FISHING : Anglers Are Enjoying a Spring Run of White Sea Bass

The long-awaited spring run of white sea bass has started off Catalina Island.

All South Bay sportfishing boats fishing near the island last weekend got into the action and some of the fish caught have been in the 40-pound class. All of the anglers were using squid for bait.

Fishing aboard L.A. Harbor’s First String, Russ Izor of Gardena used a 15-pound leader to catch a 40 1/2-pound sea bass, the whopper of the trip. Izor battled the fish for 25 minutes.

Ron McInnish of Torrance caught a 32 pounder. Torrance anglers Don Warren and Mike Failey each caught 25 pounders. Long Beach angler Robert Lee caught a 25 pounder. Chris Target of San Pedro caught a 24 pounder.

Fishing aboard the Outerlimits, Steve Ramage of West Los Angeles caught a 32 pounder. Chuck Stone of West Los Angeles caught a 23 1/2 pounder.

San Pedro fishermen Danny Flores and David Brisendine each caught fish that weighed 23 pounds.

The Shogun’s South Bay anglers also had success. Mark Braaksma of Lomita caught a 33 pounder. Gardena anglers Mark Hebert and Robert Tamaski of Gardena, each caught 24 pounders. Culver City fisherman Bruce Logan caught a 20 pounder. Long Beach fishermen Frank McPearce and Jean Phillips, fishing aboard the Phantom, each caught 25 pounders.

This is Santa Monica Halibut Derby weekend.

Derby chairman John Bourget said late entries can be hand delivered until Friday to 2113 Ashland Ave., Santa Monica.

Five tagged halibut will be released Friday by the halibut hatchery and one will be wearing a tag worth $5,000.

Live bait for private boats fishing the derby will be available at both receivers located at Redondo and Marina del Rey.

Mike Hillderbrand of Long Beach returned from a long-range trip aboard the Excel to Clipperton in Baja Mexico, where he caught a 166-pound yellowfin tuna. The tuna was the trip’s jackpot winner.

Freshwater Notes--Bob Hanley of Westchester used an anchovy to catch a 15-pound striped bass at Pyramid Lake.