SALTWATER REPORT
Summer temperatures are still mild, but fishing locally is red-hot.
White seabass have proven to be plentiful in the last few weeks, and now the halibut, barracuda and yellowtail are beginning to bite in strong numbers.
"Fishing is phenomenal," said Megan Borchardt of Channel Islands Sportsfishing. "With the water temperature up around 65 degrees and squid for bait, we're seeing a lot of nice fish being caught."
Derrick Caldwell of San Diego caught a 51.1-pound halibut while fishing aboard the Aloha Spirit.
Dan Hernandez of Simi Valley caught a 49.8-pound yellowtail while fishing on the Aloha Spirit.
Steve Schot from San Diego caught a 33-pound white seabass while fishing on the Aloha Spirit.
Gary Kazaypjm of Los Angeles caught 65-pound white seabass aboard the Cobra and Ross Mendoza of Whittier had a 35-pound halibut on the Pacific Islander.
Bordchardt said the strong variety of fish has the phones ringing off the hook with anglers wanting to get out.
Ventura Sportsfishing and Hook's Landing both have scheduled trips that are designed to help anglers land the white seabass, halibut and yellowtail.
Hook's Landing has a two-day trip leaving Saturday night at 10 p.m. on the New Hustler. The cost of $325 is all-inclusive, including food, and gives anglers two days of fishing for white seabass, yellowtail and halibut.
Mike Thompson from Ventura Sportsfishing said the 4 a.m. trip on the Pacific Eagle is targeting white seabass.
"The seabass are really biting and we're seeing more yellowtail and halibut," Thompson said. "The halibut are averaging around 30 pounds."
Louise Capristo from Oxnard caught a 58.5-pound white seabass while Randy Corbin of Ventura landed a 57.5-pound white seabass.
FRESHWATER REPORT
Lake Casitas: Bass and perch have been hitting on a regular basis, leading to some good fishing, according to Randy King of the Casitas boat rental office.
David Saunders of Ojai landed an 8-pound bass using live shad for bait.
Alfonso Ruiz of Ventura caught four bass, weighing 4, 5, 6 and 8 pounds, respectively.
Kent Reed of Ventura caught a 6-pound bass on nightcrawlers.
Randy Westbury of Ojai used surface rapala's to catch six bass which averaged 3 pounds.
Art Alonzo of Santa Paula caught six perch using nightcrawlers for bait.
King said the trout fishing has been spotty.
Lake hours: 5:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
Lake Castaic: Fishing has been great. The striped bass fishing is as good as it's been all year. Anglers are using sardines and shad, and fishing anywhere from 40 to 100 feet. Best places have been C-Point, Sharron's Nest and the Buoy line. The largemouth bass are biting on the top water all along the shoreline.
Dean Montea of Ventura caught nine striped bass, with the largest weighing 8.5 pounds.
Lake hours: 6 a.m.-7 p.m.
Cachuma Lake: Trout fishing turned on this week. The early-morning trolling needlefish, rapalas and dodger/crawler combos using 4 to 6 colors have been most effective. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are being caught on the top water early and at bottom later in the day.
Crappie made a good showing, especially at Santa Cruz and the narrows. Catfish are in the shallow coves and creek channels all over the lake, with cut mackerel being best bait.
Lake hours: 6 a.m.-7 p.m.
