“The year ‘round mainstay is rockfish. Seabass start kicking off in the spring and then we start seeing yellowtail, halibut and barracuda,” Island Diver skipper Taras Poznik said. Poznik, 39, may have has as much experience fishing in the Santa Monica Bay as anyone alive.

He grew up at the beach surf fishing, spear fishing and working as a deckhand on Redondo Sportfishing’s overnight Blackjack. When he was old enough to get a captain’s license he began skippering Redondo Sportfishing’s Tradition and Redondo Special. Last winter, Dive N’ Surf picked Poznik to skipper Island Diver, the dive shop’s newly acquired 36-foot former Navy, Vietnam river boat. Island Diver runs both dive and fishing charters.

For non charter fishing, Taras recommended Redondo Sportfishing, next to Molly’s on the Pier. Their half day boat runs between Palos Verdes and Santa Monica. Their three-quarter day boat goes as far north as Malibu and west to Catalina, where tuna and dorado “are a possibility,” Poznik said. Their boat is equipped with marine engine mounts and can fit up to 5 people.

For the athletic, Poznik suggested spearfishing. He recently speared a 60.5 pound white seabass in the kelp beds off of Palos Verdes. Corbina in the one- to five-pound range can be speared off any of the local beaches, he said.

Surf fishing is another local option. In the winter there’s barred surf perch, in the spring croaker and in summer corbina, halibut and the occasional exotic fish. Poznik’s friend Chris “Rooster” Rae reeled in an 18.5 pound striped bass last month in El Porto.

There is also a small fly fishing community in the South Bay, but even more so than fishing with bait, fly fishing is more fishing than catching, Poznik said.

The Hermosa, Manhattan and Redondo piers, Poznik said offer plentiful perch, as well as halibut, bat rays and thresher sharks. The great whites that frequent the Manhattan and Hermosa piers are illegal to catch.

Fishing from public piers does not require a fishing license. Surf fishing and boats do. Fishing licenses are available locally at Dive N’ Surf  and Redondo Sportfishing.

Fishing by boat

Redondo Sportfishing

Redondo Special, 1/2 day. Departs 7:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Adults $40, under 12 $35.

The Indian, 3/4 day. Departs 6:30 a.m. Adults $65 Seniors, military, under 12 $55.

233 N. Harbor Drive (next to Polly’s on the Pier), Redondo Beach. RedondoSportFishing.com.

Island Diver

Charters only. Porto Fino Marina. Contact Tony@divensurf.com. Or call (310) 372-8423

Spear Fishing

Dive N’ Surf

Gear and SCUBA certification.

504 N. Broadway Ave., Redondo Beach.

Dive NSurf.com

Freedive N Spear

Freedive classes and gear