Local White Sea Bass Bite Takes Off

The Redondo Special made the first big local catch of white sea bass along the rich kelp forests of Palos Verdes on Monday morning. Eleven anglers caught their one-fish limits of the delicious croakers by fishing with frozen squid. 

"We left 'em biting," said Captain Eric Hobday, adding that the fish were not reluctant to bite on heavy line. "I saw one angler catch a fish on 50-pound test and another on 40; these things wanted to chew."

Anglers have been salivating for this for months as free divers have been spearing 60-pound sea bass since March. 

Danny Salas from Harbor Breeze Cruises has been watching free divers walk down the trail near Point Vicente and back up with giant sea bass for several months.

"I can see those guys from my house, and it's really something to see them struggle back uphill with a 50-pound sea bass," he said.

The Redondo Special returned to a spot near Point Vicente on Monday afternoon and caught another eight white sea bass.

"It was awesome," said deckhand Ryan Koverman. Palos Verdes resident Kelly Walker tossed out a surface iron that a 40-pound sea bass inhaled, dragging her down the rail. She fought the monster for about 15 minutes before it came to gaff and was hoisted on board.

Jimmy Bass from Tradition Sportfishing says it's game on.

"We are scheduled for white sea bass everyday until further notice," said Bass.

Larry Derr from said the phones have been ringing since the word got out. "There is a real excitement around here," he said.

On Tuesday, the Tradition caught 14 of the big croaker and the Redondo Special caught four. Boat pressure, however, has become an issue with more that 30 boats gathering to try for the sea bass.

Captains Ryan Carino and Mitch Christensen had limits of white sea bass Tuesday morning as well as some nice sheephead fishing from a small private boat near Point Vincente. They caught the fish before and just after sunrise so they could be back to run the half-day Southern Cal out of Pierpoint Landing.  

The croakers have been playing musical islands, driving captains crazy and adding to the enigmatic reputation of the white sea bass. There's been great fishing at Santa Barbara Island one day followed by a day without fish.  The Freedom from 22nd Street Landing in San Pedro had 47 white seabass at Catalina Island on Monday, but by Wednesday, fishing was slow again. Nothing can be more frustrating than trying to catch white sea bass as they are so unpredictable.

The limit for white seabass went from one to three on Wednesday at midnight.  

Quick Bites

• The Huntington Flats produced good barracuda fishing along with a few sand bass. The Westerly out of Long Beach Sportfishing on Tuesday caught 67 barracuda and 36 calico and sand bass for 12 anglers. "We are marking so much sand bass that it is incredible," said skipper John Ackley. "It's only a matter of time until it really turns on."

• Bluefin tuna and a few albacore continue to be taken by the San Diego long-range fleet several hundred miles from San Diego. The Royal Polaris, Shogun and other long-range boats have caught as many as 100 bluefin during the past week. The fish have ranged from 25-60 pounds. Hopes are that the tuna will move into one-day range shortly, but so far, no sign.