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SOUTH CAL SALT AND FRESH REPORT
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BASS, BONITO IN THE MIX, TOO
Rockfishing will be closed in southern California
HAYWARD AND SCHWEIT REPORTSPublished: Nov 21, 2008
SOUTH CAL SALT AND FRESH STORIES
Channel Islands serve up impressive bags of bottom grabbers
BY BRANDON HAYWARD / WON Staff Writer
OXNARD — Come Jan. 1, Southern California waters will be closed to rockfishing until 
March 1, so it seems pretty fitting that with the soon-to-be onset of winter the Channel Islands have been kicking out limits galore on rockfish to go with plenty of whitefish, sheephead, lingcod and even some good bass and bonito fishing at times for boats fishing along the coast and out at Santa Cruz.
“There’s lots of calico bass and bonito biting and the bonito are nice sized. The local ones (along the coast) have been 3 to 7 pounds; the ones they’ve been getting on the overnights have been 11 and 12 pounders, some of them,” said Jeff Morgan at Channel Islands Sportfishing. Two of the landing’s boats — the Gentleman and Island Tak — have been finding bass and bonito along the coast, and at Santa Cruz, respectively.
Morgan said that the Gentleman was fishing “down the coast” on Friday when the 3⁄4-day snatched up 75 calico bass, 62 bonito, 18 rockfish and a perch for 20 anglers. The Island Tak had its best bass day at Santa Cruz on Tuesday when 8 anglers sacked limits of calico bass (80), 29 bonito and 17 whitefish.
The rockfishing has been excellent on all the runs as of late. On Saturday a half-day on the Pacific Islander did in limits of rockfish (250) for 25 anglers.
Over at Captain Hook’s Sportfishing, owner Jeff Grodin said that the fishing has been red hot for his boats as well.
“Shawn (Steward, owner of the Aloha Spirit) has been averaging like 16 fish-per-rod on his trips. He’s been getting some big, huge, whitefish too. Some of them are over 10 pounds,” said Grodin. On Thursday the sacks were bulging with 206 rockfish, 181 whitefish, 16 sheephead, 1 lingcod and a calico bass for the trip’s 22 anglers on the 5-to-5 trip.
Saturday’s overnight trip on the Seabiscuit had 180 rockfish, which was limits for 18 passengers, to go with 105 whitefish and 5 lingcod. The 15 anglers on Saturday’s 3⁄4-day trip on the Island Spirit reeled in 150 reds (limits for 15 anglers) to go with 28 sheephead, 13 whitefish, 17 sculpin and 2 lingcod.
With all the good fishing going on, Captain Hooks has some special trips lined up. One full-fare on Monday’s half-day gets another angler on for free — Grodin says all you have to do is say you saw it in Western Outdoor News. The same offer goes for the Tuesday 3⁄4-day trips. Also, in the month of December the Black Pearl will be doing 2-day trips out of the landing for $199. Finally, the landing will be doing a trip in December to supply the Ventura Food Bank with fish. All eight boats that run out of the landing will be doing trips for $25, says Grodin. There will be a total of 288 spots. For more info, call the landing.
Port Hueneme Sportfishing has been getting the best of the fishing along the coast and at the islands. The Mirage turned in limits of rockfish (200) for its 20 anglers on Saturday to go with its 12 lingcod, 135 whitefish and 10 sheephead. A shorter, 3⁄4-day trip on the Erna B on Wednesday did the bass thing for 66 calico bass, 40 bonito and 14 rockfish for 15 anglers. On Saturday everyone dropped to the bottom for 210 rockfish for 21 anglers.
SM BAY BONITO BLOW OUT OF TOWN
MARINA DEL REY — The Santa Monica Bay had been hosting the best bonito fishing its had in years, if not decades. That was until the first real storm of the year rolled through and the bonito disappeared with it.
Neither Marina del Rey Sportfishing or Redondo Sportfishing have had any bonito in the counts, but the bottoms fishing has been been filling in the gap. On Saturday, the New del Mar sacked 188 sculpin, 1 lingcod, 53 rockfish, 6 sand bass, a whitefish and a calico bass for its 2 trips. The Betty O is always after the rockfish on its 3⁄4-day trips, and Saturday’s trip ended up with 130 rockfish and a lingcod for 21 anglers.
Down around the southern end of the bay, Redondo Sportfishing has been sending its boats out for rockfish. An afternoon trip on the Redondo Special on Saturday came close to getting 10-fish limits for its 12 anglers who bagged 110 rockfish, 5 whitefish and 2 sheephead. The City of Redondo also had near limits on Saturday afternoon when 100 rockfish, 22 sculpin and 2 sheephead went in the sacks of 11 anglers. The Spitfire focused on another bottom grabber — the always-popular sculpin — on its 3⁄4-day on Saturday, and the trip’s 18 anglers were treated to limits of sculpin (90) to go with 71 rockfish, 2 whitefish, 1 sargo and 2 cabezon.
SAN DIEGO 11⁄2- AND 2-DAY TRIPS STILL HAVE EXOTIC TARGETS
SAN DIEGO — “The season that just won’t quite,” is how some are describing the tail end of this year’s offshore prospects, thanks to albacore and yellowtail still hanging around.
The last round of trips to fish offshore after the first major storm of the year turned up a sample of both albacore and yellowtail, but none of the dorado, yellowfin tuna and bluefin tuna that had been around prior to the last storm.
Two boats fished offshore last weekend, and one fished along the Baja Coast. All three proved that there are great prospects for anglers looking to get out on one more trip before the holidays. In fact, the staffs at the landings are saying that this going to be one of those seasons that they run out of anglers before they run out of fish.
The Holiday ran a 11⁄2-day trip out of Point Loma Sportfishing over the weekend, and the trip turned up 13 albacore, 26 skipjack and a yellowtail. H&M Landing’s Sea Adventure also ventured offshore on Saturday. It had 33 anglers tag 4 albacore, 11 yellowtail and 11 skipjack.
The Legend did not run out of Seaforth last weekend (although it has a trip in the books for next weekend). It does have its Colnett schedule put together for rockfish season. Based on what the Pacific Voyager has been doing on its weekend Baja coast 2-day trips, the runs should be excellent. A 2-day on the Pacific Voyager returned Sunday night with 32 yellowtail, 48 rockfish and 360 lingcod.
For the half- and 3⁄4-day boats sticking closer to home, it has been the winter variety package of rockfish, sculpin and whitefish both along the coast and at the Coronados.
CATALINA’S BONITO PRODUCE SURE-FIRE LIMITS
BY BRANDON HAYWARD / WON Staff Writer
SAN PEDRO — This season has been the rest in recent memory for bonito, and Catalina has been the highliner, kicking out 5-fish limits for everyday for weeks now for the 3⁄4-day boats coming out to the island.
“There still real good bonito fishing over here at the island. They are nice, big bonito: 4 to 7 pounders with the occasional 10 pounder thrown in,” said John Woodrum on the Pursuit out of 22nd Street Landing.
There have also been a few surprises in the mix.
“We’ve had a couple of yellowtail lately… yesterday (Saturday) we had a nice, big 25 pounder,” added Woodrum, who also added that the calico bass have been biting a little bit.
Saturday’s trip turned up the whole variety package. Limits of bonito (250) were landed by the trip’s 50 anglers, who also sacked 1 yellowtail, 18 calico bass, 23 sheephead, 45 whitefish, 19 rockfish and 66 perch. The boat is also back to doing it’s “skipper’s special” Wednesday trips for $45 anglers.
L.A. Harbor Sportfishing’s Sport King has been fishing Catalina everyday as well. On Saturday, 20 anglers ended up coming back to the landing with limits of bonito (100) to go along with 16 calico bass, 14 sheephead, 20 salmon grouper (limits), 36 rockfish, 4 sculpin and 6 perch.
On a side note, there has yet to be any volume of squid to show up at Catalina this fall.
SAN NICOLAS OUTSHINES THE CORTEZ
SAN PEDRO — The yellowtail bite has been slowly tapering off at the Cortez Bank, however, the lingcod and rockfish action at San Nicolas Island has been full speed.
The Freedom fished the Cortez last Thursday for 6 yellowtail, 88 bonito, 24 sheephead, 79 whitefish, 1 lingcod 21 sculpin and 3 reds while on an, but it was Saturday’s overnight trip fishing San Nicolas that really found great action. Limits of lingcod (46), 184 rockfish, 1 bonito, 41 whitefish and 22 sheephead were in the haul.
Getting back to the Cortez, the Liberty fished the bank over the weekend for 2 yellowtail, 16 sheephead, 61 whitefish, 150 rockfish, 63 bonito and 75 sculpin.
SOUTH CAL FRESH STORIES
Crappie bite busts wide-open at Santa Margarita
BY BRADLEY SCHWEIT / WON Staff Writer
ARROYO GRANDE — Crappie action took a turn for the much better last week at Santa 
Margarita Lake, as the slabs went on the chew big time, providing limit-style fishing for most anyone targeting them. Not to mention the bite’s been occurring in some of the most beautiful weather of the entire year.
“It’s been absolutely wide-open,” said Director of Marina Operations Don Lopez. “This is a great fall crappie bite. John Tucker of Arroyo Grande, God bless his soul, has been renting boats from me these past three days and he’s had a limit every day.” Tucker’s big fish was a 21⁄2 pounder plucked from the Narrows, which, coincidentally enough has been the hot spot as of late. The area from the point across the marina to White Oak has also been producing well.
And as if the blistering crappie bite wasn’t enough, Lopez also noted anglers targeting trout have been finding limits, and largemouth to 8 pounds have been in the mix. Add to that the fact this has all been taking place in unseasonably warm weather, and you’ve got the makings of a phenomenal fall day.
“It’s absolutely drop-dead gorgeous,” Lopez added. “It’s been about 45 in the mornings and right now [Saturday afternoon], it’s 85 degrees outside.”
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME RESPONDS TO POTENTIAL INJUNCTION ON SALMON AND TROUT STOCKING PROGRAMS
SACRAMENTO — Following a Sacramento Superior Court Judge’s decision Friday, Nov. 7 regarding the Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) fish stocking program, Director Donald Koch made the following statement:
“We look forward to meeting with the petitioners from Stanford Law School within the next two weeks to seek agreement on the continuance of our fish stocking programs. The department is concerned with the recreational impacts that curtailing our stocking programs have on the fishing community. In addition, our stocking program has important benefits to many small businesses and communities that depend on fishing.”
In October 2006, Stanford Law students sued DFG over fish stocking programs it has engaged in for more than 100 years, claiming that no Environmental Impact Report (EIR) had been completed for the programs. The result of the case was a court order requiring DFG to complete an EIR. DFG is engaged in the years-long and multi-million dollar EIR process, now scheduled to be completed in January 2010.
Due to delays in the EIR process, on Friday, Nov. 7 Sacramento Superior Court Judge Patrick Marlette told the department to negotiate with the petitioners to seek an agreement on terms for how and where DFG may continue stocking fish during the time it is preparing the EIR. If an agreement is not reached, the department might face an injunction that could stop altogether or significantly reduce its fish stocking programs. If an agreement can be reached in the next two weeks, the parties will take that agreement back to the judge for his approval.
The injunction has already begun to affect fisheries within the state. The Upper Kern River received what may very well prove to be its final trout plant of the season this past Monday, Nov. 10, thanks to the current injunction, remarked John Strange when WON called this past Sunday morning for a fishing report.
WON will keep its readership posted on the situation as news develops, as this EIR certainly poses a potentially detrimental threat to fisheries throughout the state already beleaguered by low water levels and quagga issues.
TROUTING TAKES OFF AT PYRAMID LAKE
BY BRADLEY SCHWEIT / WON Staff Writer
GORMAN — It’s rare you hear of phenomenal trout action taking place at a striper fishery, as the rainbows generally get eaten before anglers have a chance at tempting them; however, the lunker ’bow-biting linesides of yesteryear are few and far between at Pyramid Lake. Thus, the trout have better chance of survival, at least before ending up on anglers’ stringers.
Numerous plants have made for steady action at Pyramid in recent weeks, and anglers have been treated to an outstanding bite in recent days, with quality fish in the mix.
Albert and Alfred Medina, both of Los Angeles, teamed up to land a total of 5 rainbows to 51⁄2 pounds, including a 41⁄2 pounder and a pair of 4s on spinners fished in the marina area. Ray Tellez, also of Los Angeles, scored a 51⁄2 pounder while working a spoon in the same locale.
With trout highlighting recent action, stripers have taken a back seat; however, there are linesides to be had — anglers soaking cut anchovies are finding willing biters in the form of smaller fish.
Rainbows to 121⁄2 pounds biting at Hesperia, catfish and sturgeon, too
BY BRADLEY SCHWEIT / WON Staff Writer
HESPERIA — Trouting took off at Hesperia Lake last week, and rainbows to 121⁄2 pounds, in addition to catfish and sturgeon, made for happy anglers.
Joe Ortega of Rosemont bagged the aforementioned ’bow while working a Jerk-It at the drain. Michael Hunter of Rialto scored a 10-pound trout on PowerBait fished at the north shore. Gary Johnson of Pinon Hills used a crappie jig tipped with a mealworm to land an 8 pounder at the Inlet. Phil Huff of San Bernardino nailed a 6 on a mealworm at the north shore. Barry Segada of Hesperia stuck a 5 pounder while dunking a nightcrawler at Grassy Bank, and John Chavez of Victorville bested a matching fish on shrimp fished at east bank.
There were also a number of quality catfish weighed last week, including a 241⁄2-pound channel cat landed by Derek Huerta of Phelan. That fish fell for a mackerel/Sonny’s combo fished at the drain. Markus Collins of San Bernardino had a 171⁄2 pounder while soaking a nightcrawler at the north shore.
On the sturgeon scene, Matt Garnado of Apple Valley managed a 14-pound diamondback on shrimp fished at Sandy Point, and George Adams of Burbank had a 12 pounder while fishing green PowerBait at Grassy Bank.
STRIPER ACTION GOES ‘CRAZY’ AT SKINNER
BY BRADLEY SCHWEIT / WON Staff Writer
WINCHESTER — Striper action took off this past week at Lake Skinner, and anglers chasing the linesides found steady action all day long.
“Fishing is off the hook,” noted lake staffer Doug Rickard. “The stripers went crazy this [past] week. They’re working the trout line.”
Early-morning anglers have been finding the most action while chucking a variety of topwater baits, then switching to trolling trout imitations in the afternoons.
“Other than that it’s been stocker trout,” Rickard added. “There have been quite a few full stringers off Launch Ramp 2. Marshmallows off the bottom with a piece of nightcrawler have been working really well.”
The only whopper last week was a 121⁄2-pound catfish caught by Vernon Stroud while soaking chicken liver at the Inlet.
TROUT ACTION BUSTS WIDE-OPEN AT THE SANTEE LAKES, RAINBOWS TO 131⁄2 POUNDS LANDED - BY BRADLEY SCHWEIT / WON Staff Writer
SANTEE — After a mediocre start, trout season at the Santee Lakes busted wide open last week, with loads of quality rainbows in the mix, including a whopping 131⁄2 pounder, the largest of the season thus far.
A total of 25 ’bows topping the 5-pound mark were reported, with a majority of those being plucked from lake 3, and a substantial number of fish showing for those wetting lines in lake 4.
“After a couple of slow days, the trout bite is on!” exclaimed lake staffer Greg Even.
A total of 40 tagged fish were planted for the opener, and already, 15 of those rainbows have been caught. Nine-year-old Justin Benavente landed one of the lucky ’bows and earned himself a free fishing pass for a year. Anglers should also keep in mind that any trout over 5 pounds is worth an entry into an end-of season drawing for a flat screen TV.
Last week’s 131⁄2-pound lunker ’bow was caught by Jeff Brownell, who bagged the titan trout on a nightcrawler fished in lake 3. Michelle Elias nabbed a 12-pound, 5 ouncer while soaking PowerBait at the same spot. Tomas Ross also used PowerBait in lake 3 for a 12 pounder. Gwinda Turner scored a 10-pound, 4-ounce fish using the same approach, and Dennis Heath stuck a 10; again, on PowerBait fished in lake 3.
Clearly, PowerBait and lake 3 were a lethal combo, and Robert Ours combined the two for a 9.5 pounder. Mercedes Elias nailed a 9-pound, 2 ouncer. Gerald Schible caught a 9.7 pounder; Carlos Rosas had a 9, as did Walter Klemenz Jr.
And that’s not even taking into account the rainbows plucked from lake 4, such as the 9.4 pounder landed by Anthony Licano on a nightcrawler, or the matching fish caught by Mike Short on PowerBait. And the list goes on and on…
In short, if you want to stick a quality rainbow, now is the time.
CORONA LAKE TROUT ACTION OUTSTANDING
CORONA — Trout fishing was exceptional this past weekend at Corona Lake with lunkers to 8 pounds taken by both boaters and shore fishermen working the deeper water, noted Jim Davis at the bait shop. Catfish, tilapia and crappie were also posted.
Leading the way among trouters was Don Burke of Hemet who landed an 81⁄2-pound rainbow while fishing PowerBait from shore.
Closest behind was Walt Harrison of Mira Loma who posted an 81⁄2 pounder while fishing with partner Jim Patterson of Bell Gardens. Together they managed a 21-pound stringer using green Nitro.
Matt Thomas of Riverside checked in with a 71⁄2-pound rainbow that fell for a Lip Rippers jig, while his fishing partner JR of Corona used the same lure for a 61⁄2-pound trout.
Kevin and Ryan Bath of Yucaipa weighed in 10 trout totaling 231⁄2 pounds while fishing orange Nitro from shore. Their largest was a 4 pounder. Dale Cotton of Orange had five trout totaling 131⁄2 pounds, topped by a 51⁄2 pounder, on nightcrawlers from shore.
The top catfish, a 7 pounder, fell to Adam Sokoloski of Yuciapa. He made the catch from shore using mackerel.
IRVINE LAKE’S 5- TO 14-POUND TROPHY RAINBOWS REMAIN ELUSIVE; KIDS LAGOON OPENS WITH A BANG
SILVERADO — Heavy Santa Ana winds over the weekend kept anglers from catching any of the 5- to 14-pound trophy rainbows that were stocked prior to the weekend, although generally good fishing was still found for those who braved the winds. “It was very windy on Saturday, and it was difficult for trollers to keep the boats moving correctly. A couple of fires were also off in the distance,” reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. “Sunday was a lot nicer, but those big fish we stocked on Friday were still pretty elusive.”
Bait fishing was more productive than trolling, with the Power Mouse continuing to be the top offering. White was the top color for this concoction; a white “Gulp Salmon Egg” tipped with a 2-inch piece of Power Trout Worm. Leaders from 12 to 14 inches were best.
Most trout on the stringers were in the 1- to 4-pound category, with a few brown trout and at least one monster brookie over 6 pounds mixed in for spice. Good catches were tallied at the west shore, Trout Island, Santiago Flats and Sierra Cove.
Marty Sauceda of Costa Mesa landed a 6-pound, 10-ounce brook trout while soaking PowerBait at the west shore. Tony Hernandez bagged a 4.1-pound rainbow on a Rooster Tail fished at the flats.
Bass anglers were able to locate some largemouth in the 2- to 4-pound class using jigs and drop-shot baits. Anglers are reminded that all bass species are catch-and-release only. Trouters are catching plenty of incidental catfish while targeting their quarry.
The Kids Lagoon also opened up this past weekend, with excellent action seen for families with children age 12 and under. The Lagoon’s trout were biting a wide range of offerings, from PowerBait to Atomic Teasers. A few catfish and bass were also caught in the Lagoon.
LIKE THE ENERGIZER BUNNY, DVL JUST KEEPS GOING, AND GOING, AND GOING… - BY BRADLEY SCHWEIT / WON Staff Writer
HEMET — Bass, striper and trout action went Richter last week at Diamond Valley Lake, as quality largemouth, lunker linesides and not one, but two lake-record rainbows were landed. Let’s begin with the trout…
“It was a record-breaking week for DVL trout,” said Marina Manager David Neitzke. “Though we have yet to see consistent stringers, we have seen the bite improving steadily; most notably by the double-digit trout coming in this [past] week. We have not seen the likes of these fish in over three years.”
The first record rainbow was landed by 3-year-old Luis Fernando Garcia of Hemet. “He caught a 12.46-pound trout while fishing from shore with PowerBait;” Neitzke remarked, “breaking the standing lake record by over a pound. The following day, Paul Padilla of San Jacinto became the new record holder with a 12.64-pound trout. He was fishing near the marina with a fluke.”
Moving right along to the next best thing, stripers were on a tear last week, chasing swimbaits with reckless abandon. Most any trout imitations have been producing, however, some of the better baits included Z-Plugs, LA Sliders, Triple Trout and BBZs.
Eddie Martinez nailed a pair of stripers weighing 17.3 and 10 pounds while throwing an AC Plug. Chris Nickerson of Hemet bagged linesides at 16 and 11.12 pounds on a BBZ fished from shore. Elliot Lewis of Beaumont also used a BBZ for a 14.63 pounder from shore. Alex Lee of Diamond Bar stuck a 14.45-pound fish on a Lunker Punker at the same locale. Dusty Parker of Cherry Valley nabbed a 14 pounder on a Scrounger fished at the East Dam, and Lee Gonzalez of Hemet managed a 13-pound fish while tossing a BBZ from shore.
Largemouth are also on tap, however, the bass have understandably taken a back seat to the to above species.
“Early-morning fishermen have been landing loads of lunker largemouth,” Neitzke commented. “Though the bass quantity has been low, the quality has been remarkable. The best largemouth reports have been coming from those fishing the northeast portion of the lake with trout swimbaits and large plugs. The Z-Plug, LA Slider and Lunker Punker have been the most reported lures for bass. Outside, the early-morning bass have been holding between 30 and 60 feet. Fishing uphill with the Carolina rig or jigging with watermelon or green pumpkin creature baits has done well. Ice jigs have also been reported as a great way to entice bass at greater depths.”
DIXON LAKE’S 30TH ANNUAL TROUT DERBY PRODUCES 7.5-POUND WINNING RAINBOW - BY BRADLEY SCHWEIT / WON Staff Writer
ESCONDIDO — Dixon Lake held it’s 30th Annual Trout Derby over the Veteran’s Day weekend, and participants were treated to exceptional action, with numbers of big fish rainbows landed.
“Dixon Lake’s 30th Annual Trout Derby was a huge success over the Veteran’s Day weekend, with lots of big fish caught in the 6- to 8-pound range,” noted Ranger Richard Studinka.
This year’s grand-prize rainbow was a 7.5 pounder landed by Edward Negron of Imperial Beach. Negron was working a Power trout Worm in Trout Cove when the lunker bit. David Escoboga of Fallbrook took the Adult Division with a 6.62 pounder caught at the same locale on PowerBait. First-place in the Senior Division went to Roy Beck of Oceanside and his 6.82-pound ‘bow, also caught on PowerBait fished in Trout Cove. Zach Green of San Diego emerged victorious in the Youth Division with a 6.69-pound fish caught on a nightcrawler in Whisker Bay.
The next 1,500-pound plant of rainbows is slated to arrive Tuesday, Nov. 25. The best baits for targeting trout thus far this season have proved to be rainbow PowerBait, crappie jigs, Kastmasters or Thomas Buoyants.
Bass action slowed last week, with early-morning or late-afternoon plastic tossers finding only a few willing largemouth in Boat Dock Cove or Whisker Bay. Catfish chasers bagged a handful of kitties while soaking cut mackerel in various coves.
Pier #2 remains closed until further notice due to construction.
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SOUTH CAL SALT AND FRESH STORIES Channel Islands serve up impressive bags of bottom grabbers BY BRANDON HAYWARD / WON Staff Writer OXNARD — Come Jan. 1, Southern California waters will be closed to rockfishing until March 1, so it seems pretty fitting that with the soon-to-be onset of winter the Channel Islands have been kicking out limits galore on rockfish to go with plenty of whitefish, sheephead, lingcod and even some good bass and bonito fishing at times for boats fishing along the coast and out at Santa Cruz. “There’s lots of calico bass and bonito biting and the bonito are nice sized. The local ones (along the coast) have been 3 to 7 pounds; the ones they’ve been getting on the overnights have been 11 and 12 pounders, some of them,” said Jeff Morgan at Channel Islands Sportfishing. Two of the landing’s boats — the Gentleman and Island Tak — have been finding bass and bonito along the coast, and at Santa Cruz, respectively. Morgan said that the Gentleman was fishing “down the coast” on Friday when the 3⁄4-day snatched up 75 calico bass, 62 bonito, 18 rockfish and a perch for 20 anglers. The Island Tak had its best bass day at Santa Cruz on Tuesday when 8 anglers sacked limits of calico bass (80), 29 bonito and 17 whitefish. The rockfishing has been excellent on all the runs as of late. On Saturday a half-day on the Pacific Islander did in limits of rockfish (250) for 25 anglers. Over at Captain Hook’s Sportfishing, owner Jeff Grodin said that the fishing has been red hot for his boats as well. “Shawn (Steward, owner of the Aloha Spirit) has been averaging like 16 fish-per-rod on his trips. He’s been getting some big, huge, whitefish too. Some of them are over 10 pounds,” said Grodin. On Thursday the sacks were bulging with 206 rockfish, 181 whitefish, 16 sheephead, 1 lingcod and a calico bass for the trip’s 22 anglers on the 5-to-5 trip. Saturday’s overnight trip on the Seabiscuit had 180 rockfish, which was limits for 18 passengers, to go with 105 whitefish and 5 lingcod. The 15 anglers on Saturday’s 3⁄4-day trip on the Island Spirit reeled in 150 reds (limits for 15 anglers) to go with 28 sheephead, 13 whitefish, 17 sculpin and 2 lingcod. With all the good fishing going on, Captain Hooks has some special trips lined up. One full-fare on Monday’s half-day gets another angler on for free — Grodin says all you have to do is say you saw it in Western Outdoor News. The same offer goes for the Tuesday 3⁄4-day trips. Also, in the month of December the Black Pearl will be doing 2-day trips out of the landing for $199. Finally, the landing will be doing a trip in December to supply the Ventura Food Bank with fish. All eight boats that run out of the landing will be doing trips for $25, says Grodin. There will be a total of 288 spots. For more info, call the landing. Port Hueneme Sportfishing has been getting the best of the fishing along the coast and at the islands. The Mirage turned in limits of rockfish (200) for its 20 anglers on Saturday to go with its 12 lingcod, 135 whitefish and 10 sheephead. A shorter, 3⁄4-day trip on the Erna B on Wednesday did the bass thing for 66 calico bass, 40 bonito and 14 rockfish for 15 anglers. On Saturday everyone dropped to the bottom for 210 rockfish for 21 anglers. SM BAY BONITO BLOW OUT OF TOWN MARINA DEL REY — The Santa Monica Bay had been hosting the best bonito fishing its had in years, if not decades. That was until the first real storm of the year rolled through and the bonito disappeared with it. Neither Marina del Rey Sportfishing or Redondo Sportfishing have had any bonito in the counts, but the bottoms fishing has been been filling in the gap. On Saturday, the New del Mar sacked 188 sculpin, 1 lingcod, 53 rockfish, 6 sand bass, a whitefish and a calico bass for its 2 trips. The Betty O is always after the rockfish on its 3⁄4-day trips, and Saturday’s trip ended up with 130 rockfish and a lingcod for 21 anglers. Down around the southern end of the bay, Redondo Sportfishing has been sending its boats out for rockfish. An afternoon trip on the Redondo Special on Saturday came close to getting 10-fish limits for its 12 anglers who bagged 110 rockfish, 5 whitefish and 2 sheephead. The City of Redondo also had near limits on Saturday afternoon when 100 rockfish, 22 sculpin and 2 sheephead went in the sacks of 11 anglers. The Spitfire focused on another bottom grabber — the always-popular sculpin — on its 3⁄4-day on Saturday, and the trip’s 18 anglers were treated to limits of sculpin (90) to go with 71 rockfish, 2 whitefish, 1 sargo and 2 cabezon. SAN DIEGO 11⁄2- AND 2-DAY TRIPS STILL HAVE EXOTIC TARGETS SAN DIEGO — “The season that just won’t quite,” is how some are describing the tail end of this year’s offshore prospects, thanks to albacore and yellowtail still hanging around. The last round of trips to fish offshore after the first major storm of the year turned up a sample of both albacore and yellowtail, but none of the dorado, yellowfin tuna and bluefin tuna that had been around prior to the last storm. Two boats fished offshore last weekend, and one fished along the Baja Coast. All three proved that there are great prospects for anglers looking to get out on one more trip before the holidays. In fact, the staffs at the landings are saying that this going to be one of those seasons that they run out of anglers before they run out of fish. The Holiday ran a 11⁄2-day trip out of Point Loma Sportfishing over the weekend, and the trip turned up 13 albacore, 26 skipjack and a yellowtail. H&M Landing’s Sea Adventure also ventured offshore on Saturday. It had 33 anglers tag 4 albacore, 11 yellowtail and 11 skipjack. The Legend did not run out of Seaforth last weekend (although it has a trip in the books for next weekend). It does have its Colnett schedule put together for rockfish season. Based on what the Pacific Voyager has been doing on its weekend Baja coast 2-day trips, the runs should be excellent. A 2-day on the Pacific Voyager returned Sunday night with 32 yellowtail, 48 rockfish and 360 lingcod. For the half- and 3⁄4-day boats sticking closer to home, it has been the winter variety package of rockfish, sculpin and whitefish both along the coast and at the Coronados. CATALINA’S BONITO PRODUCE SURE-FIRE LIMITS BY BRANDON HAYWARD / WON Staff Writer SAN PEDRO — This season has been the rest in recent memory for bonito, and Catalina has been the highliner, kicking out 5-fish limits for everyday for weeks now for the 3⁄4-day boats coming out to the island. “There still real good bonito fishing over here at the island. They are nice, big bonito: 4 to 7 pounders with the occasional 10 pounder thrown in,” said John Woodrum on the Pursuit out of 22nd Street Landing. There have also been a few surprises in the mix. “We’ve had a couple of yellowtail lately… yesterday (Saturday) we had a nice, big 25 pounder,” added Woodrum, who also added that the calico bass have been biting a little bit. Saturday’s trip turned up the whole variety package. Limits of bonito (250) were landed by the trip’s 50 anglers, who also sacked 1 yellowtail, 18 calico bass, 23 sheephead, 45 whitefish, 19 rockfish and 66 perch. The boat is also back to doing it’s “skipper’s special” Wednesday trips for $45 anglers. L.A. Harbor Sportfishing’s Sport King has been fishing Catalina everyday as well. On Saturday, 20 anglers ended up coming back to the landing with limits of bonito (100) to go along with 16 calico bass, 14 sheephead, 20 salmon grouper (limits), 36 rockfish, 4 sculpin and 6 perch. On a side note, there has yet to be any volume of squid to show up at Catalina this fall. SAN NICOLAS OUTSHINES THE CORTEZ SAN PEDRO — The yellowtail bite has been slowly tapering off at the Cortez Bank, however, the lingcod and rockfish action at San Nicolas Island has been full speed. The Freedom fished the Cortez last Thursday for 6 yellowtail, 88 bonito, 24 sheephead, 79 whitefish, 1 lingcod 21 sculpin and 3 reds while on an, but it was Saturday’s overnight trip fishing San Nicolas that really found great action. Limits of lingcod (46), 184 rockfish, 1 bonito, 41 whitefish and 22 sheephead were in the haul. Getting back to the Cortez, the Liberty fished the bank over the weekend for 2 yellowtail, 16 sheephead, 61 whitefish, 150 rockfish, 63 bonito and 75 sculpin. SOUTH CAL FRESH STORIES Crappie bite busts wide-open at Santa Margarita BY BRADLEY SCHWEIT / WON Staff Writer ARROYO GRANDE — Crappie action took a turn for the much better last week at Santa Margarita Lake, as the slabs went on the chew big time, providing limit-style fishing for most anyone targeting them. Not to mention the bite’s been occurring in some of the most beautiful weather of the entire year.“It’s been absolutely wide-open,” said Director of Marina Operations Don Lopez. “This is a great fall crappie bite. John Tucker of Arroyo Grande, God bless his soul, has been renting boats from me these past three days and he’s had a limit every day.” Tucker’s big fish was a 21⁄2 pounder plucked from the Narrows, which, coincidentally enough has been the hot spot as of late. The area from the point across the marina to White Oak has also been producing well. And as if the blistering crappie bite wasn’t enough, Lopez also noted anglers targeting trout have been finding limits, and largemouth to 8 pounds have been in the mix. Add to that the fact this has all been taking place in unseasonably warm weather, and you’ve got the makings of a phenomenal fall day. “It’s absolutely drop-dead gorgeous,” Lopez added. “It’s been about 45 in the mornings and right now [Saturday afternoon], it’s 85 degrees outside.” DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME RESPONDS TO POTENTIAL INJUNCTION ON SALMON AND TROUT STOCKING PROGRAMS SACRAMENTO — Following a Sacramento Superior Court Judge’s decision Friday, Nov. 7 regarding the Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) fish stocking program, Director Donald Koch made the following statement: “We look forward to meeting with the petitioners from Stanford Law School within the next two weeks to seek agreement on the continuance of our fish stocking programs. The department is concerned with the recreational impacts that curtailing our stocking programs have on the fishing community. In addition, our stocking program has important benefits to many small businesses and communities that depend on fishing.” In October 2006, Stanford Law students sued DFG over fish stocking programs it has engaged in for more than 100 years, claiming that no Environmental Impact Report (EIR) had been completed for the programs. The result of the case was a court order requiring DFG to complete an EIR. DFG is engaged in the years-long and multi-million dollar EIR process, now scheduled to be completed in January 2010. Due to delays in the EIR process, on Friday, Nov. 7 Sacramento Superior Court Judge Patrick Marlette told the department to negotiate with the petitioners to seek an agreement on terms for how and where DFG may continue stocking fish during the time it is preparing the EIR. If an agreement is not reached, the department might face an injunction that could stop altogether or significantly reduce its fish stocking programs. If an agreement can be reached in the next two weeks, the parties will take that agreement back to the judge for his approval. The injunction has already begun to affect fisheries within the state. The Upper Kern River received what may very well prove to be its final trout plant of the season this past Monday, Nov. 10, thanks to the current injunction, remarked John Strange when WON called this past Sunday morning for a fishing report. WON will keep its readership posted on the situation as news develops, as this EIR certainly poses a potentially detrimental threat to fisheries throughout the state already beleaguered by low water levels and quagga issues. TROUTING TAKES OFF AT PYRAMID LAKE BY BRADLEY SCHWEIT / WON Staff Writer GORMAN — It’s rare you hear of phenomenal trout action taking place at a striper fishery, as the rainbows generally get eaten before anglers have a chance at tempting them; however, the lunker ’bow-biting linesides of yesteryear are few and far between at Pyramid Lake. Thus, the trout have better chance of survival, at least before ending up on anglers’ stringers. Numerous plants have made for steady action at Pyramid in recent weeks, and anglers have been treated to an outstanding bite in recent days, with quality fish in the mix. Albert and Alfred Medina, both of Los Angeles, teamed up to land a total of 5 rainbows to 51⁄2 pounds, including a 41⁄2 pounder and a pair of 4s on spinners fished in the marina area. Ray Tellez, also of Los Angeles, scored a 51⁄2 pounder while working a spoon in the same locale. With trout highlighting recent action, stripers have taken a back seat; however, there are linesides to be had — anglers soaking cut anchovies are finding willing biters in the form of smaller fish. Rainbows to 121⁄2 pounds biting at Hesperia, catfish and sturgeon, too BY BRADLEY SCHWEIT / WON Staff Writer HESPERIA — Trouting took off at Hesperia Lake last week, and rainbows to 121⁄2 pounds, in addition to catfish and sturgeon, made for happy anglers. Joe Ortega of Rosemont bagged the aforementioned ’bow while working a Jerk-It at the drain. Michael Hunter of Rialto scored a 10-pound trout on PowerBait fished at the north shore. Gary Johnson of Pinon Hills used a crappie jig tipped with a mealworm to land an 8 pounder at the Inlet. Phil Huff of San Bernardino nailed a 6 on a mealworm at the north shore. Barry Segada of Hesperia stuck a 5 pounder while dunking a nightcrawler at Grassy Bank, and John Chavez of Victorville bested a matching fish on shrimp fished at east bank. There were also a number of quality catfish weighed last week, including a 241⁄2-pound channel cat landed by Derek Huerta of Phelan. That fish fell for a mackerel/Sonny’s combo fished at the drain. Markus Collins of San Bernardino had a 171⁄2 pounder while soaking a nightcrawler at the north shore. On the sturgeon scene, Matt Garnado of Apple Valley managed a 14-pound diamondback on shrimp fished at Sandy Point, and George Adams of Burbank had a 12 pounder while fishing green PowerBait at Grassy Bank. STRIPER ACTION GOES ‘CRAZY’ AT SKINNER BY BRADLEY SCHWEIT / WON Staff Writer WINCHESTER — Striper action took off this past week at Lake Skinner, and anglers chasing the linesides found steady action all day long. “Fishing is off the hook,” noted lake staffer Doug Rickard. “The stripers went crazy this [past] week. They’re working the trout line.” Early-morning anglers have been finding the most action while chucking a variety of topwater baits, then switching to trolling trout imitations in the afternoons. “Other than that it’s been stocker trout,” Rickard added. “There have been quite a few full stringers off Launch Ramp 2. Marshmallows off the bottom with a piece of nightcrawler have been working really well.” The only whopper last week was a 121⁄2-pound catfish caught by Vernon Stroud while soaking chicken liver at the Inlet. TROUT ACTION BUSTS WIDE-OPEN AT THE SANTEE LAKES, RAINBOWS TO 131⁄2 POUNDS LANDED - BY BRADLEY SCHWEIT / WON Staff Writer SANTEE — After a mediocre start, trout season at the Santee Lakes busted wide open last week, with loads of quality rainbows in the mix, including a whopping 131⁄2 pounder, the largest of the season thus far. A total of 25 ’bows topping the 5-pound mark were reported, with a majority of those being plucked from lake 3, and a substantial number of fish showing for those wetting lines in lake 4. “After a couple of slow days, the trout bite is on!” exclaimed lake staffer Greg Even. A total of 40 tagged fish were planted for the opener, and already, 15 of those rainbows have been caught. Nine-year-old Justin Benavente landed one of the lucky ’bows and earned himself a free fishing pass for a year. Anglers should also keep in mind that any trout over 5 pounds is worth an entry into an end-of season drawing for a flat screen TV. Last week’s 131⁄2-pound lunker ’bow was caught by Jeff Brownell, who bagged the titan trout on a nightcrawler fished in lake 3. Michelle Elias nabbed a 12-pound, 5 ouncer while soaking PowerBait at the same spot. Tomas Ross also used PowerBait in lake 3 for a 12 pounder. Gwinda Turner scored a 10-pound, 4-ounce fish using the same approach, and Dennis Heath stuck a 10; again, on PowerBait fished in lake 3. Clearly, PowerBait and lake 3 were a lethal combo, and Robert Ours combined the two for a 9.5 pounder. Mercedes Elias nailed a 9-pound, 2 ouncer. Gerald Schible caught a 9.7 pounder; Carlos Rosas had a 9, as did Walter Klemenz Jr. And that’s not even taking into account the rainbows plucked from lake 4, such as the 9.4 pounder landed by Anthony Licano on a nightcrawler, or the matching fish caught by Mike Short on PowerBait. And the list goes on and on… In short, if you want to stick a quality rainbow, now is the time. CORONA LAKE TROUT ACTION OUTSTANDING CORONA — Trout fishing was exceptional this past weekend at Corona Lake with lunkers to 8 pounds taken by both boaters and shore fishermen working the deeper water, noted Jim Davis at the bait shop. Catfish, tilapia and crappie were also posted. Leading the way among trouters was Don Burke of Hemet who landed an 81⁄2-pound rainbow while fishing PowerBait from shore. Closest behind was Walt Harrison of Mira Loma who posted an 81⁄2 pounder while fishing with partner Jim Patterson of Bell Gardens. Together they managed a 21-pound stringer using green Nitro. Matt Thomas of Riverside checked in with a 71⁄2-pound rainbow that fell for a Lip Rippers jig, while his fishing partner JR of Corona used the same lure for a 61⁄2-pound trout. Kevin and Ryan Bath of Yucaipa weighed in 10 trout totaling 231⁄2 pounds while fishing orange Nitro from shore. Their largest was a 4 pounder. Dale Cotton of Orange had five trout totaling 131⁄2 pounds, topped by a 51⁄2 pounder, on nightcrawlers from shore. The top catfish, a 7 pounder, fell to Adam Sokoloski of Yuciapa. He made the catch from shore using mackerel. IRVINE LAKE’S 5- TO 14-POUND TROPHY RAINBOWS REMAIN ELUSIVE; KIDS LAGOON OPENS WITH A BANG SILVERADO — Heavy Santa Ana winds over the weekend kept anglers from catching any of the 5- to 14-pound trophy rainbows that were stocked prior to the weekend, although generally good fishing was still found for those who braved the winds. “It was very windy on Saturday, and it was difficult for trollers to keep the boats moving correctly. A couple of fires were also off in the distance,” reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. “Sunday was a lot nicer, but those big fish we stocked on Friday were still pretty elusive.” Bait fishing was more productive than trolling, with the Power Mouse continuing to be the top offering. White was the top color for this concoction; a white “Gulp Salmon Egg” tipped with a 2-inch piece of Power Trout Worm. Leaders from 12 to 14 inches were best. Most trout on the stringers were in the 1- to 4-pound category, with a few brown trout and at least one monster brookie over 6 pounds mixed in for spice. Good catches were tallied at the west shore, Trout Island, Santiago Flats and Sierra Cove. Marty Sauceda of Costa Mesa landed a 6-pound, 10-ounce brook trout while soaking PowerBait at the west shore. Tony Hernandez bagged a 4.1-pound rainbow on a Rooster Tail fished at the flats. Bass anglers were able to locate some largemouth in the 2- to 4-pound class using jigs and drop-shot baits. Anglers are reminded that all bass species are catch-and-release only. Trouters are catching plenty of incidental catfish while targeting their quarry. The Kids Lagoon also opened up this past weekend, with excellent action seen for families with children age 12 and under. The Lagoon’s trout were biting a wide range of offerings, from PowerBait to Atomic Teasers. A few catfish and bass were also caught in the Lagoon. LIKE THE ENERGIZER BUNNY, DVL JUST KEEPS GOING, AND GOING, AND GOING… - BY BRADLEY SCHWEIT / WON Staff Writer HEMET — Bass, striper and trout action went Richter last week at Diamond Valley Lake, as quality largemouth, lunker linesides and not one, but two lake-record rainbows were landed. Let’s begin with the trout… “It was a record-breaking week for DVL trout,” said Marina Manager David Neitzke. “Though we have yet to see consistent stringers, we have seen the bite improving steadily; most notably by the double-digit trout coming in this [past] week. We have not seen the likes of these fish in over three years.” The first record rainbow was landed by 3-year-old Luis Fernando Garcia of Hemet. “He caught a 12.46-pound trout while fishing from shore with PowerBait;” Neitzke remarked, “breaking the standing lake record by over a pound. The following day, Paul Padilla of San Jacinto became the new record holder with a 12.64-pound trout. He was fishing near the marina with a fluke.” Moving right along to the next best thing, stripers were on a tear last week, chasing swimbaits with reckless abandon. Most any trout imitations have been producing, however, some of the better baits included Z-Plugs, LA Sliders, Triple Trout and BBZs. Eddie Martinez nailed a pair of stripers weighing 17.3 and 10 pounds while throwing an AC Plug. Chris Nickerson of Hemet bagged linesides at 16 and 11.12 pounds on a BBZ fished from shore. Elliot Lewis of Beaumont also used a BBZ for a 14.63 pounder from shore. Alex Lee of Diamond Bar stuck a 14.45-pound fish on a Lunker Punker at the same locale. Dusty Parker of Cherry Valley nabbed a 14 pounder on a Scrounger fished at the East Dam, and Lee Gonzalez of Hemet managed a 13-pound fish while tossing a BBZ from shore. Largemouth are also on tap, however, the bass have understandably taken a back seat to the to above species. “Early-morning fishermen have been landing loads of lunker largemouth,” Neitzke commented. “Though the bass quantity has been low, the quality has been remarkable. The best largemouth reports have been coming from those fishing the northeast portion of the lake with trout swimbaits and large plugs. The Z-Plug, LA Slider and Lunker Punker have been the most reported lures for bass. Outside, the early-morning bass have been holding between 30 and 60 feet. Fishing uphill with the Carolina rig or jigging with watermelon or green pumpkin creature baits has done well. Ice jigs have also been reported as a great way to entice bass at greater depths.” DIXON LAKE’S 30TH ANNUAL TROUT DERBY PRODUCES 7.5-POUND WINNING RAINBOW - BY BRADLEY SCHWEIT / WON Staff Writer ESCONDIDO — Dixon Lake held it’s 30th Annual Trout Derby over the Veteran’s Day weekend, and participants were treated to exceptional action, with numbers of big fish rainbows landed. “Dixon Lake’s 30th Annual Trout Derby was a huge success over the Veteran’s Day weekend, with lots of big fish caught in the 6- to 8-pound range,” noted Ranger Richard Studinka. This year’s grand-prize rainbow was a 7.5 pounder landed by Edward Negron of Imperial Beach. Negron was working a Power trout Worm in Trout Cove when the lunker bit. David Escoboga of Fallbrook took the Adult Division with a 6.62 pounder caught at the same locale on PowerBait. First-place in the Senior Division went to Roy Beck of Oceanside and his 6.82-pound ‘bow, also caught on PowerBait fished in Trout Cove. Zach Green of San Diego emerged victorious in the Youth Division with a 6.69-pound fish caught on a nightcrawler in Whisker Bay. The next 1,500-pound plant of rainbows is slated to arrive Tuesday, Nov. 25. The best baits for targeting trout thus far this season have proved to be rainbow PowerBait, crappie jigs, Kastmasters or Thomas Buoyants. Bass action slowed last week, with early-morning or late-afternoon plastic tossers finding only a few willing largemouth in Boat Dock Cove or Whisker Bay. Catfish chasers bagged a handful of kitties while soaking cut mackerel in various coves. Pier #2 remains closed until further notice due to construction. |
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