OUTDOOR NOTES / RICH ROBERTS : Lightweight Angler Catches Heavyweight Yellowfin Tuna

David Manella’s world-record yellowfin tuna is a late addition to Fred Hall’s Western Fishing Tackle and Boat Show at the Long Beach Convention Center today through Sunday.

A fiberglass mount of the 395.3-pound fish, rushed through by Ray Noriega in Azusa, will be displayed starting Thursday.

Manella, 43, a criminal lawyer from Toluca Lake, caught the fish at Clarion Island off Mexico on Feb. 19 while on a 17-day trip aboard Frank Lo Preste’s Royal Polaris out of San Diego. It was Manella’s third such trip in 10 years of saltwater fishing.

The fish breaks the record of 388 pounds 12 ounces by Curt Wiesenhutter in 1977. Manella’s next biggest yellowfin was 177 pounds.

“The first time I just wanted to catch one that weighed more than I did,” he said.

Manella, 5 feet 8 and 135 pounds, acknowledged that this fish beat him up in the 1-hour 15-minute fight.

“It didn’t run a lot,” he said. “Mostly it was just dragging me. This fish really hurt me. It felt like the back brace you wear was coming through my spine. I considered giving up, but the skipper (Brian Kiyohara) kept encouraging me.

“I didn’t look over the side until the first deckhand gaffed it and said, ‘Hey, that’s way over 300!’ Nobody knew it was a world record until we weighed it in San Diego five days later.”

After Hall is through with it, Manella isn’t sure where he will display the 7 1/2-foot tuna.

“It’s like putting a piano on the wall,” he said.

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The Foundation for North American Wild Sheep is claiming “the largest single fund-raising event in the history of wildlife conservation” for its annual convention of 12 Western states at Reno last week.

A total of $1.9 million was raised by auctions for privileged bighorn sheep tags, topped by record bids of $303,000 in Arizona and $100,000 in California. Those hunters, whose identities won’t be known until they receive their licenses, will be allowed to hunt in advance of those who draw tags in lotteries. Arizona’s previous record was $67,500, California’s $71,000.

Foundation President Bob DiGrazia said $1.1 million will be used for management of sheep and other wildlife programs and $800,000 entirely for sheep projects.

DiGrazia said Tuesday he was still “numb” from the totals.

“It shows that the hunting community is standing up for wildlife and for conservation,” he said.

Briefly

SHOWTIME--Ram quarterback Jim Everett, representing United Anglers of California, will be available for free photos and autographs today, 1-2 p.m., before the opening of Fred Hall’s Western Fishing Tackle and Boat Show at the Long Beach Convention Center. Show hours are 2-10 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $7, children under 12 free.

FRESHWATER FISHING--Some southwestern Inyo County waters will get the jump on the April 24 opening of the Eastern Sierra trout season when they welcome anglers Saturday. There will be a blind bogey derby at Diaz Lake, near Lone Pine, which has received 600 broodstock of two-five pounds. Creeks stocked and open will include lower Cottonwood, George, Lone Pine, Independence, Symmes and Tuttle. Pleasant Valley Reservoir and the Owens River are open all year.

MEXICAN FISHING--Cabo San Lucas: Blue marlin still in the area, with the season’s third-largest catch of 616 pounds. Chances of catching striped marlin 85%, according to Michelle D. Moore of fishing international. Yellowfin tuna picking up, averaging 35 pounds. Roosterfish, sierra and red snapper plentiful. Dorado slower. East Cape: Hotel Buenavista reports striped marlin running from 130 to 160 pounds. John Whitley, Fremont, caught four at 120, 135, 154 and 160 pounds.

CONSERVATION--A tamarisk removal project scheduled this weekend at Anza-Borrego State Park by the Society for the Preservation of Bighorn Sheep and California Department of Fish and Game has been canceled because of flooding. However, a sheep survey in the San Gabriel Mountains is scheduled March 13-14. Details: (213) 256-0463.

GRUNION--The first run of the year is expected on Southland beaches March 10, 10:40 p.m., then at 11:25 p.m., 12:15 a.m. and 1:15 a.m., the next three nights, lasting about two hours. Hands only, fishing licenses required for those 16 and older.

HUNTING--Champion turkey caller Matt Morrett of Missouri will conduct free seminars at Turner’s Outdoorsman stores in Reseda on Thursday, 7 p.m.; Signal Hill, Friday, 7 p.m.; Riverside, Saturday, 4 p.m., and Orange, Sunday, 3 p.m. . . . Monday is the deadline for applications for 10 free turkey hunts on Tejon Ranch in Kern County, starting March 27. Details: (916) 653-2245. . . . The National Rifle Assn.’s Great American Hunters Tour will visit Southern California, focusing on Western big game in sessions March 17 at Pomona, March 18 at Riverside and March 20 at San Diego. Details: (800) 492-HUNT (4868).

FISHING INSTRUCTION--”The Lure of Fly Fishing” is offered by Conejo Valley Adult Education in Thousand Oaks on three Saturdays, starting March 13. Fee: $25. Details: (805) 497-2761. . . . Gary Tomovich will teach “Introduction to Fly Fishing” at Classes Unlimited in South Pasadena March 15 and 22, 7-10 p.m. Fee: $55. Details: (213) 254-7451.