Fishing Notebook : Anglers Compete This Weekend in Lucrative Halibut Derby

The Santa Monica Bay Derby is set for Saturday and Sunday. The derby features more than $25,000 in cash and prizes, and Big Bertha, a specially tagged halibut, will be worth $10,000 to anyone catching it.

The only fish eligible in the derby is the California halibut caught by rod and reel in Santa Monica Bay shoreward from a line between Palos Verdes Point and Point Dume.

Anglers turning in the three largest fish each day will receive $200, $100 and $50, respectively.

The fisherman with the largest fish in the derby will get $1,000 and a trophy, the second largest will win $500 and the third largest will win $350.

Anglers will also receive a raffle ticket for each legal halibut they weigh in. The raffle will award prizes at the April 14 awards banquet.

The Santa Monica Bay Halibut Derby is a function of the Santa Monica Boys’ Club. Proceeds will be distributed to charities, with 80% of the profits going to the Boys’ Club and 20% to a hatchery project.

The derby is organized and operated by a volunteer team of John Bourget and Joseph Palazzio in cooperation with Harry Harris.

The entry fee of $25 must be delivered in person by Friday to 2117 Ashland Ave., Santa Monica.

South Bay Catches: Lou Hamby of Long Beach, aboard the Shogun, on his first cast caught the whopper of the week, a 29-pound, 4-ounce yellowtail he brought to gaff at San Clemente Island.

Chien Chieen of Redondo Beach, fishing aboard the Sea Spray at the Torrance Beach area using a halibut rig, reeled in a 24 1/2-pound halibut.

Charles Bintron of Long Beach, fishing aboard the Shogun at San Clemente Island using live squid, landed a 24-pound yellowtail.

Edin Hartty of Torrance, aboard the Sea Spray, reeled in a 16-pound halibut on cut squid.

Fish Report: On the local scene, fishing remains steady for bonito and bass. Halibut fishing improved Tuesday after a slow weekend because of a shortage of anchovies.

At Marina del Rey Sportfishing: The Spitfire hauled in 74 sand bass, 8 bonito and 4 halibut to 10 pounds.

On the Happy Man morning trip, 18 bonito, 8 sand bass and 12 halibut went into the sacks.

The Betty O rock cod special, fishing the Deep Hole, caught 350 rock cod plus 6 cows.

At Redondo Sportfishing: The Sea Spray, on the morning trip Tuesday, chalked up 80 bonito, 53 sculpin and 31 whitefish at Rocky Point.

The Blackjack fished Cherry Bank and returned with 250 rock cod and 5 cows to 20 pounds.

The Sharpshooter fished Rocky Point for 113 bonito, 17 bass, 18 sculpin and 31 whitefish.

At the 22nd Street Landing in San Pedro: The Monte Carlo fished the Marineland and Rocky Point area and returned with 58 sand bass, 56 sculpin and 19 bonito.

The First String chalked up 91 bonito, 48 sculpin, 19 calico bass and 2 sheepshead fishing Catalina Island.

The Freedom fished San Clemente Island without squid and reeled in a good count of 87 sheepshead, 70 whitefish and 18 calico bass.

At L. A. Harbor Sportfishing: The Outerlimits fished San Clemente and reeled in 220 calico bass, 12 sheepshead and 11 sculpin.

The Shogun fished San Clemente and 109 calico bass, 6 sheepshead and 3 yellowtail were brought to gaff.

At Long Beach Sportfishing: The Victory fished the rigs and hunting flats and caught 189 bonito, 39 sand bass, 19 calico bass, 39 sculpin and 1 stray legal barracuda.

The Toronado headed to San Clemente Island and returned with 85 sheepshead, 75 bass, 37 sculpin and 1 yellowtail.

Freshwater Notes: Brothers Tom and John Trembly of Lawndale, fishing Anaheim Lake, caught a limit of rainbow trout.

Gary Grego of Carson, using marshmallows, also caught a limit of rainbow at Anaheim Lake.

News Note: April ushers in abalone season along the California coast.