All three people aboard made it safely off the commercial fishing vessel, but the loss has left owner Tyler Mostajo without the boat and equipment at the center of his livelihood.
A commercial bait boat familiar to Southern California’s fishing community is gone after the Linda C struck the Los Angeles breakwall and sank near the entrance to the Port of Los Angeles on Sept. 20.
Most importantly, everyone aboard survived.
The U.S. Coast Guard reported the approximately 35-foot commercial fishing vessel sank near the Los Angeles Main Channel entrance. A safety zone was established around the wreck as authorities began addressing navigation and salvage concerns. The vessel came to rest in approximately 75 feet of charted water, about 81 yards northwest of Los Angeles Entrance Light 8.
The loss, however, extends beyond the boat itself. The Linda C was part of a commercial bait fishing operation owned by 25-year-old Tyler Mostajo, who had spent years building a career on the water.
According to a fundraiser organized by April Dahle on Mostajo’s behalf, Mostajo was one of three men rescued from the vessel. The fundraiser describes the Linda C as the heart of his commercial bait fishing business and says the boat, fishing equipment and tools aboard were lost when it sank.
Mostajo has worked in commercial fishing since 2016, beginning in Alaska before eventually building his own business, according to the fundraiser. Owning and operating a commercial fishing vessel had been a goal he worked toward for years, making the sudden loss not only a financial setback but the loss of the platform that allowed him and his employees to earn their living.
The Linda C also appears to have developed a following among Southern California fishermen who depended on the operation for bait. Following the sinking, comments posted to the vessel’s Instagram account came from sportfishing operations, captains and individual anglers expressing concern for the crew and the future of the bait operation.
In an update posted after the accident, the Linda C account said everyone had made it off safely and described the incident as a reminder of how quickly conditions on the water can change. The post also acknowledged that much of the operation’s equipment had been lost.
That response from the fishing community highlights the often-overlooked role commercial bait boats play in Southern California sportfishing. Before an angler can pin an anchovy or sardine onto a hook, an entire network is working behind the scenes to locate, catch, hold and distribute healthy live bait. Bait boats are one part of that system, supplying the bait receivers and fishing operations that recreational anglers encounter throughout the region.
The loss of one vessel can therefore reach beyond its owner and crew, particularly when bait availability is already an important part of the local fishing equation.
Federal officials have also been monitoring the wreck for potential environmental concerns. NOAA reported Sept. 22 that the Coast Guard contacted its Scientific Support Coordinator regarding the Linda C. According to NOAA, the owner reported approximately 30 gallons of diesel aboard, although the vessel had a maximum fuel capacity of 300 gallons, along with about 10 gallons of hydraulic fluid. At the time of NOAA’s report, no sheen or signs of a discharge had been observed.
The Coast Guard established an 800-yard safety zone around the sunken vessel while salvage operations were underway and advised mariners in the area to maintain a sharp lookout and transit with caution.
The cause and circumstances leading up to the accident have not been fully detailed in the information currently available. NOAA’s incident report states that the vessel struck the Los Angeles breakwall before sinking, but additional conclusions about how or why the collision occurred should await information from investigating authorities.
Meanwhile, attention within the fishing community has turned toward helping Mostajo rebuild.
The fundraiser states that insurance coverage was still being reviewed and that it remained unclear how much of the loss would ultimately be covered. Money raised is intended to help replace essential fishing equipment, offset lost income and begin rebuilding the commercial fishing business.
For Mostajo and his crew, that process will take time. A working commercial fishing boat represents far more than a hull and engine. Nets, tools, electronics and other specialized equipment are part of the operation, and replacing a vessel does not immediately replace the business that had been built around it.
Still, the most important part of the story came before any discussion of boats, bait or equipment: three people went into an emergency on the water and made it home safely.
The Linda C may be gone, but the response following its sinking shows how deeply even a relatively small working boat can become woven into Southern California’s fishing community. For the anglers and businesses that knew the boat from the bait side of the industry, the hope now is that Mostajo’s operation will eventually find its way back onto the water.
