A huge run of yellowtail at Redondo in 1907

Ken Jones

Ken Jones

Administrator
Staff member
#1
#1
Laporte Man A Fisherman— Caught 12 Yellowtails
One Day Weighing 15 lbs. Each​
​
Mrs. J. H. Cissel is in receipt of a letter from her son, Lew W. Cissel, who is now at Redondo Beach, California, where he recently figured in a large catch of yellowtail. Mr. Cissel enclosed a newspaper clipping from the Los Angeles Times, showing a picture of the women on the pier and an article of the big “run.”

The Times says: Redondo experienced a remarkable run of yellowtail yesterday. Twenty-four tons is a conservative estimate of the amount carried off Pier No. 1. A count at the Redondo fish market of the yellowtail that had been taken off the pier by 5 o’clock, when they ceased to bite, showed 2,500, and there were fully 500 more of the gamy fish lying on the pier at the time. These 3,000 fish weighed an average of 15 pounds each. Less than five tons of the enormous catch were handled through the Redondo fish market, and the balance were carried away by amateur fishermen who flocked to the pier when it was discovered that the phenomenal school had come.

In every back yard in Redondo a group was to be seen cleaning fish yesterday, and along the streets were many of the prominent citizens with large fish dangling from their hands. Stores and shops were closed while the proprietors and clerks took an hour off and rushed down to the pier to enjoy the sport. Women left their baking, got out their husband’s tackle and hastened to the wharf.

By 8 o’clock in the morning the one pier where the yellowtail were biting was crowded with fishermen and women. The carnival lasted practically all day. The arrival of the steamship Santa Rosa in the forenoon temporarily interrupted the fishing on one side of the pier, but with the departure of the vessel a greater crowd than ever swarmed to the fishing place.

The presence of a myriad of squid about the pier was the cause of the inrush of yellowtail from the deeper water. The squid are the chief food for the larger fish, and an immense school of them had been driven close to shore. They took refuge under Pier No. 1 while the voracious yellowtail lurked about the edges of the wharf, devastating the ranks of their prey. The squid is a peculiar soft fish of a bluish color, and the school was so numerous at Redondo yesterday that it was only necessary to drop a fish hook in the water to snag them. While still alive they were fastened to the hooks, and thrown into the water to be snapped up by the waiting yellowtail. —LaPorte (Indiana) Weekly Herald, November 28, 1907
​
 
Last edited:
J

joe imbriano

New member
#3
#3
I remember a day in September 1983. I was fishing off of the west jetty at king harbor (redondo) using a splasher rig. I kept getting passes that were not like a bonito hit. They would take the fly and go straight down and after a few minutes i would have a bent mustad kirby hook. I finally changed to a fly with a more rigid 4.0 offbrand hook. After a few casts, I had the same type of hit, straight down it went. I got it close to the rocks after about 15 minutes and it was a very large yellowtail. I would estimate that is was close to 20 pounds. I was using a 12 foot sabre surf rod, the heavy duty one with a metal ferrule and a Mitchell 486 reel with 40 pound maxima. I could not for the life of me get the fish up on the rocks as it was just too heavy to hoist and I was alone with no gaff. I tried and tried and finally the hook ripped out after another 10 minutes. I casted out again, same thing. hit, deep dive and after a shorter fight it was a 5 pound yellowtail. No sooner did I remove the fish and put it in the bucket and I looked up there was a purse seiner booking towards the jetty from about 1/2 mile out heading towards a birds working. I caught another 4- 5 mid size ones after losing another large one. The bite died off after an hour or so. There is something about that spot that the yellowtail like. That is a tough jetty to fish as it gets really dangerous. I still prefer the end of the wedge. I was 16 at the time and I was out there in flip flops. I really took some chances then, especially walking back on those slippery rocks with 30 pounds of fish, my saltwater soaked hitachi getto blaster and my gear. I always put the getto blaster in the oven at the restaurant i worked at to dry out on my night shifts. That thing lasted for years. In retrospect, I wouldn't change a thing. Just not so sure at age 60 if I would brave that west swell over there even if they came back. They say that youth is wasted on the young. I wholeheartedly disagree.
 
M

MisterT

Well-Known Member
#4
#4
joe imbriano said:
I remember a day in September 1983. I was fishing off of the west jetty at king harbor (redondo) using a splasher rig. I kept getting passes that were not like a bonito hit. They would take the fly and go straight down and after a few minutes i would have a bent mustad kirby hook. I finally changed to a fly with a more rigid 4.0 offbrand hook. After a few casts, I had the same type of hit, straight down it went. I got it close to the rocks after about 15 minutes and it was a very large yellowtail. I would estimate that is was close to 20 pounds. I was using a 12 foot sabre surf rod, the heavy duty one with a metal ferrule and a Mitchell 486 reel with 40 pound maxima. I could not for the life of me get the fish up on the rocks as it was just too heavy to hoist and I was alone with no gaff. I tried and tried and finally the hook ripped out after another 10 minutes. I casted out again, same thing. hit, deep dive and after a shorter fight it was a 5 pound yellowtail. No sooner did I remove the fish and put it in the bucket and I looked up there was a purse seiner booking towards the jetty from about 1/2 mile out heading towards a birds working. I caught another 4- 5 mid size ones after losing another large one. The bite died off after an hour or so. There is something about that spot that the yellowtail like. That is a tough jetty to fish as it gets really dangerous. I still prefer the end of the wedge. I was 16 at the time and I was out there in flip flops. I really took some chances then, especially walking back on those slippery rocks with 30 pounds of fish, my saltwater soaked hitachi getto blaster and my gear. I always put the getto blaster in the oven at the restaurant i worked at to dry out on my night shifts. That thing lasted for years. In retrospect, I wouldn't change a thing. Just not so sure at age 60 if I would brave that west swell over there even if they came back. They say that youth is wasted on the young. I wholeheartedly disagree.
Click to expand...

I've been to the jetty once. It is not for everyone. Being young and reckless at a time has its benefits.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.