Red tide along coast

An unseasonal red tide has quickly developed off the south coast and,

in some cases, is extending in ribbon fashion as far as two miles off

the beach.

Red tides might be good for baitfish and other saltwater organisms

that thrive on this nutrient-rich water. But as far as the aesthetics

of a beautiful ocean and good coastal fishing, these conditions leave

a lot to be desired.

The red tide started showing up on Wednesday and, according to a

local Department of Fish and Game biologist, could be directly

related to the strong offshore northwesterly winds that began blowing

last weekend. The winds died down a bit earlier in the week, but, as

of Thursday, the seas were kicking up again and more strong winds

were predicted for Labor Day weekend.

Davey’s Locker spokesman, Captain Norris Tapp, took a walk out on

the Balboa Pier and reported the ocean was “blood red” for as far as

the eye could see. Tapp showed some concern for the local fishery,

but added that it’s a little too early to determine the effects of

this late-summer red tide, because the depth of the tide has yet to

be confirmed.

It could be even worse if there are more upwellings over the

weekend. “If it’s just a surface tide, fishing will be fine, but if

this oxygen-deprived water stretches from the surface to the ocean

floor, then skippers will have to look for clean water to provide

good fishing for anglers heading out on half-day and twilight trips

running out of Newport Harbor,” Tapp said.

So, it is clearly a wait-and-see situation.

* Locally, there is still a pretty good sand bass bite off the

Huntington Beach flats on cut squid and small anchovies. According to

Mark Gasich of Newport, who works behind the tackle counter at

Anglers Center, sand bass have been hard to come by for any decent

dock counts. Seems once a skipper meters a school of sandies, they

catch a few keepers and the school moves out from under the boat.

Gasich believes that maybe the cold water along the coast is

contributing to the “off bite,” or perhaps the spawn is over for the

summer and these fish are scattering over a wider area.

Yellowtail are showing up at Catalina Island, where the bite

perked up this past week when the water temperature came up and the

winds backed down.

Yellows were caught by sportfishers and private yachts on both the

front and lee sides of the island, but finding a place to anchor in a

productive spot at the island over this holiday weekend is not going

to be an easy task.

Private boaters might want to consider heading out to high spots

in the channel if the weather lays down and begin trolling for

yellowfin tuna or stopping on floating kelp patties for yellowtail or

possibly a big dorado.

There were reports Thursday of kelp, between the east end of

Catalina Island and Pyramid Head, holding dorado weighing up to 25

pounds.

*

Marlin fishing was tough this past week as only a few fish were

landed even though there were a lot billfish spotted by yachts

trolling the lee of San Clemente Island. Balboa Angling Club

spokesperson Dara Stotesbury took a day off from the club and headed

out marlin fishing aboard the Kawakawa. Captain Greg Stotesbury of

Balboa was at the helm when a marlin jumped on a purple and black

Sevenstrand EAL marlin lure. The billfish missed the jig but stayed

up long enough for Dara to drop back a live greenback mackerel, which

the marlin ate off the stern. Fishing with only 12-pound line, it

took the avid angler nearly two hours to bring the marlin to leader,

where it was officially caught and then released to challenge another

big game fisherman in the future.

*

The Church Mouse Tournament held earlier this week had 80 boats

entered and there were only nine marlin caught by the many teams

competing. The biggest marlin of the Tournament was 197 pounds when

hoisted on the scale at the end of the Avalon pier.

*

In other striped marlin action off the South Coast, Lynn Jasper of

Dana Point released a marlin while fishing aboard the Wait ‘N’ Sea

and there were bunches of marlin and swordfish spotted tailing on

courses set to the 289 and 209 Spots.

*

Bluefin tuna continue to show up in daily dock totals as well as

catches made by the fleet of private sportfishers running out to the

fishing grounds from Newport. *

Thundershowers continue to hammer mountain communities, but

fishing is still good in the high country for rainbow and brown

trout.

I spent the first half of the week fly fishing at Alpers’ Owens

River Ranch above Bishop.

Big rain drops pelted down for a few hours in the afternoon but it

was pretty good fishing for bows and brown trout in the river.

*

For those looking for a closer fishing destination this weekend,

don’t pass up on the good daytime and nighttime catfishing currently

taking place at local lakes. Irvine Lake has been stocked heavily for

this long weekend and offers overnight camping.