Sand bass bite wide open off Huntington Beach

JIM NIEMIEC

Limits of sand bass are being caught by half, three-quarter and

twilight trips running out of Davey’s Locker and Newport Landing

Sportfishing. Huge schools moved up the coast and are now holding off

Huntington Beach were sportfishers and private yachts are targeting

sandies in 12 to 15 fathoms of water.

The bulk of the catch is being made up of 1.5- to 3-pounders but

there have been a few bigger grumpies weighing up to 8 pounds sacked.

Cut squid and plastics rigged on one-ounce leadheads are a deadly

combination for catching quick limits when fishing for sand bass.

Water conditions along the coast are excellent and it appears that

the summer fishing season will continue to produce quality fishing

for locals and vacationers looking to get out on the ocean.

The water turned over outside the 43 Fathom spot over the weekend

and this change shut down the albacore bite in outer waters. Prior to

the color change Captain Mike Shrosbee of Newport Beach landed a

23.5-pound albacore on a 6-pound test line while fishing aboard the

sportfisher Eureka about 6 miles southeast of the 43 spot.

Conditions inside are fine for small yellowtail under kelp patties

and “catch and release” trips for blue sharks are showing signs of

improving as the surface water temp continues to climb into the low

70s. There is excellent live bait available with a mix of 6- to

8-inch sardines and 20% anchovies at the bait receiver inside the

east jetty.

A few log barracuda are starting to bite between the Newport and

Balboa piers and sport boats are chasing schools of fish that are

breezing through schools of bait. The bite hasn’t really kicked into

high gear but things could change with warmer water currents moving

up the coast.

It may be early in the albacore season but it appears this summer

could produce some awesome fishing for big longfins if the schools of

fish that are stacked up off Baja continue with their migration

routes into one day range of the sport fleet. Last weekend this

outdoor writer was joined by Jim Story of Costa Mesa and Jess

Bingaman, owner of Perry’s Pizza in Newport Beach, for a multi-day

trip aboard the sportfisher, Searcher, running out of Fisherman’s

Landing that resulted in excellent off-shore fishing.

Captain Kevin Ward steered a course to the albacore grounds some

200 miles below San Diego and limits of 30 to 38 pound albacore were

posted during some of the best big albie fishing this angler has

witnessed in over 25 years of fishing off shore waters. Albacore

foamed off the stern and every sardine that hit the water was boiled

on. The veteran captain told the 20 anglers on board that any

albacore weighing less than 35 pounds should not be brought on board

as every fisherman had a limit of big albies and the main slammer was

full.

The Searcher then moved farther south and found big schools of

bluefin tuna that were not biters, but a move back up to the south

end of Cedros Island produced Mexican limits of yellowtail weighing

in the 18- to 25-pound range during a classic six and a half hour

stop on breezing yellows.

Conditions along the coast are ideal with good color and plenty of

bait to keep these big schools of fish coming this way. Now might be

a good time to book a multi-day trip to tap the pelagic fishery that

is heading this way. For general information on Searcher Fishing

Adventures call, (619) 226-2403.

The 51st Annual Junior Angler tournament sponsored by Angler’s

Center, Davey’s Locker, J.D.’s Tackle and the Balboa Angling Club

will continue through August 10. The tournament is open to all

youngsters 15 years old and younger. There is no entry fee or club

membership required. There will be trophies and awards for all

participants.

Species that can be weighed in on any official certified scale

include: albacore, tuna, white seabass, bass, croaker, halibut,

yellowtail, bonito, dorado, Mako and thresher sharks and marlin. The

awards banquet will be held on the porch of the angling club on

August 26. For more information on this fun youth fishing tournament

contact the BAC at (949) 673-6316, daily between the hours of noon

and 5 p.m.