Marlin season kicks into high gear

JIM NIEMIEC

Timing could not be any better for marlin tournaments being hosted

out of Avalon harbor for private yachts. The water temperature in the

channel has moved up a couple of degrees and a good bite on striped

marlin occurred along the trench off La Jolla earlier this week. Most

action was from blind strikes on fast trolled lures in spots of water

that ranged between 72 and 73.5 degrees.

Balboa Angling Club secretary Dara Stotesbury reports that there

has already been 28 marlin landed by members of the club and in the

best interest of conserving marlin fishery off our coast, most

anglers are releasing their catch. The father and son team of Doug

Daniels, Sr. & Jr. from Huntington Harbor both released marlin this

past week while fishing aboard the sportfisher Pescador. Balboa

Angling Club members Stan and Kathy Ecklund fishing on their yacht

Hooker, both brought marlin to the leader and released them as did

Lynn Jasper of San Clemente who set the hook of a jig hard into the

bill of a striper while trolling off La Jolla.

According to Stotesbury, who also released a marlin on Sunday

fishing with her husband aboard their fast 25-foot Skipjack Kawakawa,

most fish being caught are coming up to Sevenstrand EAL lures with

the best color patterns being Mean Joe Green (green and black) and

purple and black. The fish that were off La Jolla last weekend might

move up on to the Avalon Bank or off the east end of San Clemente

Island by this weekend as water conditions are ideal for a movement

of fish closer to Newport.

The 14th annual Church Mouse Marlin invitational will be held out

of Avalon on Monday and Tuesday and the timing would appear to be

excellent for this tournament that has raised in excess of $350,000

toward the purchase of supplies for the Avalon School and Avalon

Christian School, supported the kids fishing program, helped with the

playground at Twin harbors and donated funds to assist recreational

events. The Master Angler Marlin Tournament set for Sept. 17-18, and

is a “Catch and Release” event and the pre-tournament party will be

held on Sept. 14 at the Village Crean Restaurant in Newport Beach.

Based on points for releasing marlin on 12-, 16-, 20- and 30-pound

tackle, the addition of special broadbill and yellowfin tuna

divisions makes this tournament very popular with local big game

anglers. For more details on participating in the Master Angler

tournament contact Stotesbury at (949) 673-6316. The Catalina Classic

will be held on Sept. 20-21, with a gala kickoff party at Discanso

Beach on Sept. 19.

Outer waters are producing good counts on albacore for overnight

boats running out of Davey’s Locker and Newport Landing Sportfishing,

while inner waters are holding fair numbers of yellowtail and Dorado

under floating kelp patties. The Cat Special returned from a 2-day

trip earlier in the week with 350 ablies and then topped off the trip

with yellows and a few Dorado. Davey’s Locker spokesman Dave Myers

reports that the Cat Special will be running a 1.5-day limited load

trip this coming week.

Along the beach bass, barracuda and bonito are making up the bulk

of the catch for both the half-day and three-quarter day boats

running out to local fishing grounds. The artificial reefs off

Newport and on up to Huntington Beach are good spots for calico bass,

while barries and boneheads and a few small yellowtail are popping up

on balls of bait all along the coast. Bait conditions are good with

solid sardines available in the receivers.

Dove season starts on Wednesday and the outlook for this season

opener is excellent. There are lots of mourning dove flying and ideal

temperatures in the desert areas have held good numbers of whitewing

dove that should improve over all hunting for scatter gunners making

longer drives. The Imperial Valley should offer up good shooting on

Wister and the Finney-Ramer Wildlife refuges, which are open to the

public with no fee being charged, although all hunters must check in

before heading out to a refuge field. The limit on dove is 10 birds

and whitewing dove can only be included in the daily bag limit in

Imperial, San Bernardino and Riverside counties and in Arizona.

Hunters over the age of 16 must have valid hunting license, junior

hunters need their license and all hunters are required to have a

Heritage upland game bird stamp.