BY BOB SEMERAU
VENTURA —After a false start two weeks earlier due to weather, the bell rang at last and everyone came out swinging, ready to fight. Three boats filled with excited anglers left the docks of Ventura Harbor Sportfishing at just after 5:00 a.m. The contenders then spread out over smooth waters and under beautiful, clear skies, marking the opening round of the WON 2026 Ventura Harbor Sportfishing Rockfish Rumble.
Action got swinging a couple of hours later when the 55-foot sportfisher, Pacific Eagle, began drifts outside of Santa Cruz Island at a special spot of Captain Mike Ming.
Big reds, legal lingcod, and one huge sheephead hit the deck when KO’d by anglers aboard Pacific Eagle Continuing to fill sacks, Captain Ming made moves around “the ring” looking to land a haymaker punch with even bigger fish. Pacific Eagle. anglers Luis Tejeda, Will Smith, and Julian Venegas, beat down fish that made the after action weigh-in. Venegas’ 4.9-pound sheephead put the angler in second place on the podium.
In the 2026 WON Rockfish Rumble, everyone was a winner because WON and tournament sponsors piled on the swag for the Rockfish Rumble, raffle. All participants received goodie bags filled with 275-yard spools of Izorline First String monofilament, Gamakatsu hooks and buff, P-Line Laser Minnow jig, and a certificate for a discounted Orlando vacation. Contenders also received passes for the upcoming, May 1-3, West Coast Outdoors and Sportfishing Expo, to be held at the Ventura Fairgrounds. Madame Lure softbaits were given out aboard each competing boat.
Aftco gift cards valued at $50.00, zillions of Madame Lure softbaits, three pair of Costa Sunglasses ($250 each), two Penn Fathom reels ($350 each), six P-Line Adaro pliers ($50 each) Gamakatsu hook packs, High Seas mono, Berkely ProSpec Chrome350-yard mono spools, Plano Stowaway tackle boxes, and hats from Accurate, made up the stash of swag for the heavily attended raffle.
The battle was fierce for top honors and a share of $670.00 cash and a load of prizes to be one of three anglers with heaviest rockfish brought to the scales.
Flashes of excitement filled the air when ling cod and reds took a hit aboard Island Spirit. Captain Timmy Paredes, skipper of the 65-footer, opted to head up the inside coastline of ancient Santa Cruz Island, then move out to his own special spots in the “gap”, finishing the fight in deeper water at the last bell. The constant dance around “the ring” not only filed sacks but gave Island Spirit angler, Jesse Ramos the winning 6.7-pound ling. While working the rail aboard Island Spirit frequent WON Charter guy, Ray Mitchell, punched out the third place fish, a nifty 4-pound ling cod of his own, according to WON associate Robert Groeber, reporting from the decks of Island Spirit.
Madame Lure owner Matt Strang spent the day fishing aboard Californian, helping folks to fish the softbaits lures he brought along. The sacks got filled with ling, reds, whitefish and assorted rockfish, however two fish fought their way to the weigh-in. Decked by anglers Bailey Perez and Adam Cassilas, the pair of ling did not make the weight for a spot on the podium but earned a cheer from the attending crowd.
Winners announced, raffle prizes won, and with the day finishing up, anglers headed home, swag and bags of fillets in hand. Several anglers agreed they would be coming out for the Channel Islands Shootout slated for July 9, 2026, when the docks at Ventura Harbor Sportfishing will be filled with anglers competing for prizes and cash once again.
WON-Ventura Harbor Sportfishing 2026 Rockfish Rumble Final Standings
First Place Island Spirit Jesse Ramos 6.7-pound ling cod
$330.00 cash, assorted prizes
Second Place Pacific Eagle Julian Venegas 4.9-pound sheephead
Prize Package: $240.00 cash, assorted prizes
Third Place Island Spirit Ray Mitchell 4.0-pound ling cod
Prize Package: $100.00 cash, assorted prizes
Contact:
Ventura Harbor Sportfishing (805) 676-3474 www.venturasportfishing.com
1500 Anchors Way Drive, Ventura, CA 93001