Tragedy strikes on Mexican fishing boat and the Largest California halibut ever caught.

A sportfishing trip out of San Felipe, Baja California on board the 105 foot Erik turned tragic early Sunday as the boat encountered heavy winds and two giant waves that capsized the vessel near the island of San Luis. Many passengers were tossed into rough seas where they held on to ice coolers and other debris for as long as 16 hours.

As of Wednesday morning, thirty-five crew members and passengers survived after swimming, paddling, or being rescued by Mexican fishermen and Navy boats. Seven U.S tourists remain missing with another passenger, Leslie Kimwah Yee, age 64, found dead on a desolate beach.

Search teams from the US Coast Guard and Mexican Navy are scheduled to dive the Eric to see if the missing were trapped inside the vessel when she sank.

On the Independence most recent trip, Brink skewered a jumbo squid on to a razor sharp hook and sent it overboard hoping for a bite. “I caught a 125 pound opah the last time I did this,” he said. “You just never know what’s down there.” 

After about 45 minutes, Brink saw his rod twitch and then load up; he was on. It didn’t fight that much but it took a while to drag his prize up from the depths. Brink has caught some big mako sharks and is hoping to land a swordfish someday. This time however, it was a 30 pound oilfish. Brink said it was just another denizen from the deep to add to his collection.

San Diego tuna continued slow with lots of bluefin tuna being seen but just a few being taken. That didn’t stop Jolene Thompson from having fun on a Monday trip as she explained in a facebook post.

“My charter on the Pacific Voyager yesterday was awesome!! First bite was at 2pm, only 6 hours of fishing with 28 caught. JP (jackpot) caught by a first time lady angler.”

The 4^th of July is the traditional start to the San Diego albacore season but still no sign of any significant schools of the prized long-fin tuna.

La Jolla to Oceanside is kicking out some fair sand and calico bass fishing with an occasional white seabass, halibut and white seabass. There has also been more yellowtail cruising around too.

Good thresher shark fishing off Corona del Mar as well as Newport Beach. Very good calico action off Chrystal Cove as well as some big white seabass too.

Anglers on the Huntington Beach Pier continue to catch thresher sharks to over 100 pounds. Pete Thomas from Pete Thomas Outdoors was on the pier this week and saw the heads and tails of two t-sharks.

Farther offshore, the Huntington Flats has been good for barracuda and a few sand bass.

There has been some big yellowtail, white seabass and good fishing for calico bass around Redondo and Palos Verdes. Bob Alvarez from San Pedro fished PV Wednesday for lots of calico bass, sheepshead, perch, and cabezon. “No white seabass or yellowtail but lots of action,” said Alvarez.

The Westerly from Long Beach Sportfishing took 2 giant white seabass to 50 pounds off Malibu on Friday along with great calico bass fishing. Kayakers in the area were also doing really well on both species.  

Frank Rivera from Camarillo knew he had something big but he had no idea that he was reeling in the largest California halibut ever taken. The flattie, taken on the Mirage out of Channel Island Sportfishing at Santa Rosa Island is nearly nine pounds heavier than the current all-tackle record. Rivera used 25-lb. test to wrestle the fish to the surface in about 10 minutes. Confirmation came when the monster was weighed on the landings certified scale: 67.1-pounds; a pending new world record.