Sometimes I wonder if sportfishing is just an excuse to get out on the water. Especially in these troubled times for so many, a day on the ocean refreshes ones soul and lends itself to a feeling of optimism. That certainly was the case on the ½ boat Southern Cal out of Pierpoint Landing in Long Beach over the weekend. The weather forecast was dead wrong for the Long Beach area. Instead of gale force winds, calm seas and sunshine greeted Lorena Ballesteros and her two sons Matthew 9 years old and Nathan 12.
The two boys and their mother from Long Beach caught a variety of fish including treefish, perch, sugar bass and the boys first two sheepshead. Mom said some of the freshly caught fish was destined to marinate in lime juice and provide a Sunday ceviche for Nathan’s 12th birthday.
Tom Raftican was on board from the Sportfishing Conservancy with the West Marine Fish Elevator. The fish elevator was developed by West Marine and the Sportfishing Conservancy to help release rockfish suffering from barotrauma. The fish take a ride down to the depth where they were caught and theoretically swim away in better shape than they arrived on the surface. You’ll see how the fish fare with the aid of an underwater camera.
The fortunate group of anglers were not only treated to a great days fishing but they saw pods of dolphin, huge bird schools and hundreds of pelicans diving into the water, and great boat burgers thanks to galley cook Amie Zimmerman. John Belli took the $50 Sportfishing Conservancy catch and release prize with another $100 went to the Southern Cal crew for all their help in the toss back project.
You will see lots of great action in this weeks Patch/Philip Friedman Outdoors Video Fishing review.
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