Wintery Weather Slows Down Fishing

In the Santa Monica Bay, Marina del Rey has provided good halibut fishing. San Pedro resident Joe Bennington, who has caught multiple flatfish, said live bait has been the key.

Nearby Palos Verdes anglers are catching good numbers of opaleye perch, along with a few sheephead and bass off the rocks, using frozen peas.

Surf fishermen in the Santa Monica Bay have also experienced good fishing. There has been fair leopard shark fishing off Torrance Beach using mackerel for bait, and anglers have caught a few corbina off Redondo and Hermosa beaches.

But as cooler air temperatures and windy weather arrive, fishing from jetties and rocks can turn dangerous. Pay attention to current weather conditions.

Another early sign of winter: Whale sightings have been common throughout the past week, with more reports of fin, minke and .

Rockfish abundant in Southern California

Good bottom fishing has been the rule over most of Southern California again this week. Buena Park resident Ryan Klumper, 27, caught a 21-pound lingcod recently on board the Freelance out of Davey’s Locker in Newport Beach.

Capt. Andy Siratt of the Enterprise out of Long Beach Marina Sportfishing reported excellent fishing for 2- to 4-pound vermillion rockfish, along with salmon grouper and other bottom grabbers.

In the Santa Monica Bay, the Redondo Special out of has been catching near limits of rockfish, as have boats out of Marina del Rey. The bay has also seen fair to excellent lingcod fishing.