Video: Dolphins, Rockfish and Whales

Good fishing for rockfish dominated the Southern California coast this week providing anglers with excellent tablefare. There are more than 60 species of rockfish found in Southern California waters, all of which are great eating. Boats from the Channel Islands to Baja California experienced summerlike weather and very good bottom-fishing this past week.

Marina del Rey Sportfishing reported very good lingcod fishing on Tuesday afternoon as the Tradition out of Redondo Sportfishing. Jimmy Bass from Tradition Sportfishing says one of the best ways to catch a big lingcod is to bait your hook with a freshly caught sand dab. “Over and over again, a sand dab for bait will produce a fat ling,” Bass said.

Vast amounts of krill 6-7 miles from Long Beach Tuesday made for spectacular whale watching. Captain Chris Batts from Harbor Breeze Cruises called in from the whale zone on Wednesday morning and said he had seen at least 15 whales surface and lunge feeding. “I’ve seen blue whales, fin whales, humpbacks and minke whales this morning.” Whale watching was excellent off Dana Point, Laguna, Newport Beach, the Santa Monica Bay and Santa Barbara too. It looks like a fantastic time to get out on the water and see these truly magnificent creatures.

Nine-year-old Hector Medina and his 11-year-old brother Manual were out with their parents Gabriela and Hector on the ½ day boat City of Long Beach this week and were treated to not only great fishing and weather, but also some great sights. The two brothers from Carson, CA saw hundreds of dolphin, a school of mola mola, giant container ships, a beautiful sunrise and of course caught lots of fish. “I just want my boys to develop a love for the sea,” said the elder Medina said.

You’ll not only see a variety of rockfish taken in this video along with the enigmatic mola mola, but you may just see the fastest man on a filet board anywhere.