Dana Point Fishing Report, Halibut, Sheephead And More

DANA POINT, CA — Over the weekend, Dana Point Whale Watching and Sport Fishing fans lined up to cast their luck upon the waters. Here's how it went.

"It was another good week here," Capt Brian Woolley of Dana Point Whale Watching and Sport Fishing told Patch. The boats didn't go out on Christmas Day, and weather got in the way a day or two.

"The half day fishing was day to day depending on conditions," he told us. "Some wind and some dirty water due to the rain runoff made things hard a couple days."

Still, ocean fishing while the kids are on vacation is a must for many Orange County residents.

Even though conditions were good, there were fewer fishing," he said.

What's biting?

"The sheephead fishing has been great!" he told us. "There are some real bruiser fish in the shallows."

What bait are you using?

"Shrimp baits are the best bet," he advised. "There was some bass action on the live bait, too, but water temperatures put the squeeze on that."

Boats that headed out for the three-quarters day fishing trips have done well, according to Woolley.

"It's a mixed bag rockfish kinda deal," he said.

Boats have brought in some nice sculpin and whitefish.

"Double dropper loop was the best bet, and the fisherman that came with a good assortment of heavy torpedo sinkers were able to adjust with the current that’s been blazing out there," Woolley said.

How about the Halibut?

"On Sunday, we had a nice one," he told us. "A 24-pound halibut (was caught) out deep."

San Clemente resident, Abdoa Askar, 14, had the nice surprise of reeling in this large halibut while fishing rockfish aboard the Sum Fun.

How does someone book a fishing trip out of Dana Point?

"You can always buy in on any open party trip,"he said. "It doesn’t have to be on a halibut specific drift trip."

Book a fishing trip with Captain Brian Woolley of the Sum Fun vessel, or other trips. For more information, visit Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching!