FISHING : After a Slow Summertime, Catch of Bonito on the Rise

The summer months are usually good for catching bonito that frequent local waters. But last summer there were few bonito for local anglers to catch.

However, if early indications are correct, it could be a good winter.

At Santa Catalina Island last weekend, anglers aboard L.A. Harbor Sportfishing’s Top Gun caught 44 bonito. Evidently the fish were in pursuit of squid.

At Redondo Sportfishing pier and the King Harbor breakwater rocks, anglers were catching bonito averaging more than two pounds.

Carl Herman of Redondo Beach caught a 5 1/4-pound bonito using a small feather jig.

Fishing Cortez Bank over the weekend, anglers aboard Long Beach Sportfishing’s Toronado caught bonito up to 14 pounds. Captain Ray Lagmay said the fish--along with yellowtail--have been in the area on every recent trip.

South Bay landings will again target yellowtail this weekend.

Locally, a shortage of bait contributed to a slow week, but receivers report they have a full supply for this week’s fishing.

Sonny Benette at Marina del Rey Sportfishing reports that the halibut bite is still good in the bay, with anglers averaging a 10-fish-a-day limit.

Catalina and San Clemente islands have been excellent for calico bass and sheephead, although the yellowtail and white sea bass bite has decreased because of changes in temperature and water conditions.

The fourth annual Cabrillo Marine Museum’s observation and collection expedition has been completed.

Museum director Larry Fukhara said the annual trip gives the public an opportunity to observe how the museum’s staff collects live species.

A staff of 10 from the museum were joined by 55 passengers on the trip aboard the Shogun.

The Shogun, anchored at the Catalina Isthmus, set out squid lights at night, and saury and hatchet fish were spotted.

Divers Mike Schaadt, Dan Zambrano and Chip Matheson placed traps in various locations to catch assorted species.

When the traps were pulled, several varieties were caught. All were examined, studied and released.

Fukhara said one trap was set for hagfish, and 25 of the eel-like fish were caught and examined.

The fish have been studied for cancer research because they are rarely found to have tumors of any kind.

The hagfish were kept and taken to the museum for public view.

One of the highlights of the trip was when the Shogun, on its return to the mainland, stopped in the middle of the channel to search for sharks.

The crew used cut mackerel and chum in an effort to attract sharks for observation.

The observers were excited as four sharks were caught, tagged and released unharmed. The blue sharks weighed as much as 40 pounds.

All the fish that were not released were placed in wading pools so observers could get a closer examination.

The Cabrillo Marine Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday. Information: (310) 548-7562.

South Bay Catches: Steve Kelqner of West Los Angeles, aboard the Jawbreaker, caught the whopper of the week--a 66-pound mako shark.

Robert Preston of Santa Monica, aboard the Spitfire at Venice Reef, caught a 29 1/2-pound halibut.

Joe Komada of Redondo Beach, aboard the Redondo Special at Rocky Point, caught a 23-pound halibut.

Bill Smith of Long Beach, aboard the Toronado at Cortez Bank, caught a 20-pound yellowtail.

Ande Thieme of Redondo Beach, aboard the Outer Limits at the Cortez Bank, caught a 42-pound yellowtail.