FISHING : Excellent Water Conditions Lead to Quality Catches of Sand Bass

Excellent water conditions have helped lead to quality winter catches and some unusual fish are being hooked and landed.

Sand bass normally migrate to South Bay sandy beaches in June and move south or to deeper waters in October.

But not this winter. L.A. Harbor and Redondo half-day boats have been catching the 10-fish limits on most trips, all on live squid.

The abundance of squid is a big reason half-day boats have been finding the bass more this winter than in the past.

Captain Ray Duane, who operates the half-day boat Matt Walsh, said it has been easy for anglers to catch a limit of legal-size bass using squid in sandy areas.

Mac Oliphan, a sportfish biologist at California Fish and Game, said the boat Mako was tagging halibut in Santa Monica Bay and noted more sand bass than usual.

Oliphan reports that only 31 tags have been recovered for several hundred tagged and released last summer. One tag sent in revealed the sand bass traveled a distance of 17 miles in 164 days.

Oliphan reminds anglers that there is a $5 reward for any tag turned in with information on the area fished, size of catch and date.

Two Long Beach fishermen returned from a trip to San Benedicto Island off Mexico and among the catch were dorado, wahoo and yellowfin tuna.

George Exnio caught a 66-pound yellowfin tuna and Mike Blue landed a 60-pound yellowfin.

The Torrance Rod and Gun family fishing club held its 40th annual awards banquet Saturday.

Brian Merrel was the top fisherman for 1990, winning six club trophies.

Carl Hanni won the button award for catching the most salmon, carp and striped bass.

Zeila Cole was elected president for the 1991 season.