Thresher Sharks Are Biting Along With Calico Seabass

White sea bass fishing has been up and down at Catalina Island, but that didn’t stop the Toronado and Dreamer out of Pierpoint Landing from having some good fishing this week. The Toronado had 22 white sea bass for 27 anglers on a recent trip while the Dreamer caught three-fish limits of the croakers on Monday and Tuesday.

By Wednesday, the bite seemed to be surging ahead with many boats catching more sea bass than ever.

Redondo special reels in calico bass

There has been good fishing along the kelp forests for calico bass along with a few yellowtail, white sea bass and halibut. The water has been very warm, which has produced limit-style calico fishing more often than not.

Private boaters have scored some yellowtail and white sea bass weighing up to 25 pounds near Point Vicente. Live or freshly killed squid have been the best bait, but there have been more and more of these game fish taken on live sardines.

The Redondo Special out of had very good calico bass fishing on Wednesday. Anglers on the boat also hooked several white sea bass. Capt. Eric Hobday reported excellent conditions and very steady fishing.

Squid prevalent in Hermosa Beach

There are still plenty of squid in Hermosa Beach, which means there are predators to exploit. Private boaters are still catching big halibut and some fat white sea bass. Live squid on the bottom has been the best way to get a bite with a 3-O hook and a 2-ounce sinker working best.

White Sea Bass slow in Channel Islands

There have been a few calico and sand bass as well as some halibut for Marina del Rey anglers. There have also been lots of thresher sharks in the Santa Monica Bay.

The kelp line off Malibu continues to kick out good calico bass fishing as well as several nice white sea bass.

The Channel Islands have slowed for white sea bass; however, there are occasional flurries. A few nice big halibut and plenty of rockfish have been providing anglers with great opportunities.

Native Sun brings home 370 sand bass

Sand and calico bass have been providing anglers with very good fishing on the Huntington Flats and the Horseshoe Kelp. The bite has been best in the afternoons and evenings.

The Native Sun out of Long Beach Sportfishing caught 370 sand bass for 41 anglers on their twilight trip Tuesday. Twilight trips typically depart around 6 p.m. and return around midnight. They are especially productive in the summer months for sand and calico bass, barracuda, and the occasional white sea bass and halibut.

There have also been a lot of thresher sharks throughout this area providing private boaters and sportboat anglers with great action and great eating.

Lake Laguna Niguel stocked with catfish

Catfish is the name of the game at Lake Laguna Niguel with 8,000 pounds of cats stocked recently. An additional 2,000 pounds are going in on Thursday. The cats are averaging 2 to 3 pounds in size and are stocked every other Thursday.

The big catfish of the week was caught by Raymond York of Long Beach, who topped off his five-fish limit with a 8-pound 10-ounce catfish that was caught on shrimp dipped in hog wild on the back side of the big island via a rental boat at night.

Kathy King of Laguna Beach caught a 5-pound 10-ounce catfish on a garlic night crawler off the shoreline at the launch ramp. Ten-year-old Trevor Mason of San Juan Capistrano caught his first ever catfish that weighed in at 5 pounds 2 ounces. Trevor caught his fish on a night crawler next to the boat dock.

The best bite is in the early morning and late afternoon and evening. Five-fish limits have been common. The best baits have been mackerel, shrimp and night crawlers, and the most productive areas have been in deep water by the dam, the big island and the launch ramp.

When fishing with mackerel, remember—the fresher, the better.

Bass anglers are taking three to 10 bass a day with the average size of 2-3. Night crawlers have been working best for bait.

The bluegill, crappie and small bass caught from the shoreline are perfect for kids. The best area has been on the right side of the concession building.

Oceanside to Newport Beach: Live anchovies key for calico bass

Private boaters continue to find excellent thresher shark fishing all over the Southern California coast from Oceanside to Newport Beach. Sharks weighing from 30 to more than 200 pounds continue to provide anglers with steady action.

The kelp lines along the coast continue to produce great calico bass action, along with an occasional white sea bass and halibut. The key to a good calico bass bite here has been live anchovies for bait and 15-pound test. You also want to find water temperatures that exceed 64 degrees if possible.

The sportfishing boats out of Oceanside, Dana Point and Newport Beach continue to catch good numbers of calico bass with some sand bass in the mix, too. There continue to be flurries of barracuda.

Tuna scarce in San Diego

Tuna fishing in the San Diego area has been very poor, although the Shogun caught nine bluefin tuna on Wednesday by noon. There is still no sign of albacore. Most boats have been running 140 miles south to San Martin Island for yellowtail, calico bass, rockfish, lingcod and halibut. 

The Sea Adventure 80 out of H&M Landing in San Diego returned from a three-day trip to San Martin Island with an incredible 156 white sea bass.

Surf fishing yields corbina, barred perch

Good corbina and barred perch fishing along most beaches from San Diego to the Santa Monica Bay right now. Sand crabs, bloodworms and ghost shrimp have been excellent bait. Remember, 6-pound test and a No. 6 hook with a quarter-ounce sliding sinker are perfect.