FISHING

Yellowfin, Yellowtail Bite Continues

Anglers fishing Cortez and Tanner banks continue to catch yellowfin tuna.

San Pedro fisherman Jim Mellin caught six yellowfin, including a 30-pounder, on a trip aboard the 22nd Street Landing boat Islander. Jessica Aguilar, 10, of San Pedro, caught her first yellowfin that weighed 22 pounds. The boat returned with a catch of 118 yellowfin.

South Bay overnight boats were working off San Clemente Island and found excellent fishing for yellowtail and calico bass.

The 22nd Street Landing’s Mustang returned from the island with 106 yellowtail, although the fish averaged less than 10 pounds.

Local fishing for small yellowtail remains good as evidenced by Los Angeles Harbor’s Sportking, which had a total catch of 27 last week.

Legal catches of halibut in Santa Monica Bay continue to improve daily.

Sonny Bennett of Marina del Rey caught a 30-pound halibut using a small sardine for bait.

Simon Levy of El Segundo landed a 22-pounder.

A night trip aboard the Reel Special turned into an adventure for two area anglers.

Captain Keith Brewer headed offshore from the rigs and eventually found 68-degree water. He put squid lights out and started using anchovies to chum sharks.

Brewer and Bill Bagley of Long Beach hooked and released several small mako sharks before keeping three that weighed 40 pounds or more.

A school of sardines surfaced under the lights and were chased by sharks. Bagley also noticed a swordfish was circling the area and put a mackerel on a hook. The swordfish took the bait and the battle began.

For more than two hours, Bagley--using 80-pound test line--battled the fish. The fish was brought close to the boat twice, but attempts to gaff it failed.

After the second attempt, the line snapped. Brewer, who was standing by, managed to grab the line, but eventually had to let go. The anglers estimated the swordfish to be more than 300 pounds.

The First Hames Memorial tournament was Saturday in Santa Monica Bay.

A total of 76 anglers participated for trophies that were awarded in five categories.

Joe and Patty Rodriguez of Redondo Beach teamed to catch the largest fish--a 22-pound halibut that measured 37 1/2 inches.

Gary Weishalp of Redondo Beach caught a five-pound 10-ounce bonito, the largest of the tournament.

An eight-pound 11-ounce rock cod earned Harvey Brown of Redondo Beach the trophy for largest fish in that category.

South Bay catches: Peter Gray of Long Beach, aboard the Freedom off San Clemente Island, pulled a 35-pound yellowtail from the kelp for the whopper of the week.

David Fields of Venice, aboard the Spitfire at the flats, caught a 31-pound halibut.

Bruce Macintosh of West Los Angeles, aboard the First String off San Clemente Island, caught a 25-pound yellowtail.

Richard Fedder of Long Beach, aboard the Aztec off San Clemente Island, caught a 22 1/2-pound halibut.

Rudy Alba of San Pedro, aboard the Sportking at Horseshoe Kelp, caught a 21-pound halibut.