Marlin Catch Rivals Very Good Tuna Bite
The local tuna bite may be getting most of the attention, but marlin are beginning to make a pretty big splash of their own.
The count at Avalon Seafood, the official weigh station on Santa Catalina Island, is only 87. But weighmaster Rosie Cadman said that’s because the season got off to a slow start.
“Eighty-seven is not good [for this time of year], but it’s good considering the way it started out,” she said. “We had cold water into July and the fish just did not pop. Now my stick boats [swordfish harpooners] say they are seeing fish all over the place. One guy said he saw 100 in a single school. They saw them off the west end of Catalina, the east end, [San] Clemente [Island]. One guy, who’s a pilot, said he saw 400 marlin in the past two weeks.”
Cadman added that, given the time of year, the effort, with the exception of three recent tournaments, has been fairly light. But she weighed in four marlin Sunday, including a 177-pounder caught by Jim Pinkman of Long Beach, fishing aboard the May Scott at the Mackerel Bank near San Clemente Island.
The largest this year was a 235-pounder caught by Bill Foose on the boat Friendship on Sept. 19.
Cadman said thick fog hampered any effort Monday and Tuesday.
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As for the tuna, the San Diego fleet is getting excellent results 50-70 miles south of the border, and the Los Angeles Harbor fleet is reporting good catches as close as 40 miles offshore.
The First String had 26 yellowfin on board when contacted at midday Tuesday. The fish are averaging 20-25 pounds, but a 41-pounder was caught Saturday at 60-mile bank.
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Eastern Sierra fishermen know what Alpers trout are--those giant rainbows grown on the Owens River ranch of Tim Alpers and planted in lakes and streams throughout the region.
On Sunday, Southland anglers will be able to learn about the fish as about 500 pounds of them, from two to five pounds, will be stocked in Green Valley Lake, nestled in the San Bernardino Mountains at about 7,200 feet.
Concessionaire Robert Taylor said the stocking will take place late Saturday afternoon and added that if the experiment is a success, there will be more plants.
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Good prospects are predicted for special pheasant hunts this fall at the state-operated Imperial Wildlife Area and San Jacinto Wildlife Area.
There will be four Monday hunts at the 7,292-acre Imperial Wildlife Area, beginning Nov. 13. Participants will be selected by random drawings Nov. 1.
To enter, include up to four hunters’ names and license numbers, a single contact and telephone number, and the requested date on a standard postcard. Mail the cards to Imperial Pheasant Hunt, Department of Fish and Game, 330 Golden Shore Blvd., #50, Long Beach, Calif., 90802. Postcards must be received by 5 p.m. Oct. 31.
To enter the San Jacinto hunt in Riverside County, hunters have to obtain a 1995-96 Application for Waterfowl Reservation-Type A Area card from a sporting goods store to choose Wednesday or Saturday hunts.
Punch out and circle in ink the San Jacinto Pheasant area choice and the month and date for a selected hunt, attach a $1.05 Waterfowl Application stamp and mail to the DFG Sacramento address indicated on the card. The cards must be submitted at least 10 days before the hunt date selected.
Successful applicants will be notified by mail.
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Gary LaFontaine, a noted author, fly-tier and fisherman, is making the rounds of Southland fly-fishing clubs. He will speak to the Downey Fly Fishers Tuesday night at Rio San Gabriel Park, and the Pasadena Casting Club on Oct. 12 at the Masonic Temple. Details: the Downey event, (310) 425-7936, the Pasadena event, (213) 667-7510.
