OUTDOOR NOTES : First Four Hunters Bag Bighorn Sheep

Four of five hunters drawn by lottery have been successful in taking desert bighorn sheep in the Eastern Mojave Desert since the limited two-week hunt started Dec. 1. Another hunter who bid $37,000 for the privilege of an exclusive hunt shot his ram earlier.

The last hunter may hunt until Sunday night.

The California Department of Fish and Game reported that as in the past three years since bighorn hunting was permitted in the state, there have been protesters from the Hunt Saboteurs and Earth First! attempting to interfere.

No confrontations with hunters were reported, but two protesters were cited by DFG wardens for the illegal possession of non-game bird parts, including owl feathers.

An attempt to set a California record of 110 skydivers in a single formation missed by one “grip” at Perris last weekend, according to organizers.

Near sunset Sunday, on the last of seven attempts over two days, the skydivers jumped from five planes at 14,500 feet, but the last diver was able to connect with only one hand before the formation had to be abandoned. The record will be considered “unofficial” at 109 because it fell short of its goal. Earlier attempts on the weekend linked up as many as 108.

The attempts were hindered when one of the planes carrying skydivers lost power in one engine on takeoff at an altitude of 50 feet and pilot Ron McElroy of California City crash-landed through a fence and into trees. McElroy suffered minor scrapes on his legs and skydiver Steve Rahm of Perris, an instructor at the skydiving school, complained of back pain but was treated at a local hospital and released.

The plane’s owner grounded that plane and another he owned, but two more were acquired to continue the attempts.

Vince Castiglione of Lomita used a unique method to catch a 35-pound king salmon on the Elk River in Oregon, but he wouldn’t recommend it.

Castiglione was in a drift boat with guide Sam Waller early one morning this month when the fish took his anchovie. But he set the hook with such force that his graphite rod shattered, sending pieces flying into a nearby boat and leaving Castiglione holding a six-inch stump with the reel attached.

For the next half-hour, as Waller maneuvered the boat, Castiglione played the fish by holding the reel in his hands.

He finally worked the fish close enough to the boat for Waller to net it on his third try, drawing applause from eight people watching from the beach.

Briefly

DEEP SEA FISHING--San Diego long-range boats continue to report impressive catches of wahoo, but only fair numbers of yellowfin tuna from the Revillagigedo Islands. The Red Rooster III, out of Lee Palm Sportfishing, returned Monday, its 16 anglers accounting for 310 wahoo and 145 yellowfin. Best fish: a 208-pound yellowfin taken by Alan Eto of Los Angeles.

Medium-range boats are concentrating on the islands off the Baja peninsula, where yellowtail and bass are providing most of the action. Gary Vanderlyke of Escondido, fishing aboard the American Angler out of Point Loma Sportfishing, took a 33 1/2-pound yellowtail.

Locally, some party boats continue to scratch for yellowtail and white seabass at the Channel Islands but the consistent catches have come on the bottom for rock cod and rockfish. Big fish: a 22-pound sheephead taken at Santa Barbara Island by Rod Cargill of Long Beach aboard the New Image out of 22nd Street Landing.

SURF FISHING--The unseasonal presence of corbina seen feeding in the surf has some fishermen pulling their ultra-light gear from the closet. A Santa Monica angler reported taking a three-pounder on a sand crab and “seeing dozens” at Will Rogers State Beach. Bob Wylie, of Wylies Bait & Tackle in Malibu: “They’re around all year, they just don’t feed all year. But they’re all up and down the coast right now. I had one fellow who brought in his limits of barred perch and three corbina on Sunday. The largest corbina was a 3-1 and the largest perch was a two-pounder.” Wylie said the best bait for both species has been hard-shell sand crabs.

FRESHWATER FISHING--The DFG says fishing for kokanee salmon at Bullards Bar Reservoir in northern California’s Yuba County has been good recently. Kokanee are stocked in the reservoir as fingerlings each year that eggs can be obtained and hatched successfully. Limits of the 12-to-14-inch fish are being taken consistently in the top 30 feet of the reservoir.

The schooling kokanee are usually taken with a slow troll using flashers, an in-line snubber and a bright terminal lure. Areas to fish include the North Fork Yuba arm of the lake, the mouth of Willow Creek, or the deep water off the dam.

Bullards Bar is located off California 49, about 30 minutes north of Nevada City and about two hours from Sacramento. Boat launching facilities and campgrounds are available.

FLY-FISHING--The Pasadena Casting Club’s annual six-week fly-tying course will start Jan. 8 at the clubhouse in the arroyo. A $40-fee will cover the cost of materials, but students must provide tools. Classes will be held each Tuesday from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Details: (818) 845-7119. . . . The East Fork Fly Fishing Store has moved to 17985 Sky Park Circle, Suite F, in Irvine (near Main St. and Redhill).

HUNTING--The state bear hunt will close Dec. 30--probably with a take far below the average of 1,245 before the ’89 hunt was stopped by a legal challenge. Through last weekend only 8,548 of the 15,000 available tags had been sold and only 756 had been validated. The kill quota is 1,250.

“It’s not because there aren’t plenty of bears out there,” said Ken Mayer, wildlife coordinator for the Department of Fish and Game in Sacramento. “Hunters are just enjoying pursuing and treeing the bears, without killing them.”

Duck hunters continue to do well at the San Diego lakes. Twelve hunters at Barrett bagged 27, while 51 at Otay got 108, with 18 limits. At Sutherland, six hunters got seven ducks. . . . Limited acorn forage because of the drought has impaired band-tailed pigeon hunting in Southern California.