Warm waters lead to good fishing

Ahoy.

I have been cruising to Catalina, and all the crossings have been

pleasant, with flat seas, meaning that no one is hanging over the

rail chumming up their breakfast.

Yesterday, the ocean water temperature was 73 degrees, comfortable

for swimming and bringing huge sunfish into the area, plus flying

fish close in to the island. We watched dolphins in small pods and

some numbering in the hundreds. These mammals were jumping, flipping,

swimming all around the boat and surfing our wake giving us great

shows.

The warm water should be good news to those who fish. I did see a

couple of boats trolling off the island, but I do not know what they

were hoping to hook up, and a swordfish boat was circling.

Newport did lose one popular six-pack fishing company this summer,

as Capt. John McCarty relocated his renowned fishing boat Fin Fever,

a Pacifica 44-footer, from Newport to Mission Bay. Passenger boarding

fees, boarding locations, parking and being closer to better fishing

grounds prompted his decision to move south. Looking to the north,

sadly, Morro Bay has been hurt in its fishing and tourism industry by

the rockfish fishing ban put in place the first of the year.

I did have a nice surprise crossing back into California from

Mexico. John Hammond, captain of a local charter boat, and I

delivered a new Carver from Bayport Yachts to the Hotel Coral Marina

in Ensenada last week. We had a smooth cruise downhill, but south of

the Coronado Islands, we did feel a few large groundswells rock us

from our starboard quarter.

Once on land, we immediately began the run for the border, which

is an adventure to get back to Newport. Our travels included a wide

taxicab ride to the border, a walk through the border inspection

station, catching the trolley to the Union Station, catching the

train to Irvine, and finally, my wife meeting us at the train to

drive us the rest of the way home.

A major delay you have been hearing me grumble about is the futile

increased wait time at the border inspection since Sept. 11. Well,

either our timing was perfect or the border inspectors have

streamlined the checkpoint, but we waited only 15 minutes versus the

one to three hours I normally endure to show my identification as a

U.S. citizen.

We did encounter a crossing situation with a submarine as we were

off Point Loma. The sub was heading out to sea when they changed

course, passing us to our stern at a one-mile radius.

TIP OF THE WEEK

To continue trying to educate every boater to make safe passage

through the harbor, especially with the hundreds of sailboats in the

summer classes and races, I want to remind everyone that the harbor

is open to everyone. So technically, no person or group can block any

portion of navigable waters unless granted a special event permit by

the U.S. Coast Guard.

With that said, I have noticed that sailing programs are making an

effort to leave room between their buoys and the shore for “sea room”

passage. However, in a few instances I have been blocked, it hasn’t

been by the sailors, but by the committee or spectator boats drifting

outside the course and sitting idle in the passage lanes.

Boaters cruising through the harbor can try to avoid the sailing

courses by planning a course outside of the markers. Please watch for

the beginner sailor who may lose control and drift in front of your

vessel. Sometimes, it is impossible to avoid the fleet such as the

Beer Can Races, and then everyone needs to be courteous, as

prescribed by the inland right-of-way rules, not the racing rules.

No one needs to wave and yell for the other boat to move.

Importantly, watch your language, as there are kids on the water.

Everybody should stay calm and try to get the vessel through the

fleet without tempers flaring.

Seamanship and good sportsmanship are what we need to be

instilling as boaters, and we need to set the example for the youth

who are learning from your example.

Safe voyages.

* MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating and harbor columnist. Send

him your harbor and marine-related thoughts and story suggestions by

e-mail to mike@boathousetv.com or visit boathousetv.com.