Orcas, Gray Whales Put on Show

A group of about a dozen orcas has been spotted all week from the Palos Verdes Peninsula to Orange County, and whale-watchers saw five of the so-called Wednesday morning.

"These are the same ones that we had for the past two days," said Alisa Schulman-Janiger, the head of the California Killer Whale Project. "They ate at least five sea lions off our area, and more off Orange County."

Pete Thomas of Pete Thomas Outdoors believes the orcas are expanding their range into Southern California, possibly taking advantage of an abundant sea lion population. Video of the killer whales suggests that they are gregarious and boat friendly in nature, making for some great whale watching trips now.

On the migration front, gray whales continue to make their way from the Bering Sea to the lagoons of Baja California. They have been passing by the Southern California coast in record numbers, entertaining whale watchers and fishermen alike.

Anglers on the Westerly last week were also treated to fin whales lunge feeding off the Huntington Oil Rigs.

The out of offers daily whale-watching trips.

Great fishing continues

Rockfish season has closed, but a mild winter combined with plenty of live squid available for bait has kept the action going. The Victory out of Pierpoint Landing in Long Beach reported great fishing this week. Fifteen anglers caught limits of delicious sculpin, 125 perch, 300 sand dabs and a few sand bass.

“It’s great fishing and beautiful weather,” said Mike Blue from the Victory.

Out of Marina del Rey Sportfishing, 31 anglers caught more than 100 sand bass, along with 18 calico bass and 45 sculpin. The weather in the Santa Monica Bay has been glorious lately, and there have been enormous pods of dolphin and a couple of whales passing by.

Sand dabs, which look like little halibut, are quite tasty. There is no limit on these delectable flounders, and they can be prepared in a variety of ways. Combine that with great-eating sculpin and a chance for some wintertime bass and halibut, and there are plenty of reasons to get out on the water now. 

Go fishing with Phil

Fishing with Phil, part of Philip Friedman Outdoors, will be on the Westerly out of Long Beach Sportfishing this Saturday and Sunday for extended half-day action. There will be an 8:30 a.m. seminar with a 9 a.m. departure. The trip will target delicious-eating sculpin, wintertime bass, halibut, perch and sand dabs.

“I think we have a great game plan for the weekend,” said veteran Westerly skipper John Ackley. “First, we are going to get our anglers a sack full of great-eating fish, and then we will go looking for some bass and halibut.”

Hundreds of dollars in raffle prizes will be given away, and participants can be part of the next Patch fishing video. For reservations, call 424-237-0250 or email fishingwphil@gmail.com.

Quick bites

• Danny Stevenson took over the lead in the Dana Wharf Halibut Derby with a monster 39.3-pound flatfish. The Derby jackpot, which is currently nearing $1,700, is growing every week. It’s easy to enter the Derby. Entrants can fish on Halibut Drift Days or cough up an extra $5 on any half- or three-quarter-day trip to be eligible for the big money and prizes.

• Steve Herckt from Orange hoop-netted limits of lobster in a short period of time at the Marina del Rey breakwall this week. “We set our nets at 5:30 p.m. and were headed home with 14 lobster for two of us in less than an hour,” said Herckt, adding that they threw back another four legal lobster as they had their limits. “I don’t know what was better; the fishing or the meal.”