Anglers Excited Over Upcoming Lingcod and Rockfish Opener

Anglers are anxiously awaiting the March 1 lingcod and rockfish opener as they will be able to take home some of the finest eating fish in the sea. Don Ashley from Pierpoint Landing in Long Beach said that last year's bite was the best he had seen in decades.

“We were having some of the best rockfishing I had seen in over 20-years,” Ashley said. “Huge vermillion rockfish along with lots of lingcod and much more.”

Rockfish seen to thrive better in cooler water and Southern California has had its share of that for the past two years. There are over 50 different species of rockfish that inhabit the Southern California Coast and each provides great eating.

One of the best lingcod venues has been San Nicolas Island where catching your two-fish limit of lings is not out of the question. In addition, anglers can catch big sheepshead, whitefish and have a good chance for some big halibut and early season white seabass.

Fishing at San Nicolas Island is done in 120 feet of water or less, so you can bring your light tackle and have a ball.

“I love it because you never know what you may have on the line,” said Scott Buchert from Corona del Mar. “It’s always so interesting to see what you haul up from the depths.”

Peggy Stein took over the lead Sunday in the Dana Wharf Halibut Derby with a giant 43-pound, 10-ounce halibut caught.

“You can count the 40-pound halibut I have seen taken in the past 40 years on one hand,” said longtime skipper Larry Moore. “This is a great accomplishment.”

At Long Beach Sportfishing, five halibut were taken on the Native Sun on Wednesday making this one of the best derbies in years.

“We are not only seeing more halibut, but we are seeing more big halibut, too,” said manager Jennifer Doyle. David Akamine from Torrance is the current leader of the Pot of Gold Halibut Derby with a fat 39-pound, 2-ounce flattie.

The Liberty out of Long Beach Sportfishing headed over to Catalina Island on a Fishing with Phil trip for Presidents Day. The weather was summerlike and while the calico bass and whites seabass were a no show, there were plenty of big perch to fill the sacks. Anglers were also treated to the beautiful sights of the backside of Catalina Island as well as a giant pod of dolphin and two surface-feeding fin whales. You can see much of that in this week's Patch Fishing video.

Twilight fishing remained good on the Native Sun out of Long Beach Sportfishing where anglers are catching good amounts of sand bass and sculpin. This week's warm weather may give the bite an added boost.

A 2-ounce leadhead with some fresh dead squid has been an excellent way to entice a bite from these nocturnal feeders. There has also been some halibut taken as well as a wide open bite on octopus one night.

There are more twilight trips this weekend on the Native Sun. trips sail at 6:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and return around 11:30 p.m.. Reservations at (562) 432-8993.