FISHING : Saturday Is a Free Day for Anglers

Every year a Saturday is set aside in June and September as a free fishing day in California.

Although anglers are not required to have a license to fish California waters during these two days, other laws regulating fish size and limits remain in effect.

This year’s final free day will be Saturday.

Many events have been planned for Saturday. Redondo Sport Fishing will work with the Department of Fish and Game to provide trips aboard the Isle of Redondo Barge.

Sponsored by Big Brothers, boys 6 to 16 will be able to fish aboard the barge from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday.

According to Tom Bruce, a warden with the Department of Fish and Game, wardens and marine biologists will assist the barge anglers in techniques to catch fish, methods to unhook fish and how to identify the various species.

A series of hurricanes off Baja California has increased the chances of more tuna moving toward the Cortez Bank and outer islands.

Although dorado catches have decreased, the South Bay fleet has found a steady supply of the tuna. Captains reported that the best bite has been in the morning. Many anglers have caught between three and six fish.

The Long Beach Sportfishing boat Aztec returned early Monday from the Cortez Bank with 43 bluefin tuna and 16 yellowtail. Mike Bell of Long Beach had the jackpot fish--a 43-pound bluefin.

The 22nd Street Landing’s Islander returned with 22 bluefin.

San Pedro anglers with big catches included Rick Vigil with a 41-pound bluefin, Tony Varela with a 40 1/2-pound bluefin and Jim Pasquale with a 40-pounder.

Los Angeles Harbor’s First String had 17 bluefin along with yellowtail and skipjack. San Pedro’s Craig Toda caught a 45-pound tuna.

Torrance’s Dean Spitzer returned last week from a trip to Alaska to fish for halibut. Spitzer, using 80-pound test line, had to battle an hour before catching his biggest halibut--a 250-pounder.

Local update: Calico bass fishing has been excellent the past week with several anglers nearing their limit. Barracuda fishing at Horseshoe Kelp has slowed.

The South Bay fleet is now running one-day trips for yellowfin tuna, which are being caught between Dana Point and 14-mile bank.

Island update: The west end of Catalina continues to be a good location to catch yellowtail and calico bass.

The San Clemente Island area has been yielding yellowtail and skipjack.

South Bay catches: Dean Morrow of Long Beach, aboard the Islander at Tanner Bank, caught the whopper of the week--a 60-pound bluefin.

Tom Hornmaker of Long Beach, aboard the Toronado at Cortez Bank, caught a 51 1/2-pound bluefin.

Frank Hall of San Pedro, aboard the Islander, caught a 50-pound bluefin at Cortez Bank.

George Kawi of Palos Verdes caught a 25-pound yellowtail while fishing aboard the New Image off the west end of Catalina.