The Little fella's we raise in the Grow Out Pens have grown up. They range all up and down the southern california bite and all of the northern and southern Channel Islands. Santa Monica Bay and Polos Verdes points have been home to plenty of these great fish.
A juvenile white seabass (left) vs a mature adult (right). Minimum size for legal take is 28 inches. Do not keep undersized fish. Be a good sportsman and follow the DFG guidelines. We want the population to grow up some more. They are delish on the grill and we love to eat them but please only take what you are going to actually eat. Save the White Seabass Head even if you have the crew clean your catch.
Press Release about the 2009 WSB Prize winner who got his name drawn from the short list of the anglers who did turn in heads in 2009. Taylor Treadwell, from La Jolla won $500. Who will it be next year? Is your name in the drawing?
Click here for a list of places with freezers to accept your WSB Heads.
Click here for a form you can use to fill out and send in with your WSB Head.
Back in the 1980's the White Seabass was scarce. The gill nets along the coast was taking all of them for commercial catch. The migratory fish was an easy target. And slow to recover once al the large breading stock was decimated. Marina Del Rey Anglers members were really involved in the efforts to have these nets removed form the bay and near shore waters. The end result was a state ballot measure that is reflected in your Ocean Enhancement Stamp on your fishing license each year. Those funds goes to a group of commercial fishing payoffs to keep the commercial nets out of the local near-shore waters. This change had enabled the come back of the fishery to it's present healthy state.
Further enhanced by the fish rearing program. Marina Del Rey Anglers joined in the effort to raise small fry (1 to 3 inches) to juveniles (9 to 14 inches). These Grow Out Pens are important as they reduce the mortality rate of the fish.
Read more about the Marina Del Rey Anglers Fish Rearing Project
Do not forget to Save the Head. Turn it in for science! We need to know the size and location (approx) and the date. That is all. If you want the stones ask for them to be sent to you. Your name will be entered into the drawing for the Annual prize of $500 that Marina Del Rey Anglers sponsors annually.
Click here for a list of places with freezers to accept your WSB Heads.
Click here for a form you can use to fill out and send in with your WSB Head.
Click here for a PDF on the Recapture Facts. - Learn about the fish and the areas they travel.
2011 was the best White Seabass bite we have had in 7 years of fishing in Santa Monica Bay. And many other local hot spots were alive with big fish.
Some of the fish we took this year looked like this...
and
and 
(new state record)
Some Photos from 2009 and 2010.
Send me photos of your catch. A club member is hoping you do not beat a
40+ pounder he got. He wants a Fish of the Month award. Fill
out your Weight-Slip and send it in. Photos can be emailed also.
Send to: Info @ MDRAnglers .com
Small boat or big boat... WSB can be caught. Best bite is often early in the wee hours before dawn. Typical bait is live squid.
July 2nd 2000, WSB Fishing Trip and Photos
Back on May 19th of 2000 they were biting. Mar Vista resident Lyle Stevenson got a nice 32 lb WSB caught in Santa Monica Bay while fishing from a small trailer boat. Any boat can get one. You just need a hook in the right place with the right bait.
Lyle with 32# WSB 05-19-2000
Special Thanks to Hubbs Seaworld
All of our baby fry come from Hubbs-Seaworld's Leon Raymond Hubbard, Jr., Marine Fish Hatchery in Carlsbad.
and to
for looking out for the health and long term well being of our fish populations.
