One Catch Has Them All Ready for Tuna

By reeling in one fish, Neal Glover set the Southland sportfishing community abuzz.

Glover of Los Angeles, while fishing last week aboard H&M; Landing’s Trilene Big Game, caught the first tuna of the season--a 25-pound yellowfin--within a day’s range of San Diego’s huge fleet.

The phone lines at H&M;, Point Loma and Fisherman’s landings have been lighting up since. Finally, a fish strong enough to provide a challenge. And a tasty one to boot.

“It looks like something’s finally going to happen,” said Ross Hecht, general manager of Point Loma Sportfishing. “We’ve had tuna caught at 63 miles south of the landing, 88 miles and as far as 180 miles, so it looks real good.”

Reports from sea indicate clear, blue and warming water. Landing operators are trying to fill enough boats to explore the situation and locate a school of tuna big enough to warrant a full-blown operation.

Only a few have been caught so far, but Hecht has five boats scheduled to run to the outer banks this week, and the other two landings are sending boats out as well. “I wanted to send one out the other day, but I couldn’t fill it,” Hecht said. “I don’t think that’s going to be a problem in the next few days.”

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Commercial vessels this week reported excellent conditions and breezing schools of 20- to 30-pound bluefin tuna from 60 to 110 miles southwest of Point Loma, and anglers aboard the H&M; Landing’s Predator encountered a few bluefins of the bruiser variety. The vessel was en route back to port Tuesday night with four fish estimated between 140 and 200 pounds apiece.

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Their appearance of tuna so early--last year’s season didn’t begin until mid-July--could be the work of another El Nino.

That warm-water phenomenon that graced the Southland coast last year--and brought with it several species of tropical game fish--is apparently gearing up for an encore appearance.

At a meeting of fisheries experts last week in San Diego, it was predicted that signs of an El Nino are already present, that a band of even warmer water should be here by the end of June or early July and that another one just across the Equator could move up the coast behind it.

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The future of long-range fishing to Mexico’s Revillagigedo Islands remains cloudy, but Bob Fletcher, president of the Sportfishing Assn. of California, hopes to persuade the Mexican government to agree to reopen the area--known for its giant yellowfin tuna--by the time the season begins next fall.

Citing concerns over the fragile marine environment (primarily the illegal removal of small fish to be sold for use in aquariums), the government proposed to close the island chain to all non-Mexican vessels.

Fletcher and Barney Thompson, a lawyer, have met with Mexican officials regarding the matter and will make another trip to Mexico City to argue that the San Diego fleet does not adversely affect any fishery (the yellowfin tuna resource is reportedly healthy) and that Mexico would continue to benefit economically by making an exception for the fleet.

“People come from all over the world to fish on our boats,” Fletcher said. “We drop them off in Cabo San Lucas (after the trips) and basically introduce people to Mexico. We will argue that fleet is doing nothing illegal. All we want to do is catch large tuna and wahoo.”

Briefly

BAJA FISHING--It has been quite a week at Cabo San Lucas, where the fishing is about normal but the size of the fish is anything but. The Gaviota fleet reported blue marlin of 466 and 308 pounds and an 80-pound dorado (seven shy of the world record) and unusually large roosterfish biting just off the beach. Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters said a 70-pounder was followed by catches of 68-, 65-, 62-, 61-, 58- and 53-pounders. In the East Cape region, an occasional blue marlin is being landed, but most of the action is with yellowfin tuna. Hotel Buenavista last week reported 82 dorado, 12 striped marlin, 11 blue marlin, four sailfish and several yellowfin, including a 145-pounder.

MISCELLANY--Experts on long-range and local island fishing will be speaking and demonstrating tactics Saturday at Yo’s Parking Lot sale at the custom rod specialist’s store in Gardena. Details: (310) 532-1376. . . . Southern California Ducks is co-sponsoring a benefit bird-watching tour, fun shoot and barbecue Saturday at Raahauge’s Pheasant Club in Norco. Details: (909) 735-2361. . . . The Malibu Mountain Archery Club is holding a tournament (shooting 56 targets in natural settings) Sunday at its range in Malibu. Details: (310) 615-5925.