FISHING : Outlook Is Improving for Barracuda and Yellowtail

The outlook remains good for a continued spring run of surface fishing.

Barracuda action started last week off Catalina Island and moved into local waters over the weekend and yellowtail action rebounded off San Clemente Island.

L.A. Harbor’s First String was fishing the front side of Catalina April 17 and found a wide-open barracuda bite. Anglers were able to catch six- to eight-pound fish.

Jerry Piper of Lawndale caught an eight-pound barracuda on a jig.

The one-day total was 231 and all anglers aboard the boat scored with full to three-quarter limits.

Rocky Point has been a hot spot for barracuda for more than a week. Over the weekend anglers had full limits.

Dan Armstrong of Redondo Sportfishing said anglers using jigs have been able to catch limits. He said the fish seem to prefer blue and white jigs instead of live bait.

Yellowtail action improved off San Clemente Island. Long Beach Sportfishing’s Toronado returned Monday with 39 yellowtail. Anglers used live squid and small mackerel for bait.

Chuck Beckhart of Long Beach was the jackpot winner with a 26-pound yellowtail and also caught nine fish in the 20-pound range. Phil Alexander of Long Beach missed the jackpot, but caught eight fish.

The landing’s boat Aztec also had success in the same area. Gardena angler Sandy Nakagawa won the jackpot when she brought to gaff a 25 1/2-pound yellowtail.

Arnold Stubbs of Long Beach was a close contender with three fish over 20 pounds.

The 17th annual Marina del Rey Halibut Derby is set for this weekend.

The grand prize is a fishing trip for two to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Second is a trip for two to fish for giant halibut in Alaska.

Other prizes will be provided by tackle sponsors at the May 4 banquet.

Entry fee proceeds will be divided equally, with one-half going to the Boy Scouts of America and the other half to youth fishing activities.

Information: (213) 822-7090.

San Pedro fishermen Keith Brewer, Bob Anderson and Brian Walker were drifting in Brewer’s skiff close to the Portuguese Bend kelp for white sea bass.

The fishermen were using cut squid for bait. Several times they got strikes, but had their line bitten off. Only Brewer was able to catch one.

Brewer’s fish headed down to the kelp and he let it run for about 10 minutes. He was finally able to move the fish out of the kelp and when it surfaced, a seal tried to grab it. But Brewer was able to get the 14-pound sea bass into the boat.

South Bay Catches--Frank Makaiwi of Gardena, fishing aboard the New Image off Catalina, used live squid to catch the whopper of the week, a 36 1/2-pound yellowtail.

Jim Brenman of San Pedro, fishing off Catalina aboard the Betty G, caught a 35-pound white sea bass.

Bob Sullivan of Hermosa Beach, fishing aboard the Island Tak, used 10-pound test line and caught a 32-pound salmon.

Floyd Doth of Long Beach, fishing off San Clemente Island aboard the Shogun, caught a 32-pound yellowtail.

Bill Harton of Gardena, fishing aboard the Top Gun off San Clemente Island, caught a 24-pound yellowtail.

Sally Simon of Harbor City, fishing aboard the Hitless Miss at Rocky Point, caught a 17-pound halibut.