Offshore fishing should improve with better weather

JIM NIEMIEC

Northwesterly winds blew pretty strong in outer waters this past week

and shut down albacore fishing. Counts for the local fleet took a big

drop, but if the wind dies down this weekend we could see good scores

posted by the over night fleet of sport boats operating out of

Davey’s Locker, Newport Landing Sportfishing and Dana Wharf

Sportfishing.

There are huge schools of big albacore holding about 160 miles

below San Diego and conditions are right for these albies to move up

the line. A trip on the 93-foot First String, operating out of H&M;

Landing, found this writer in the middle of one of the best monster

albacore fishing stops I can remember while covering the salt water

scene for the past 35 years.

Captains Brad Phillips and John Stratton located the school of

albies while on a Daiwa sponsored multi-day trip and the slammers

were filled with limits of albacore weighing in the 35- to 45-pound

range. It was classic blue water tuna fishing as the longfins crashed

the corner and every bait in the water resulted in a boil or hooked

longfin. Now would be the ideal time to book a trip on a sportfisher

to get in on the good action. For information on the First String

call (949) 498-6149.

Locally fishing has been wide open for log barracuda right in

front of Newport while the sand bass fishing has been steady between

Box Canyon and the Huntington Beach flats. John Casey at Angler’s

Center in Newport Beach reported catching limits of big sandies and

barracuda while fishing aboard the all day boat Fury during a

wide-open bite.

Calico bass fishing is fair at Catalina Island along with an okay

pick on white seabass on the backside of the island. Over at San

Clemente Island the water is warm with lots of life with small

schools of big yellowtail breezing along the front side of the

island.

Marlin still haven’t moved into local waters but with water

temperatures in the low 70s off the east end of San Clemente Island

the first spikebill of the season could be posted at the Balboa

Angling Club by this weekend. A few swordfish were spotted off

Oceanside earlier this week but no hookups were reported.

*

This outdoor writer was joined last week by my wife, Toni, and

son, Brook, of Newport Beach for a family vacation to Tony Sarp’s

Katmai Lodge located on the Alaskan Peninsula. Fishing was nothing

short of fantastic as the Alagnak River was loaded with huge King

salmon, tremendous runs of sockeye salmon and every riffle in the

braids section of the river held good numbers of trophy class

rainbows and grayling.

For those planning a fishing vacation to Alaska later this summer

runs of salmon are reported in near record numbers with all resorts

looking forward to an excellent season for pinks, chum and silver

salmon. As spawning salmon die starting in August, anglers on Alaskan

rivers can expect very good fishing rainbow trout weighing in the 6-

to 10-pound class. For more information on what’s going on in Alaska

log on to Sarp’s website at Katmai.com.

*

Fresh water lake fishing has switched over to bass, channel

catfish and bluegill. Lakes being stocked weekly with catfish are

producing lots of five fish limits as are some of the local parks

that provide fishing opportunities for kids. One on the hottest

fisheries is Irvine Lake where the warm water fishing has been very

consistent for both day and nighttime anglers. Heather McMillen of

Newport Beach took her 8-year-old daughter, Hayley, on a weekend

camping trip to Irvine Lake last week and they teamed up to catch a

whole bunch of catfish that were cooked at the lakeside for dinner.

Anaheim and Laguna Niguel lakes are also being stocked on a regular

schedule and report fair to good fishing for channel cats. The Santa

Ana River Lakes are temporarily closed as the water is being drained

to clean the ponds.

*

The sixth annual Youth Outdoor Safari Day is set for today at

Raahauge’s Ranch in Norco. Youngsters under the age of 17 are invited

to spend a free day fishing, shooting, climbing and learning about

the great outdoors. The event will feature demonstrations on many

outdoor activities and there will be a special shooting demonstration

by the Olympic shooting team that will then be heading off to Athens.

Early signups are being taken at Turner’s Outdoorsman retail stores

and families can register at the door. The event, which includes a

free lunch and raffle for the kids, begins at 8 a.m. and is

co-sponsored by the Orange County and Los Angeles chapter of Safari

Club International. Families interested in attending the outdoor

event that is expected to draw 3,000 kids can purchase an all day

pass for only $20. For more information and driving directions phone

(909) 735-7981 or look up the event on their website at

www.youthsafariday.com.