Torrance spearfisherman nabs 66-pound white seabass

Corey Fujita was nearly spooled as the 66-pound white seabass he speared recently sprinted into the distant haze and ultimately into the kelp forest.

But the Torrance fisherman, who frequently spear-hunts with friends off the Palos Verdes Peninsula, activated a CO2 float, released his gun and followed his line toward the massive croaker, which he carefully cut from the seaweed and brought to the surface.

With the spring seabass at hand, and hook-and-line anglers waiting for the finicky fish to begin their sporadic surface frenzies, Philip Friedman chose a timely period to feature Fujita's exploits in his weekly Daily Breeze article.

Fujita's catch is noteworthy also because there remains a movement to close Rocky Point off Palos Verdes as part of the Marine Life Protection Act process.

Anglers and spearfishermen, of course, support the KeepRockyPointOpen.com movement. As made clear in Friedman's article, Fujita was not wasteful but selective in making this very impressive catch.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo of Corey Fujita courtesy of Corey Fujita