Marina Del Rey Anglers Welcome New Batch of Juvenile White Seabass

The Log / Log Staff 

November 20, 2025

By Derrek Stewart

Editor’s Note: This article was written and provided by Derrek Stewart, Vice President of MDRA and Chair of the MDRA Media, Marketing, and Public Relations Committee, and was submitted to The Log for publication.

Another White Seabass Grow-Out Program Milestone

In our unwavering spirit of conservation, the dedicated Marina Del Rey Anglers (MDRA) have once again demonstrated our dedication to marine conservation. The organization received a substantial batch of Juvenile White Seabass (WSB), approximately 3900, on November 4th and 5th for their ongoing grow-out program. This significant number is a testament to our commitment to sustaining Southern California’s marine ecosystem.

The MDRA WSB grow-out program is not just a local effort, but a collaborative one with a renowned partner, the Hubbs Seaworld Research Institute, located in San Diego, CA. Victor Bach Munoz, Hubbs’ Grow Facility Coordinator, and assistant Rex Shettlesworth, play a crucial role in this partnership, delivering the young WSB from the institute in specialty-trailered water tanks to the MDRA grow-out pens located adjacent to Burton Chace Park in Marina Del Rey Harbor.

White Seabass Conservation Efforts

Under the leadership of Keith Moret, the MDRA Conservation Chair, a dedicated group of volunteers, known as Pen Pals, work tirelessly to support the preservation of WSB in the Santa Monica Bay region. Their work, which includes receiving the fish, maintaining the rearing pens, safeguarding the WSB from predators, providing consistent feeding, recording crucial data, and releasing the fish into the ocean, is crucial to the ongoing success of this conservation initiative.

The process involves nurturing the WSB for approximately five to six months, during which the fish receive meticulous care and attention, growing to a size of eight to twelve inches. This significant growth enhances their chances of survival once they’re released into their natural habitat in the Santa Monica Bay. This period of careful management and protection is a testament to a commitment to the long-term sustainability of Southern California’s WSB population.

When it is time for the release, the experienced staff from Hubbs returns to work in close collaboration with the MDRA team, including the Betty-O release vessel, captained by owners Mike and Patty Reinsch. Hubbs personnel coordinate, supervise, and assist with the final steps of releasing the WSB into the wild, ensuring a safe and efficient process. The partnership between MDRA volunteers, the Betty-O crew, and Hubbs staff exemplifies the power of community involvement and professional guidance in achieving conservation goals.

A Vast Network

From San Diego to Santa Barbara, including Santa Catalina Island, there are thirteen Southern California coastal WSB grow-out facilities. These grow-out bases are part of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Ocean Resources Enhancement and Hatchery Program (OREHP), ensuring a prolific WSB conservation effort throughout the region’s coast. The Marina Del Rey Anglers Fishing Club, with its core value of conservation, plays a significant role in these efforts and is grateful for the support of each agency involved, including the generous backing of the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors.

Beyond the Release, Angler Participation

At the Hubbs Institute, each WSB has a Coded Wire Tag implanted into its jaw. Each tag has a serial number that identifies the specific WSB group, its feeding program, the grow-out facility to which a particular group is delivered, and the method of release into its natural environment.  Anglers who catch and harvest a legal-sized White Seabass, 28 inches minimum, are encouraged to save the head for Hubbs and report the catch location. There are convenient WSB head drop-off freezer facilities located throughout Southern California marinas.

These angler actions directly contribute to the research data. Researchers perform genetic testing and scan for implanted tags. The tags provide research information indicating the grow-out site, migration, and the age of the fish. Data from the collected heads is crucial for the program to assess its overall success and make improvements to release strategies.

The records indicate that the MDRA grow-out program has an extremely high rate of returned tags. It’s not scientifically fully understood why the Marina Del Rey Anglers WSB Program produces its stellar results. However, spend some time with this group of devoted conservationists and experience our passion for thriving aquaculture, our stewardship of California’s marine ecosystem, the source of our beloved American pastime: recreational angling, and you’ll begin to understand why.