OUTDOOR NOTES / PETE THOMAS : Hurricane Darby Is Kind to Anglers
Hurricane Darby, which has long since fizzled, is still being blamed for humidity and rain.
And because Darby made it so unseasonably far north--it was past Magdelena Bay on the western Baja California coast when it finally dissipated--it is also being credited with pushing warm water, and exotic fish, to within range of San Diego’s huge sportfishing fleet.
“The water is purple, great water, and the kelp paddies all have fish under them,” said Art Taylor, owner-operator of the Searcher. “We’ve had (ocean) temperatures as high as 72 degrees, and the cooler water is still 69 degrees.”
Yellowtail have been the prevalent species, showing in large numbers as close as 40 miles south of Point Loma since Darby’s passing. Limits of fish to 25 pounds were the rule on Monday, according to Carol Stock at Fishermen’s Landing. The Top Gun reported 80 fish for its 16 passengers shortly after noon Tuesday.
Tuna have been more elusive and are farther south than the yellowtail, but now that the landing operators have begun running 1 1/2-day trips along with their regular 24-hour schedule, bluefin and yellowfin are expected to show more prominently in the counts.
Meanwhile, Hurricanes Estelle and Frank, west-southwest and south of Cabo San Lucas, respectively, appear ready to follow the path set by Darby.
The yellowtail being hooked in the Bahia de Los Angeles region of the Sea of Cortez have a distinct advantage over those biting in the ocean south of San Diego: they are larger and rarely far from shelter.
Fishermen returning from the Bay of L.A. are reporting a steady run of the powerful fish, which are averaging about 40 pounds. Trouble is, most of them are breaking free in the rocks.
Bob Uzzo of Hermosa Beach, fishing with a others in a caravan run by the Carlsbad-based Sportsman’s Tours, lost several with his 2-year-old 50-pound test line, before finally landing a 42 1/2-pounder with 80-pound test. Uzzo’s cousin Ken Stewart, fishing with a back-brace and a bandaged wrist, the result of five earlier battles with the fish, took a 45-pounder.
Ted Robinson of North Hollywood, meanwhile, after 10 years of trying to boat a yellowtail, landed his first, a 51-pounder that inhaled a dead mackerel he was using for bait.
“One fish almost pulled my wife, Yasuko, out of the boat,” Robinson said.
The first sport-caught albacore of the season will probably be taken this weekend near the Davidson Sea Mount off Central California.
So says Bat Batsford, president of the S.F. Bay Area Tuna Club. Batsford’s group claims to have been “100% correct on the location of the first albacore caught off the California coast” for the last four years.
Last August the tuna club, which monitors sea surface temperatures and fishing conditions off the West Coast, put two boats from Paradise Sportfishing in Avila Beach “right on the numbers,” according to Batsford. The Eclipse and Marauder returned with the first albacore of the season, and 111 others.
Three boats from Virg’s Sportfishing in Morro Bay will set a course for the Davidson Sea Mount on Friday.
The first marlin of the Southern California season was caught last Saturday by Dick Nieblas, who was fishing aboard the Bill Collector slightly south of the 267 bank off San Onofre.
Nieblas’ fish weighed 153 1/2 pounds at the Dana Point fuel dock.
Briefly
HUNTING--Lisa Walsh, wildlife biologist for the Los Padres National Forest, will speak at tonight’s meeting of the L.A. chapter of Quail Unlimited, 7:30, at the Izaak Walton League clubhouse, 3701 S. Gaffey St., San Pedro. . . . The Department of Fish and Game will teach a one-day, 10-hour hunter-safety course at Raahauge’s Pheasant Hunting Club in Norco Saturday, 6:30 a.m. A course is required of all novice hunters. Cost: $30. Details: (800) 773-4868.
PARA-GLIDING--Performance Designs in Moreno Valley is offering a unique way to view Southern California earthquake faults--from the air via para-glider. Owner Mark Wright said flying conditions are ideal in the area behind Cal State San Bernardino near Marshall Peak, where a portion of the San Andreas Fault runs. The fault is visible from the air and, according to Wright, “If there’s any kind of quake, you can see a wave going across the land.” Details: (714) 697-4466.
INSTRUCTION--Light-tackle and artificial lures will be the focus of Eagle Claw Schools’ seminar Sunday aboard the Sportking out of L.A. Harbor Sportfishing in San Pedro. Cost, including tackle, is $99. . . . Offshore and Big Game Fishing, Tuesdays through Aug. 18 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at East Los Angeles College. Instructor is Al Zapanta. Cost is $32. Details: (213) 265-8793.
MISCELLANY--Ken Light of Anaheim became the third California shooter in three years to win the National Rifle Assn.’s national short-range pistol silhouette championship last weekend in Redlands. . . . Kevin Hansen, an expert on mountain lions, will present a slide show-discussion of the creatures at Charmlee County Natural Area--off Encinal Canyon Rd. in the Santa Monica Mountains--Saturday at 10 a.m. Details: (310) 457-7247.
