Tuna Finally Biting; Sperm Whale Visits 'Voyager'

Passengers on the Redondo Beach-based whale watching boat out of Monday. Just before that, the lucky group of whale watchers also saw a minke whale breach 11 times. Sperm whales are toothed whales that prey almost exclusively on squid, and they’re not seen all that often off Southern California.

The whale spotted Monday off the Palos Verdes Peninsula is believed to be the same whale seen multiple times in the same general area since it was first photo-documented aboard the Voyager in 1996.

Observers have also spotted lots of blue whales from Dana Point to Santa Barbara.

Redondo Special gets caught up in sunken panga ordeal

The half-day Redondo Special unwittingly with a myriad of law enforcement agencies Tuesday when a in the very same area where the Redondo Special had been making excellent catches. 

Kids welcome at fishing derby

The 48th annual Huntington Beach Huck Finn Fishing Derby will be held at the Huntington Beach Pier 8 a.m. to noon Saturday. Children up to 15 years old are welcome at this free fishing event where they can win prizes for everything from fishing to best Huck Finn or Becky Thatcher costumes!   

Registration begins at 8 a.m. at the end of the pier.

San Diego, Baja Tuna bite breaks open

San Diego tuna have been biting better this week than they have all season. The fish are still about 120-140 miles from Point Loma but they have been biting with a vengeance at times. It’s by far the best fishing of 2011.

The Pacific Voyager from Seaforth Sportfishing reported catching 189 bluefin tuna, 104 yellowfin tuna, five albacore, 12 dorado and 14 yellowtail during a three-day trip earlier in the week. On Wednesday afternoon, the Islander caught more than 100 tuna, mostly 12- to 18-pound bluefin with a few bigger yellowfin tuna mixed in. The New Lo-An was nearing 80 tuna by 5 p.m. Wednesday and reported vast schools of the tasty tuna, while the Searcher caught limits during its four-day trip. The Searcher’s limits came after only two days of fishing.

The weather was much nicer this week, making big schools of tuna easier to find. A full moon can also spur a bluefin bite.

Some species of fish, like bluefin tuna, have a penchant for biting during full moon periods. White sea bass and blue marlin are a couple of other fish that like dining during the full moon.

Squid good for calico bass

There is also very good calico bass fishing on the kelp lines from La Jolla to Palos Verdes. The key to a good bite is water temperature—it should be at least 65 degrees. Live and freshly killed squid have been the best baits, but anchovies and sardines have worked as well.

Surf fishing good by Channel Islands

Surf fishing enthusiasts are seeing great fishing along Channel Islands beaches from San Clemente to Santa Barbara. Barred perch, corbina, spotfin croaker and a few halibut have been around, too. The fish bite best on a six-pound test line with a No. 6 hook and a quarter-ounce sliding egg sinker.

San Clemente Island has also been kicking out some yellowtail, good calico bass and a few white sea bass.

Catalina Island has been providing anglers with some good calico bass fishing along with bonito, barracuda and a few white sea bass and halibut.

Barracuda bite hit-and-miss

The barracuda bite has been very inconsistent. The best sand bass fishing has been on evening and twilight trips.