White Sea Bass, Halibut Biting for Redondo Boats

Copius amounts of live squid off the Beach Cities coast are attracting large gamefish into the area.

The three-quarter-day Tradition from called in Friday morning with a 25-pound white sea bass on deck at 7 a.m. and several other fish hooked as excellent fishing continued in the Santa Monica Bay. David Tong from San Gabriel nabbed the first of what anglers on board were hoping was just the start of a big day.

On Thursday, the Redondo Special caught 15 halibut. Several white sea bass weighing more than 40 pounds have also been caught, as the squid bite for Redondo Beach-based boats has been good.

“We have tanks of live squid for the weekend,” said Morgan Richardson from the Tradition. The Tradition and Redondo Special went out to the squid grounds on Thursday night and returned with plenty of the market squid.

Last year, the squid move in to Hermosa Beach and provided anglers with excellent white sea bass and halibut fishing. The squid act as a magnet for such prized gamefish as yellowtail, halibut and white seabass and 2012 looks to be mimicking 2011.

“It looks really good here this morning,” said Richardson. “We are metering lots of fish.”

Because some of the white sea bass taken have exceeded 40 pounds, it is a good idea to fish with at least 25-pound test line and a 4-ounce torpedo sinker.

Several other boats, as well as private boaters, have reeled in white sea bass and halibut Friday morning, as there seems to be a good spread to the bite.

Quick bites

• The Marina del Rey Halibut Derby, featuring thousands of dollars in cash and prizes, is scheduled for this weekend. With the great fishing and excellent weather forecast, the Derby promises to be one of the best in recent years. Sign up information is live online at HalibutDerby.com. You can also register at the at the last-minute signups in Burton Chase Park Friday from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m.

• Great twilight barracuda action on last weekend's Fishing with Phil Trip out of Long Beach as 52 anglers caught more than 300 barracuda. In addition, several calico and sand bass were also taken.