White Seabass, Calico Bass and Barracuda Biting in Waters off Newport

Anglers aboard the Nautilus and Patriot were into big schools of barracuda at Huntington Flats this week, Lia Mendoza of reports.

On Wednesday morning, the anglers fishing from the boats had hauled in a combined 115 barracuda. And they weren't done fishing yet.

“Calico bass were boiling and biting both live bait and plastics and water temps are up to 63 degrees and climbing daily,” Mendoza added.

J.D. of J.D.’s Big Game Tackle also reported that barracuda are returning to the area along with a fair number of calico bass. Sand bass have not returned this year, and J.D. is worried that this migratory species has been fished out. J.D. recommends using Wax Wings Lures for barracuda he even throws in a free wire rigging.

White seabass also have been biting in the waters off  Newport Beach, with private boaters, charter boats and overnight trips catching fish in the 25- to 50-pound range.

Jeff Peck weighed in a 50-pound white sea bass at the that he caught fishing locally on Tuesday June 7. Peck’s fish was the largest of three white seabass weighed at the Angling Club that morning. The other fish weighed 45 pounds, 37 pounds and 31 pounds.

Captain Jimmy Decker said this week that most of the white seabass are being caught by “sliding into bait balls." Decker said the white seabass are: “biting everything, mackerel, squid and sardines”. Deckers advice to anglers is to watch for birds working the surface above bait balls and slide up on them.

Anglers have unil 5 p.m. today to register for the 1oth Annual Balboa Angling Club’s Yellowtail, White Sea Bass and Halibut Tournament, which starts at 12:01 a.m. Saturday and runs for 12 hours. Fish must be caught during the tournament hours. Minimum length for halibut is 24 inches, white sea bass 28 inches and yellowtail 24 inches.