OUTDOOR NOTES : Season Delay Brings Waterfowl Hunters More Prey

Duck hunting season will begin, as rescheduled, just before sunrise Saturday.

For those able to change plans after the California Fish and Game Commission switched the date nine days before the original scheduled opening of Oct. 13, the outlook is generally good.

Statewide, hunters should find this season slightly better than last for some species, including mallards and pintails, according to the Department of Fish and Game.

In Southern California, state officials are preparing to open both the DFG’s 4,000-acre Wister Unit of the Imperial Valley Wildlife Area and the San Jacinto Wildlife Area in Riverside County. Baldwin Lake in San Bernardino County, once a favorite among duck hunters, is dry again this year because of the prolonged drought.

Chris Gonzales, manager of the Imperial Valley Wildlife Area, said there are more than 10,000 ducks of various species at the Wister and nearby Finney Ramer units of the preserve.

“More birds are arriving every day,” he said. “There are lots of teal and mallards on the north side of Wister and pintails and sprigs over the rest.”

Gonzalez said the delayed season has given waterfowl more time to locate feed, and approximately 100 hunting sites will be ready by Saturday.

Goose hunting at Wister began on Oct. 13, but only two snow geese have been taken by 15 hunters since opening day.

Hunting days at Wister will be Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout the split season that concludes on Jan. 5. The closure is from Nov. 19 to Nov. 30.

Hunting information can be obtained by calling (619) 359-0577.

San Jacinto Manager Dave Feliz estimated there are about 1,000 birds in the Hemet Valley, but only a handful at the wildlife area, where employees are treating reclaimed water with chlorine. Feliz said only two sites will be ready by opening day, but he expects to open six more when the chlorination project is completed.

Feliz also said there should be a dramatic increase of waterfowl once the ponds are full.

Reservations are required and can be obtained by calling (714) 654-0580.

Lake Perris, where boats with motors are mandatory, is down a few feet, but hunting is expected to be good.

Hunting days at San Jacinto and Lake Perris are Wednesdays and Saturdays, not Wednesdays and Sundays as listed erroneously in the regulations booklet.

Briefly

OCEAN FISHING--A groundbreaking ceremony for the new Huntington Beach Pier is scheduled Thursday at 11:30 a.m. The old pier, when demolished, will be hauled 5 1/2 miles offshore to become an artificial fishing reef at a depth of 65 to 70 feet. The project will cost the city an additional $67,000, and fishermen’s groups have pledged to pay for it.

San Diego long-range: Magdalena Bay and the Alijos Rocks area are producing impressive numbers of yellowtail and yellowfin tuna. Thirty-one passengers aboard the Red Rooster III returned recently with 347 yellowtail and 289 yellowfin, the largest a 98-pounder caught by Wayne Beezley of La Mesa. Those fishing in the Guadalupe Islands aren’t catching as many fish, but the area is known for giant bluefin tuna. Ernie Osuna of San Juan Capistrano, on a trip aboard the Point Loma, caught a 131-pound bluefin. Yellowfin and skipjack tuna, as well as scattered catches of albacore and dorado, continue to show in the overnight counts.

Baja California: Jumbo squid are back in the waters of Baja California’s East Cape, some weighing close to 50 pounds, according to Susan Van Laningham of Hotel Palmas de Cortez. While fishing for striped marlin and sailfish continues to be good, blue marlin tend to remain in the deeper water, where they are gorging on the squid.

FLY-FISHING--Brad Jackson, author, photographer and former professional guide, will present a show on fishing opportunities in Northern California at the Long Beach Casting Club’s meeting Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Recreation Park in Long Beach. Information: (213) 433-9408.

HUNTING--JC Penney has removed a line of Cotler clothing from its 1,330 stores after protests by the Wildlife Legislative Fund of America on behalf of hunters. The Environmental Protection Department line of clothing featured tags depicting hunters with a red X overlay and the slogan: “Absolutely no hunting of wild and free animals while wearing this garment.” In withdrawing the line, JC Penney noted in a statement: “JC Penney realizes that this message was construed as for or against a position. . . . The company admits it has made a mistake.”

HIKING--The three-person American Discovery Trail project has completed 515 miles from Pt. Reyes National Seashore in California to the Nevada-Utah border, alternately hiking and cycling. The purpose is to establish a 5,500-mile coast-to-coast trail across the United States.