Fishing Report: Lopez Lake bass fishing event to benefit St. Jude Children’s Hospital

St. Jude Children’s Hospital will be the beneficiary of a bass fishing tournament scheduled for Lopez Lake on Sunday.

“All of the $100 per boat entry fee will go to St. Jude,” said Ben Florentino, the tournament director who resides in Arroyo Grande.

“Last year was our first freshwater venture at Lopez. Although we had only 15 teams entered we managed to donate $3,000 to the hospital thanks to the generous help from Tackle Warehouse. This year I’m hoping for an entry between 30 and 50 two-member teams.”

Participants have the opportunity to opt into a $20 side pot. Proceeds from the side pot will be paid out to the three teams with the heaviest weights.

More than 30 sponsors have signed on, gifting participants to food, beverage and merchandise. The general public, including family members of participants, can enter a raffle for fishing tackle, attire and gift certificates for local restaurants.

Entry fee checks will be collected at the lake beginning at 5 a.m. Sunday. Checks should be made payable to Ben Florentino/St. Jude Fishing Tournament.

Rules will be announced and a drawing will be held to determine the start time for each boat. The national anthem will be played at 6 a.m. followed by a moment of silence to pay respects to those who lost their lives in the 9/11 terrorist attacks Morro Bay’s Scott Garmen was the winner of the 2010 St. Jude tournament.

Albacore outlook

“Prospects are looking good for Central Coast albacore fishermen Saturday through next Tuesday,” Harrell Kimball noted after scanning a promising sea-surface temperature report. “There’s a hard break (58-62 degrees) outside The Donut.”

The location is 54 nautical miles from Avila.

Between 200 and 300 albacore were harvested between Sept. 1 and Monday. Most of the catches were in the vicinity of the Cape San Martin buoy. Harley Boos and a partner reeled in 25 tuna on an overnight day-and-a half venture.

Port San Luis Boatyard

For the seventh consecutive week, the catch of a white seabass took Whopper of the Week honors. Fresno’s Pete Marquez earned last week’s free boat launch with the catch of a 27-pound white seabass Sunday.

Last week’s catch by anglers aboard 110 launched boats included 155 lingcod, 15 salmon, three halibut and two white seabass.

Last week, three-quarter rockcod limits were logged three days with full limits and three-quarter to full limits twice each.

Virg’s Landing

The popular overnight fishing trip is being offered this weekend for $205. Participants may return with two limits of fish. Departure is scheduled at 3:30 p.m. Saturday with return between 4 and 6 p.m. Sunday.

Call 772-1222 for reservations.

Jackpot winners last week included: Greg Hunt, Cayucos, 12-pound ling; Jean Spikes, Bakersfield, 11-pound ling; Jason Johnson, Tom Graham, both Bakersfield, both 10-pound lings; Robert Kraft of Fresno, 9-pound ling; Stan Blake of Bakersfield, Joann Tacherro of Fresno, both 8-pound lings; and Nick Cottele of Selma, 7-pound ling.

Last week 418 passengers caught 64 lings, 1,364 red rockcod, 2,542 assorted rockfish, 141 coppers, 30 bolina and three cabezon.

Patriot Sportfishing

The seventh-annual Lingcod Contest began Sept. 1 with three prodigious catches at Pt. Purisima aboard the Pacific Horizon. San Jose’s Guy Leo grabbed the lead with a 26-pound, 4-ounce fish. William Chong of Cerritos is in second place with a 19-pound fish and Brad Hudson, Bakersfield, is third with an 18-pound, 12-ouncer.

Light tackle, shallow-water trips are scheduled Wednesdays and Fridays. Call 595-7200 for more information and reservations.

Other jackpot winners included Keith Bow of Pismo Beach, 25-0 halibut, Shane McGraw, San Luis Obispo, and Bruce Hudson, Santa Maria, both 10-0 lings; Samantha Osiecki of Oceano, and Lolan East of Pismo Beach, both 8-0 lings, Randy Young of Arroyo Grande, 7-0 ling, Chris Mielke, Nipomo, 6-0 ling, Konnor Jeffreys of Ventura, 3-0 red rockcod, and Tysen Volbrecht of Santa Margarita, 2 1-2-pound red rockcod.

Last week 256 passengers caught 68 lings, 603 red rockcod, 1,068 assorted rockfish, 271 bolina, 22 cabezon, six bocaccio, three kelp greenling and one halibut.

Whale Rock

Trout were caught for the seventh week in a row and for 17 of the 19 weeks the facility has been open for fishing.

Joe Reynolds caught a 12-inch fish Saturday and an 18-inch rainbow Sunday. His total for the year is 21 trout. He owns the lead.

Newcomer Rob Rall caught his first trout, a 16-incher, Friday. All three fish were caught on lures. The reservoir has been open 95 days.

Lake San Antonio

Marina staffer Ryan Roth reports striper fishing has been good both mornings and late nights. On Wednesday morning, seven linesiders were caught in Bee Rock Cove using topwater lures that make noise.

Catches also are being made near the dam. Nightcrawlers, red worms and anchovy are fetching catfish in Harris Creek. Large and smallmouth bass are coming from shallow coves on jigs with Zoom plastic trailers. An 8-pound catfish was landed this week near Harris Creek.

Lopez Lake

Marina staffer Jonathan Garcia reports bass and bluegill are being caught by the bridge at the entrance to the park. Recently, David Wolf caught three bass, two by the dam and a 4-pounder by the bridge.

Nacimiento Lake

Kastmasters and topwater presentations are producing bass catches, a marina reporter says.

Cachuma Lake

Catfish are the most active species. Cut mackerel fished in creek channels and shallow coves is the most effective tactic. Bass fishing has been up and down. There’s some morning surface action on Zara Spooks and poppers.

Spoons, drop-shotting and slow rolling spinnerbaits produce at times, mostly evenings on main lake points. Trout fishermen are having a tough time. The fish are down 50 feet. Needlefish are working. Trollers need to pay out eight or nine colors of lead core line.

Santa Margarita Lake

No report.