Fresh Fish Make Great Ceviche

Rockfish can be prepared in so many different ways. They're great on the grill or sautéed in olive oil, garlic and oregano with a splash of your favorite vino. One of the best ways to prepare freshly caught rockfish is to make a homemade ceviche. Here is one of my favorite recipes.

The most important thing about ceviche is getting fresh fish to use in your dish.  Just make sure the fish you choose is in good shape, and you are off to a great start.

Ingredients

• Limes
• Salt
• Pepper
• diced tomatoes (optional)
• diced purple onions
• diced cilantro
• Clamato juice

Directions

1. Cut your fish in equal-sized cubes so it cooks in the lime juice evenly. Cubes should be bite-sized.
2. Cover fish entirely with fresh lime juice and refrigerate for at least four hours. A little more lime juice is better than too little, so you may need to move the chucks around after two hours so they all get exposed to the lime juice.
3. Pour off excess lime juice.
4. Add Clamato juice to taste. 
5. Add your onions, tomatoes, and cilantro. Mix gently.
6. Salt and pepper to taste.
7. Garnish with sliced avocado.
8. Enjoy!

Winter fishing stays strong

Anglers are still seeing some pretty good wintertime surface fishing. Dana Wharf Sportfishing has been catching some nice halibut and a few nice sand bass.

Phil Ornelas from Long Beach took a skiff out to the Long Beach breakwall on Saturday evening and nailed eight calico bass. The calicos were taken on fresh dead squid and bit best with the high tide.

Out of Newport Beach, the sportfishing fleet and private boaters continue to catch excellent numbers of rockfish, some lingcod, some nice whitefish, and lots of perch, sculpin and cabezon. The Enterprise out of Long Beach Marina Sportfishing continues to provide anglers with limits (10 rockfish per angler) as has the Native Sun from Long Beach Sportfishing and the Southern Cal out of Pierpoint Landing.

Anglers on the Sea Angler out of 22nd Street Landing in San Pedro have been catching lots of sand dabs. There is no limit on the tasty flatfish; literally thousands can be caught on a single trip.

The Spitfire out of Marina del Rey Sportfishing caught 114 rockfish, five sheephead and limits of fine-eating sculpin Tuesday. The Redondo Special out of has also been catching good bottom dwellers.

In fact, great bottom-fishing has been the rule for so many up and down the coast, but time is running out. The Southern California rockfish season closes Jan. 1.

Friends of Rollo raising money through raffle

Friends of Rollo is responsible for taking thousands of kids fishing every year. They expose kids to the wonders of the blue Pacific and teach them how important it is to care for our precious seas. Besides all the good they are doing on this side of the border, they are teaming up with Philip Friedman Outdoors to take the all-girls orphanage Casa Estrella fishing out of Ensenada shortly.

They are having a great raffle to support all the great work they are doing. Entrants can win fantastic prizes like a new truck, a new boat, some dream fishing trips and lots more. Make sure to drop by their website to do some good and possibly win a great prize.

Henry Winkler discusses new book

Henry Winkler spent 20 minutes on the Philip Friedman Outdoors Radio Show on AM 830 Radio live from Angel Stadium last week. Winkler has just written a new book called, I've Never Met an Idiot on the River. (See above video for interview.)

During the interview, Winkler talked about the wonderful people he has met while fly-fishing and the ethos that most fly fishermen hold dear. Many care about conservation, practice catch-and-release fishing, and are peaceful and caring.

Winkler described his most comical day on the water, and why he does not like to engage in saltwater fly-fishing. He also spoke about his days on Happy Days.

Go fishing with Phil

Yours truly will be on board the Native Sun out of Long Beach Sportfishing on Dec. 31 for the last day of rockfishing in 2011. As mentioned before, the season closes Jan. 1, so this is the last chance to catch some of the finest-eating fish in the sea.

The trip will depart at 7 a.m. and return at 4 p.m., leaving plenty of time to get ready for New Year's Eve parties. Besides the great times, and fun fishing, if you book your trip through Philip Friedman Outdoors, you will become eligible for special jackpots and prizes. Cost of the three-quarter-day trip is $58.

To book, just drop an email to PhilipFriedmanOutdoors@gmail.com or call 424-237-0250.