FISHING / DAN STANTON : Anglers Discovered That Holiday Fishing Was a Labor of Love

The Labor Day weekend was anything but a holiday for area anglers, who were kept busy with some of the best fishing of the season.

Bruce Root and his brother, Richard, launched their 17-foot skiff at Cabrillo Beach on Monday and started toward Catalina Island in search of marlin. A stop at a kelp paddy in mid-channel provided the San Pedro anglers with enough small mackerel to fill their bait tank.

When they resumed their trip, they spotted four marlin feeding on the surface. Bruce Root quickly baited his hook with a mackerel and cast toward the fish. Moments later, he had hooked a marlin.

Because the fish would spoil the reel of the 40-pound test line, Richard, who was running the outboard motor, directed the boat toward the fish.

After four hours of pumping and reeling, Bruce brought the fish to the skiff. The only way the marlin could be brought aboard was to tie a rope around it and haul it onto the deck.

With the seven-foot fish lashed to the deck, the brothers returned to San Pedro. The marlin weighed 175 pounds.

It was a dream come true for Bruce, 37, who said he has been trying to catch a marlin for more than 11 years.

Overnight boats that were on two-day trips to the Cortez Bank returned Monday with catches of bluefin tuna.

Three-quarter day boats worked offshore of Catalina. Anglers caught yellowtail by using small mackerel for bait.

Redondo Sport Fishing’s Blackjack had a successful trip to the Tanner Bank. Redondo fisherman Mike Shaw caught a 35-pound bluefin to win the jackpot.

The 22nd Street Landing boat Islander returned from the Cortez Bank with 245 bluefin and 45 yellowtail.

The Los Angeles Harbor boat Shogun returned from the Cortez Bank with some impressive catches, including two bluefin and a yellowtail.

Steve Oba of West Los Angeles caught a 42 1/2-pound bluefin and Hanin Kwamuro of Gardena had a 38 1/2-pounder. Scott Urabomo of Torrance caught the trip’s largest yellowtail--a 39 1/2-pounder.

L.A. Harbor’s First String returned Tuesday morning from a trip to the Cortez Bank with 73 bluefin. Clark Bell of San Pedro caught a 40-pounder.

Long Beach Sportfishing’s Toronado returned Monday from an overnight trip offshore of San Clemente Island with 55 yellowfin. Roger Butler of Long Beach won the jackpot with a 29-pounder.

Catches of note: Dave Shoren of Hermosa Beach caught a 145-pound marlin near the Osborne Bank.

Mark Bray of Avalon caught a 120-pound 5-ounce marlin at Church Rock.

Rosie Cadman reports that 119 marlin have been brought to the Avalon scale. Cadman said that seven marlin were tagged and released during the holiday weekend.

Chad Daniels of Redondo Beach returned from a trip to San Quintin in Mexico. He reports catching 11 dorado and six skipjack.

Local update: The rigs to Rocky Point have been good for yellowtail, but anglers have been battling sea lions that have been slashing at the fish. Only one out of five fish have been reeled in without damage.

The 10th annual Marina del Rey vs. King Harbor Marlin Club marlin tournament will be held Friday and Saturday. Forty boats are expected to participate.

Island update: The west end of Catalina has been the hot spot foryellowtail and bonito. Catches of barracuda have declined off both ends of the island’s fishing grounds.

South Bay catches: Marc Dodell of Manhattan Beach, aboard the Blackjack at Osborne Bank, caught the whopper of the week--a 47 1/2-pound bluefin.

Hazel Uyemore of Gardena, aboard the Daiwa at Tanner Bank, caught a 38-pound dorado.

John Kaheaku of Gardena, aboard the Redondo Special at Rocky Point, pulled a 37-pound yellowtail from the kelp.

Chuck Garabedian of Santa Monica, aboard the Del Mar at Rocky Point, caught a 33-pound yellowtail.

Walter Ouderkoff of Gardena, aboard the Hitless Miss at the Rock Pile, caught a 31 1/4-pound yellowtail.