Video: Anglers Hit Jackpot on Twilight Trip

Anglers aboard the Native Sun last week saw great times and good fishing for the opening weekend of Fishing with Phil Twilight Trips out of Long Beach Sportfishing. Fifty-two anglers caught nearly 200 sand bass and more than 150 sculpin Saturday and Sunday.

The great catch came despite some windy weather on the Saturday evening trip. "That was a lot of fun," said Capt. Jeff Jones, who with his new wife Shari, caught several sand bass and sculpin. 

Juan Carlos and his daughter Francis were busy having a great time together. Carlos couldn't do anything wrong on the trip, landing sand bass and sculpin all night long. Francis got to touch a guitarfish before it was returned unharmed to the sea, catch some fish and spend some quality time with her father.

Raul Martinez from Long Beach was red-hot on both trips. He caught and released more than 20 sand bass last Friday night and reeled in another 15 bass on Saturday. 

Anaheim resident Don Harris was another angler who could do no wrong, catching lots of sand bass and sculpin.

Live squid was the preferred bait, especially combined with a 2-ounce leadhead with a green or orange head. Additionally, Harris discovered that a lighter outfit—15- to 20-pound test line—seemed to induce more bites.

Redondo Beach resident Steve Dunkerly reeled in the biggest sand bass during a 10-minute contest, winning a free fishing trip on the Native Sun. Others also won raffle prizes.

More Fishing with Phil Twilight Trips are scheduled for Friday and Saturday from 6:30 p.m. until 11:30 p.m. Call 562-432-8993 or 424-237-0250 or email FishingWPhil@gmail.com for reservations.  

Quick bites

• Capt. Gabriel offers the following tips for anglers’ twilight tackleboxes: Use 15- to 20-pound test line; 1.5- or 2-ounce leadheads (banana) or 3/4- to 1-ounce egg sinkers; 2-O to 3-O hooks; and single-tail Mogambo glow-in-the-dark lures.

• Anglers aboard Tradition out of Redondo Sportfishing have been catching limits of sculpin along with some nice sand bass. Boats out of Marina del Rey Sportfishing are seeing the same great fishing, possibly due to copious amounts of market squid reappearing in the Santa Monica Bay. Last year, the squid attracted large amounts of white sea bass and halibut, so we will be keeping a close eye on this for you all.

• There are still plenty of gray whales passing through Southern California waters. Whale watchers out of Harbor Breeze Cruises were treated to a breaching humpback whale on Wednesday along with lots of dolphin. Passengers on the Voyager out of neighboring Redondo Beach have been spotting minke and fin whales.

• More halibut were caught this week during the Dana Wharf Halibut Derby. Danny Stevenson and his 39-pound halibut are in the lead, with Phil McDaniel, Chuck Cordova and Paul Pappas following with their 36.4-, 29.4- and 26.5-pound flatfish, respectively.