FISHING / DAN STANTON : Skipper Durr Has Always Had a Love for the Ocean

Tom Durr’s career as a fisherman began in 1961 when he became a deckhand aboard the sportfisher Frontier at Newport Beach.

Durr, who dreamed of owning his own boat, was looking to gain experience in all phases of ocean fishing. He eventually got his captain’s license and skippered boats out of Newport Beach.

In 1968, Durr became second skipper on two San Diego boats--the Prowler and Nova--that fished in waters off Mexico.

In 1977, Durr’s dream came true when he purchased the Matt Walsh.

He operated the Matt Walsh in waters off Newport and Oceanside. In 1980, Durr purchased Norm’s Landing at Ports O’ Call in San Pedro and built a tackle shop and ticket office. He brought the Matt Walsh to the landing.

But Durr said operating the landing took too much of his time and kept him away from his love of being on the ocean and helping anglers catch fish.

In 1987, Durr sold the landing to Jim Peterson, who owns the Sportking and First String.

Durr, who has made more than 3,800 trips, said his most memorable trip came in 1976.

A group charted his boat the Fishing Fool. Most of the anglers had never been ocean fishing before and had to use rental rods.

But with Durr’s help, the group returned with 33 white seabass and 27 yellowfin tuna. All of the fish averaged more than 20 pounds.

Durr, 49, has developed a regular following of anglers who fish on boats he operates.

Durr is currently offering summer twilight trips aboard the Matt Walsh. He is also the relief skipper on 22nd Street Landing’s Islander, which fishes off Catalina and San Clemente islands.

Rain showers and wind failed to halt local fishing last weekend as anglers continued to report impressive catches.

Local half-day boats fished kelp beds and the breakwater wall.

Fishing aboard the Matt Walsh, Bob Tyler and Marc Larson of Long Beach shared the jackpot as each caught a 10-fish limit of calico bass that averaged up to six pounds.

Island boats remained close to shore last week because heavy seas prevented them from going on deep-water trips in search of rock cod.

The boats returned to regular schedules Tuesday for shallow and deep-water rockfish.

All South Bay sportfishing landings have gift certificates for trips. They are available through Dec. 24. None of the area landings plan to offer trips on Christmas.

South Bay catches--Greg Tate of Lawndale, fishing off Catalina Island aboard the Sportking, caught the whopper of the week--a 19 1/2-pound lingcod.

Tim Ishibachi of Torrance, aboard the City of Redondo in the big reef area, caught a 17-pound lingcod.

James Bacon of Torrance, aboard the Aztec at the Cherry Bank, caught a 12-pound golden eye.