Outdoor column: Warming up

Jim Niemiec

Local anglers are enjoying good fishing along the coast and in

outer waters as warm currents have moved up the south coast bringing them

lots of bait followed by schools of salt water game fish.

Barracuda and sand bass continue to top the coastal catch, while San

Clemente Island has been the hot spot for big yellowtail and some awesome

calico bass fishing.

Seas have laid down on the outside and there have been some pretty

good scores made on albacore and yellowtail by Newport’s sportfishing

fleet and private yachts working an area outside the 43 Fathom spot.

Jeff Hewitt of Costa Mesa decked a 27-pound yellowtail while fishing

on board the “Bongos II,” which operates out of Davey’s Locker in Balboa.

Hewitt hooked into his big mossback on a sardine. Also landing a big

yellow over the weekend was John Williamson of Costa Mesa, who sacked a

23-pounder that bit a yo-yo jig at Catalina while fishing on a private

25-foot Skipjack.

Conditions are looking very good for longfin tuna and to move even

closer within the next few days. Big schools of albies and bluefin are

still holding off Baja, Calif., but with good water temperatures and

plenty of bait, these fish should make the move to reachable one-day

waters on or before the next full moon.

One of the highlights of fishing early this week was the catch of a

broadbill swordfish by anglers aboard the deluxe six pack charter boat

“Bongos II,” operating out of Bongos Sportfishing, based in Newport

Beach. Captains Mike Shorsbree and Chris Ihrig spotted a tailing bullfish

while fishing for albacore southwest of the east end of San Clemente

Island. Captain Shorsbree pinned on a live green mackerel and the big

broadbill swung on the bait. After setting the hook, the veteran skipper

offered the ensuing battle to all his anglers on board, so each one got a

chance to battle a hard fighting swordfish. Hopokec on 80-pound mono

spooled on a Tiagra 30 big game reel, it took 80 minutes to bring the

fish to gaff. There was a crowd waiting to see the big fish at the Balboa

Angling Club and, when weighed in, it tipped the scale at 241 pounds.

Benefit dinner Saturday

Anglers concerned about protecting our rights to fishing should make

plans to attend the Sportsmen’s Coalition Dinner scheduled Saturday at

the Atrium Hotel in Irvine. The event is supported by the American Sport

Fishing Association, Sportfishing Association of California, United

Anglers and leading manufacturers in the sporting goods industry.

A top of the menu dinner will be served and there will be a giant

raffle, as well as an auction for long-range trips, day charters,

houseboat vacations, high-end rods and reels, fishing accessories and

guided fishing trips.

For those whose interests are in hunting and firearms, there will be

hunts offered up along with a wide selection of first-class shooting

opportunities. Everything gets started at 5:30 p.m., with no-host

cocktail party, followed by dinner at 7. Dress is clean and casual. For

reservations or additional donations, contact Harvey Naslund at (619)

442-5675.