OUTDOOR NOTES / RICH ROBERTS : Wardens Net Prey After Tip From Vigilant Fishermen

Unlike robbery or assault, crimes against natural resources often go unreported because witnesses don’t recognize when a crime is being committed.

Charlie Davis knew right away. Davis, a longtime fishing author and manufacturer’s representative based in Westminster, was aboard his boat at Silver Canyon on the back side of Santa Catalina Island with his son Mark and friend Steve Mesner when he noticed the boat Phy Lly setting gill nets in 80 feet of water.

DeWayne Brown, a member, like Davis, of the Tuna Club, was on his boat nearby, and together they told the two men on the Phy Lly that they were in an area closed to netting. According to Davis, the men ignored them.

“We then (said) we were calling the authorities,” Davis said.

But because of their location, radio communication to the mainland was impossible. They had to wait until returning to Avalon, where Mark Davis phoned CalTip, the California Department of Fish and Game’s hotline to report such incidents. A recording told him that the DFG couldn’t afford to staff the line on weekends, but Marsha Ver Planck at the L.A. County Sheriff’s office in Avalon tracked down DFG Lt. Mark Caywood, who said he would be there from Long Beach the next morning with the Marlin patrol vessel.

The Phy Lly was still there, and Caywood and fellow warden Jerry Karnow arrested the two suspects and confiscated two 500-fathom (3,000-foot) nets, as well as the spool, which was bolted to the deck. The men were identified as Meo Doan, 49, of Oxnard, the skipper, and Tam Thanh Le, 29, of El Monte, an apparent recruit who complained of being seasick. “First time, last time,” he said.

It took from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to reel in the mile of net, which held about 5 tons of angel shark, half of which were released alive; three black sea bass, numerous halibut and a variety of other sharks and rays. The usual procedure is to sell the catch at market price. According to Caywood, Doan refused to help clean them and took a nap while Caywood, Karnow and Le cleaned fish until 10 that night. The wardens’ “day” ran 27 hours, including three hours of sleep.

Caywood described Doan as “very uncooperative.” The misdemeanor is subject to a penalty of up to $1,000 and six months in jail. It will be heard in municipal court in Avalon.

The fish were sold for $1,500--the bottom-feeding angel fish at 55 cents a pound--and the gear was estimated to be worth as much as $4,000 and probably will be auctioned off.

Under Proposition 132, Assemblywoman Doris Allen’s so-called gill-net initiative passed in November of 1990, shallow-water gill-netting will be illegal everywhere in California starting in 1994. Part of the deal is that the state will compensate any gill-netters for their equipment thus rendered useless.

Two more years and Doan could have sold his gear to the state.

The L.A. City Department of Water and Power has taken some initial steps to keep cattle out of the Eastern Sierra’s trout streams.

Commissioner Mike Gage said fences are being built on DWP land in the Chance Ranch area upstream from Hot Creek--a prime wild trout fishery near Mammoth Lakes.

As cattle ranchers watch anxiously, the DWP also has hired Bill Platts of the Idaho firm of Don Chapman and Consultants to work with ranchers on a more balanced cattle grazing program.

“We have brought in the best person available to . . . develop an appropriate plan that is site-specific, at each and every site we have,” Gage said. “This is the beginning of some changes.”

Briefly

SALTWATER FISHING--Writer and former TV fishing host Dan Hernandez is project coordinator for the Department of Fish and Game’s first Free Fishing Day targeting beginning saltwater anglers Saturday, June 6, at the Redondo Pier. No licenses will be required for fishing throughout the state that day. The Redondo program is limited to 125 people, who will be loaned all the necessary equipment. The only charge will be for transportation to the barge--$12 adults, $10 children under 12. Reservations: (310) 372-2111. . . . A free seminar about albacore fishing and migrations is scheduled Thursday night, 7 o’clock, at “A Place to Meet,” Ingraham St. and Perez Cove Way in San Diego, sponsored by the Fisheries Committee of the San Diego Oceans Foundation.

FRESHWATER FISHING--The DFG has lost the first 80,000 eggs from this year’s golden trout spawning program. It was discovered Monday that someone released 200 female brooders from two live, trail-side traps on a tributary of the Cottonwood Lakes in the Eastern Sierra back country. The DFG still hopes to get 420,000 eggs from other broodstock in the next three weeks. . . . The public is invited to enter the Mammoth Lakes Summer trout Derby Sunday, June 14. A Kids’ Fishing Festival is scheduled June 13. Details: (800) 367-6572. . . . The 24-hour Troutline for information on the Rocky Mountain area is operating on (900) 622-TROUT. Cost: $1.95 a minute.

NOTEWORTHY--The American Lung Assn.’s fifth annual Catalina Clean-Air Cycling Challenge for mountain bikes is Friday through Sunday. Details: (213) 935-LUNG, (714) 640-LUNG and (818) 797-LUNG. . . . Snake Break ‘92, sponsored by the Riverside Chapter of Quail Unlimited to “snake-proof” field dogs, is June 6-7 at Raahauge’s Shotgun Sports complex in Norco. Details: (714) 735-0136. . . . The Northeast Orange County chapter of Ducks Unlimited will have its 12th annual fundraiser/dinner at Los Coyotes Country Club in Buena Park June 10. Tickets are $50. Details: (714) 738-5853. . . . The fifth annual Whitewater Wednesday Rafting Jamboree scheduled by the Kernville Chamber of Commerce is June 17. Cost: $15. Age minimum is 8. Reservations: (619) 376-2629.

FLY-FISHING--A six-week beginners’ series starts tonight at the East Fork Fly Fishing Store in Irvine. Each session will cost $10, except for the one on fishing local waters ($20). Details: (714) 724-8840. . . . Bob Lowens presents a free seminar on local surf fishing Saturday, June 6, 1 p.m. at the East Fork Fly Fishing Store in Irvine. Details: (714) 724-8840. . . . Author, fly tyer and instructor Gary Borger will give two seminars Saturday, June 13, 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., at the Pasadena Casting Club. Cost: $20 each seminar. Reservations: (310) 544-5551.

BAJA--Cabo San Lucas: John Petrelli, Mesa, Ariz., landed a 422-pound blue marlin. Five boats reported 13 billfish, including six blues. East Cape: Tuna, marlin, sailfish and dorado active. William Tallion, Thousand Oaks, fishing out of Hotel Palmas de Cortez, caught a 100-pound tuna on live mackerel, along with 40 tuna, three striped marlin and 10 dorado in three days. Boats taking 5-10 tuna per trip. A 450-pound marlin was reported from Hotel Punta Colorada. Loreto: Excellent for cabrilla bass, red snapper and pargo. Mazatlan: Sailfish best.