Algae bloom slows marlin fishing

JIM NIEMIEC

Water temperatures in mid-channel waters dropped a couple of degrees

this past week and when the algae bloom moved in around Catalina

Island, spinning ribbons out in the channel, it all but shut down

marlin fishing for private boaters and tournament action.

Rosie Cadman called in from her cafe on the end of the Avalon pier

to report that anglers competing in the annual Rosie’s Marlin

Tournament weighed in only two fish, but added that more than $80,000

was paid out in cash and tackle awards. Taking first place in the

tournament was Bob Osborne from Mission Viejo who landed a striped

marlin weighing 198.5 pounds, fishing aboard his yacht Ozzy. The big

marlin was hooked off San Clemente Island with captain Jeff Foreman

at the helm. Second-place honors went to veteran big game angler Bill

Miyagawa of Oceanside, fishing on the Gambler with captain Bill

Peckham in the wheelhouse.

Conditions for marlin fishing don’t look very promising for

tournaments running into this week. The Master’s Tournament began

Friday, the Zane Gray/ Cabo Yachts Tournament began out of Avalon on

Monday and run through Wednesday, the Los Pescadores Marlin

Tournament will take place Friday and Saturday, followed by the

Catalina Billfish Classic, set for Sept. 22-23, with more than 600

anglers expected to compete in Avalon. For details on upcoming

saltwater fishing events, contact the Balboa Angling Club at (949)

673-6316 and for information on the Billfish Classic call

International Gamefish Tournaments at (714) 258-0445.

*

Diamond Valley Lake, the jewel of Southland fresh-water lakes,

will open to the general public on Oct. 3. The lake has been under

construction by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern

California for five years. The lake is currently only 30 feet below

its projected high-maintenance level. With more than 26 miles of

shoreline and depths to 260 feet, this lake will offer anglers a huge

body of water to fish.

A fisheries program for the lake, under the supervision of

Department of Fish and Game chief biologist Mike Giusti, will provide

tremendous fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass, striped bass,

channel and blue catfish, as well as panfish. During the cooler

months, a stocking program of rainbow trout is projected for the lake

that will include catchable rainbows and regular stockings of trout

for an ongoing trophy trout fishery.

Fishing the lake with Giusti for a few hours showed its potential

and I was then treated to a tour of the master plan for this

recreation area and newly created reserve that will encompass nearly

13,000 acres. The huge lake is lined with natural rocks and the water

is crystal clear.

A paved launch ramp will provide easy access for outdoor families

looking to enjoy a day of fishing on Diamond Valley Lake. There will

be a rental fleet of bass and pontoon boats and limited shore

fishing. A 25-mph speed limit has been established for the lake to

prohibit speed boats and other water craft from disturbing the

tranquil setting.

All reservations for opening week have been taken, but the lake

will be open seven days a week. From most anywhere in Orange County

it’s only a 90-minute drive to the lake entrance. The fees for the

lake are well within most budgets: $5 for a reservation, $7 entrance

fee per vehicle, $6 for a private boat launch and only $3 per angler

for a daily fishing permit.

In the near future, overnight campgrounds will be built below the

west dam and a hiking trail will wind around the scenic mountains

surrounding the 4,500-acre lake. For information on Diamond Valley

Lake call (800) 590-5253 or visit www.dvmarina.com.

*

The South Coast Chapter of Trout Unlimited will hold a membership

meeting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at His and Hers Fly Fishing Shop,

located on Old Newport Blvd. in Newport Beach. The meeting of avid

fly fishermen and conservation-minded outdoors people will cover the

San Mateo Creek drainage where work will begin to return native

Southern California steelhead to this important creek.

Also at the meeting, the chairman of the First Cast committee will

be looking for volunteers to work with youngsters on conservation

projects and casting instruction. Also highlighting the morning event

will be a presentation by Jeff Brinkman, Southern California

Watershed Coordinator for the Sake of the Salmon foundation. For

details, call the fly shop at (949) 548-9449.