thelog.com
King catch reeled into Redondo Beach
fishrap.com
Southern California anglers consider this year’s catches to be historic.
By Parimal M. Rohit
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — The epic 2015 fishing season has come to a close and Southern California anglers are now looking forward to reeling in more fish in 2016. A warm water blob off the Southern California coast (cour- tesy of El Niño) meant warm offshore waters deep into the year – and plenty of exotic fish to be had. But how good was the 2015
Southern California saltwater fishing season? The numbers out of
976tuna.com were pretty phenomenal. There were 181,876 yellowtail catches
Tight lines
Pacific halibut fisheries could face changes in 2016
By Parimal M. Rohit
The Latest: California’s Fish and Game Commission is considering a Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) proposal to make regulatory changes to the state’s Pacific halibut fishery. The proposed changes could make California’s Pacific halibut fishery conform to regulations tak- ing effect in federal waters on or before May 1.
Lining up state regulations with federal
laws and international agreements could result in periodic Pacific halibut fishery closures and changes to the 2016 catch quota. “The proposed regulatory changes
modify Pacific halibut regulations to allow for timely conformance to federal fisheries regulations and in-season changes. The benefits of the proposed regulations are: consistency with federal regulations, the sustainable management of California’s Pacific halibut resources, and health and welfare of California residents,” according to a Fish and Game Commission state- ment. The Pacific halibut fishery is managed under the authority of the Northern
Pacific Halibut Act of 1982. Federal regula- tions govern Pacific halibut between 3 and 200 miles offshore; state agencies reg- ulate the fishery between 0 and 3 miles offshore.
The Bottom Line:Members of the public can provide input on the proposed regula- tory changes by 8:30 a.m. on April 13, when a public hearing will be held the Flamingo Conference Resort and Spa in Santa Rosa. Written comments can be sub- mitted via email to
FGC@fgc.ca.gov; the commission requests electronic com- ments are submitted by noon on April 8. The Pacific Fishery Management
Council (PFMC) made its regulatory rec- ommendations in November 2015; a sepa- rate final rule is being developed by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Commissioners will review the interna-
tional recommendations and federal final rule to guide the establishment of California’s recreational Pacific halibut fish- ery regulations for this year.
How to hoop a lobster seminar
The Latest: Baja Fish Gear will host a “How to Catch Your Bugs” seminar for recre- ational fishers interested in learning how to hoop a lobster.
in 2015, according to fishing reports submitted to the fishing website. In close second was yellowfin tuna, with 178,045 reported catches in 2015. The
976tuna.com website also
reported nearly 20,000 bluefin tuna and 255 wahoo caught in local offshore fishing in 2015. “Overall, the last 12 months has
been exceptional fishing. It’s exotic fish,” said Alayna Siddall of the Sportfishing Association of California. Siddall added wahoo dominated headlines during the final few weeks of 2015 but marlin, dorado and skipjack were also prominent last year. Wahoo are rarely found north of the
U.S.-Mexico border. At least one of the 255 wahoos reported during the 2015 season was reeled in as far north as Ventura County.
Anglers aboard Redondo Special out of Redondo Beach Sportfishing at King Harbor reeled in this 58.11-pound white sea bass during a half-day morning excur- sion on Jan. 2. The sea bass was caught with live squid at the Big Reef off the Redondo Beach coast. The 30 anglers aboard also caught 20 yellowtails (15 to 30 pounds). Redondo Special kicked off 2016 with nine anglers catching 19 and releas- ing 43 calico bass during a half-day trip on Jan. 1.
Southern California fishing news 2015 fishing season in review
2015 Fishing Totals* Yellowtail
Yellowfin tuna Calico bass Dorado
Sand bass Barracuda
Bluefin tuna Seabass Wahoo
181,876 178,045 108,981 34,638 30,303 21,705 19,876 1,801 255
*partial list Source:
976tuna.com
Yellowtail fishing was excellent early in the summer, Siddall added, and were still being caught well into the fall season last year. Sportfishing vessels reported yellowtail catches deep into December.
16 (pounders) for (20)16
Two anglers started 2016 right by reeling in 16-pound trout at Santa Ana River Lakes. Fullerton resident Tim O’Donnell (pictured) caught a 16- pound, 8-ounce trout in the Big Lake near the Pump House. O’Donnell used garlic PowerBait fishing to make his catch. K.C. Mahone of
Anaheim reeled in anoth- er 16-pound, 8-ounce trout at La Palma Point, also with PowerBait. Other large catches at Santa Ana
River Lakes to start the New Year include: Lili Pendick, Costa Mesa, 13-pound cat- fish; Raymond Tarango, West Covina, 11- pound, 8-ounce trout; Dan Hemphill, La Habra, 9-pound, 8-ounce trout. Pendick caught her catfish with a nightcrawler while fishing from a float
Brandon Hayward will lead the talk on Jan. 24.
The Bottom Line: The seminar is open to the public and will include light refresh- ments, a free raffle and a special sale after
tube; Tarango’s catch was made at the Pump House with a Drew custom bait. Hemphill used a pinched plastic
crawler to reel in his trout from the Sandy Beach shore. Anglers can take advantage of 24- hour fishing sessions the weekend clos- est to a full moon at Santa Ana River Lakes during trout season. Visit fish-
inglakes.com for more information.
the workshop for attendees. “How to Catch Your Bugs” seminar will be held at 3 pm., Jan. 24 at Baja Fish Gear; 24603 Narbonne Ave. in Lomita, Calif. Reserve your spot by calling 310-517- 9897 or visit
bajafishgear.com.
The San Diego Marlin Club reported 23 marlins caught and released and nine weighed in at Shelter Island dur- ing last year’s fishing season. One angler reeled in a 662.2-pound marlin on Sept. 23, 2015. The marlin count in San Diego was up significantly com- pared to 2013, when five anglers caught and released the billfish and only three of the species were brought ashore for weighing. There were eight marlins (five
released) reported in 2012 and seven (four released) in 2011; the numbers were significantly higher in 2009 (86 marlin, 69 released), 2008 (53 marlin, 41 released) and 2007 (110 marlin, 86 released). Whether this year’s fishing season will be on par with or better than 2015 remains to be seen.
The Log • Jan. 15 - 28, 2016 • 29
Redondo Special photo
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