FISHING : The Big Ones Didn’t Get Away From These Youngsters

Kids grab the fishing spotlight this week.

Herman Sanderson of Harbor City and his 13-year-old son, Kevin, launched their skiff at Cabrillo Beach, picked up a scoop of anchovies and headed out to the oil rigs for a day of perch fishing.

Using light rods and 15-pound test line, the bite was on, and within an hour the pair was two fish short of a limit.

Sanderson set down his rod and started to clean the catch.

With no bait remaining, Kevin continued to fish, inserting cut squid to a lead head jig and made several casts. He got a strike, set the hook and the fish spooled him.

The fish started to move out. As Kevin tried to gain line with it the skiff drifted faster. Sanderson thought it could be a shark or big bat ray. Kevin refused to give the rod to his father.

About 20 minutes later a yellowtail surfaced.

A net was lowered but the yellow was too big. Kevin held on although his arm was weakening. Another small boat that was watching nearby moved in and helped put the fish aboard the waiting skiff.

Kevin said it was the largest fish he ever caught as he posed, all smiles, with his 27 1/2-pound yellowtail.

Alex Lagrande, 11, of Long Beach was fishing for marlin aboard the Wicked Ways with his father, Ron, when he hooked his first marlin off Avalon bank.

Alex, who has a hearing impairment, was instructed by sign language and worked the big marlin for 35 minutes before it came to gaff. The marlin was weighed in at Avalon at 169 pounds.

The Pacifica from Long Beach Sportfishing got into the marlin action over the weekend at Catalina Island.

Marlin have taken up residence in the Avalon bank area and the east end of the island.

Ken Kuhn of Carson caught the big one at 195 pounds. Denise Barbosa of Long Beach weighed in a 170-pounder. Steve Waldenberg of West Los Angeles landed a 140-pounder. Keith Brewer and Patsey Kennedy of San Pedro each caught 135-pounders.

It was the first marlin for each of the South Bay anglers.

South Bay Catches: David Williams of Lawndale, fishing aboard the Toronado at San Clemente Island, caught the whopper of the week with his 38-pound blue fin tuna.

T. K. Lawson of Redondo Beach took the jackpot aboard the Crest on an albacore trip when he landed a 32-pound blue fin tuna.

Mike Hill, fishing aboard the El Dorado at Catalina Island, caught a 24 3/4-pound yellowtail.

Eric Landesfino of Long Beach, fishing aboard the Pacifica, caught a 20-pound yellowtail.

Kathy Provty of Hawthorne, fishing aboard the Spitfire, won the jackpot with her 16 1/2-pound halibut.

Rod Gilbert of Lomita, fishing aboard the Hitless Miss for albacore, caught a 15 1/4-pound blue fin tuna.