schools of the tasty tuna; the Searcher had caught limits for its four-day trip. The Searcher's limits came after only two days' fishing.

This week's weather was better than last's, aiding in finding big schools of tuna. We also have a full moon in play, which at times can spur a bluefin bite.

Some species of fish have a penchant for biting better during full-moon  periods, and the bluefin tuna is one of those species. White sea bass and blue marlin are a couple of others fish that like dining on the moon too.

 The tuna are biting near San Martin Island, 140 miles south of the U.S.-Mexico border. The Mexican navy has been stopping boats on a regular basis and asking for passports. For the time being, bring your passport any time you cross into Mexican waters.

 Calico Bass
Very good fishing on the kelp lines from La Jolla to Palos Verdes. The key to a good bite is water temperature. You need the water to be at least 65 degrees for a good bite. Live and freshly dead squid has been the best, but anchovies and sardines have worked as well.

 Surf Fishing
Great fishing along beaches from San Clemente to Santa Barbara in the Channel Islands. Barred perch, corbina, spotfin croaker and a few halibut have been around too. The fish bite best on 6-pound test with a No. 6 hook and a quarter-ounce sliding egg sinker.

Barracuda and Sand Bass
It has been very much hit and miss. There have been excellent barracuda catches one day, followed by poor fishing the next. Best sand bass fishing has been on the evening or twilight trips.

Islands
San Clemente Island has been kicking out some yellowtail, good calico bass and a few white sea bass.

Catalina Island has been providing anglers with some good calico bass fishing, along with bonito, barracuda and a few white sea bass and halibut.

 48th Annual Huck Finn Fishing Derby
The Huntington Beach Huck Finn Fishing Derby will be held at the Huntington Beach Pier this Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. Children up to 15 years of age are welcome to this free fishing event, where they can win prizes for everything from fishing to best Huck Finn and Becky Thatcher costumes!   

Prizes include bikes, skateboards, fishing poles and fishing passes. Rods and reels are being provided by the state Department of Fish and Game, and every child in attendance will receive a free fishing trip ($60 value) from Long Beach Marina Sportfishing. Philip Friedman Outdoors will have volunteers on scene to help you catch more fish. Registration begins at 8 a.m. at the end of the pier.

 Redondo Special Gets Caught Up in Sunken Panga Ordeal
On Tuesday, the Redondo Special was unwittingly on a collision course with a myriad of law enforcement agencies. Captain Brian Walker had been having excellent fishing near Bluff Cove, so he pointed the bow of the half-day boat in that direction. It was the same day that a in the very same area where the Redondo Special had been making excellent catches. 

Walker could see there was a commotion in the distance, so he lifted a pair of binoculars to his eyes. He could see two sheriff's boats, two Coast Guard boats, two lifeguard boats, several paddle boarders, and a Coast Guard helicopter that was flying low.

 To add to the spectacle, there were at least five news helicopters hovering above for live coverage. “Damn. That’s just where I wanted to fish,” Walker said.

Walker and his 23 passengers had been fishing a less desirable spot from the time they had arrived on the Redondo Special where fishing was slow. Walker decided to pull anchor and move to where the panga was now under tow behind a lifeguard vessel.

 “They're never going to let us fish here,” said 16-year-old passenger Patrick Friedman. Walker moved to within 50 yards of one of the sheriff's boats on scene and gave the order to a crew member to drop anchor. The Sheriff's Department never said a word, and the Special started catching big calico bass, as well as other species.

 “It was wild,” said Ebersman. “A sunken panga was being towed off our stern, Coast Guard boats were buzzing around, and helicopters zooming overhead while we caught lots of big calico bass. Now that’s a fishing trip.”

 “I’m just glad the captain moved the boat,” said Friedman. “I caught a nice halibut for fish tacos.”

 Whale News
Lots of blue whales being seen by boats from Dana Point to Santa Barbara. Harbor Breeze Cruises in Long Beach reported seeing eight blue whales on its 11:30 a.m. Wednesday tip.

 The Voyager out of Redondo on Monday witnessed a sperm whale. Just before that, the lucky group of whale watchers also saw minke whale breach 11 times. Sperm whales, are toothed whales that prey almost exclusively on squid. They are not seen all that often off Southern California.

The whale spotted Monday off the Palos Verdes Peninsula is believed to be the same whale that has been seen multiple times in the same general area since it was first photo-documented aboard the Voyager in 1996.