Excellent Conditions Predicted for Long July 4 Weekend

Summer fishing conditions remain red-hot for the three-day Fourth of July weekend, with some record catches possible.

At Catalina Island, three-quarter-day boats are returning with limits for all anglers.

Skippers fishing Catalina report a good showing of yellowtail, and the skilled anglers who can fly a line or toss jigs have been catching tackle-busting ‘tails.

On the local angling scene from Santa Monica Bay to the Huntington flats, both the half-day boats and twilight trips have been catching near limits of sand bass up to 8 pounds.

The Horseshoe Kelp water has cleaned up and temperatures remain steady. Unfortunately, the resident species of bass and barracuda fishing has been slow.

At the offshore rigs the yellowtail are still skittish and trying to hook one is as hard as trying to throw peanuts into an elephant’s trunk.

The L.A. Rod and Reel Club Foundation’s 36th annual party for disadvantaged children was a success Monday. The largest fish of the day went to Mike Gonzales of Pacific Boys Home and Cameron Lombardo of Vista del Mar.

None of the 300 children went home empty handed, collecting T-shirts, hats and toys plus trophies for largest and smallest fish.

South Bay Catches: Chuck Beckhart of Long Beach, fishing aboard the Toronado at Catalina Island with a 12-pound test line, hooked a yellowtail that ran for the beach and spooled his reel. Beckhart kept pumping and turning the fish back to the boat only to have it run into the kelp. After being retrieved from the kelp, Beckhart’s fighter headed to the bow and wrapped around the anchor. The 30-minute battle ended with the gaff. The whopper weighed 43 pounds and is a pending International Game Fish Assn. record on 12-pound test line.

Tony Jimenez of Torrance, fishing at Catalina aboard the Blackjack, used a blue and yellow jig and landed a 27 1/2-pound yellowtail.

Kevin Murphy of Redondo Beach, fishing aboard the Sharpshooter for barracuda at Catalina, landed a 20-pound white sea bass.

Former major league baseball player Dave Frost of Long Beach, aboard the Pacifica at Catalina, had a limit of barracuda. Using a jig he caught a 19 1/2-pound yellowtail.

Fish Reports: At Marina del Rey Sportfishing--The Spitfire fishing at El Segundo had a count of 147 calico bass, 35 sculpin and 4 barracuda.

The Happyman on a morning trip took 45 calico bass, 50 sand bass, 12 barracuda and 5 halibut.

The Betty O fished the Sunset Beach area and returned with 40 barracuda and 4 halibut.

At Redondo Sportfishing: The Sharpshooter headed to Catalina and anglers limited out on barracuda, 220, plus a white sea bass.

The Blackjack returned from Catalina with 490 barracuda and 2 white sea bass.

The Redondo Special fished at Rocky Point and 100 sand bass and 70 barracuda went into the sacks.

The Sea Spray twilight trip resulted in a catch of 66 sand bass, 23 barracuda and 2 white sea bass.

The Isle of Redondo barge had a mack attack with 1,000 being caught; some of the mackerel averaged 3 pounds. The remainder of the catch was 53 barracuda.

At 22nd Street Landing: The First String returned early from Catalina with 348 barracuda, 51 calico bass, 2 halibut and 5 sheepshead.

The Monte Carlo fished the Middle Grounds and chalked up 87 sand bass and 36 barracuda on the morning run.

The Queen of the Sea worked Catalina and returned with 300 barracuda and 106 calico bass.

At L.A. Harbor Sportfishing: The Sportking tried Catalina and anglers caught limits of barracuda, with 380 going into the sacks along with 40 calico bass and 5 sculpin.

The Matt Walsh on the twilight trip Monday returned with 180 sand bass, 11 barracuda and 31 rockfish.

The Outerlimit’s Catalina trip resulted in a catch of 163 barracuda, 21 calico bass, 13 bonito and a yellowtail.

The Annie B barge reported 1,800 croaker and 1,200 queenfish. The night fishing produced a catch of 300 jacksmelt and 19 bonito.

At Long Beach Sportfishing: The Victory headed to Catalina and returned with 376 barracuda, 61 calico bass, 3 yellowtail to 15 pounds and a 14-pound halibut.

The Aztec found the barracuda on the east end of Catalina and decked 140. It moved up the island and 120 calico bass and 2 yellowtail rounded out the catch.

The Pacifica’s Catalina trip resulted in 201 barracuda and 36 calico bass.

The Southern Cal fished the flats on the twilight trip and 208 sand bass and 16 barracuda were brought to gaff.

News note: Fishermen and their families can watch the Queen Mary July 4 fireworks display close up by boarding the Sportking from L.A. Harbor. Departure time is 6 p.m.