Island yellow scores climb

NEWPORT BEACH — Island yellowtail scores continued to steadily climb with the warming summer waters. Sand bass bit on the coast, calico too, in what many are calling the best bass bite in years.

REEL FUN SKIPPER Chris Pica with another local bread and butter bass. Fly-lined anchovies were the key.

Standout scores include the Freelance's 130-plus yellowtail catch at Catalina Island on their extended 3/4-day trip. The Thunderbird pulled 40 to 50 jumbo forks 3 trips running at San Clemente Island.

Along the coast Patriot pulled 60 keeper sand bass Wednesday before heavy coastal current set all 3/4-day boats across to fish Catalina Island instead. There, yellowtail and bonito were the top picks, with calico and barracuda not far behind. On the 1/2-day front, the catch went from bass to sculpin with the mid-week change.

Just down the coast, the fleet out of Dana Wharf Sportfishing saw a fresh delivery of perfect anchovies push the numbers of calico caught and released back through the roof. Fury put back over 200 bass on a full day, and bagged 85 bonito. Reel Fun's 17 anglers on Saturday's 3/4-day kept 37 barracuda and released 147 calico.

Fury fished San Clemente Island mid-week with 20 fishers. They bagged 20 yellowtail, 46 bonito and 34 calico as part of the take. Sunday a handful of yellowtail topped an ocean whitefish frenzy as 30 fishers sacked 130 razor gills, along with a mixed bag of rockfish and other bottom biters.

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