Project Neptune Will Crown Big-Wave Surfing’s King of Sea

Last winter it was the inaugural “Men Who Ride Mountains” surfing event at Maverick’s, and ride them a select group of brave souls did after a dense morning fog eventually lifted, affording reporters and camera crews an up-close view of the thunderous waves for which the remote Northern California break had become famous.

A diminutive surfer called “Flea” was the clear winner, after disappearing into two churning barrels and emerging still on his feet, to hoots and hollers and an eventual $15,000 paycheck.

The winter before it was the controversial K2 Big Wave Challenge, a season-long contest ringing in El Nino and open to all, with $50,000 going to whoever could successfully conquer the biggest wave anywhere in the Pacific.

A laid-back pro named Taylor Knox was the not-so-clear winner, edging Maverick’s master Peter Mel by surviving a 52-foot drop during another contest at Todos Santos Island off Ensenada.

Indeed, it seems, the original extreme sport of surfing keeps getting more extreme.

So, what have promoters dreamed up for this winter?

Brace yourselves for Project Neptune, brought to you by Surf News publisher Bill Sharp, the same person who brought us the Big Wave Challenge--and breathed a huge sigh of relief when it ended without anyone being killed.

“It’s nothing like we’ve gone after before,” Sharp says of Project Neptune, a cooperative endeavor with Surfing Magazine. “It’s not a contest and there are no winners. What we’re doing is going out to conquer an untamed sea monster.”

That monster is a popular fishing spot called Cortes Bank. It’s also a navigational hazard of some repute, a sizable seamount rising to within only a few feet of the surface and located about 100 miles west of San Diego.

Thus if all goes as planned, it will become the first surfing expedition almost literally in the middle of nowhere, held at a break not associated with any land mass and heretofore ridden by only a handful of surfers, and never at its full potential.

“I’m not going to say that we’re the only guys who have ever caught waves there,” says Sharp, who surfed Cortes when it was only breaking at about 20 feet during the winter of 1990-91. “I’ve heard tales of divers and fishermen riding waves there, but I can say with certainty that no famous big-wave rider has ever ridden waves out there.”

The vast majority of surfers have no clue that there is even a break out there.

Sharp says Cortes is a right break similar to the one at Waimea Bay on Oahu’s North Shore. On smaller swells, paddling in is possible, but trying to position yourself in the lineup is dangerous because the waves pop up with no warning, and there are no landmarks from which to get your bearings.

Larger swells, unimpeded by the gradual sloping of the ocean floor associated with mainland and island breaks, push up against the seamount with such speed and force that paddling in is nearly impossible.

Thus, this expedition will be a tow-in affair, utilizing Wave-Runners as ski vessels as well as rescue craft.

The expedition will take place during a two-month period beginning Jan. 10. A larger vessel will act as “mother ship,” and the event will be held, Sharp says, “only in ideal big-wave conditions, which means calm winds and thundering waves in excess of 30 feet on the face.”

How big does Cortes Bank get? Larry Moore, a photographer for Surfing magazine, has flown several reconnaissance missions in recent winters and estimated some of the faces at about 50 feet.

“It’s hard to tell exactly, but one time there was this 50-foot commercial dive boat out there and we were literally losing sight of the boat in the troughs,” Moore says.

The list of invitees is California’s Darryl “Flea” Virostko, Knox, Mel, Mike Parsons and Ken Collins; and Hawaii’s Brock Little, Noah Johnson, Ken Bradshaw and Layne Beachley. All are expert surfers and one, Beachley, is a world champion on the women’s pro tour.

Says Mel, who was towed into the face of a 50-foot wave at Maverick’s last week: “I’ve heard about the wave out [at Cortes] for a couple of years and it’s something I always wanted to do. I’d definitely like to be involved, but it sounds pretty pricey.”

What he means is, he’ll do it if his sponsors pick up the tab.

GATOR OR CROCK?

An alligator at Irvine Lake? That can only mean something similar is brewing at Santa Ana River Lakes.

“They’ll probably drop a hippo in there,” quips Yvonne Pedersen, general manager at Irvine.

The two Orange County waters are the Southland’s premier trophy trout fisheries, and rivals in every sense when it comes to competing for the spotlight.

So when “Irving” the 3 1/2-foot alligator was captured by fishermen last Sunday, creating a media circus, one couldn’t help but wonder whether it had been planted as part of a publicity stunt.

Indications are, however, that Irving was simply someone’s unwanted pet which, until its capture, had been living high on the hog for at least three months, dining on coots and dead fish.

The coach of an after-hours water-ski school said Tuesday that a 12-year-old student told her class three months ago that she saw an alligator.

“But nobody listened to her,” Pedersen says. “Now she’s telling everyone, ‘I told you so.’ ”

Irving’s new home is the Wildlife Way Station in Tujunga.

BREAK A LEG

The slopes are open and “the mountain is totally white from the snow we got early in the week,” says Joani Saari, spokeswoman for Mammoth Mountain.

Actually, only one slope is open--Broadway--with 12-18 inches of natural and blown snow. But others are expected to open soon.

As for the eight to 10 inches that fell Monday, “it was that real wet, heavy sticky stuff, which is a good base-maker,” Saari says.

Mammoth and Boreal Ridge, in Truckee, on Thursday became the first resorts in California to open. Heavenly will become the third today.

SCREAMIN’ REELS

* Bob Marjama of Balboa Island checks in with the catch of the week, a 152-pound 4-ounce striped marlin caught last Sunday only six miles off Newport Beach. The spirited billfish took a live mackerel and went airborne three times before settling down for a strategic battle that lasted nearly two hours aboard the Sleepless, skippered by Vic Sommers.

Marjama acknowledges that November is a little late to be fishing for marlin, saying, “I told everyone we’re going to be having smoked marlin with our turkey.”

* A 49-pound 4-ounce California yellowtail landed late last week on a long-range trip aboard the Royal Polaris will probably land Connie Amagrande of Monrovia in the book of world records under the 80-pound women’s line-class category. The existing record is a 37-pounder.

* A 65-pound albacore landed by Gerald Scholl of Los Angeles aboard the Pacific Queen out of Virg’s Landing in Morro Bay highlights a seemingly never-ending tuna bite off Central California. Between Oct. 31 and Nov. 6, 471 passengers boated 2,318 longfin tuna, and 93 anglers caught 755 last Friday alone.

* Alexandra Mazur, 5, on her first fishing trip with her own gear, landed an 11-pound 4-ounce channel catfish at Laguna Niguel Lake on the Fourth of July, but this week it was officially recognized by the International Game Fish Assn. as a junior angler world record in the Smallfry category. It’s also a state record for 12-pound line.

ON TAP

* Hunters not interested in store-bought turkeys can try to get their own when fall turkey, pheasant and dove seasons open Saturday. Prospects are good for all three species in most of California, according to Department of Fish and Game biologists, who credit years of abundant spring rainfall for high survival rates of summer chicks. The DFG’s schedule of special hunts can be found on the Internet at https://www.dfg.ca.gov.

* The Sportfishing Assn. of California’s annual Casino Night fund-raiser, offering anglers a chance to get acquainted with captains and crews of the boats they fish on, is Nov. 19 at the Balboa Pavilion in Newport Beach. For $75, you get a buffet dinner and $100 in scrip. Winning scrip is exchanged for raffle tickets, and prizes include fishing trips of up to 10 days and gear and tackle. Masters of ceremonies are Pete Gray and Marty Milner of the weekend radio show, Let’s Talk Hookup! Details: (619) 226-6455.

* The Long Beach Rod and Gun Club’s annual Kids’ Fishing Derby is Nov. 20 at El Dorado Park. Ages 2-15 are welcome and the only cost is $5 for parking. Grand prize is a new bicycle. Details: (562) 570-1770 or (562) 598-2403.

* Bob Marriott’s annual Educational Flyfishing Fair at his Fullerton store is Nov. 20-21. Numerous experts and travel representatives will be on hand, and tying and casting demonstrations will take place both days. Details: (714) 525-1827.

* Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro is hosting a holiday workshop called “Ocean in Art” on Nov. 20 at 9 a.m. for those interested in learning the ancient Japanese art of Gyotaku, or fish printing. Minimum age is 10 and cost is $17. Details: (310) 548-7562.

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FISH REPORT, PAGE 14